Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are some of the most lethal shooters in the NBA today. Their all 3-Level scoring ability makes the defenders have absolute nightmares defending them. Despite the two being excellent from every part of the floor, their mid-range stands out the most for the Phoenix Suns in a quest for the franchise’s first NBA title.
Durant’s Shooting Efficiency
KD is having the best shooting season of his career so far, averaging 56.6% from the field and shooting 38.6 % from the 3pt range. JJ Redickdescribed KD’s mid-range shooting efficiency in his podcast, The Old Man and the Three
"“Over the last 25 seasons, 1700 different times that a player has taken at least 250 mid-range jumpers in a season. There’s been three times that a player has shot over 55 percent. Kevin Durant this season, Kevin Durant last season, and Kevin Durant in 18-19.” (2018-2019 regular season)“He’s the best mid-range shooter ever.”"
–JJ Redick
Most of the shots taken by the Slim Reaper are extremely tough. Almost every time down the floor, he’s facing double teams or the opposing team’s best defender. Yet somehow, Durant manages to score with great efficiency from the field and makes the game look easy.
D Book’s best season
Booker is quietly having the best scoring season of his career. He currently averages 27.6 points per game, shooting 48.9% from the field and 37% from the 3pt range.
Even before KD landed in Phoenix, Booker already had the suns in a position to make a run in the playoffs again. In the most recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Booker and the Suns had no problems beating the team without Durant.
Booker scored 44 points while shooting 73.9% from the field and 60% from 3-pt range. This led to an easy suns win 132-101 over OKC.
Durant and Booker’s performance
So far, the duo has only played three games together. The Suns won all three games. In this stretch, Durant and Booker have already made history. They were only 23 points away from crossing Wilt Chamberlian and York Larese for most combined points in 1st three games together with 188 (4th most in NBA history) via @EliasSports
The sample size to know if the two fit is tiny, but there’s no denying that Book and Durant are already in the conversation to be the best duo in the league.
The Suns have not lost a game yet when KD has played.
The only concern is their health.
Durant has only played 42 games this season, with knee and hamstring injuries constantly bothering him and now it looks like he will be out again after only three games.
Meanwhile, Booker suffered a groin injury and has only played 39 out of the 66 games during the regular season.
The Suns are currently hanging at 4th seed in the Western Conference. If they can avoid injuries, the Suns are the favorites to win the Western Conference and compete for a title. This season is also a chance for the Suns to redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to the Mavericks in Game 7 last years.