Despite consistent All-NBA production, the Suns' franchise cornerstone slides down ESPN’s latest rankings as younger stars surge. Pressure mounts for the veteran guard to reclaim his elite status.
Year 12 is directly on the horizon for Phoenix Suns megastar Devin Booker.
With another year comes another layer of expectations, storylines, and reasons for optimism when discussing Booker.
While the 29-year-old guard is still a star player according to the consensus, he is facing something of a dip in perception according to the consensus as well.
This carries over into ESPN's yearly top-100 rank, where he comes in at #20, a drop of four spots from this time in 2025.
Booker comes in below Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers, Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks.
While Booker is (rightfully) praised for being a malleable player here, there is reason to believe that expectations are setting the stage for younger players such as Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder) to pass the five-time All-Star in the next year.
The ceiling of the 6'5" guard may not be what it once was, but the consistent 26 points and six assists per game is enough to make it a fair categorization to rank the two-time All-NBA selection at the same placement in comparison to a year ago.
The guard being able to adapt to playing alongside Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and now forward Dillon Brooks is a testament to him as a player (as well as a leader), paving the way for Booker to average out closer to an All-NBA talent once again.
The upcoming 82 games are high-pressure ones for Booker - make no mistake. This is the first time since 2022-23 that the combo guard has coaching continuity in his corner. There's also a high possibility that there is more clarity in his role, while Phoenix is also re-upping the roster with more offensive talent on paper.
Despite this, there are areas to keep an eye on in Booker's progressions this season. This includes the number of games he plays this season, whether his scoring efficiency sees an uptick, and if he can once again serve as a malleable piece of the roster while incoming wing Miles Bridges works his way into the lineup.
The odds might stack against Booker, but it is unwise to parlay doubts into writing off the Suns' all-time leading scorer.
Booker's 12th season in Phoenix is beginning in roughly two weeks, as Phoenix opens up preseason play against Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons on October 5.
