Koby Brea Fulfills Dream, Teams Up with Idol Devin Booker After Being Drafted by Suns at No. 41
In a moment that felt like destiny fulfilled, sharpshooter Koby Brea was selected 41st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft, joining the franchise led by none other than his basketball idol—Devin Booker. For Brea, the opportunity is more than just a career milestone; it’s a dream come true and a rare chance to play alongside the very player whose game he’s modeled his own after.
Once upon a time, Devin Booker was a bench sniper at Kentucky with limitless potential. Fast forward a decade, and he is now the face of the Phoenix Suns and one of the most feared scorers in the NBA. Now, history has come full circle. The Suns—who are in the midst of a fast-paced rebuild following the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade—have drafted another former college bench weapon with a deadly jumper, hoping lightning strikes twice.
And with Koby Brea, they may have found exactly what they need.
A Shooter’s Resume That Speaks Volumes
Koby Brea isn’t your typical second-round pick. Though he flew under the radar for most of his college career, the numbers he posted are impossible to ignore. After spending four seasons with the Dayton Flyers in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Brea transferred to Kentucky for his final year and continued doing what he does best—shoot the lights out.
He finished the 2024–25 season shooting 43% from three-point range for the Wildcats. That performance mirrored his career-long consistency, where he maintained the same 43% mark from beyond the arc across five NCAA seasons and an astounding 730 total three-point attempts. Those stats don’t just suggest a good shooter—they define him as one of the most elite and efficient perimeter shooters in college basketball history.
While Brea doesn’t possess the explosive upside that scouts once saw in Booker back in 2015, the 6-foot-5 guard brings a valuable and highly coveted skill to the NBA at a premium: elite catch-and-shoot potential.
From Watching Booker to Catching Passes from Him
Before ever stepping onto the hardwood at Rupp Arena, Brea was vocal about the admiration he had for Booker. When asked during Kentucky Media Day which former Wildcat he modeled his game after, his answer came without hesitation—Devin Booker.
Now, that admiration turns into mentorship. Brea isn’t just joining a fellow Wildcat; he’s linking up with a living example of how a role player at Kentucky can become a superstar in the NBA.
The Phoenix Suns organization is banking on that blueprint working again. Booker’s evolution from college sniper to NBA All-Star provides a path for Brea to follow. And if he can absorb even a fraction of Booker’s work ethic, footwork, and versatility, the Suns may have landed a serious steal.
Suns’ Draft Strategy Reflects Urgency and Vision
The Suns entered the 2025 draft with only one pick, but through a series of moves, they added two more and used them all strategically to inject youth and depth into a roster that was shaken up by the departure of Durant. Trading Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green and Dillon Booker left Phoenix with a surplus of scoring guards—but also a need for sharpshooters who can space the floor and play complementary basketball.
Enter Brea.
Alongside Booker, Jalen Green, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, and Dillon Booker, the Suns now have one of the deepest shooting guard rotations in the league. It may present a challenge for Brea to crack the rotation immediately, but it also offers a competitive environment that can sharpen his development.
The Suns are not only rebuilding; they are retooling with purpose, and Brea fits the mold of a role player who can thrive in a movement-heavy, three-point centric offense.
Challenges and Opportunity
It’s no secret that breaking into a rotation stacked with veteran scoring talent won’t be easy. But Brea’s value lies in his efficiency and low-maintenance game. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective, and he’s shown the ability to knock down open shots at a world-class clip.
If he can hold his own defensively and quickly adapt to NBA pace and spacing, he may find his way into situational lineups by mid-season—especially if Phoenix opts to move a guard or two at the trade deadline.
More importantly, he has the opportunity to learn from Booker daily—studying his footwork, how he creates separation, and how he prepares mentally for games. That kind of environment is invaluable for a rookie with high basketball IQ and a well-defined role.
From Dayton to the Desert
Koby Brea’s story is not the typical Cinderella narrative of an overlooked prospect. It’s the story of a shooter who mastered his craft, transferred to one of college basketball’s biggest stages, and now enters the NBA in the footsteps of the very player who inspired him.
He didn’t need a flashy highlight reel or a viral mixtape. He needed consistency, discipline, and a jumper that wouldn’t quit.
Now, that jumper has landed him in Phoenix, with a jersey, a role to earn, and the chance of a lifetime to grow beside his hero.
In a league where floor spacing is king, don’t sleep on Brea. Because if there’s one thing Phoenix just got better at, it’s hitting from deep.
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