The Phoenix Suns began life without Kevin Durant - and to a lesser extend Bradley Beal - in fantastic fashion on Wednesday, coming back from 20 points down to beat the Sacramento Kings 120-116. Fans know that this season isn't going to end with a championship, and all they were looking to see was some fight from this new roster.
They got all of that and more, as the Suns kept their composure despite falling into a big hole, with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks combining for 53 points. The Suns could have done without Brooks taking a team high 24 shots, but they'll put up with some of that given how quickly he has transformed them defensively.
Booker showed Suns they don't need to worry about fit issues.
Really though this was a night that belonged to Booker, because his team high 31 points helped relieve a lot of the concerns around both his fit next to Jalen Green - who didn't play - and also the lack of a true point guard on this roster. Booker started alongside Brooks, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.
It was clear from that group that Booker was going to have to do the bulk of the scoring despite also being seen as the point guard, but he navigated that issue perfectly. His three assists languishing behind the four of backup Collin Gillespie - but most surprising of all - the seven dished out by Allen.
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie said the Villian Jr deal started as a joke at first.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 22, 2025
He later said he and Dillon Brooks play with the same mentality, saying neither of them don't take "no shit " #Suns pic.twitter.com/zXgVs45sR2
Once Green returns to full fitness, head coach Jordan Ott is going to have a job on his hands deciding what to do with Allen. With certain matchups he gives up size and he's not a brilliant defender, but there's no doubt he can shoot the lights out while also proving there's more playmaking in there than previously thought.
None of this is possible however without Booker deferring to Allen on the night because he was having himself a game setting others up, which is why the Suns didn't need to worry about fit in the backcourt ahead of this season. We should have known this already, but Booker is going to make it work no matter who he is playing alongside.
He willingly took a step back for Durant, while he was the co-pilot alongside Chris Paul. He even got the best out of Deandre Ayton there for a while - which as the Los Angeles Lakers are currently finding out - is no small feat. The point is - as long as Booker is engaged in Phoenix - coach Ott can play him anywhere and both he and the team will thrive.
He's capable of having games where he dishes out seven assists himself, and those will come when Green is fit. For now though, just enjoy the fact that Booker is a no nonsense superstar who will play alongside every kind of teammate and help the Suns win with his scoring ability. The critics have never looked so foolish.