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The Phoenix Suns are finally in the NBA postseason once again after a decade-long playoff drought of epic proportions. Without a doubt, they've been one of the most exciting teams in the league. Spearheaded by All-Star Devin Booker, the Suns hold an amazing 44-18 record through 62 games this season. The last time they were this successful on the win column, a certain flowy-haired Canadian was throwing dimes in the desert.
Devin Booker or Steve Nash: Who shines the brightest?
The immediate retort when posed this question seems like a no-brainer. Steve Nash was a two-time MVP, made seven All-NBA team, and is a surefire Hall-of-Famer. Devin Booker meanwhile has just two All-Star appearances under his belt with his best distinction currently being either his 70 point outburst in a loss to the Boston Celtics in 2017, or the fact that he's dated Kendall Jenner for essentially a year now without having his career fall off a cliff. #KardashianCurse
But if you really think about it long and hard, Booker seems like a safer bet than it may seem. The biggest argument for Devin Booker is his youth. He's played six productive seasons for the Suns thus far at just 24 years old. You know where Steve Nash was at 24 years old? He just got traded away from Phoenix to join Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks and was about to embark on a six-year stint with his German best friend.
What most fans often don't realize is that Nash actually started starring for the Suns as the ripe old age of 30. The fact that Devin Booker could virtually have an 11-year head start on Nash (if you don't count Steve's ineffective first two seasons) is mind-boggling.
The huge question with that is whether Booker actually decides to stay in Phoenix for that entire stretch of his career. In this new age of player empowerment, it's become a foregone conclusion that superstars, whether in big or small markets, could easily force their way out of unhappy situations.
But all signs point to Booker sticking with the Suns for the long haul. He's signed until the 2023-24 season, which would give him nine full seasons in Arizona. One major positive is that Phoenix is actually just a short plane ride away from Los Angeles, where Booker seems to spend a lot of time in during the offseason. For some players and people in general, having a small gap between your work and leisure spaces is actually the most ideal situation.
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But toppling Steve Nash requires more than just longevity from young Booker. Nash led the Suns to five playoff appearances, going 4-1 in first round matchups and getting to the Western Conference Finals thrice. Some would argue that they were a Robert Horry hip check away from vanquishing the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs and going all the way in 2007.
Despite the fact the Nash rejoined the team that drafted him at an advanced age, he remained extremely productive well into his thirties. He averaged well over 10 assists a night, with Stephen Curry-like efficiently shooting from all spots on the floor during his epic eight-year run that ended when he was 37. His offensive wizardry during that stint revolutionized the NBA and became a precursor to what the modern era of basketball would look like.
Devin Booker may have a massive head start and could conceivably stay in Arizona for years to come, but the highs he must reach to touch base with Nash at the pinnacle of Suns basketball are pretty high up in the clouds.
For starters, it seems absurd now to pencil Booker for even one MVP award. An All-NBA First Team accolade is already a lofty achievement for any NBA star in of itself. Another would be the playoff success that Nash achieved. Booker hasn't even sniffed the playoffs in his first five seasons, basically posting somewhat empty stats on bad teams up until the 2020-21 season.
The conclusion of this season and possibly the next will definitely bring a much clearer picture of Devin Booker's trajectory in the history of Suns lore. His combination with Chris Paul has a two-year window that could lead to some new playoff moments for a success-hungry Suns franchise.
If Devin Booker shines bright and carries his club to a deep playoff run, Steve Nash better get ready to hand over the torch of Suns greats sooner rather than later.
