Devin Booker revealed that he will change his jersey from No. 1 to No. 15 beginning next season. The announcement arrived in a nearly nine-minute Father’s Day video filmed in the Flagstaff High School gym, where Booker walked with his father, former Missouri All-American Melvin Booker, toward a rack of seven jerseys that all displayed the new number. Melvin’s reaction was emotional; he said, “I don’t even know what to say, son.” Booker added, “A new chapter, to honor you, everything that you’ve done for me, I’m excited about it.”

The 29-year-old has worn No. 1 throughout his entire NBA career and also wore it at Kentucky. His father wore No. 15 during his own college days at Missouri, a number that now links the two generations. Booker finished fourth in MVP voting in 2022, a season in which he was widely regarded as the league’s best two-guard.

Last season, the Suns returned to the playoffs in coach Jordan Ott’s first year, only to be eliminated after a four-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Critics have pointed to Booker’s postseason play, noting that he often passed up easy looks in favor of creating opportunities for teammates, a shift from the high-scoring approach that defined his earlier years. The new number arrives amid questions about whether his evolving style can translate into deeper playoff runs.

Changing jersey numbers without changing teams has long been a symbolic gesture in the NBA. Twenty years ago, Kobe Bryant switched from 8 to 24 after his tenth season, using the change to signal a new phase of his career. Booker’s decision echoes that tradition, pairing personal tribute with a public statement of transformation.

As the Suns prepare for next season, the organization will watch closely to see whether the number change coincides with a more decisive postseason performance. The new No. 15 will appear on the court at the start of the upcoming campaign, offering both a visual and psychological reset for a player looking to blend his scoring pedigree with a more facilitative role on a roster built around his playmaking abilities.