By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 2 — 12:00 EDT
Devin Booker entered Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the NBA’s most durable stars. He didn’t finish it.
The Phoenix Suns guard exited with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter, suffering a right groin injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game. Team officials later ruled him out, shutting the door on a night that started with historic milestones but ended with uncertainty for Phoenix’s franchise cornerstone.
Booker logged 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds in just 10 minutes, shooting an efficient 4-for-7 before his night abruptly ended. His absence forced Phoenix to reshuffle the rotation, handing increased minutes to Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Jamaree Bouyea as the team scrambled to compensate for its primary scorer and playmaker.
A Night That Started With History
Before the injury, Booker managed to stamp another achievement onto his already decorated career. He became the third-youngest player in NBA history to record 17,000 points and 3,600 assists, trailing only LeBron James and Oscar Robertson. The Suns highlighted the moment with an X post celebrating the accomplishment — a stat that underlines Booker’s blend of scoring and playmaking that few players in league history have matched by his age.
Yet the celebration was short-lived. Moments later, Booker walked off the court and headed to the locker room, ending what could have been another massive performance in a season that has quietly been one of his most balanced campaigns.
Suns Navigating a New Era Without Stars — But Still Winning
Phoenix entered the season with a dramatically restructured roster. The team moved on from former All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, committing to a reset centered around Booker, role players, and young contributors.
Despite the upheaval, the Suns arrived in Los Angeles at 12–9, holding a winning record largely due to Booker’s steady availability. Before Monday, he had played in every game this season, averaging:
- 25.7 points
- 6.9 assists
- 4.4 rebounds
- 45% shooting from the field
- 31% from three on 5.8 attempts per game
His presence has been the stabilizing force that kept Phoenix in the Western Conference playoff picture. The concern now shifts to how long the Suns may be without their leader — and whether the team’s retooled roster has enough depth to stay afloat if he misses time.
What Comes Next: A Waiting Game
The Suns now have a brief pause in their schedule. They do not play again until Friday against the Houston Rockets, providing Booker several days to undergo imaging and evaluation.
The team is expected to provide a formal update by Thursday night, according to early reports.
Groin injuries are notoriously tricky — they heal slowly and reinjury risk is high. With Phoenix already navigating roster adjustments, losing Booker for even a short stretch could tighten an already competitive Western Conference race.
The Suns have relied heavily on Booker’s shot creation, especially post-Durant era. Should he miss multiple games, the scoring load likely shifts to:
- Grayson Allen, one of the league’s most efficient shooters
- Jusuf Nurkić, for interior usage
- Goodwin/Gillespie, for playmaking support
- Camara & Bol, for defensive and rotation versatility
But there’s no replacing Booker’s presence — both as the emotional engine and primary offensive weapon.
The Lakers-Suns Dynamic Adds Weight
Beyond the injury itself, the game carried extra narrative layers. Booker’s milestone came opposite LeBron James, who is one of the two legends ahead of him in the 17k/3.6k achievement list. It was also a chance for Phoenix to test itself against a Lakers team fighting for positioning in the NBA Cup and Western Conference standings.
Losing Booker early removed a marquee duel — and shifted the tone of the night from competition to concern.
As Phoenix fans turned their attention away from the scoreboard and toward updates from the training staff, the bigger picture became clear: the Suns’ season may hinge on how quickly their star guard can return.