Devin Booker Returns to Suns with Vintage Performance Against Lakers
PHOENIX - For Devin Booker, two weeks off the floor felt like forever. But on Sunday night against the Lakers, the Suns’ All-Star guard reminded everyone exactly what they’d been missing - and how quickly he can flip the switch back to elite form.
Booker had been sidelined since tweaking his groin in a game against, fittingly, the same Lakers squad. The injury wasn’t considered serious, but the Suns played it smart, giving their franchise cornerstone time to fully heal. And when he finally returned, it didn’t take long to see he was ready.
Head coach Jordan Ott, who’s seen plenty from Booker over the years, wasn’t surprised by the quick turnaround. But he couldn’t help but marvel at how seamlessly Booker reinserted himself into the flow of the game.
“Being out just a couple of days helps; he was able to find it pretty quick,” Ott said. “It goes to who he is as a professional and what he does on a day-to-day basis all year round to keep his body and mind. To be out a couple of days and then come right back and do the same thing, the same tremendous basketball player that he is.”
Booker started the game, logged seven minutes, and then disappeared - at least from the court. While fans might’ve wondered where he went, he was actually on the team’s exercise bike during the first half of the second quarter, staying warm and ready.
And once he got back in? It was business as usual.
There was no easing in. No rust. Just Booker doing what he does best: controlling the game, hitting tough shots, and bending defenses to his will.
The Suns, to their credit, managed well in his absence. They played faster, leaned into their spacing, and emphasized getting to the rim and launching threes. But even with the system humming, there’s no substitute for a player like Booker - someone who can create offense out of thin air and draw defensive attention like a magnet.
That gravitational pull is something Ott emphasized. When Booker’s on the floor, it’s not just about the points he scores - it’s about how everything else opens up.
Statistically, his presence adds nearly four points to the team’s offensive rating. That may sound like a small number, but it’s a telling indicator of how much smoother the Suns’ offense runs when Booker is orchestrating. He doesn’t just take pressure off his teammates - he elevates them.
Booker, for his part, said the decision to return came down to one thing: confidence in his body.
“Just being able to have the confidence to give it a go, just letting it fully heal, getting some reps in our stay ready group,” he said after the game. “Getting up and down and playing through contact.”
He looked every bit the part of a player who was ready. Dropping 27 points against a Lakers defense that didn’t exactly make things easy is no small feat. Booker made it look routine.
Now, with some rest ahead before Thursday’s matchup against the Warriors, the Suns can breathe a little easier. Their star is back - and he’s not easing in. He’s already in gear.