Winning the regular season MVP defines a player's impact on a team. Although Devin Booker has shown his value over the seasons, he hasn't been in the conversation about earning the award. Time and time again, he's proven his worth to the Phoenix Suns with his countless heroics, All-Star selections and unmatched leadership.
Fans expect Booker to take his game to the next level for the 2024-25 season. Over the summer, he had an excellent experience with Team USA, helping them secure the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard finished the tournament with 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
He received high praise from his teammates and coaches. After their gold medal game against France, head coach Steve Kerr complimented the Suns star by calling him the team's "unsung MVP."
USA's Steve Kerr at the end of his press conference: "Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that."
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 10, 2024
While Booker wasn't the main focus of the team during their six-game run, he played smart basketball. His play made their offense work as he did the little things on both ends.
Suns fans are no strangers to this. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has shown this style of play in the past and more. Even before he was drafted by the team, people were aware of how he could affect opposing teams by doubling his effort even without the basketball.
Now that Booker has allowed his game to mature, would that be enough for him to win the MVP next season?
Booker has been the Suns' most valuable player since his stellar 2018–19 season. But he only got into the MVP conversation in the 2021-22 campaign, a year after helping the team make the NBA Finals. That season, he finished fourth in the voting and was never included in the top five voting the succeeding years.
The former Kentucky guard is among the most talented and skilled stars in the modern NBA. Unfortunately, there are too many better players than him. Booker isn't like the other stars in the league. He isn't a dominant force or a generational talent like LeBron James or Luka Doncic.
Additionally, players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and more, are likely favorites to be MVP candidates over Booker. The Suns being a small market team might also hurt his case for the award.
Booker is somewhat of an average player who's gotten better through hard work over the years. It's not a knock on the Suns star, I still think he's one of the best players around the association. Unlike other stars, he doesn't have any remarkable physical features. He's 6-foot-5 and has a 35.5 vertical inch. The shooting guard doesn't boast an insane athleticism that wows fans each time he attacks the rim.
In reality, he started to become a star because of his skills. Booker was already a skilled shot-creator in college and honed it to gain an advantage over his opponents.
Watch how efficient Devin Booker is
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 22, 2024
1 or 2 dribbles, get to a spot
He is always in control, and there isn’t much a defender can do. His ability to hit any shot keeps the defense on their heels
pic.twitter.com/Ml4ctBJPft
Defensively, he wasn't a key player when he first started. But people have recognized how he's gotten better at staying in front of the player he's guarding, especially last season and this summer.
Winning the regular season might be a long shot for Booker. Stranger things have happened in the NBA, so that may change. The only MVP award I'm confident the Michigan native can win is the Finals MVP. That is, provided the Suns win the championship while he is still with the team.