{"id":107475,"date":"2024-11-17T13:44:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T18:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=107475"},"modified":"2024-11-17T13:44:18","modified_gmt":"2024-11-17T18:44:18","slug":"suns-need-devin-booker-return-mvp-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/17\/suns-need-devin-booker-return-mvp-level\/","title":{"rendered":"The Suns Need Devin Booker to Return to MVP Level"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Phoenix Suns<\/a> have enjoyed a strong start to the NBA season, though they are still waiting for MVP-caliber star Devin Booker<\/a> to get going. Their 9-4 record has them fifth in the Western Conference<\/a>, but they have lost three of the last four as they navigate a stint without Kevin Durant<\/a>. It was a costly victory against the Dallas Mavericks<\/a> that altered the course of their young season, as they improved to 8-1 but lost Durant to a calf strain.<\/p>\n

Durant\u2019s performances have earned him a top-three appearance in the latest NBA MVP ladder<\/a>, so his absence is a huge blow for Mike Budenholzer<\/a> and the Suns. His displays had also masked the inconsistencies of his fellow teammates Booker and Bradley Beal<\/a>, who have struggled at times offensively.<\/p>\n

The Suns Need Devin Booker to Return to MVP Level<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Booker\u2019s Early Struggles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With Beal now also on the sidelines, there is much more emphasis on Booker to return to the level accustomed of him. The 28-year-old has averaged over 25 points in each of the last six<\/a> seasons, but through 13 games is only producing 22.5 per game<\/a>. In four games without Durant, he is averaging 21 points<\/a>, and in the last two games without both Durant and Beal, this figure decreases to 15 points.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most concerning performance of the season came in his latest outing at the OKC Thunder<\/a>. Booker scored just 12 points<\/a> in the game, all coming in the second half and was a -29. The first half saw the first scoreless half<\/a> of his career since 2019 against the Denver Nuggets. Eight of his points came from the free-throw line. It is far too early to have major worries about him long-term, as he has shown to start slow in the past, but there may need to be more urgency this time.<\/p>\n

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Not disputing Devin Booker has had a rough start, but, Book thru 13 games:<\/p>\n

2020-21: 22.2 PPG, 4.1 APG, 4.1 TOs, 46.8 FG%, 34.2 3P%, 8-5 record
2021-22: 22.9 PPG, 5.5 APG, 2.8 TOs, 43.1 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 10-3 record
2024-25: 22.5 PPG, 6.6 APG, 2.0 TOs, 42.3 FG%, 34 3P%, 9-4 record<\/p>\n

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n