Suns’ Devin Booker staying busy, trying to help amid coronavirus

Devin Booker is adjusting to life under quarantine like many across the world.

The Phoenix Suns guard, though, is doing just as he became a new dog dad.

“I got him the day, like when it went down, the OKC-Utah game,” he said on the NBA’s Instagram Live. “We had a five-day homestand then, so I thought it’d be a good time to bring a dog and try to get acquainted. It’s been a good time getting to know each other.”

The two-year-old named Haven that weighs 135 pounds (!) is Booker’s new best bud and he’s had an accelerated last month or so to bond with the pup a lot more than he normally would on a NBA schedule.

a father and his child pic.twitter.com/NDf6DRr5TK

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) March 24, 2020

“He’s not an easy guy to play tug-of-war with,” Booker said.

Outside an uptick in some of his usual activities around the house such as spending time with his family — virtually a lot of the time — and streaming video games, Booker said he has the long-term goal of taking virtual piano and Spanish lessons within five years. Now is as good of a time as ever.

“It’s a crazy time in our lives,” he said. “Social distancing is a real thing. We have to learn this information, spread this information to not only the people around us but everybody you know to take this seriously.”

Booker’s stream on Twitch has all donations going to COVID-19 relief efforts and he was announced Thursday morning as an ambassador for the Special Olympics.

He also took the time on the interview with ESPN’s Maria Taylor to speak about some moments from this past season.

On being interviewed by Steve Nash:

“That was an amazing moment. I’ve always said earning respect from the people that I respect in the game has been the goal of mine. Obviously, Two-Time, Steve Nash, I was a big fan of his even before I got to Phoenix so me coming here I think amplified that.

“That’s some of the purest form of basketball you can find. A balanced game, do a little bit of everything, shoot the ball at an extreme clip and obviously get everybody involved in numerous ways. That’s a real point god.”

Being an All-Star replacement:

“Being a replacement was a whole different experience. I had no clothes for Chicago, wasn’t ready for the weather, wasn’t packed. Got on the plane and went. Obviously one of if not the best experience of my life of taking it all in and being a fan of that game growing up, working extremely hard to get in this situation to play in it.”

The current state of the Suns:

“It’s exciting. I’ve been here five years and I think with the guys we have around right now, the front office, the GM, James, I’m behind these guys 100%. We’re on the same mindset that it’s time to do this thing. This season is a step forward for us, not knowing how it’ll continue.”

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