Crazy stat proves the Timberwolves have taken Devin Booker's soul

When it comes to the biggest rivalries the Phoenix Suns have in the league today, it is hard to know who to put at the top. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most likely answer, because they combine the painful past with the annoying present. The battles against L.A. from eras gone by means there will always be some niggle to this games, with Luka Doncic bringing the added spice in 2025.

In terms of rival players who are hated in The Valley, the Slovenian tops that list. The fact he now plays in the purple and gold, well that just makes playing the Lakers even worse. In the last 18 months or so a new name has entered the chat though, the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have the Sun's number at this point, and a playoff sweep at the hands of them last season confirmed this.

This ridiculous Devin Booker stat proves they are in his head too.

This has been headlined by the 8-0 run the Timberwolves are currently enjoying across the playoffs and regular season, with the most recent Minnesota win putting a dent in the play-in hopes of the Suns. They have their own superstar in Anthony Edwards who has overtaken Booker in terms of talent and marketability - and although they've also struggled this season - they're in a better place.

Defensively they're worlds ahead of Phoenix as well, which is where the insane stat comes into play. That's because across the last eight games that these two teams have met - again with the Timberwolves winning all of them - Booker has turned the ball over an outrageous 34 times.

That's all the proof you need that this opponent are in Booker's head, and the most recent loss to the Timberwolves was one of the worst games you will ever see the 28-year-old have. He had five turnovers before he ever got on the board, and he was only able to muster 10 points in a game his team really needed to win.

Part of the reason for this is the excellent defending of Jaden McDaniels on Booker whenever he's on the court. He simply doesn't ever leave his side - and although he doesn't appear to be as physically imposing as Booker - the way he uses his long body to keep his distance and stop him from getting any good shots off or passes away is incredible.

It is one of the key reasons why the Suns wouldn't win a playoff matchup if it were to somehow happen again this year, but it gets worse than that. A more likely series - if the Suns can even get that far - is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who defensively are everything the Timberwolves were last season when they led the league in defensive rating and more.

They are full of defenders who come in all shapes and sizes, and McDaniels has given them the blueprint on how to keep Booker quiet. It speaks volumes that Suns fans weren't happy seeing Booker initiate the offense, as he struggled to get anything going thanks to the pressure of McDaniels as soon as he can across half-court.

This also sparks a wider conversation about the kind of roster the Suns have built around Booker - as although Kevin Durant is the ideal release valve to get a bucket if Booker is being shut down - the team need more than that alone to be competitive. The Lakers might still be the sworn enemy, but the Timberwolves have the Suns' number right now, and it is unclear when that will change.