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Duane Rankin and Greg Moore debate if Devin Booker can regain younger form

Greg Moore wants the Suns to rediscover young Devin Booker while Duane Rankin points out Booker’s changed mentality.

Republic Staff

Devin Booker is the unequivocal leader, best player and go-to franchise player for the Phoenix Suns.

No Big 3. The Suns traded Kevin Durant to Houston and bought out Bradley Beal, who later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

No Point God. Chris Paul is back for a second run with the Clippers. It’s crazy how Beal and Paul were traded for each other in 2023 and are now on the same team.

There’s no doubt who will have the ball down the stretch of close games for Phoenix this season. Those moments may be very rare, but when the Suns are in a tight one, hey, Booker, go make it happen.

This may be the season he establishes a new career high in points per game. The Suns are going to need every point he can deliver to stay competitive with this new-look roster.

When averaging his career-best of 27.8 points in the 2022-23 season, Booker registered a ball usage percentage of 31.1% as he attempted 20.1 shots from the field (six from 3).

Last season, Booker averaged 25.6 points on 18.9 attempts (career-high 7.3 from 3) with a usage of 28.5%. Having the ball more seems to be a given, but the following must happen for the Suns’ all-time leading scorer to average 30 points a game for the first time in his career, entering his 11th season.

Take at least 20 shots

Only two players averaged at least 30 points a game last season: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 NBA MVP and 2025 finals MVP, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 21.8 shots in averaging a league-best 32.7 points, while Antetokounmpo launched 19.7 shots in averaging 30.4. Antetokounmpo led the league in ball usage at 34.6% with Gilgeous-Alexander right there at 33.6%.

Six of the NBA’s top 10 scorers last season hoisted at least 20 shots from the field. Booker has only attempted that high a number twice — 20.9 in 2021-22 and 20.1 in 2022-23.

The analytics say either take 3s or get to the rim, but Booker has always been a mid-range guy. He shot 51.7% (168-of-325) from mid-range last season and made 54.2% (471-of-869) of his 2s.

He could use more of that either on a two-dribble pull-up, catch-and-shoot or post-up.

Can first-year head coach Jordan Ott create more open looks for Booker in the offense? Some backdoor cuts. Coming off pin downs. Something more creative than a high screen and roll.

Last season, Booker attempted 8.1 shots against tight defense (defender 2 to 4 feet from him) and 7.5 of his looks were open (defender 4 to 6 feet from him). Naturally, he hit a higher percentage on open shots at 47.6% than against tight defense at 44.4%.

Booker could also use a point guard. Tyus Jones assisted on 112 of Booker’s made field goals. The next closest was Durant at 44.

The Suns don’t have a true point guard right now. Maybe Jalen Green can help fill this void, but he’s averaging just 3.4 assists for his career.

Higher percentage from 3

Booker attempted a career-high 7.3 shots a game from 3, but only made 33.2% of them for the second-lowest percentage of his career.

He’s more of a streaky 3-point shooter than a really good one. Booker is a career 35.4% 3-point shooter.

A total of 211 Booker 3s last season were of the pull-up variety. He only made 28.9% of them (61). Those come in transition when the defense typically isn’t set.

On traditional jump shots from 3, Booker drilled 35.3% (78-of-221). During his career year, Booker nailed nearly 50% of his traditional 3s (50-of-108).

On pull-up 3s, try 27.7% (31-of-122).

So either take more traditional 3s or shoot a higher percentage on the pullups.

Get to the line more

Booker is a career 89.4% free-throw shooter on just six attempts a game.

For comparison’s sake, last season, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 8.8 free throws and Antetokounmpo reached 10.7. Gilgeous-Alexander has a Ph.D. in drawing contact, while Antetokounmpo has size, speed, strength and an unquenched thirst to attack the rim that leads to getting fouled.

Booker isn’t as proficient in creating contact nor a physical freak — and isn’t exactly on the best of terms with the referees.

He consistently lets them have it. Booker can quickly reach a boiling point with his red face as proof.

Booker has tried everything after what he’d consider a missed call.

Laugh it off. Smile. Calmly talk to the referee.   

Well, as calmly as he can, but if Booker attempts eight free throws a game, which would be a career high, that’d lower his blood pressure and help him reach that historic 30-point average.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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