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Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker and Chris Paul rated highly in respective position rankings

By Peter O'Keefe

Jan 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guards Devin Booker (1) and Chris Paul (3) talks in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guards Devin Booker (1) and Chris Paul (3) talks in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ever since the latter’s arrival to the Phoenix Suns in the 2020 offseason, Devin Booker and Chris Paul have been the most consistently productive backcourt in the NBA.

From a perennial lottery team to a likely championship contender for the third season in a row, the pair have turned the fortunes of the franchise on its head.

But after a disappointing conclusion to the season, where Paul in particular shrunk in the face of a Dallas Mavericks onslaught, what expectations are set on the pair going into next season?

Where do Phoenix Suns duo Chris Paul and Devin Booker fit when it comes to ranking them against contemporaries at their respective positions?

HoopsHype have made lists ranking the top 25 players in both the point-guard and shooting guard positions. In a sure delight to Suns fans, Booker topped the list of two-guards with author Frank Urbina referring to his career-best year last season.

"“Booker’s raw statistics were eye-catching, too, as the former Kentucky Wildcat posted a 26.8/5.0/4.8 stat line while shooting 38.3 percent from three. And he did so while leading the Phoenix Suns to the best regular season in their franchise’s history”."

Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Paul has been a top five staple in any such list for the majority of his career. Yet, after a slight decline in points per game and shooting percentages, along with the rise of younger point-guards, the 17-year veteran has fallen outside the top handful.

He was ranked sixth behind Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Trae Young and Damian Lillard, but Urbina still expects big things from Paul next season. 

"“Despite Paul being 37 now, we still expect big things from him in the upcoming league year, as he proved without a doubt last season that he remains the Point God, one of the best floor generals in the league, a force from the midrange and out of the pick-and-roll, and a disruptive defender as there ever has been in the steals department”."

Booker and Paul were the only teammate pairing to each be ranked in the top six, with three other teams featuring a pair of teammates in the top ten – Atlanta (Young/Dejounte Murray), Philadelphia (James Harden and Tyrese Maxey) and Memphis (Morant/Desmond Bane).

Next. Is Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker poised to morph into Harden-like player?. dark

When anyone divulges why the Phoenix Suns should remain in championship contention next season, they’ll refer to the team retaining one of the best backcourts in the league.

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