Booker is embracing a role of less dominance and more efficiency in the Suns’ new offense.
The Phoenix Suns scored a steal in the draft by taking a chance on a player who was initially one-dimensional. Over time, however, he surpassed expectations and now has the potential to become a superstar. You might think I’m talking about Ryan Dunn, but I’m referring to who they drafted 10 years ago, Devin Booker.
Suns rookie Ryan Dunn has been getting a lot of attention, while Devin Booker has started the season a bit under the radar. However, Booker had his best game of the early season on Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 33 points in a Suns victory.
Devin Booker : 33 points on 11-23 shooting, 3-8 from 3, 8-8 from the FT line & 3 rebounds in 39 minutes pic.twitter.com/SFNiXGhdub
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) October 29, 2024
Continuing to trend in the right direction, the Suns are looking more unified rather than divided by star power. Kevin Durant may be the standout, but Booker and Bradley Beal are blending seamlessly with the rest of the team around him.
Booker is back, but things look different, and I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.
After just four games, Booker finally posted a stat line familiar to Suns fans: 33 points along with a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. It was encouraging to see Booker attack the basket and get to the line consistently, as he did Monday night and in the two previous games, with eight and ten trips to the stripe, respectively. This level of aggression is what we expect from Booker, and it complements the current offensive rhythm.
The rhythm will keep improving, and Booker has the opportunity to play more freely this year without having to dominate the ball as much.
Last season, Booker averaged 7.8 possessions per game as a pick-and-roll ball handler, ranking him 18th in the league—typically a spot reserved for a team’s point guard. This season, however, Booker is averaging just 4.5 possessions in this role, falling outside the top 30 where he belongs. This adjustment not only benefits Booker but also enhances the team’s overall play.
Now, it is about Booker finding his place and finding where he belongs. A team I thought he owned and would be the best player on the team, might be taking a step back at times but will step up when it matters.
Devin Booker on his slow start to the season:
“Just tryna be aggressive. Off to a slow start this year but i’ve been here before so, just trying to find my spots to be aggressive.” pic.twitter.com/SsNCibYZvA
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) October 29, 2024
Booker’s slow start didn’t come with consequence, as the Suns were 2-1 after three games. But in game three against the Dallas Mavericks, Booker’s hustle stood out, showcasing his willingness to do the “dirty work”—much like his role in the 2024 Olympics. This approach might just work well in Phoenix too. If I come away from a game feeling that Royce O’Neale, Booker, and even Ryan Dunn had a similar impact on a Suns win, I’m more than okay with that.
But I still don’t know what his role is yet, and with only four games into the season, it will likely take some time to figure that out.
Before the season began, I said Booker would need to elevate his game and become an even better defender for the team to contend for a title. I didn’t expect what I’ve seen so far, and I still can’t fully grasp this team’s identity. But the encouraging part is that we have stars in Booker and Bradley Beal who seem more than content with the current situation. A fresh start and a 3-1 record heading into Halloween Night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It would be interesting to hear your take on what you have seen from Booker so far this season.