The Phoenix Suns have been one of the surprise packages of the season, but nothing about what Devin Booker is doing right now should be a shock. The 29-year-old is putting up some big numbers while being the offensive hub for the franchise, and he has managed to do this without his presumed co-star in Jalen Green.
We're not going to see Green anytime soon, but that isn't slowing down Booker. If anything he looks comfortable doing it all for the Suns - and perhaps most importantly of all - he also appears happy. Not something that could have been said while Kevin Durant was in town, as the team failed to hit the heights we all assumed they would.
Booker right to stick with The Valley this season.
Kevin O'Connor was on his podcast on Yahoo! Sports recently, and he had Pierre Andresen along for the ride. The Suns naturally were a topic of conversation given their standing in the Western Conference, and O'Connor put forward the idea that another organization could test the Suns' resolve with a trade package for Booker this season.
Right now that doesn't appear likely though, as we haven't seen the superstar (which is what he is) look this content in Phoenix for a while. Little things such as his interaction with a younger fan in win over the Dallas Mavericks a reminder of how much he means to the city, but also how seriously Booker takes being The Guy as well.
Then there are the stats, with 28.2 points per game somehow a career high for one of the best scorers in the league. The seven assists are right around what he's managed the last two years - when he was being more of a playmaker next to Booker - while shooting a shade under 38 percent from deep is among the best returns he's ever had.
There was some talk that Booker worked best as the second best player on a good team, but already he has shown that this was misguided. If you make him the cornerstone and surround him with adequate talent on both ends of the court - with a sprinkling of role players exceeding expectations - then you're going to win games.
We only got to see Booker and Green in the same backcourt for a game and a bit, but there is already reason to believe that it is Green who will be the second option alongside Phoenix's favorite son. It was massively important for the Suns to keep Booker engaged this season because most assumed they'd lose a ton of games. Only they're winning, Booker is smiling and he's enjoying being the man.