Dillon Brooks has been the Phoenix Suns' best player through three preseason games, and if that sounds like an overreaction, then you are not taking into account how last season ended. The Canadian international was also the team's standout performer in the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Houston Rockets continue scrambling to try to replace his tenacious ways. While it's nice to see him performing, it also shines a spotlight on Devin Booker.
Devin Booker needs to overtake Brooks as Suns' best player
Booker remains the Suns' franchise cornerstone, and although he was rested as the team picked up their first preseason win against the San Antonio Spurs, the fact that Brooks has overshadowed him going back to last season is concerning. The best-case scenario here is that Brooks exceeds his role as the co-star in The Valley (which he has), with Booker becoming a top-10 player once more.
Only then will the Suns become the best version of themselves, as any time Brooks is their best and most consistent player, that means Booker is not producing to the level we know he is capable of. It hasn't helped that Booker's 3-point shot has vanished into thin air during these tune-up games, while Brooks was in mid-season form in getting into it with John Collins.
Booker spoke at media day about wanting to shoot the ball more, and that was great to hear from a player who has focused too much on trying to set up his teammates in the past. But Brooks is the person who continues to bring the energy on both ends of the court, no matter the opponent or whether or not it is preseason.
Importance of Brooks to Phoenix will only grow this season
It doesn't matter to Brooks if he is viewed as the best player on the team or not; he is going to give this team around 20 points a night, get under the skin of certain opponents, and take the tougher matchups on the defensive end. We just never could have predicted that, in doing so, he would go through a prolonged period where he played better and became more important to winning than Booker.
There is another conversation to be had down the road about the fact that Brooks' trade value has never been higher, and he signed a team-friendly extension over the summer. He is more valuable to this team than any other right now, and he will drag the Suns to some gritty wins against better opponents this season.
If Booker can't keep up and eventually replace him as the top dog within the organization once more, then the Suns will at best, be a first-round playoff exit once again.
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