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Jordan Goodwin says time with LeBron James and Luka Doncic helped shape his game

Originally posted on HITC | By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 9:16 AM ET

The Phoenix Suns are heading into a new chapter this season after moving on from both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

With the team now built around Devin Booker, Phoenix is banking on him to have a big year. Booker needs to remind everyone why he’s still one of the league’s top shooting guards.

If the Suns want to turn some heads this year, they’ll need a complete team effort and key contributions from across the roster.

Booker’s new role with the Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker’s role with the Suns has changed, and that brings a new set of challenges for him. No longer in the shadows of bigger names, he now has to carry more weight on his shoulders.

This means he’ll be asked to do more than just score. Playmaking will be a bigger part of his game as the team looks for him to get others involved. We might even see his assist numbers go up as he spends more time running the offence.

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Last season, Devin Booker didn’t just put up strong numbers — 27.1 points and 6.9 assists per game — he also became one of the Suns’ main voices in the locker room.

Why Booker won’t repeat his last season production

After averaging 27.1 points last season, Devin Booker is expected by many fans to hit similar numbers again this year. But that might not be realistic given how much has changed for Phoenix and what’s now being asked of him.

With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal gone, all eyes are on him even more than before. The Suns picked up guard Jordan Goodwin off waivers this summer after the Lakers decided to move on from him.

Goodwin played in 29 regular-season games for Los Angeles, posting averages of 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

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He even saw some action in the playoffs during their first-round series against the Timberwolves.

While with LA, Goodwin got a close look at what it takes to fit in alongside stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic. He now hopes those lessons can help him carve out a role in Phoenix.

Speaking at Suns media day, Goodwin said he feels ready to contribute and explained how his time with the Lakers has helped him develop.

Jordan Goodwin’s NBA journey so far

Goodwin has been with four different teams across his four seasons in the NBA. His career started with the Washington Wizards, and he’s also had stints with the Suns, Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Across 150 regular-season games, the 26-year-old has put up averages of 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Goodwin featured in 40 games for Phoenix during the 2023-24 season and will be aiming to establish a more consistent role this time around.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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