Devin Booker has made it clear he wants more shots this season, but the early returns from deep have been rough.
The Phoenix Suns star has already shown that added aggressiveness in preseason, part of a goal he set for the 2026-27 season. The next step is turning that volume into better efficiency, especially from 3-point range after he shot 33% from beyond the arc last season, the second-lowest mark of his career.
Through two preseason games, that part of the game hasn’t come around yet. Booker is 1-for-12 from 3-point range, including an 0-for-8 night Wednesday in the Suns’ 124-117 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
"Back to the lab," Booker said after the game (via The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin). "Just getting more reps up, looking at film at the shots I did get and see what I can do better."
One of the reasons Phoenix outperformed expectations last season was the way Booker’s gravity opened things up for everyone else. His willingness to move the ball helped set the tone for the offense, and that approach remains part of the equation even as he looks to hunt more looks.
Booker is still a reliable scoring engine, too. He has averaged more than 25 points in each of the last eight seasons, a reminder that even when the jumper isn’t falling, the production usually shows up.
Coach Jordan Ott said the Suns want to use Booker in more off-ball actions this year, but not at the expense of forcing bad shots when defenses load up on him.
"The ball is going to be in his hands and he’s going to playmake. If there’s two (defenders) on the ball, he’s not going to shoot it," Ott said last week (via Suns.com's Shane Young).
"It’s really hard to shoot with two or three guys on you. That’s probably not ideal for anyone to shoot it.
"He’s going to continue making the right play, and he’s going to continue averaging over 25 points a game like he’s done his whole life. If the game calls for him to be a passer, he’s going to be a passer. He’s a high-level basketball player and he’s shown he can do it, whatever the game calls for.”
There’s still time for Booker to sort it out before the season opener on Oct. 21 against the Portland Trail Blazers. For now, the Suns still have preseason work ahead, starting with their first home exhibition Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
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