The Phoenix Suns have continued to confound critics with their ability to win games this season, with the latest example being a stunning victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Devin Booker has been locked in with this group from the jump and it’s not hard to see why. He’s probably going back to the playoffs, and this team is going to struggle once they get there.
Booker is happy that the Suns have moved away from the hero-ball attack
The franchise cornerstone spoke to the media after that win over the Knicks, which was followed by a home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was quick to point out that moving away from the “hero ball” offense was one of the keys to their successful season thus far.
Devin Booker after 112-107 win over Knicks: “We all understand that we need each other to win big. I think Hero Ball might get you through one or two games, but once it gets down to the nitty-gritty, as you get deeper into the season or the playoffs, the defense tightens up… pic.twitter.com/3It9U8Mp49
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 10, 2026
This didn’t exactly feel like a shot at Kevin Durant, although the great irony of the timing here is that on the same night Booker came out with this quote, the Houston Rockets and Durant were having their own issues.
Booker is right, though, and in the two full seasons he and Durant were teammates, there’s a reason they didn’t even win a playoff game.
If the game slows down and you see the same opponent many times during a series, you can’t perform a “my turn, your turn” attack like Phoenix did.
You also won’t have success if you go the hero ball route, and Booker has proven this season that he’s more than happy for his teammates to have their moment.
Collin Gillespie, the name that jumps out here, but let’s not forget Dillon Brooks is having a career year. He was the perfect co-star in The Valley.
Booker has also struggled deep this season, and while that game-winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder was so beautiful, the offense doesn’t come exclusively through him.
The Suns give him the ball late in games and when they need to be bailed out of poor possession, but this doesn’t happen as Booker demands the ball himself.
Realizing that trust in his teammates would be key despite theoretically having a bottom-five selection in the Western Conference was huge for Booker, and the Suns have reaped the rewards.
It’s also comforting to know that even when Jalen Green returns from injury, this group won’t just watch Booker and Green take turns shooting.
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