PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns have 11 new players added to the roster for the 2025-2026 season, which leads to plenty of questions surrounding the roster. All-time franchise scoring leader Devin Booker will have to revert back to his early years in the league and become the driving force on a likely bad team. The 28-year-old didn’t sniff a winning record until his sixth season, and after three straight playoff appearances, he appears back on a team loitering in the lottery.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Booker is one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA and could easily drop 30 points on any given night. However, is that what the team will need next season. First-time head coach Jordan Ott and a roster filled with inexperienced, young talent naive to what makes a winning team. So while many believes the scoring will skyrocket without Kevin Durant and Bradley, Booker might take a different approach.
Oct 6, 2024; Palm Desert, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Acrisure Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
What could Booker stats look like in 11th season with Suns:
- MPG: 35.4
- PPG: 26.4
- APG: 7.6
- RPG: 3.6
- FG%: 45.1
Last season, Booker had a career-high in assists with 7.1, and he’ll continue to build on that with this new roster. The four-time All-Stars unselfishness is what gives Phoenix slight hope for next season. Booker was under the tutelage of an all-time point guard like Chris Paul and has taken elements from his game for himself.
Nov 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) puts up a layup over Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Ott is coming from different lineage of coaching staffs that limited star players minutes to conserve their health. In the prediction, Booker would be playing the least amount of minutes in two years. Regardless, Booker’s scoring will have a slight increase, while his efficiency will take a small dip as he’ll still be eyed as the main scoring threat by Ott and opposing teams.
Apr 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Despite the great individual stats, Booker will likely still be shunned out of an All-Star bid for next season. The combined factors of how stacked the Western Conference is and the Suns expected lack of team success will have Booker miss his second-straight All-Star appearance. At the end of his potentially hall of fame career, the 2025-2026 season will be seen as a gap year for Booker, as he and his team begin the long road back to contending.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
