Gilbert’s Koa Peat calls it ‘surreal’ to team up on Suns with Devin Booker

PHOENIX — The Devin Booker era of Phoenix Suns basketball is really the only one its newest player has ever known.

Koa Peat was born three years after Steve Nash signed with Phoenix in free agency. He would have been four when that core made its last hurrah in the 2011 postseason, and then eight when Booker was drafted. Born and raised in Gilbert, like many other young Suns fans, you assume Booker had to be Peat’s guy.

While Peat said he has been watching them since he was born, all the memories for the 19-year-old of the Suns will involve Booker in some way. He was at Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals, when Booker had 27 points and six assists in a Suns victory.

“I remember those days and seeing the team compete and seeing them win and seeing the crowd and how they were involved with the team,” he said. “It’s super special and a special place to be.”

Booker, who takes pride in being an old soul, is, well, getting old. He won’t turn 30 until the day before Halloween, but the guard entering his 12th season has more than earned his stripes to be considered a vet, and he is now at the stage of his career where the kids who grew up watching him are now his teammates.

“It’s surreal. He’s a legend,” Peat said of Booker. “To be able to see his greatness every day is definitely going to help me get better as a player.”

That is the key right there.

Peat is a part of seven siblings who all played Division I sports. His older brother, Andrus, is an 11-year NFL veteran who has made three Pro Bowls as an offensive tackle. Peat’s dad played for six years in the NFL, as well. He knows not only how to establish a professional approach but how valuable the nuggets from guys like Booker will be along the way. It’s what helped him win four state titles in high school, four gold medals for Team USA and played a big part in the University of Arizona returning to the Final Four.

He credits his sisters for inspiring him to play basketball, swerving away from his brothers with football. Peat has adopted aspects from both of their games. Maya, who was a low post player, played five years of college ball, including her last in the Big 12 at Texas Tech. Leilani, more of a point forward, played for three seasons at Seattle University.

“They were super excited for me. … They’ve always supported me throughout my process and they’re gonna be there with me through the end,” Peat said.

The Suns have had their share of local connections on the roster and coaching staff over the years but in terms of someone born and raised in the Valley who went on to compete both collegiately and professionally in Arizona, that is rare.

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