Phoenix Suns: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

3. Devin Booker

Devin Booker is the most established member of Phoenix’s young core by far, and for those who have had to sit through the last few Suns seasons, it’s fairly obvious he’s heading for stardom. It may take a while for the rest of the national audience to catch on, but Booker is already the team’s best player and was well worth his five-year, $158 million extension.

"“He’s certainly the main pillar of our franchise that we’re looking to build around,” McDonough said at Media Day. “I think he’s earned that.”"

Booker’s newfound financial security — and the star status that comes with it — is nice and all, but it might put more pressure on him than anyone. Luckily, it’s a challenge he embraces, and one he’s been preparing for since he first entered the league.

"“It’s a lot of responsibility,” he said. “I’m not just representing myself anymore, I’m not representing my family, I’m representing a whole franchise and a city and a storied organization with fans that are ready to win, and a whole organization that’s ready to win. So it’s a good pressure to have. I feel like I’m built for it, with a great supporting cast around me.”"

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After nearly posting a 25-5-5 line on 38.3 percent shooting from 3-point range as a 21-year-old, Booker will first have to work his way back from a right hand injury that could sideline him until a few games into the season.

It’s a less than ideal start with all the tweaks to the roster designed to make his life easier, though he’s been able to stay in shape and work on his lefty game. In any case, while there’s no doubt Booker has found individual success, once he returns, he’ll face more pressure than ever to live up to that contract and start pushing Phoenix toward team success.

That will take time and help from the rest of the roster, but his porous defense and high turnover rate represent areas he needs to work on to flip the outside world’s opinion from “bad team, good numbers guy” to “legitimate NBA superstar.” McDonough doesn’t seem worried.

"“I think it’s just the confidence that he’ll work, that he’ll put the time in, that he’ll continue to get better,” he said. “He’s all about basketball, he loves the game and we think the sky’s the limit for him. We think he’s able to handle the added pressure and attention that come along with that contract.”"