Is Devin Booker a Franchise Player?

[contestedlayups]

I think it's too soon to determine the answer to this question. Booker has gone through some rough waters in terms of being coached well, as Jeff Hornacek has bombed wherever he's gone, and Earl Watson was overmatched from the day he took over for Hornacek. Not to mention the turmoil the team went through last season after Watson was fired and Bledsoe was traded. Igor Kokoskov at least offers a pedigree that is bankable, as his recent successes of coaching the Slovenian national team and the Jazz last season are reason to believe that Booker's arrow can be pointing straight up. Coaching does matter in the NBA when young players are still developing, and Booker is no exception to this rule. In one year's time, we'll know the answer to this question, and I think he will be consdered one by then.

[TheBabyMaker]

i went for hmmm no, because im not convinced yet. He got alot of hype for his 70pt game but hasnt really progressed since.

Did his team even win that game???? This is not at you but others who think he is a winning franchise player.

[anish23]

Sure, for a franchise that will never reach the 2nd round in the playoffs. Or maybe even the playoffs.

But if AYTON becomes a beast, Booker can be a good second fiddle, just like Kobe. Kidding kidding.

[PhilBlackson]

If only someone would remember to bump this thread in 2-3 years.

[XxIronChainzxX]

Like, right now? No. I don't think he has the Harden like potential to be a franchise player on offense alone, but YMMV.

[cupcakesnake]

People keep saying Booker isn't efficient, but he's still SO young. With Ayton by his side and a hopefully a competent coach in Kokosov, he could end up being the best player on a great team in a few years.

But what about Booker makes you think he's special enough to become a franchise player. He's a splendid offensive player with smarts and skills galore, but franchise players pretty much have super powers. Lebron, Giannis, AD, Durant, Kawhi are big boys, as well being transcendent talents. Curry has a nuclear bomb for an outside shot. Westbrook is the most explosive player ever. Harden is a beastly strong 2-guard who invents new moves and new ways to be efficient every year.

Booker is a good player, but what makes him special?
I see a guy with average size for a 2 guards (6'4.5 barefoot, 6'8 wingspan, 200 pounds), mediocre athleticism, really good handles but not quite elite point guard level. Elite shooter but not like Curry or Klay level. He's smart, he's got footwork, he's a step ahead a lot of the time and he's creative. But he doesn't have the ability to impose his will on the game like the franchise players i mentioned. And what path is there for him to grow into this? How are you projecting him to become this top 10 level player? What do you see in his game that you picture growing into an unstoppable force?

(I think he could get onto that Lillard, Kyrie, Wall level. But that's his best case. An all-star, all-nba guy. The best player on a playoff team with a few other talents. But not the best player on a great team, a contender.)

[BasketballFan7]

Luka and Booker would have been dynamite.

[arh1109]

No but if he transitions to playing PG he will be.

[NBAFan93]

I want to see how he plays when his team isn’t purposely trying to lose as many games as possible for the season - cause that’s literally what his entire career has been, tanking. Maybe this will be the year that they actually start trying to win - guess we’ll see.

[Nowitness]

People keep saying Booker isn't efficient, but he's still SO young. With Ayton by his side and a hopefully a competent coach in Kokosov, he could end up being the best player on a great team in a few years.

But what about Booker makes you think he's special enough to become a franchise player. He's a splendid offensive player with smarts and skills galore, but franchise players pretty much have super powers. Lebron, Giannis, AD, Durant, Kawhi are big boys, as well being transcendent talents. Curry has a nuclear bomb for an outside shot. Westbrook is the most explosive player ever. Harden is a beastly strong 2-guard who invents new moves and new ways to be efficient every year.

Booker is a good player, but what makes him special?
I see a guy with average size for a 2 guards (6'4.5 barefoot, 6'8 wingspan, 200 pounds), mediocre athleticism, really good handles but not quite elite point guard level. Elite shooter but not like Curry or Klay level. He's smart, he's got footwork, he's a step ahead a lot of the time and he's creative. But he doesn't have the ability to impose his will on the game like the franchise players i mentioned. And what path is there for him to grow into this? How are you projecting him to become this top 10 level player? What do you see in his game that you picture growing into an unstoppable force?

(I think he could get onto that Lillard, Kyrie, Wall level. But that's his best case. An all-star, all-nba guy. The best player on a playoff team with a few other talents. But not the best player on a great team, a contender.)

To me, franchise player just means a guy you feel can be your best player on a good, playoff team. Lillard, Kyrie, and Wall fit into that category rn based on that and Booker could be in there too I think. And I do think he can become unstoppable, at least scoring-wise with Ayton by his side and a coach with an actual system potentially in Kokoskov, his shooting can reach a high enough level to where when combined with Ayton's skills they can be that top tier 1-2 punch in the future. He's 21, I think he can develop that ability to impose his will on the game, he's been on terrible teams with not-so-great coaches in a very good conference, I think it's just a matter of putting some talent around him and letting him develop naturally.

[lilfishi22]

There are too many definitions of what a franchise player is. To some, a franchise guy is a Lebron level God, to others it's the best player on a good playoff team, then to others it's just the best player on any team.

Right now he's in that third category, the 3rd tier star. Whether you call that a franchise guy or not is up to you but for me, a franchise player just needs to be someone you can build around. He's good enough and young enough to be that guy.

[ButCanMarkDunk]

It doesnt matter what we think; the Suns have set the bar so low that a 30 win season is going to be celebrated next year.

He's going to have free reign to do whatever he wants, as long as he helps fill the seats, hes happy and so are the Suns.

Will he ever have the respect a $150 million dollar player gets? Probably not.

But **** it, hes got $150 m's.

[bakesale]

No, he's the quintessential empty stats on a bad team kind of player.

[DeathLineup]

I actually appreciate the distinction between Hell and Mmm. And I think the comma after Mmm is very appropriate (as well as not having the comma after Hell).

You're welcome.

[lilfishi22]

Does the fact that the Suns have been actively tanking by playing undeserving players big minutes without winning in mind while being coached by a yoga instructor matter? I don't think he's a superstar or will ever be but to fence him into the 'empty stats on a bad team' category when he's only 21 and playing for his 4th coach in 3 seasons honestly astounds me.

What about the fact that he's able to increase his usage rate each year (as he's had to with zero help) and last season taking his efficiency and ast% to new levels while still have zero help? 25-5-5 on good efficiency as a 21 year old is about as good as you're likely going to get when the rest of the team is absolute rubbish.

[macNcheese3]

definetely not sold on the fact that he is a franchise player. he alone wouldn't even be able to lead PHX to the playoffs with the 8th seed. he's a beautiful shooter with extended range, but aside from the 72 he hasn't done squat.

[Jakay]

no one cares that he put up 24/5/5 on a 21 team..

You should care, considering he's 21 years old. There are only three other guys who put up 24-4-4 at the age of 21. MJ, LeBron and T-Mac.

This is one side of the argument.

The other side is Tyreke Evans with 20-5-5 in his rookie year, and Brandon Jennings hanging that 50 in his.

So basically who knows, but if I have to go with my gut, I'd say "not likely". Plus he's an NBA progeny is he not? That counts for a bit of extra moxie early on.

[Nuggets_Talk]

what defines a "franchise player"?

[koningcosmo]

i went for hmmm no, because im not convinced yet. He got alot of hype for his 70pt game but hasnt really progressed since.

Did his team even win that game???? This is not at you but others who think he is a winning franchise player.

he did not they still lost to the celtics.

[koningcosmo]

i went for hmmm no, because im not convinced yet. He got alot of hype for his 70pt game but hasnt really progressed since.

23 wins in 2016 24 in 2017 and 21 in 2018, you call that progress?? Franchise players bring wins not stats, and even those didnt really went up in 3 years.