Koby Brea Finds His Mentor in Devin Booker: “He’s Like a Big Brother to Me”

Koby Brea Finds His Mentor in Devin Booker: “He’s Like a Big Brother to Me”

For Koby Brea, the jump from college basketball stardom to the NBA has been nothing short of surreal. The former Kentucky sharpshooter and 41st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is now a member of the Phoenix Suns  the same franchise that helped turn Devin Booker into one of the premier scorers of this generation. And now, as fate would have it, Brea is getting the chance to learn directly from the man whose path looks strikingly similar to his own.

At Suns Media Day, Brea couldn’t help but smile when talking about his new teammate.
“[Devin Booker] has been great, you know? He’s been like a big brother to me, someone who has taken me under his wing,” Brea said. “It’s kinda crazy, just watching the man for so long, now I get to see him and everything he is really about  the work that he puts in, how he treats other people, and stuff like that. For me it’s been great to learn from him, to be able to experience different things with him, and he’s definitely like a big brother to me now.”

A Kentucky Connection in the Desert

The bond isn’t random. Booker and Brea share not just the Suns logo on their jerseys, but also the Kentucky Wildcats pedigree that often forges lifelong ties. It’s a fraternity of sorts  players who cut their teeth under the bright lights of Rupp Arena, then took their talents to the NBA. For Brea, being in the same locker room with Booker feels like living inside one of his own daydreams.

In his introductory Suns interview earlier this summer, Brea admitted it was “crazy” and “weird” to be alongside someone he grew up admiring. Now, months later, that awe has turned into appreciation for Booker’s mentorship.

Playing Style Comparisons

Of course, reporters can’t resist the temptation to compare the two. Both are elite shooters. Both came through Kentucky. Both built their reputations more on offensive brilliance than lockdown defense. It’s easy to imagine Brea being a “Booker Lite” if things go right.

But Brea is quick to acknowledge the gap. Booker is a three-time All-Star and one of the most recognizable faces in the NBA. Brea, on the other hand, is just getting started and on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 NBA games this season. His development will hinge largely on how he performs in the G-League.

Still, that doesn’t stop Suns fans from daydreaming. A Book-Brea backcourt could be one of the most intriguing wrinkles Phoenix rolls out this season. Add in Nick Richards anchoring the paint, and suddenly you’ve got a Kentucky reunion in the Valley that Big Blue Nation would adore.

The Bigger Picture

For Brea, it’s less about living up to Booker’s legacy right away and more about absorbing everything he can from a veteran who has done it all. The grind, the film sessions, the shot repetitions, the professionalism  that’s where the lessons are.

And for Booker, taking on the role of mentor isn’t new. He’s quietly become the Suns’ culture-setter, showing younger players what it takes to thrive in the league. If Brea really is “like a little brother,” then Phoenix may have stumbled into a perfect mentorship dynamic that could pay dividends for years to come.

For now, Brea is keeping his head down, learning, and soaking it all in. But if his words are any indication, the Suns may have more than just a promising rookie shooter they may have found the next member of the Booker tree, growing in the Arizona sun.