3 reasons Devin Booker can win the MVP award in 2024-25

At only 27-years-old, Devin Booker has already had himself one heck of a career. If he retired today he'd probably go into the Hall of Fame at some point, and he may be the best player in franchise history as well.

He's got a pair of gold medals with Team USA, and will be returning to The Valley with Kevin Durant in 2024-25 with the biggest goals in mind. The fact Durant chose Phoenix as a destination to likely see out the rest of his playing days was as much to do with Booker than anything else, and the same could also be true of Chris Paul during his time with the Suns.

The only thing missing from Booker's CV is hardware, but he could be about to change that with a run at the MVP award.

Actually putting himself in position to win this award will be extremely difficult, as it has been dominated by centers for a long time. The last non-big man to win the award being James Harden, all the way back in 2017-18. Since then it has been taken home by Nikola Jokic (three times), Giannis Antetokounmpo (twice) and Joel Embiid. But Booker has the chance to change that next season.

3. Public perception at an all-time high

For casual fans of the NBA - or just fans who don't like or support the Suns - it was easy to knock on Booker's game in the past. Yeah he fuelled a fun Suns group to an 8-0 run in the NBA's bubble, but they didn't even make the postseason.

Sure Booker went to the NBA Finals in 2021, but he couldn't get over the hump. Unlike similar players in Jamal Murray and Jayson Tatum, both of which have already gotten their chips. Besides, that run was as much to do with Paul and Deandre Ayton (that feels like a long time ago now...) than it was Booker's elite scoring.

That all changed at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, with Booker's attitude and willingness to defend at an elite level and give up a ton of shots making him beloved in the eyes of those who didn't watch him before or simply didn't care. Booker was just doing what he always has - he does defend in Phoenix too you know - only now everybody got to witness it.

Which helps his MVP case in a massive way. To go from Olympic success, back to the Suns and the change to lead a group to a championship is a compelling narrative. Much as fans may hate to admit it, that narrative - and the spin that the media can put on certain players - helps an MVP case as much as anything else. Booker always had the numbers, now he's got the public's attention.