Stephen A. Smith blasts Devin Booker again after Suns commit to him

Just three days after Stephen A. Smith begged Devin Booker to demand a trade, Smith put the Phoenix Suns star on blast again.

On Smith's May 1 episode of ESPN First Take , Smith discussed Suns owner Mat Ishbia announcing that he will not be trading Booker.

Smith made it clear that "Booker is who I have the issue with, not Mat Ishbia." Smith then explained why Booker "can ball," but still let it rip on the Suns combo guard.

"Devin Booker appears so comfortable and so happy in Phoenix," Smith said. "I would never insult or disrespect this wonderful brother by acting like he doesn't care about winning. I know he does. But what I'm saying is: Win, lose or draw, the sun's going to shine in Arizona. And in order to win, it can't be like that.

It's got to kill you ... Has there ever been the slightest entertainment that, 'I want out because I'm trying to win a chip before my career is over?' Has that ever happened? I haven't seen that, and that's my issue."

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia at the end-of-season press conference on April 30, 2026, at Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix.

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

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Suns' Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory at the end-of-season news conference

Smith still thinks it is bad that Booker has not sulked and demanded a trade from the Suns.

Arizona media disagrees.

Suns podcaster Swaveyquis appears to refer to the three players with All-NBA resumes who opted to join Booker in Phoenix. 11-time All-NBA and six-time steal champion point guard Chris Paul , 2013-14 NBA MVP and four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant and 2020-21 All-NBA guard/wing Bradley Beal have all gravitated to Booker, leaving no reason for Booker to demand a trade.

He was not the only Suns creator to take issue with Smith's comments.

It is unclear where Smith found the idea that Booker is content with losing, but this is the second time he has said it on national television in four days.

Booker's teammate Dillon Brooks wrote in The Players' Tribune this season that Booker's "gonna do whatever it takes." Smith clearly thinks he knows Booker a bit more than his teammate, however.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ESPN host doubles down on Devin Booker rant after Suns commit to star