[Saba Sports News] Following the Brooklyn Nets’ clash with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, former teammates Mikal Bridges and Cam Payne arranged a jersey exchange. However, a hiccup occurred when they forgot to switch jerseys before taking a photo, prompting their ex-teammate Devin Booker to playfully tease them.
“It doesn’t work like that,” Booker quipped.
In hindsight, the correct procedure would have involved Bridges holding Payne’s jersey, and vice versa, but somehow, they overlooked this. It’s possible that the intense game, which the Bucks narrowly won 129-125, had them still immersed in the action. Regardless, Booker won’t let them live it down anytime soon.
These three players were integral members of the Suns team that reached the NBA Finals in 2021. Subsequently, they contributed to the Suns achieving a franchise-record 64 wins in the 2021-22 season. However, the failure to secure the championship during that period led to the Suns trading Bridges as part of a package deal for Kevin Durant last season. Bridges has since excelled with the Nets in the 2022-23 season, averaging 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.
In contrast, Payne was traded to the San Antonio Spurs during the offseason, only to be waived. The Bucks then signed him as a free agent, where he has made a decent impact, averaging 5.7 points and 1.0 assists per game coming off the bench.
Devin Booker now stands as the sole survivor from the Suns’ 2021 Finals team, showcasing how swiftly the NBA landscape can change. Notably, other key players such as Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder departed in the trade for Durant earlier this year. In the subsequent offseason, two more prominent figures, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, were traded to the Washington Wizards and the Portland Trail Blazers, respectively. Additionally, all of the Suns’ role players have moved on during this period, with Dario Saric joining the Golden State Warriors, and Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig finding new homes with the Chicago Bulls, among others. Continuity often plays a crucial role in NBA success, and the Suns’ approach to this challenge will soon be put to the test.
Booker’s performance remains pivotal to any success the Suns may achieve. Despite having played only two games due to injury, the 27-year-old has averaged an impressive 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 0.5 steals per game this season. The hope for the Suns is that the injury bug subsides as the season progresses.