Over the past few years, the Phoenix Suns have featured multiple stars in their starting lineup. The last two seasons featured a potent trio with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
But after exiting in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs and failing to qualify for the 2025 postseason, the Valley’s big three disbanded. Durant left for the Houston Rockets, while Beal headed to the LA Clippers—both searching for a title in the autumn of their careers.
And then there was one.
Ever since being drafted by the Suns in 2015, Booker has been helped by teammates. In fact, he has been accompanied by at least one teammate averaging at least 18 points per game in eight of his 10 seasons from the likes of Eric Bledsoe, TJ Warren and DeAndre Ayton. The two seasons not included were the 2021 NBA Finals run and the campaign afterwards, where the Suns gained the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with the help of Chris Paul, Cameron Payne and Mikal Bridges.
Barring any trades, both involving him and the team in general, Booker is set to be the only face of the team when the Suns start their regular season schedule on October 22nd against the Sacramento Kings. Yet, it might be the right move for the organization.
Why The Suns Should Build Around Devin Booker
Reason #1: He is smart with possession
Despite the Suns never being kings of the NBA, they have been kings of one-on-one chances. Durant and Booker were both in the top 10 when it came to points per possession on individual chances last season. The chart also featured players such as DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Jokić, James Harden and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. All of them had more possessions than Booker, who had 497, and Durant, who had 583.
With Durant gone, the Suns need someone who can find a way around defenders. Booker can provide those contested points, improving the Suns’ production. His isolation can also provide comfortability on the ball, and poise that can spread throughout the team in tense situations.
Additionally, the 2024-25 season was the first time since Booker’s rookie voyage that he was not the team’s leading scorer in points per game. Furthermore, he will enter the 2025-26 campaign with more motivation to dominate and take responsibility down the stretch. He excelled in doing that during the Suns’ title-contending years with Paul at point guard. If Phoenix can utilize Booker in possession on and off the ball, the results can be lethal, both on the court and in the standings.
Reason #2: He can lead a young core
Booker has been viewed as a star player since joining the Suns. He has worked with mentors on the court (such as Bledsoe and Warren), and counterparts, including Durant and Beal.
But many have seldom called the 28-year-old a leader at the NBA level.
That could change this year, with the Suns receiving Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, along with three draft picks, which include Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea, in the Durant trade. That is a lot of players who will need to learn the Suns’ philosophy and culture. It is also something that can set the tone for Jordan Ott’s coaching staff going into the former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant’s first season in the Valley.
Additionally, the Suns find themselves in rare territory with Green, who was the Rockets’ leading scorer last season. While Green could lean on Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet for leadership in Houston, Booker can provide more guidance. He and Green can work together to create, and maybe challenge each other in the points category. In doing so, they could also become one of the best guard tandems in the league.
Reason #3: He cares about the Valley
Larry Fitzgerald, Shane Doan and Diana Taurasi are just a few legends that spent their entire career in the Valley, becoming a historical figure for their respective team. Despite Steve Nash, Dick Van Arsdale and Charles Barkley (basketball legends in their own right) suiting up for the Suns in the NBA Finals, none of them spent their entire career in Arizona.
Enter Booker, who on paper has done almost everything with the Suns. He won Rookie of the Year, played in the NBA All-Star Game four times, and became their franchise’s scoring leader last season.
Yet, he continues to show up for the community through his “Starting Five” foundation. He also donated to a local dog rescue at a lemonade stand run by a couple of young fans. More importantly, Booker agreed to a two-year, $145 million max contract extension, the highest extension salary in NBA history, that would keep him in the Valley until the 2029-30 season.
In an age of coaching turnover and star players leaving teams in hopes of gaining a ring, Booker remains focused on serving his adopted home. The team may have faced recent failures to reach expectations, but its fans continue to smile for him.
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