Phoenix Suns: 5 takeaways from 2017-18 Media Day
1. The next step for Booker is…
The focal point of the Phoenix Suns’ 2017-18 Media Day, as is usually the case with bottom-feeder teams eyeing the horizon, centered around their franchise player.
Everyone knows Devin Booker can score and the Suns are all in on that remarkable skill. Earl Watson’s glowing praise for his starting shooting guard certainly confirms as much:
"“He’s phenomenal offensively, one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen at such a young age, and I’ve been around a lot of them young — Gordon Hayward, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, just young guys, Dame Lillard, C.J. McCollum — he’s beyond their level as far as what he’s giftedly, offensively capable of.”"
With Booker entering a potential breakout third year in the league, every topic surrounding the 20-year-old phenom revolved around one question: What’s the the next step in the progression of his game?
For McDonough, the first answer was becoming more efficient on offense. For Watson, it was rebounding. For Dudley and Ulis, it was his passing and making other players better. But Booker wound up summarizing it best with one word that seemed to encompass the necessary areas for improvement in his game: “Everything.”
"“I always say I have everything to work on and I’ve realized that at this point in my career, with how young I am, I haven’t really established anything yet, especially on a non-winning team,” he said. “So for me, being a leader, obviously on the defensive end, being more efficient.”"
Booker wound up touching on the four main points of emphasis that both Watson and McDonough eventually covered as well: Defense, playmaking, being a leader and rebounding.
Phoenix Suns
"“The fact that he’s in the top five players along with four future Hall-of-Famers in terms of points scored before their 21st birthday, that’s impressive,” McDonough said. “So offensively I think just become more efficient and I think you’ll see more of his vision and playmaking come out this year.”"
Last year, Booker shot 42.3 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from 3-point range, bumping his career shooting splits to an underwhelming .423/.354/.835. However, for a 20-year-old playing in just his second NBA season, Booker has already shown not only innate scoring ability, but future leadership qualities as well.
"“What we’re looking for, in terms of contributions to winning, is becoming better defensively, rebounding and then I think the intangibles, the leadership qualities,” McDonough said. “He has that natural charisma, he has that natural leadership ability. He is kind of the leader of our young group so to speak. When he speaks, those guys listen.”"
McDonough noted it’s too early to put that much pressure on him to lead, which is why the team still has veterans like Chandler, Dudley and Bledsoe. However, Booker plans on leading his young supporting cast by example as they grow together.
"“You can lead vocally all you want and you can tell people to do things, but at the same time, these people are looking at you to lead the team and what you’re doing,” he said. “So just being a true professional, doing things the right way even though I’m in my third year.”"
On the other fronts, Dudley noted that with an uptick in efficiency, Booker could easily average 24+ points per game. The key, however, will be avoiding forming bad habits on losing teams, upping his assists and rebounds to that 5-6 per game territory, and becoming a more passable defender.
"“Defensively I don’t expect him to be a Tony Allen, but he can’t be someone that they’re trying to go after,” he said."
Devin Booker hasn’t convinced people he’s the real deal yet, but for Phoenix Suns fans who already know the upcoming campaign won’t snap a seven-year playoff drought, his progression as a more well-rounded player will be the biggest storyline to keep an eye on.