Phoenix Suns: Can Rubio and Booker be the next “Backcourt 2000”?

Booker’s open gym incidents shows his career in a nutshell

For the last month or so, Devin Booker’s legacy may be linked to a debate about pickup ball that for a few days actually dominated the NBA news cycle. Before the analysis goes further, all sports shows and websites owe Devin Booker a huge debt of gratitude because this really was a topic of conversation when NBA topics were very hard to come by.

Debates aside (writer votes for double-teaming!), Jalen Rose is spot on about the frustrations of Devin Booker’s short career in a Phoenix Suns uniform. Devin Booker is oozing with talent, but it hasn’t transcended into team success at all.

Let’s take a look at Devin Booker’s greatest achievement.

Booker became the sixth player in NBA history to score 70 points in a NBA game. At 20 years and 145 days, he is the youngest player to achieve the feat. That’s what many NBA fans will remember. What most tend to forget is that the Phoenix Suns lost the game.

It was the highest point total since Kobe Bryant dropped 81 on Jalen Rose’s Toronto Raptors back in 2006. Now the NBA world knows he can score, but can he be coached?

The coaching carousel will finally stop with the new regime of general manager James Jones and head coach Monty Williams. Devin Booker hasn’t had a head coach last for two years in his career. Now the Suns fan base will see if Booker can play basketball or can he just score. Now that the point guard duties have been dealt with, can he adjust?

Can he play off the ball after years of ball-dominant play? How about that defense?

Now with Devin Booker going into his fifth year in the NBA, it’s time for him to take the next step into the leadership role. The Monty Williams era will shine the light on  if the Suns can hitch their future to Booker long-term. This will be evident starting with his relationship with Deandre Ayton, who had a tense moment or two with Booker last season according to SI.

The Suns incumbent guard of the past didn’t have questions about leadership. He had a reputation built around leadership.