The Phoenix Suns have yet to witness the three of their new stars in action, but they have witnessed two of them excel. As they lead the Suns to a top-10 offense and winning record through the first 20 games of the 2023–24 season, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant’s bond has only gotten stronger.
Both Booker and Durant have enjoyed outstanding seasons thus far, with Durant rising into the top 10 in the NBA scoring record book. Bradley Beal has only been in three games for the Suns thus far due to a back injury, but despite this, they have managed to win. Due to Booker’s decision to take on the role, they were able to manage with just two of their stars.
When asked what it was like learning to let Durant take more of the scoring opportunities, Booker kept it simple.
Booker remarked during the Suns’ victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, “I’m the point guard, he’s the scorer.”
Booker’s playmaking and scoring are crucial to the Suns, and he has not disappointed. The superstar guard is playing a crucial role as the facilitator in a Big 3 with three deadly scorers, averaging a career-high 8.4 assists per game while controlling his turnovers.
While KD is ranked third in terms of points per game behind Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic, Booker continues to lag behind Durant in usage rate (33.0 percent to 32.6 percent). The Suns need to maintain balance. For them, the secret to success is ensuring that their stars work in unison. All is well for the time being.
Booker said that he feels like he’s getting to a point where the game continues to slow down for him. His ability to read defenses and react accordingly has been put to the test over the years, including in his early NBA days when he was nearly out there by himself.
Scoring will always be the skill Booker is known for. It’s for good reason, as he’s still one of the best in the world at getting buckets. His 27.9 points per game rank ninth in the league (or at least, they would if he played enough games to qualify). But the narrative around him could easily start to change into him being a dual-threat guard.
According to Booker, he believes he is reaching a point when the game is becoming less and less enjoyable for him. Throughout the years, especially in his early NBA days when he was practically out there by himself, his ability to read defenses and respond appropriately has been put to the test.
Booker will always be recognized for his ability to score. It makes sense because he’s still among the world’s greatest at catching buckets. If he played enough games to qualify, his 27.9 points per game would put him in ninth place in the league. However, the storyline surrounding him might quickly shift to portray him as a dual-threat guard.
