Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker has beef with MVP evaluation process?

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 3/22/22

Devin Booker seems to feel he is being snubbed in NBA MVP conversations.

One of Booker’s colleagues on Tuesday tweeted his support of the Suns guard for NBA MVP. Isaiah Thomas, who is currently with the Charlotte Hornets, said he thinks Booker deserves consideration for MVP.

Let it be known @DevinBook @Suns @nba league #MVP conversation best record leading scorer has always been part of the #criteria

— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) March 22, 2022

Thomas believes that one of the criteria for MVP is the best scorer on the team with the best record. Despite that typically being a formula for MVP consideration, Booker isn’t even in the top five of the favorites at most sportsbooks.

Booker responded to Thomas pumping him for MVP by saying he thinks players are evaluated differently.

Appreicate that IT but the “#criteria” changes depending on players name https://t.co/Zug1Plc8sq

— Book (@DevinBook) March 22, 2022

Maybe part of the reason that Booker isn’t getting more consideration is because he isn’t by far the standout player on his team. Though he is Phoenix’s leading scorer, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton are widely recognized as also being big factors in the team’s success. That could be detracting from Booker’s claim to the award.

By contrast, the four players in front of him (Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant) are all by far the big standout players on their team.

Though having some really great teammates may hurt him for MVP talks, it’s helping Phoenix do what matters the most: win as a team. If the Suns win the championship, Booker probably won’t worry too much about a snub.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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