Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has been at the center of speculation all week long after his team’s playoff elimination. But despite overwhelming doubt about his loyalty to the Suns, Booker is reportedly set on seeing this through and following in the footsteps of his basketball idol and Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.

“There may come a day when Booker is convinced he can no longer win with the Suns and decides to pursue titles elsewhere,” wrote Suns insider Gerald Bourguet. “But that day isn’t here yet, according to the source within Booker’s camp. As a student of the game and its history, Booker understands the value of sticking with one franchise for his entire career, following in the footsteps of guys like his idol Kobe Bryant.”

Kobe’s loyalty to the Lakers was tested many times over the years and it nearly reached its breaking point on several different occasions. But in the end, Kobe was able to finish his career in a Lakers jersey, and he stands today as the only player other than Dirk Nowitzki to spend at least 20 seasons with one team.

Devin Booker is on a similar track but he’s still got a long way to go. Booker, an 8-year veteran, was drafted by the Suns back in 2015 and he’s been there ever since. Over his tenure with the team so far, he’s experienced great highs and lows, from being one of the worst teams in the West to being just two wins away from winning the Finals. But as Booker enters a new stage of his career, the clock is ticking on a potential championship run, and Booker’s patience will be tried like never before.

The fact that he’s so adamant about staying put, even after being swept in the first round, says a lot about this commitment to the franchise and the city of Phoenix but only time will tell how much his commitment is rewarded when it matters most.

Booker Kills The Rumors Of Interest In The Knicks

The future of the Suns couldn’t be more uncertain, and as the team re-evaluates its position this summer, any number of options could be on the table. Mere hours after their loss in Game 4, the Knicks emerged as a team that Booker might be interested in and it’s long been said that they are seeking one more star to plug with Jalen Brunson.

As good as a potential Knicks team might be with Devin Booker, such a scenario remains unlikely, considering that Booker is under contract until 2028. For a Suns team that has sacrificed so much to build this roster, they cannot afford to back out now and their best option is to keep moving forward and run it back with their “big three.”

Sadly, it seems the Knicks will have to look elsewhere for their next franchise star, but they might already have their main guy with Brunson, who is coming off some of the best individual performances in team playoff history. At just 27 years old, Devin Boker still has a chance to make things right with the Suns, but it’s hard not to think he’s left some rings on the table with some of the stacked teams he’s had over the years.