On Tuesday evening, the Phoenix Suns will continue preseason action when they play the Los Angeles Lakers (at home in Arizona).
However, they will be without their best player, as Devin Booker has been ruled out for the showdown.
Why Is Booker Out?
Via Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet: “Several Suns veterans, headlined by Devin Booker, will miss tonight’s game against the Lakers, due primarily to the team’s travel schedule (they just returned from China).”
Booker will not be the only key Suns player out of action.
Via PHNX Suns: “List of players OUT for tonight’s preseason finale: Devin Booker Grayson Allen Ryan Dunn Dillon Brooks Oso Ighodaro Collin Gillespie Nick Richards Royce O’Neale Mark Williams Jalen Green”
Booker is coming off another strong season in Phoenix where he averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists per contest while shooting 46.1% from the field and 33.2% from the three-point range in 75 games.
However, the Suns had a rough season, finishing as the 11th seed in the Western Conference (and missing the 2025 NBA playoffs).
Via Duane Rankin of azcentral: “Suns starting lineup vs. Lakers: Jordan Goodwin Jared Butler Nigel Hayes-Davis Rasheer Fleming Khaman Maluach. Lakers starting lineup: Luka Doncic Austin Reaves Marcus Smart Jake LaRavia Deandre Ayton”
The Suns will play their first game of the regular season on October 22 when they host DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings in Arizona.”
Booker was the 13th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after one season of college basketball at Kentucky.
He has spent his entire 10-year career playing for the Suns.
During the 2021 season, Booker led the franchise to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1993 season (when Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was still on the roster).
Via Chris Walder (on September 24): “Devin Booker has won two Olympic gold medals, made four All-Star teams, an All-NBA First Team, and took the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals for the first time in 29 years by the age of 28.”
After trading away Kevin Durant over the summer, the Suns are expected to be at the bottom of the Western Conference during the 2026 season.