Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler recently opened a pop-up store for his coffee brand “BIGFACE” in San Francisco. At the store, Butler was asked by popular streamer Brawadis about how he’d perform in a 1v1 game against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Butler replied without missing a beat and said:
“Devin Booker, 11-0.”
The Warriors forward isn’t a pushover. As a highly competitive individual, it is unlikely for Butler to go down without putting up a fight. But his response garnered a positive reaction from the streamer, who was revealed by Faze Rug to be a fan of Booker, Butler simply said, “Me too.”
While he is a capable defender in his own right, the forward simply showed respect to the Suns guard in this gesture, although it could have simply been a joke as well. But there is enough evidence to showcase how formidable a player Booker is in 1v1 situations.
The 28-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best shooting guards in the league. Last season, Booker was one of the few awe-inspiring elements on a rather underwhelming Suns team.
With an average of 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, he displayed his ability to not only score but also facilitate the offense for his team. Although his playmaking hasn’t traditionally drawn attention, Booker has gradually developed into a very complete offensive player.
Since joining the Suns, it is evident that the guard has come a long way. So much so that Phoenix views him as the franchise cornerstone, directing all their attention towards building for the future with him as the central figure.
The latest rebuild began after the Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Following one of the offseason’s biggest moves, Phoenix offered Booker a massive contract extension, securing his place as the highest-paid player in the NBA.
While this presents a positive outlook for the star, this may not bode well for the Suns, at least in the short term. Aside from Booker’s pairing with Jalen Green in the backcourt and the recent addition of Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks, the Suns don’t look like a very competitive side for next season.
The Western Conference is poised to be an extremely challenging environment next season. With even lower-ranked teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans making significant improvements to their roster, the Suns may struggle to establish themselves as a legitimate playoff team.
The upcoming season may not be the most enjoyable one for Suns fans, or Suns players for that matter, but it does seem to be part of a process. With Devin Booker at the center of it all, Phoenix could be targeting a resurgence as a playoff team in the near future.
