Devin Booker, the player synonymous with the Phoenix Suns, just turned 30 on Friday, and the milestone arrived with a brutal reality check for the team. He scored a dismal three points in 34 minutes during Monday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, his lowest output since Christmas Day 2022. Even worse, just three games into the season, there are reports that locker room tension is already boiling over, all because the Suns can’t figure out their point guard situation.
The Weight of a Decade-Plus in the Desert
Booker has been the guy for the Suns since day one, earning All-Rookie First Team honors in his first season and eventually becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He’s a five-time All-Star, has pushed the Suns to the playoffs five times, and even led them to the NBA Finals in 2021. Remember that? They took a 2-0 lead against the Milwaukee Bucks before falling short in six games. But despite all the individual brilliance and that one finals run, his tenure has been marked by what the team ultimately calls “disappointing team results.” This guy was once viewed as a future face of the league, finishing fourth in MVP voting and making All-NBA First Team in 2022. Now, he’s a polarizing figure, even after making All-NBA Third Team in 2024. Talk about a roller coaster.
Point Guard Problem Threatens to Derail the Season
Turning 30 puts Booker in the “old man category” in the NBA, about four years older than the league average. Only 17.5% of players are 30 or older, according to one report. So, entering his 12th year, the questions about his ability to maintain an elite level while searching for that elusive perfect point guard match are getting louder. NBA Insider Chris Haynes didn’t pull any punches, saying, “There’s some growing frustration within that locker room for the simple fact that that roster does not have a point guard that can organize that offense.” He added that the “play-by-committee” approach isn’t working right now. It’s a huge problem. You can see how much the team leans on Booker: after an opening-night beatdown by Portland, he dropped 43 points in their second game against the banged-up Golden State Warriors for a 131-122 win. That kind of reliance on one guy is just not wise in this league, but it’s where they’re at.
“He Needs to Be the Head of a Snake”
Even with the frustrations, the message from some is clear: Booker needs to double down. Former Suns player and current television analyst Eddie Johnson summed it up when discussing Booker’s plan to shoot more this season: “It’s a great thing. He needs to be aggressive. You’ve got to have the head of a snake. He has to be the one. It should not be equal shot distribution. He should be taking the most shots. He should be the one in the fourth quarter being the focus, the hub. That’s how it is, and that’s how it’s always going to be.” It’s high stakes, with the Suns now relying on Booker just to make the playoffs. With the season barely underway and locker room tension already brewing, the pressure on Booker to be that “head of a snake” has never been higher. Can he lead them out of this early season funk and quiet the critics? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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