Has Devin Booker made the final leap to superstardom for the Phoenix Suns?
After somewhat of a disappointing end to last season and a dysfunctional offseason, many were hesitant to put the Phoenix Suns among the top contenders in the Western Conference. However, despite all that has transpired with this franchise over the past six months, there is one variable that could trump it all.
A final leap from Devin Booker.
The last step for Devin Booker to extend the Phoenix Suns’ championship window
Over the past few seasons, Booker has evolved into one of the best players in the league. Though, there was one element of his game that was missing – the final leap to superstardom. The ability to take over a game on command. The ability to win despite the circumstances. And the ability to overcome anything and everything.
For as good as Booker was, he simply didn’t have that ability. But could all that be changing?
Through the first week of this season, Booker has looked like a different player than the one we saw in the postseason. Hobbling around, Booker looked like a shell of himself in the last two games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks.
In part, that was one of the reasons why the Mavs won that series.
Through four games this season, however, Booker has helped lead the Suns to a 3-1 record and is averaging 33 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 53 percent shooting from the field and 48 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He has taken command of the Suns and is quickly emerging as a budding superstar. He has the look, the talent, and now the opportunity to take the final leap to stardom.
And if the Suns are going to be a contender this season, they need Booker to keep this level of production up. Especially as Chris Paul begins to show more and more age in his game. To start the year, Paul has struggled mightily. Through the first four games, Paul is only averaging 10 points on 37 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent shooting from 3-point range.
At the age of 37, that’s not exactly surprising. But that’s what makes Booker’s potential step into superstardom all that much more important.
The Suns went all-in a few years ago when they acquired Chris Paul. The hope was that Paul would help elevate Booker until Booker was ready to help elevate Paul.
We’re here now. Booker has gotten off to a good start. The question is, has Booker finally made the final leap to superstardom, or is this simply a hot start?