To support his best friend, Devin Booker flew to Chicago to watch the 2016 NBA Draft unfold at Tyler Ulis' family viewing party. The companions of seven years waited as the lottery came and went. They witnessed other point guards get selected as the draft flowed into the latter stages of the first round.
By the time the 30th overall pick was made and Ulis’ name still hadn’t been called, Booker was beginning to wonder what some NBA teams were thinking – and how much they might regret it later.
“I was shocked,” Booker said. “I don’t think I was the only one shocked, either… He’ll just be looking for revenge for the rest of his career.”
There was a silver lining to Ulis’ unexpected fall into the second round. Phoenix held the 34th pick, and Booker wasted no time calling Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough to make the pitch for his friend.
“He’s special with his size. He’s at the point in his career where he uses his size to his advantage. Myself, I know it’s hard to guard smaller [opponents]. They’re a lot quicker and faster.”
— Devin Booker
It wasn’t needed. Phoenix considered the 5-10 point guard a first-round talent trapped in a world that put too much stock in a few inches. The Suns were thrilled to take him with their early second-round pick, Ulis was ecstatic at being drafted, and Booker was happy to be reunited with his friend on the basketball court.
Those emotions have bled into the Las Vegas Summer League, where Ulis is wreaking havoc in the backcourt. The former SEC Defensive Player of the Year has amassed nine steals through two games, third-most in the league. His is also tied for second in assists (12) through the first pair of contests while averaging 10.5 points at a healthy 46.7-percent clip.
If it looks as though Ulis is playing with an extra edge to his game, that’s because his draft-day slide served to make the chip on his shoulder even deeper. He keeps those emotions on the court, however. Off it, he maintains that, “I ended up where I want to be.”
Booker admires his friend’s ability to not let emotion interfere with his role as a distributor, saying that maintaining such a balance “isn’t easy.”
“That’s what makes him so special,” Booker said. “He’s special with his size. He’s at the point in his career where he uses his size to his advantage. Myself, I know it’s hard to guard smaller [opponents]. They’re a lot quicker and faster.”
Ulis has used his size and speed to break down the teeth of opposing defenses, and his teammates have reaped the benefits as a result. For his part, the Suns’ rookie point guard has enjoyed sharing the ball with the talent on the Summer Suns, which includes two top-10 picks from this year’s draft, Booker and a double-double machine in 6-8 big man Alan Williams.
“The type of guy I am is pass-first,” Ulis said. “When I have guys around me who can score the ball and play different positions, it helps me out a lot.”