Devin Booker's Rise to Stardom and MVP Form for Phoenix Suns

The Rise of Devin Booker and His Journey to NBA Stardom

Devin Booker has quickly become one of the biggest superstars in the NBA thanks to his sharpshooting abilities and clutch performances for the Phoenix Suns. After being selected by the Suns with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the young talent out of Grandville, Michigan set out to prove he belonged with the best basketball players in the world.

Early Career and Breakout Season

As a teenager, Booker first made waves on the court playing for Moss Point High School in Mississippi. He led them to back-to-back state championships in 2013 and 2014 while also receiving numerous accolades. This included being named a McDonald’s All-American and Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball.

During his first season with Phoenix, Booker took on a bench role behind starters like Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe. In 2016, after those veterans suffered injuries, Booker earned a spot in the starting lineup and quickly emerged as a dynamic scorer. Though the Suns struggled as a team, fans started to take notice of the young talent averaging over 13 points per game and shooting from three at a 34% clip.

Becoming a Franchise Cornerstone

The following year, Devin Booker truly announced himself as a future face of the franchise when he scored an astonishing 70 points in a loss against the Boston Celtics. With this performance, Booker became the youngest player in NBA history to score over 60 points in a game. He also joined elite company like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as one of only six players to ever accomplish this feat.

Despite Booker doing everything in his power to lead the Suns to victories, the team continued to struggle and missed the playoffs each season. As a result, fans started referring to Booker’s scoring explosions as “good stats on a bad team” as some questioned if he could translate individual success into wins.

Arrival of Chris Paul Signals Suns Rise

The trajectory of the Suns’ franchise took a dramatic turn in 2020 when the team acquired 10-time All-Star Chris Paul. His veteran leadership helped transform their culture and elevated the play of Booker along with young talents like DeAndre Ayton and Mikal Bridges.

In the 2021 season, Booker achieved multiple career-highs across the board in points, rebounds, assists, and three-point shooting percentage. The Suns finished with the NBA’s second best record at 51-21. In the playoffs, Booker led the charge by averaging over 25 points per game as Phoenix made it all the way to the Finals before falling just short to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Cementing an MVP Caliber Reputation

With the arrival of new coach Monty Williams, greater roster depth, and Booker performing at an All-NBA level, the Suns established themselves as championship contenders beyond their surprise Finals run.

The 2022-2023 season has seen Devin Booker continue his ascension to elite status. He’s averaging career-highs in assists, rebounds, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage. More importantly, Phoenix owns the NBA’s #1 record at 30-9 through the first half of the year.

Western Conference Domination

Booker has been nearly unstoppable on the offensive end this season. He’s already notched several 40+ point outings and earned Player of the Week honors multiple times. His lethal scoring ability combined with improved playmaking makes him almost impossible to slow down.

Moreover, the Suns depth means Booker does not have to carry the entire load every night. With trustworthy co-stars like Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton also dominating, Phoenix looks poised to make another run at the championship.

MVP Consideration for #1?

At just 26 years old, Devin Booker appears to keep getting better every season. His superstar pedigree and likelihood of capturing his first MVP award has now sparked “MVP Book” and “Valley Boyz” hashtags amongst Suns faithful.

Beyond the accolades, Booker’s leadership and two-way skillset have helped transform the Suns back into a powerhouse franchise in the West. After years of losing records, Phoenix has proven they belong in the championship discussion thanks to their star guard’s transcendent performances.

With his prime still ahead of him, the ceiling remains incredibly high for Devin Booker. If he continues raising his game to new heights, Book just may lead the Valley Boyz to the promised land with the Suns first NBA championship.

FAQs

How old is Devin Booker?

Devin Booker is currently 26 years old. He was born on October 30, 1996.

What team does Devin Booker play for?

Devin Booker plays for the Phoenix Suns. He was drafted by the Suns with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

What was Devin Booker's highest scoring game?

Devin Booker's career high in points in a single game is 70, which he scored against the Boston Celtics in 2017 at just 20 years old.

Has Devin Booker won an MVP award?

No, Devin Booker has not won an MVP award yet in his career. However, at just 26 years old, he is considered an MVP front-runner for the 2022-2023 NBA season due to his outstanding play leading the Phoenix Suns to the best record in the league.