Despite their down-year in 2016, the Phoenix Suns found a gem in rookie sensation Devin Booker. After starting the season off on the bench as the third or fourth guard, Booker saw a drastic increase in playing time when Eric Bledsoe missed the second half of the season with a torn meniscus and Brandon Knight missed significant time with a bothersome ankle injury.

Booker saw the bulk of his playing time at shooting guard, but at 6'6″ in today's NBA, Booker can easily be used as a small forward in some small-ball lineups alongside Bledsoe and Knight. In order to do so, Booker revealed today that he gained about 10 pounds so as not to get pushed around if he were to play the three-spot. The issue last year, as Booker acknowledged in today's Suns' Media Day, was that he was getting bullied around a bit.

Per Bob Baum of the Associated Press

“I knew that’s one thing I had to do,” he said. “Toward late in the season last year, I think people started to get more physical with me. They realized I could play a little bit so they tried to take the bully route.”

Before the all star break, Booker put up 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 three pointers per game. In 28 games after the all-star break, Booker's numbers increased to 19.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 three pointers per game. Booker will look to capitalize on a solid rookie season, and attempt take his entire game to the next level.

Earlier this month, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic wrote about the big leadership role Booker took alongside Bledsoe.

Suns players Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Alan Williams have spent nearly all of their offseason training in Phoenix while most of their teammates have been in and out or have trickled into Talking Stick Resort Arena in recent weeks. Since mid-August, there have been enough players to run five-on-five, full-court games on weekdays with the help of visitors such as Phoenix native and Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless.

“We take it as a good sign that they have a chance to go anywhere and they choose to be here,” Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough said.

Booker's health, next to Bledsoe's and Knight's, will determine the future of this Suns' franchise.