The most important player on each and every NBA team this season

By Ti Windisch | Aug 28, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defended by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 5: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Miami Heat on March 5, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Phoenix Suns — Devin Booker

Just more than two years ago, Devin Booker would be such an easy choice for this list. Booker was coming off of a flamethrower of a rookie season, and there were not any other strong young players to be found on the Phoenix Suns.

Those two years have been good to the Suns, at least in relation to their young talent. Phoenix added Josh Jackson, who was incredible in the last few months of the 2017-18 regular season, and now Deandre Ayton. Ayton’s athleticism and strength makes for a potent combo, and he’s like a mystery box: he could be anything!

Over those few years, Booker has steadily improved as a scorer and as a playmaker. Booker has already agreed to a big money contract extension with the Suns, so he’ll be around for years pending an unexpected trade decision by one party or the other.

In addition to being the most proven player on the roster at this point, Booker is and has been the face of Phoenix basketball for years. That matters, especially to a franchise that has struggled as much as the Suns. Even in their lowest hours, Suns fans at least knew they had Booker, and thus a chance to improve.

It’s totally possible that one of Jackson or Ayton supplants Booker as the head honcho in Phoenix over time. For now, though, Booker is the face and future of the Phoenix Suns. Unless the next season is surprisingly bright for Jackson and/or Ayton, Booker will remain the most important Sun.

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