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Phoenix Suns: Who Belongs In Their Backcourt For The Future?

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 20, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Phoenix defeated Memphis 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

Devin Booker

The Good:

How much time do you have? Devin Booker has been the lone ray of sunshine during this gloomy season in Phoenix, and with Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Ronnie Price all banged up, Booker’s increased role has provided the league’s youngest player with an opportunity to show the world he’s far more than just a spot-up shooter.

In his rookie season, Booker is averaging 12.4 points per game on .423/.359/.848 shooting splits, but since Bledsoe’s injury moved him into the starting lineup, he’s averaging 16.9 points per game — third among rookies in that span.

His shooting numbers have predictably regressed with the added pressure and defensive attention of being the team’s No. 1 option, but Booker’s progress as a playmaker (5.3 assists to go with his 21.7 points per game in March), driver and clutch shot-maker means the Suns could be looking at their first franchise star since Steve Nash.

“The thing that I like best is that they embrace Booker,” Watson said of Bledsoe and Knight. “That’s interesting because they realize not only are they gonna give up handling the ball — which, for a point guard, don’t ever put a point guard off the ball, that’s like immediate disrespect. But they accept giving up handling the ball and they embrace Booker creating for them.”

The Bad:

Nothing. Devin Booker is perfect. (Okay, so maybe he’s a predictably terrible defender as a 19-year-old rookie who needs to get stronger moving forward. But that’s small peanuts at this point in his career.)

The Verdict: Keep Him. Nurture Him. Love Him. Embrace Him Forever.

It’s too early to say that Devin Booker is going to be a superstar, but he’s doing things that Klay Thompson — the player he was so often compared to heading into the draft — wasn’t doing as an NBA rookie.

The future is bright for Booker, and even if he doesn’t wind up being a top-20 player, the Suns do everything in their power to make Phoenix his permanent NBA home long after his rookie contract expires.

Next: Knight

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