Hidden Devin Booker Stat Key to Reviving Suns’ Fortunes

It is no secret that the Phoenix Suns will trust Devin Booker as much as this coming season, but that is not a bad thing either. Fans who have looked at the past two plus for years, while the 28-year-old tried to let Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal work, who share the ball and the attacking burden.

That experiment flared out badly, and to give the front office some credit in the valley, they are now rebuilding this schedule with the attacking talents of Booker in mind. Dillon Brooks looks like the perfect foil as a defensive threat next to the book, while the center position is at least cared for with the additions of Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach.

Booker’s defensive instinct key to turn fortunes.

There is much less made of the defensive contributions of Booker to the Suns, and that seems to be even less important. He becomes the most important attraction again, although a combination of a teammate with similar skills in Jalen Green and the opportunity to re -play the Point Guard position, complicates things again.

But there is actually reason to believe – based on what we saw last season – that the defensive efforts of those booker can help the Suns to exceed the modest expectations for them next season. Until the surprise of many, Booker was one of the competition leaders in loose balls restored in 2024-25, because he knew 0.8 per game. Even former head coach Monty Williams was so early.

That number may not look much, but it was bound for the seventh best Mark in the entire competition last season. In an ironic turn that you couldn’t make up for, it was the same song as Toumani Camara. The all-defensive second team selection of last season that just gave the Suns away. He is already seen as one of the best defenders in the entire competition, but Booker fits him in this category.

Josh Hart (1.1) and Dyson Daniels (1.0) were the top two names in this category, and both are seen as elite defenders in the competition. In fact, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (0.9) can realistic to be a better attacking player than booker of all the boys at the top of this list.

There is clearly much more to defend than the recovery of loose balls, and it is fair to point out that the suns were somehow worse when booker was on the field – giving up a terrible 118.5 points per game – than the entire season (117.7). But actually caring and fighting for the ball were no characteristics of the tandem of Durant/Beal, although Booker clearly tried.