Devin Booker‘s standing among shooting guards has shifted notably as the 2025-26 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA season approaches, with HoopsHype ranking him at No. 5. This placement reflects both his individual performance and the ongoing difficulties faced by the Phoenix Suns, signaling challenges for Booker to reclaim his former top-tier status.
Previously recognized as one of the top three shooting guards in the league, Booker’s drop to fifth indicates that several peers have surpassed him in recent evaluations. The Suns’ internal struggles over recent seasons have likely affected Booker’s ranking, even as his personal contributions remain significant.
Top Shooting Guards for the 2025-26 NBA Season
The HoopsHype list for the upcoming season places Anthony Edwards at the top spot, followed by Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Williams, and Jaylen Brown. Devin Booker occupies the fifth position ahead of Tyler Herro, Amen Thompson, Josh Hart, Austin Reaves, and Zach LaVine, who round out the top ten.
Comparatively, Booker held the No. 2 spot last season behind Edwards, with Mitchell, Brown, and Williams also ranked ahead in slightly different order. This adjustment underscores a competitive shift among shooting guards, reflecting emerging talent and evolving player performances.
Factors Behind Devin Booker’s Ranking Slide
HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina offers insight into Booker’s current ranking, noting that while there is no anticipated regression in Booker’s play, the rising caliber of other shooting guards affects his position. He wrote,
“At one time arguably the best shooting guard in the NBA, for 2025-26, we have Devin Booker slotted at the No. 5 spot for his position. We don’t exactly expect a regression out of him next season – if anything, his numbers could improve with Kevin Durant in Houston and Beal in L.A. – we just think some of the league’s other 2-guards have surpassed him.”
The overall instability within the Phoenix Suns organization over recent years has not bolstered Booker’s standing, even though much of the responsibility for team struggles is not attributed to him directly. The hoped-for impact of a Booker-Durant pairing in the postseason failed to materialize, which may have contributed to doubts about Booker’s influence in clutch moments.
Analytical data also paint a concerning picture; Booker was one of just five players to post averages of 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in the 2024-25 season, yet several advanced metrics like BPM and VORP rank him lower among his peers. According to BPM, Booker was only the 19th-best shooting guard, and barely cracked the Top 100 for all players last season.
Despite these metrics, there remains confidence in Booker’s capability as a top player in his position. Urbina remarked,
“If you replaced the No. 3 player on this list with Booker, for example, would the Thunder have been as dominant as they were? We think the answer is very obviously yes.”
This hints at the belief that Booker still holds star-level talent deserving of respect.
“But with so many great players at the top of this position, we had to make some tough decisions here. What’s more, Booker could easily make us look bad with this ranking, so we look forward to seeing how he performs as Phoenix’s unquestioned top action again.”
—Frank Urbina, HoopsHype
Jalen Green and Bradley Beal’s Positions Amid Changes
Among the Phoenix Suns’ newer roster additions is Jalen Green, who has seen a decline in shooting guard rankings from No. 9 last season to No. 14 in the upcoming list. The mid-tier range for spots 11 through 20 includes names like Desmond Bane at 11, Coby White at 12, and CJ McCollum at 15.
Green’s potential remains notable, despite ranked lower. Frank Urbina explained the challenge of projecting Green’s 2025-26 impact, particularly as he joins a team with Booker’s established presence at the same position. He said,
“Projecting former No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green’s 2025-26 is no easy task. Not only is he joining a new team, but he’ll be joining a team with one of the league’s most established superstars… who happens to play the same position as Green.”
Green demonstrated moments of star-level performance last season, including scoring 24.4 points with strong rebounding and assisting for stretches. However, consistency and efficiency issues have limited his growth. Sharing significant offensive responsibilities with Booker may further complicate his development trajectory.
“Regardless, Green has the slashing ability, the explosiveness near the basket and the tough-shot-making ability to someday be a star, so maybe playing with his new star teammate could help him reach the next level of his development, simply by observing how he operates on a daily basis.”
—Frank Urbina, HoopsHype
Bradley Beal, another significant name from the Suns, has dropped sharply to No. 22 on the list, just behind Alex Caruso. This marks a significant fall from his No. 12 ranking last year, reflecting a challenging 2024-25 season and his upcoming move to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Implications for the Phoenix Suns and Future Prospects
The struggles of the Suns and the repositioning of players like Booker and Beal highlight an ongoing rebuilding phase for the team. The management and coaching staff appear focused on establishing an effective pairing between Booker and Green, hoping for a more productive partnership than the previous Booker-Beal combination, despite the shared positional overlap.
Booker remains a critical figure in the Suns’ future plans, serving as the team’s leader and primary offensive threat. How he adapts and performs amid rising competition among shooting guards will be crucial for the Suns to regain their competitive edge.
As the 2025-26 season approaches, all eyes will be on Booker to see whether he can respond to this ranking with improved performances and help guide Phoenix from its recent struggles. His reaction to this challenge could determine both his legacy among shooting guards and the Suns’ trajectory moving forward.