Devin Booker, Suns looking to shoot more threes and play faster
The Phoenix Suns are looking to play with better pace in order to compete at a higher level than their 2023-24 season.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is one of the NBA’s best players.
But there needs to be improvement in two key areas.
Booker, 27, is entering his 10th NBA season. He outlined a focus of his during the Suns’ second day of training camp.
“Just leadership, trying to lead by example, lead by voice, get everybody on the same page,” Booker said.
“It’s that time of year where you get to work the kinks out and just develop a chemistry and identity.”
Booker and the Suns finished 49-33 in a season in which they were expected to compete for an NBA championship. Phoenix, which was the No. 6 seed, was eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round four games to none.
Booker, who was widely regarded as the NBA’s best shooting guard before the 2023-24 season, is now considered second-best according to an annual GM survey on NBA.com, trailing Anthony Edwards.
Defensive rating judges how many points a player allows per 100 possessions. In his latest season, Booker’s rating (117.3) was the second-worst of his career.
This season, he said the ceiling is “high” for the Suns defensively.
“I think that’s our main focus,” Booker said. “I think we know how talented we are offensively. The quicker we can jell, the quicker the communication is open between everybody and holding each other accountable, we’ll be in a pretty good place.”
Phoenix through two preseason games is also looking to take more 3-pointers. This past season, Phoenix was No. 25 in the NBA at 32.3.
The Suns have jumped up to 42.5 attempts averaged in their two wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.
Tyus Jones is an addition who has helped Booker play off the ball, something that he did not have to do without a point guard last season.
“We can say it how it is: We got him for a steal,” said Booker on Jones, who signed a veteran minimum contract to land with the Suns. “ … Someone I’m super excited about. Everyone talks about the assist-to-turnover ratio … he’s a true ultimate winner, and I’m glad that he’s on a stage now where he can show it.”
The Suns are looking to get back to championship contention. Phoenix has the most wins by any team (209) over the last four seasons.
“I think going out in the fashion that we did is something that you don’t want to just blow by and act like it never happened,” Booker said. “Something that we have to accept and use as motivation.
“I always say experience is the best teacher. We have that terrible experience under our belt, use it as motivation from here on out.”