Devin Booker gives his first impressions of new Suns players

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker has a lot of new faces around him at training camp. Again.

It seems to be a yearly tradition for Booker to come in with a vastly different group and 2019-20 is no different.

The consensus this time is that it was for the best, with major holes filled in the starting lineup as well as some key spots on the bench.

After spending a week with the squad in Flagstaff for training camp and getting to know them as players and people for the first time, Booker was given a name and then responded with his rapid-fire impressions of his new teammates.

Disclaimer: Booker discussed everyone but center Aron Baynes, who was left out of the talk with Booker by mistake. Here’s more on Baynes.

Ricky Rubio

“Fierce competitor. High-level competitor. Great leader. Talking on both ends of the floor, making sure everybody is in the right spot, so he’s definitely that nucleus of a point guard that you need.”

Dario Saric

“A lot, lot better — I mean I didn’t get to watch him play in Philly a lot, especially with the ball-dominant people that he played around there. I think he couldn’t show as much as he’ll be able to this year. He can do a little bit of everything. Pass, dribble, shoot. Mobile four. He can make plays from that position too and he’s a lot taller than I thought he was.”

Cam Johnson

“Very good, very good. Obviously you can tell he’s well-coached throughout his whole life. He just knows basketball actions. Never stops moving without the ball. He shoots at a high clip.”

Ty Jerome

“Very smart player, very high IQ. Spoke on him a little bit already. I notice the way he thinks the game. Even when he makes a mistake, he knows the mistake he made, and at the same time, he’s leading, putting people in the right position, and doing that as a rookie says a lot about your knowledge for the game.”

Frank Kaminsky

“Spaces the floor. Shot the ball very well this training camp. Every time we messed up a coverage when he was left open, you knew it was going in. Definitely a floor spacer. Great personality off the court too. I think the fans are gonna love the way he goes about things.”

Cheick Diallo

“Hard player. He’s gonna play at a 100 miles per hour the whole time. Sets the screens, catches the lobs, blocks the shots that you need. He’s that type of player that you want on your team, doing all the dirty work.”

Jevon Carter

“Similar, also. He’s gonna pick you up 94 feet, the West Virginia way. Very good defender. Every time he’s guarding you, you know you gotta make sure you’re on your Ps and Qs and take care of the ball because you know he’s definitely going to speed you up.”

Jalen Lecque

“Very athletic. He’s still gonna learn — it’s an interesting league. Once his jump shot expands and gets better and he gets to the free-throw line, I think his rhythm will be a lot better. Super athlete, he has instincts you can’t teach.”

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