In most years, a player averaging 26+ on a 60+-win team would be a lock to win NBA MVP. But since weâre talking about Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns, it seems like he doesnât fit the criteria.
Booker has been snubbed and overlooked all season long despite being the best player on the best team in the league by a mile. And, while Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid have also been great, Bookerâs name hasnât even been mentioned.
Thatâs why Suns coach Monty Williams wanted to set the record straight once and for all, stating that Booker should be a lock to take the award home, even though heâs sharing the floor with Chris Paul.
Monty Williams Backs Devin Bookerâs Cae For MVP
âHow many guys with his numbers and our record werenât the MVP?â Williams said, perMark Medina of NBA.com. âIâve heard in Bookâs case itâs because he plays with Chris. Thatâs kind of silly because Harden won one playing with Chris.â
Draymond Green Also Thinks Booker Should Win
Williams isnât the only one who feels that way. Per Warriors star Draymond Green, Bookerâs consistency and how the Suns have performed all year long is more than enough to give him the award:
âMy MVP is Devin Booker,â Green said on his podcast.âI think Book has been consistent all year. As good as their team has been, again we go back to the conversation, thereâs no criteriaâsome years it is the best player on the best team, some years itâs ⊠you know ⊠Russell Westbrook whose teamâs in sixth place but he won. Donât get me wrong, he deserved to win, but you all just wonder whatâs the criteria. However, for my criteria, Devin Booker. He is the MVP of the NBA.â
Stephen A. Smith Is Also On Bookerâs Side
Recently, ESPNâs Stephen A. Smith also made his case for Booker. Per the controversial analyst, the Chris Paul narrative doesnât fit because Booker still led the Suns to a 12-3 record without Paul on the court:
âDevin Booker is averaging 26-5-5,â Smith said. âDevin Booker is playing on the best team in basketball, whoâs virtually been the best team from start to finish. Devin Booker, in the 15 games without CP3, went 12-3. Devin Booker is playing for a team that is 7.5 games better than Memphis, and 12 games better than Milwaukee, Miami, or anybody else in the Eastern Conference.â
All things considered, itâs hard to think of a reason why people wouldnât even mention Bookerâs name in the MVP conversation this season. Itâs time the media start putting some respect on his name as the superstar heâs become.





