Suns star Devin Booker believes he should be in the conversation for MVP

When asked at a recent Suns presser if he should be considered in the 2022 MVP debate, Phoenix All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker had a pretty concise response, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.

“Yes,” Booker said simply. And for good reason. After All-Star Suns point guard Chris Paul recently sat out Phoenix’s first 15 games after the All-Star break due to a thumb injury, Booker emerged as the team’s leader, and the Suns barely missed a beat. Booker has an argument as being a fringe MVP contender, as potentially the best player on the best team in the NBA.

The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 30.3 points per game across his 11 contests played during Paul’s absence, and the Suns went 8-3 in those games. For the year, the three-time All-Star is averaging 26.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game on .462/.375/.870 shooting. The 25-year-old three-time All-Star is the leading scorer for the team that has already clinched the best record in the NBA (60-14 and counting) and will retain their home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

There’s more out of Phoenix:

• Paul expressed his excitement upon returning to the Suns following his 15 games spent on the sideline as he rehabilitated from his right thumb fracture, per Rankin. “I’ve been playing pickup like 3-on-3, 2-on-2, (but) 5-on-5 is totally different, especially when your first game back in Denver,” Paul said. Paul scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and logged a game-most 13 dimes in a 140-130 Suns win over the Nuggets on Thursday. “I still have a little ways to go, but it was good to get out there and play,” Paul said. “We missed him,” Devin Booker noted.
• Suns reserve power forward Cameron Johnson is nearing a return to the floor for Phoenix, writes Rankin. His right quad contusion is set to sideline Johnson for the 12th consecutive contest on Sunday. Phoenix head coach Monty Williams revealed that Johnson had no limitations. “He did everything today. He looked pretty good as far as getting up and down the floor,” Williams said. “He’s not in a situation or a in a position to say he’s playing in the next couple of days. Still got to wait and see how his body responds to days like today.” 
• The Suns believe head coach Monty Williams deserves to be considered for 2022 Coach of the Year honors, per Rankin. “It shouldn’t even be close,” Chris Paul opined. “No disrespect to all those other coaches and what they’re doing, but what are you watching if this man doesn’t get coach of the year?” Phoenix has weathered its fair share of extended injuries absences to key players like Paul and Deandre Ayton, and remained head-and-shoulders the best team in the league by record. Williams, of course, guided the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993 during his second season with the team last year. “He should’ve had it last year,” small forward Mikal Bridges commented. “We won’t go there, but we’re the best team by far right now, record wise. Yeah, it should be a no-brainer.”