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    • Suns backup Monte Morris says joining Booker, Big 3, is “fun.”
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    Suns backup Monte Morris says joining Booker, Big 3, is “fun.”

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    Monte Morris now knows how much easier it is to play with Devin Booker than against him.

    Booker and Morris, an eight-year veteran backup point guard who signed a one-year deal with the Suns in the offseason, have been battling backcourt battles for nearly a decade.

    Speaking at the Suns' practice on Thursday, Morris said that when he first joined the Suns in free agency in July, he argued with Booker about their playoff history against each other. Phoenix defeated Morris' former team, the Denver Nuggets, 4-0 in the 2021 Western Conference semifinals.

    “No, I left that in 2021. That wasn't so good. I can’t even talk about it,” Morris said with a big grin.

    The Suns eventually reached that year's NBA Finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks. But Morris got the last laugh when he teased Booker during his comeback about last season's playoffs. Morris' other former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, defeated the Suns in four games in the Western Conference first-round playoffs.

    “It’s all fun and games. When I first got here we argued about it all the time. He says, 'Yeah, we swept y'all.' I'm like, 'Last year we swept y'all,'” Morris said.

    Morris added of Booker: “He’s just a competitor. He always wants to win. He is cheerful. He talks nonsense and supports him. I’m just glad I’m on his side this time.”

    Morris has averaged four points, four assists and one steal in 15 minutes and has not recorded any turnovers so far in the preseason. His career averages are 10 points, 3.8 assists and .477/.391/.824 shooting percentages. Booker averaged 11 points and three assists in limited appearances in the Suns' preseason contests.

    Morris also finds it easy to fit in and play with the Suns' Big 3 of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Morris is expected to back up starting point guard Tyus Jones, another offseason acquisition.

    “Yeah, definitely, especially with my ability to play in the pick-and-roll and throw lobs and create the in-between game as well,” Morris said. “I know there's a lot of attention on them, so “If I just have a lob threat, the floor will be spaced out enough for me to show or demonstrate what I'm good at, which is finding the shooter on the kickoff .”

    Morris talked about being on the floor during Tuesday's 107-95 win over the Detroit Pistons, played at Michigan State University.

    “When we were in Michigan, Book and Kevin came into the game and they were both screaming, 'I'm right here, I'm right here!' “So you have to make a choice, but it was good to know when you hand it over to one of these people. Nine times out of 10 it’s going to be a bucket, so it’s fun,” Morris said.

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    Kathleen William
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