Phoenix Suns' Monte Morris has 'fun' with Devin Booker over playoff history

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

Booker and Morris, an eight-year veteran backup point guard signed to a one-year deal with the Suns in the off-season, have had backcourt battles against each other for nearly a decade.

Morris, speaking at the Suns' practice Thursday, said when he first joined the Suns in free agency in July, he had some banter with Booker about their playoff history against each other. Phoenix swept Morris' former team, the Denver Nuggets, 4-0, in the 2021 Western Conference semifinals.

“Nah, I left that in 2021. That wasn’t too good. I can’t even talk about that,” Morris said with a wide grin.

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

“It’s all fun and games. When I first got here, we brought it up bickering back and forth. He’s like, ‘Yeah, we swept y’all.’ I’m like, “We swept y’all last year, too,'" Morris said.

Morris added about Booker, “He’s just a competitor. He always wants to win. He’s chippy. He talks trash and he backs it up. I’m just happy I’m on his side with him this time.”

Morris has averaged four points, four assists, and one steal in 15 minutes, and recorded no turnovers thus far in the preseason. His career averages are 10 points, 3.8 assists, and .477/.391/.824 shooting splits. Booker has averaged 11 points and three assists through limited action in the Suns' preseason contests.

Morris also finds it easy dishing and making plays with the Suns' Big 3 of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Morris is expected to back up starting point guard Tyus Jones, another off-season acquisition.

“Yeah, for sure, especially with my ability to play in the pick-and-roll and throw lobs, and also to make the in-between game," Morris said. "I know a lot of attention will be on them, so just having a lob threat, the floor’s gonna be so spaced so it will be able to show or display what I’m good at, which is find the shooter on the break."

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

"When we were in Michigan, I had Book running in the late and Kevin, and they both were yelling, ‘I’m right here, I’m right here!’ So you gotta make a choice, but it felt good to know if you pass it to any of those guys, nine times out of 10 it’s gonna be a bucket, so it’s fun," Morris said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns' Monte Morris has 'fun' with Devin Booker over playoff history