Suns’ Devin Booker, Mat Ishbia embrace Michigan State before preseason game vs. Pistons

Two Phoenix Suns figureheads from Michigan embraced the Spartans culture on Tuesday before a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at the Breslin Center, home of Michigan State.

Devin Booker, who grew up about an hour away from East Lansing, has said he almost went to Michigan State because of his love for coach Tom Izzo. He ended up choosing Kentucky, but he remains close with Izzo, who was in attendance for the game.

Booker debuted a special player edition of his Nike Book 1, themed for the Sparty colors.

BORN IN MICHIGAN 👟 pic.twitter.com/DbqBtyp0h0

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 8, 2024

Suns owner Mat Ishbia has even deeper roots in East Lansing, having played for Izzo as a walk-on and winning the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2000.

His company, United Wholesale Mortgage, is based there, and the Suns were treated to a tour ahead of the game.

Was awesome having the @Suns come back to @UWMlending yesterday to see our campus and meet our team members. It was a really fun tour with a lot of excitement, and look forward to watching the Suns play the Pistons on Michigan State’s campus tonight. pic.twitter.com/ZcDQSVmN60

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) October 8, 2024

Ishbia said he brought 3,000 of his UWM employees to the game, and they were all easy to spot in purple “SunzZone” shirts.

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