The Phoenix Suns are preparing to re-center their franchise around Devin Booker for the 2025-26 campaign. Supporters in the Valley are eager to see him dominate once again, even if wins may be harder to come by this year. At only 28, he is already on pace to become the greatest Sun of all time, and a return to the All-Star stage seems inevitable. But when the conversation shifts toward long-term legacy, one gap in his résumé stands out.
For all of his offensive brilliance, Booker has only two All-NBA selections to his name. That lack of recognition looms large when Hall of Fame discussions surface. ESPN recently examined the odds of today’s stars eventually being enshrined, and Booker was placed in the group of “29-year-olds on the edge,” a category that also included Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, and Domantas Sabonis. Some fans might bristle at that company, but the truth is clear: without more All-NBA nods, Booker’s Hall case is weaker than it should be.
The paradox is striking. He ranks tenth in NBA history in points scored before turning 29, yet he has not consistently been honored among the league’s top 15 players. Since the Suns’ Finals appearance in 2021, his profile has dimmed. The partnership with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal fell flat, and Phoenix has endured two bitter springs: one year swept by the Timberwolves in the first round, the next failing even to reach the play-in.
Booker’s versatility has sometimes worked against him. The Suns’ experiment of sliding him into point guard duties has not elevated his stature. And in the current landscape, younger stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards have leapfrogged him in acclaim and visibility. Among his two All-NBA selections, just one was first-team in 2022. By 2024, he earned a third-team nod while Durant, his teammate, secured a second-team spot.
None of this diminishes Booker’s standing in Phoenix. He is destined for the Suns’ Ring of Honor as soon as his playing days end, beloved for his relentless scoring and loyalty to the franchise. But Hall of Fame voters weigh markers differently. Rings, deep playoff runs, and All-NBA honors often tilt the scales. Without a championship, those All-NBA accolades become essential, and for now Booker’s file is thin.
Booker is still young enough to shift the narrative. He has time to collect more selections, perhaps even lead a surprise playoff charge, and cement his status as one of the defining guards of his generation. Yet unless that happens, history may one day view him as an extraordinary scorer whose résumé lacked the extra validation that sways Hall of Fame debates.
For Suns fans, the hope is that the next chapter of his career provides those missing pieces, ensuring his legacy extends far beyond the desert.
