Phoenix Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker shot with his surgically repaired right hand for the first time Tuesday and says it felt “great.” However, Booker still has not been cleared for contact drills by the Suns.

Booker underwent surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand in early September. The Suns initially said Booker would miss approximately six weeks. Booker, one of the best shooters and young scorers in the game, is still wearing a splint on his pinky/ring finger.

The Suns are still rebuilding and won't be contenders this season, so there's no point to rush Booker back. The 21-year-old averaged 24.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game last season. He shot 43.2 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and 87.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Despite Booker’s individual stellar season, Phoenix only won 21 games in 2017-18 and finished with the worst record in the NBA. The Suns had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and selected Arizona big man Deandre Ayton.

The Suns open the 2018-19 season on Oct. 17 when they host the Dallas Mavericks. Booker is unlikely to play in the preseason, and it's not a guarantee he'll be ready for the regular-season opener. The sharpshooter signed a five-year, $158 million maximum contract extension with Phoenix in the offseason.