3 Takeaways From Devin Booker in Return with the Phoenix Suns

Takeaways From Devin Booker in Return with Phoenix Suns: Booker Makes a Difference Even Without Scoring

Few players are more associated with the offensive side of the game than Devin Booker. Surrounded by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Stephen Curry, Book certainly belongs at the lunch table with the game’s purest scorers.

But even without his bucket-getting superpowers which the Suns surely missed during his time away, Booker still makes an impact just with his presence on the court, and he showed that off last night.

By Booker’s standards, which remain quite high, his game last night was no dandy from an offensive standpoint. His 16 points across three quarters were enough, but he still shot 40.0 percent from the field—the team’s third lowest mark behind Elfrid Payton and Ish Wainright.

For an offensive superstar like Booker, he normally knocks down his shots at a much higher clip. But even with this “off night” from an efficiency standpoint, Booker still uplifted his team, leading everyone with a +32 plus/minus score.

This rare statistical contradiction just goes to show how vital Booker remains to the Suns even on days when he struggles with his shot. It primarily testifies for his improved defense and ability to create for others either with his passing or as a product of all the defensive attention he draws.