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The Phoenix Suns started from the bottom for 10 straight years, now they’re at the top of the NBA’s 2020-21 Western Conference as defending champions.
And the Suns have risen toward the top of several team and player position rankings, namely the team’s All-Star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
Booker was ranked No. 3 among the league’s 22 best shooting guards in USA Today Sports’ HoopsHype writer Frank Urbina’s position rankings for the 2021-22 season, released Sunday.
On Aug. 22, Paul was ranked fifth among the 22 in HoopsHype’s point guards poll.
The NBA’s former 3-point shooting contest winner Booker, 24, produced 25.6 points on 48.4 shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest.
He was the Suns leading scorer during their remarkable run to the NBA Finals in July posting 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 22 games.
The 17-year veteran Paul averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season. During the 2021 playoffs, he posted 19.2 points, 8.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds through 20 games.
Paul signed a four-year, $120 million extension to stay with the Suns on Aug. 2.
He recently explained on former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas’ show No Chill TV show and podcast what attracted him to the Suns from Oklahoma City Thunder in November 2020. Among the reasons was playing alongside Booker.
Also, NBA.com recently ranked the Suns as No. 1 Western conference teams in their 2021-22 season power rankings over the Los Angeles Lakers, which now have seven former and current All-Stars. The Suns play the Lakers twice in the preseason.
Training camp for the Suns opens on Sept. 28, and the team’s regular season opener is Oct. 20, at home against Denver.
Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.
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