Valley of the Suns
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3 nightmare scenarios that could ruin the Phoenix Suns’ season

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 10, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 115-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 10, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 115-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: (L-R) Bradley Beal #3, Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 10: (L-R) Bradley Beal #3, Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. Devin Booker isn’t him

We’ve been bullish about Booker’s talents here at Valley of the Suns. Not making the top 10 of ESPN’s annual 100 list was a travesty, especially after Booker was named the top shooting guard in the league in the General Manager’s survey that came out recently.

Booker will be 27-years-old at the end of this month, and in theory is just about to enter his prime. He was one of the five best players in the world in the postseason last year, and has all of the help he could possibly want in the form of Durant and Beal to make a return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2021.

But just because all of this is the natural progression of a superstar, does not mean it is guaranteed. Booker looks like he’s put in the work this offseason, and at media day he looked like a man who is completely comfortable in his surroundings. The Valley is his kingdom, and everybody from Durant, to the front office, to the people in the concession stands know this.

A top five finish in the MVP race should be the base level here, meaning a return to the All-Star game and being named to the first-team All-NBA list next year. But Booker will have to spend more time running the show as the point guard than ever before, and it will take so getting used to for a player who is known more for his scoring than he is setting his teammates up.

Next. Devin Booker is better than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. dark

Not that Booker isn’t capable, he can literally do anything he wants on a basketball court. A slow start or some time spent on the treatment table would be disastrous for the franchise, and is the biggest roadblock they face right now. This league is more stacked than ever before, and nobody is going to give Booker anything.

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