Devin Booker has etched his name in the Suns’ history this season and continued his good form to drag his side out of their recent slump. Booker dropped 29 points and handed out eight assists, leading the Suns to a much-needed 121-117 win over the Bulls on Saturday to end a four-game losing run. Still, there is a long way to go for them, having largely underperformed this season and sitting 11th in the Western Conference, when many expected them to be a contender. Despite the win, Booker was feeling a little upset when the news of a major business, with whom he shares an association going back to his childhood, going bankrupt was announced.

This win was even more significant because it marked the first time since Jan. 31 that Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal all suited up together and actually came away with a victory. Beal was back in the starting lineup, replacing Tyus Jones and he didn’t disappoint. He drained a clutch three with 13.4 seconds left to push Phoenix ahead 121-115 as the Suns’ Big Three finally clicked, dropping a combined 81 points. However, they didn’t start the game in this fashion.

In the first quarter, the Suns missed its first seven attempts and trailed by as many as 12. It ended the quarter shooting a poor 7 of 24 from the field and 2 of 10 beyond the arc. In the second quarter, though, they turned up the heat. They shot 16 of 21 from the field, including 3 of 5 from deep, scored 40 points, and turned a 10-point deficit into a 2-point lead by the end of the halftime. Though Chicago leveled the game late on, Durant, Beal, and Booker were able to see out the win. After the victory, D-Book had a strong message for the locker room on the importance of the win and didn’t downplay the work still ahead.

“Everyone’s needed it. But we’re not gonna get too happy with it,” Booker said. “We still have a lot of work to do the rest of the season. A lot of business to handle, so it’s a good step in the right direction, though.”

“Yeah, the communication was higher than normal,” Booker responded. “And you know, we just have to continue to stick together. You know there’s gonna be ups and downs throughout the whole game.” Booker also stressed the level of competition across the league, regardless of team records. “You can’t overlook any team this league. Regardless of record, you know, there’s talent out there. It’s a lot of confident players, so you know we just have to keep finding ways to, you know, to get dubs.”

While it was far from a dominant performance, the win does give the Suns a much-needed boost before they head to Toronto for their second game of a back-to-back Sunday night. With games against the Grizzlies and Timberwolves on the calendar, Phoenix will need to carry the momentum from this if they want to climb the standings. Booker was keen to remind his teammates against any complacency and while the win would’ve lifted everyone’s mood, the 4xAll Star was left a little disappointed by events elsewhere.

The restaurant chain Hooters, which was founded in 1986, might be headed for bankruptcy as it scrambles to work out a restructuring plan with creditors, per Bloomberg News. The chain, known for its wings and waitstaff, had raised about $300 million in 2021 using asset-backed bonds—essentially borrowing against franchise fees and other assets. Now, it looks like those financial moves weren’t enough to keep things steady.

Last year, Bloomberg reported that Hooters was trying to get a handle on its debts, which totaled around $300 million. As a result, they were forced to shutter approximately 40 “underperforming” restaurants across the country in 2024. As this news dropped, Booker shared a message on his social media asking them to stay in business.

Taking to X, he tweeted, “Plz don’t go @Hooters.” Booker’s affection for Hooters is nothing new and goes way back.

In 2012, he tweeted about the chain writing, “I’m thinking hooters tonight with the fellas.” Eight years later, during a Twitch stream, he revealed his love for the restaurant came from his father. “My dad used to play in this men’s tournament in Mississippi … every Thursday or every Friday, something like that,” he said. “After we leave that, he would take him and the whole team to Hooters. It wasn’t me and homeboys … but we was definitely in there with the fellas.”

Still, Booker might not have to worry about the Hooters going out of business. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy does not mean that it will shut down entirely. While they did close around 40 restaurants last year, none were in Arizona and Hooters still has around 300 restaurants in the world.

Meanwhile, as Devin Booker and the Suns refocus on their playoff push, a lingering “what if” emerges again- one that could have reunited Booker with Kevin Durant in the Bay, and another that might have earned him an All-Star nod. So, maybe, let us address it too.

Could LeBron have made way for Devin Booker?

2025’s NBA All-Star Game delivered an unexpected twist: one of the game’s biggest stars didn’t step on the court. LeBron James, slated for his record 21st All-Star appearance, was set to join Shaquille O’Neal’s team, Shaq’s OGs, which ended up winning the mini-tournament championship. But just hours before tipoff, LeBron announced he would sit out due to lingering discomfort in his left foot and ankle.

At 40 years old, he had already missed the Lakers’ win over the Indiana Pacers last weekend because of the same injury, so many assumed he’d play regardless. This marked the first time in his career that LeBron skipped an All-Star Game. While his decision likely protected him from further injury, a timely announcement might have allowed the league to slot in another Western Conference star. Devin Booker, for instance, seemed like an obvious choice.

Booker has been on fire this season, averaging 26 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 45.1% from the field and 33.8% from deep. Although his numbers have dipped slightly compared to last season, he’d have made a strong case for an All-Star nod.

This season he also passed Phoenix Suns legend Walter Davis for the most points in franchise history as he breached the mark of 15,666 career points.

Meanwhile, his teammate KD represented the Suns impressively with Shaq’s OGs. Now, Booker and the Suns can refocus on mounting a late playoff push, while he hopes that his favorite restaurant chain stays in business.