Suns’ Devin Booker still hopeful for opening night; McDonough reactions

PHOENIX — When Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker first spoke with the media after having surgery on his right hand, he said he was hopeful to play in the team’s season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

With five days out from the opener, that message hasn’t changed.

“That’s the goal, that’s been the plan since the day of the surgery and I’ve been taking care of it,” he said after practice Friday. “Treatment two times a day so it feels pretty good right now. I want it to feel better before I step out there.”

Booker has been participating in full-contact practice for two days while still wearing tape that wraps his ring and pinky fingers together.

The 21-year-old said he will have the tape on if he plays Wednesday and he’s not a fan of it.

“I hate it,” he said. “Changes your whole shot.”

Booker said he will adjust to it and doesn’t want the injury to get worse, so he’s “following protocol.”

If the guard indeed has the tape on still in his first game, opposing defenses will notice. When asked if he thinks teams will approach him in a certain way knowing the hand might not be back at 100 percent yet, he didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“I would,” he said. “That’s exactly what I would do. That’s basketball.”

PLAYERS, COACH REACT TO TEAM FIRING GM

The Suns wrapped up preseason play on Wednesday night in Portland and Friday’s post-practice availability was the first in Phoenix since the franchise fired general manager Ryan McDonough nine days before the season.

Players recalled their initial reactions when the news broke on Monday.

“It was surprising,” Booker said. “You never know when things will happen like that in this business. You learn that it is a business.”

Veteran center Tyson Chandler knows there is a distinct line between the players and the front office.

“I was a little surprised because I don’t think anyone didn’t already see it coming but we’re not involved with front office at all [anyway] so honestly I wouldn’t see anything coming,” he said.

“As players you focus on the things you can control and you try and stay away from the things you can’t. Honestly, in my entire career I never pay too much attention to what’s going on other than the basketball court.”

Head coach Igor Kokoskov called the situation “not fun” but he has to keep his mind in the right place.

“How I personally feel is that it doesn’t matter because, in a way, my job is to focus on the guys in the locker room, keep us together and be focused for Wednesday when the season starts,” he said.

It was another dramatic shift during Booker’s time on the team. The franchise player is now playing for his fourth head coach and will have a second general manager in under four seasons.

“A lot has happened but I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” Booker said.

“I’m happy with the way we are moving.”

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