{"id":245395,"date":"2025-08-22T16:31:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T16:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/245395\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T16:31:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T16:31:27","slug":"3-things-phoenix-suns-star-devin-booker-can-do-to-average-30-points-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/245395\/","title":{"rendered":"3 things Phoenix Suns’ star Devin Booker can do to average 30 points this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Devin Booker is the unequivocal leader, best player and go-to franchise player for the Phoenix Suns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No Big 3. The Suns traded Kevin Durant to Houston and bought out Bradley Beal, who later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

Take at least 20 shots<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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%.<\/p>\n

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Six of the NBA\u2019s top 10 scorers last season hoisted at least 20 shots from the field. Booker has only attempted that high a number twice \u2014 20.9 in 2021-22 and 20.1 in 2022-23.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He could use more of that either on a two-dribble pull-up, catch-and-shoot or post-up.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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%.<\/p>\n

Booker could also use a point guard. Tyus Jones assisted on 112 of Booker\u2019s made field goals. The next closest was Durant at 44.<\/p>\n

The Suns don’t have a true point guard right now. Maybe Jalen Green can help fill this void, but he\u2019s averaging just 3.4 assists for his career.<\/p>\n

Higher percentage from 3<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s more of a streaky 3-point shooter than a really good one. Booker is a career 35.4% 3-point shooter.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Phoenix<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) watches his 3-point shot against the Chicago Bulls at PHX Arena in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

On pull-up 3s, try 27.7% (31-of-122).<\/p>\n

So either take more traditional 3s or shoot a higher percentage on the pullups.<\/p>\n

Get to the line more<\/p>\n

Booker is a career 89.4% free-throw shooter on just six attempts a game.<\/p>\n

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For comparison\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Booker isn\u2019t as proficient in creating contact nor a physical freak \u2014 and isn\u2019t exactly on the best of terms with the referees.<\/p>\n

He consistently lets them have it. Booker can quickly reach a boiling point with his red face as proof.<\/p>\n

Booker has tried everything after what he\u2019d consider a missed call.<\/p>\n

Laugh it off. Smile. Calmly talk to the referee. <\/p>\n

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Well, as calmly as he can, but if Booker attempts eight free throws a game, which would be a career high, that\u2019d lower his blood pressure and help him reach that historic 30-point average.<\/p>\n

Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Support local journalism: Subscribe to\u00a0azcentral.com<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can Devin Booker average 30 points a game this season? Here’s how<\/a><\/p>\n