A look into Book, Chapter 10.
As we turn the page on to chapter 10, it seems as if the author of this chapter has given us a plot twist. As we take into the start of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker’s tenth season in the NBA, it looks like a couple of things in Book’s game have gone unnoticed.
When you think about Devin Booker you think about the prolific scorer that can kill you from the middy and give you 35 points on any given night. But there are other intangibles that he is writing in chapter 10 that show how he is evolving as a player.
Co-Author
Now with the new additions over the recent seasons of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Devin Booker’s role on the Suns has changed slightly. Book has seemingly become the second option in terms of scoring on this team as Book comes in behind Durant’s 27.6 PPG at just 23.1 PPG. Although the fanbase may not agree with the fact Booker isn’t the main option when it comes to scoring anymore, we all know that Booker is a team player and is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
That was displayed this past Olympics run as Booker went back to his Kentucky roots and became more of a catch-and-shoot guy.
Devin Booker is carrying his lowest usage rate since his rookie season at 26.8%.
Booker is fully embracing the style he played during the Olympics for the betterment of the Suns.
New head coach Mike Budenholzer has this group of stars fully bought in to their playing style. pic.twitter.com/KJmdMFGSsP
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 9, 2024
Assisting
In just ten games Booker is averaging 7.3 assists per game on just 1.9 turnovers per game. Booker is averaging 3.84 assists per turnover this season and ranks 11th behind Luka Doncic in assists per game this season. I feel that this is being heavily overlooked and not being brought to other’s attention enough as one of the few narratives surrounding Book’s game is the fact he’s not a “playmaker”.
This is especially surprising due to the fact the Suns brought in one of the top free-agent point guards this season in Tyus Jones. Alongside Book this season Jones is averaging 6.3 assists per game on just 1.1 turnovers a game this season.
The Book Thief
Another interesting thing to take a look at when it comes to Books game this season is the fact he’s averaging 1.0 steals per game this season. Book has always flirted with 1.0 steals per game as he has a career average of 0.9 steals per game in his ten seasons in the Association. Book has only averaged one steal or just above one steal just two times in his career which was the 2021-22 season and the 2022-23 season.
We saw what Book is capable of defensively when he isn’t looked upon to carry the offensive load every night as we saw during the 2024 Paris Olympics. It looks as if Book is trying to implement that same Olympic role to this Suns team.
As we reflect on the early part of Devin Booker’s tenth NBA season, it’s clear he’s evolving in more ways than one. While his scoring prowess is well-known, this season highlights his adaptability and willingness to adjust for the betterment of the team. With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the mix, Booker has embraced a more balanced role: becoming a facilitator and contributing on the defensive end with a consistent presence in steals. This shift speaks volumes about his commitment to winning and his capability to evolve beyond the labels attached to his game.
Booker is proving that his value goes beyond scoring; it lies in his multifaceted impact and relentless drive to elevate his team.