It has not been a good week for the Phoenix Suns, and not even Devin Booker turning 30 years old can lift the funk that has quickly descended on the franchise to begin the new season. An extended run in the Emirates NBA Cup would be a nice distraction, and ahead of their first game against the Denver Nuggets in the competition, Luke Kennard urged the franchise cornerstone to trust his teammates to be in their spots when he is initiating the offense.
Kennard's comments suggest Booker will remain key playmaker
In speaking to the assembled media, including Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Kennard said that Booker is "going to see a lot of different coverages this year, and I think for us playing off of him, we've got to be in the right spot. He has to trust us to be in the right spot and make the right plays when he finds us." Nothing out of the ordinary there, until you realize it means Booker is going to continue being one of the key playmakers for this group.
"He's going to see a lot of different coverages this year. I think for us, playing off of him, we've got to be in the right spot. He has to trust us to be in the right spots and make the right plays when he finds us when he does get double teamed." Suns guard Luke Kennard on… pic.twitter.com/kRQ8dVwkLG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2026
The lack of a point guard to organize the offense was rumored to be the issue that was leaked to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, with Head Coach Jordan Ott quickly doubling down on his own decision-making from preseason by asserting that Jalen Green will continue in a playmaking role in the backcourt. Already, that is not working, and Kennard has all but admitted that Booker will be right there with him trying to get others going.
We all know that is not the best use of his skills, and Kennard wants to try to make Booker's life easier by being where he is supposed to be. Asking the superstar to trust his teammates says as much about their ability to be in the right places to receive the ball as it does about Booker's playmaking abilities. Which have always been fine, but take away from his scoring skills.
Suns will only rise up standings with improved play from role players
Booker is holding up his end of the bargain despite being hamstrung by his own coaching staff in how they deploy him. If anything, they need him not to put up 43 points again in a hurry, as it only papers over the gaping holes that have quickly appeared in Phoenix. It is everybody else who needs to raise their game, although the Suns' being so poor defensively is making Kennard's addition pointless.
Kennard is going to keep coming off screens to take 3-pointers, and Booker will continue to find him most of the time. But the fact that this is the game plan by Coach Ott three games into a rapidly unravelling season is the much bigger issue here, and we appear to be some way off from an actual solution being attempted.
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