‘He makes this thing go’: Kevin Durant Speaks Out Against Suns Playing Without Devin Booker

The Phoenix Suns were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers on November 10, and Kevin Durant stated that Devin Booker is greatly missed by the squad.

Booker is nursing a calf ailment

“(Booker) is what makes this thing go,” Durant added. “We can’t go where we want to go without him.” He simply puts a lot of pressure on defenders and guards (various positions). We will miss him.”

Zooming in on Durant's usage - Bright Side Of The Sun

This season, Booker has only played in two games. He’s averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game while shooting 57.5% from the field, 53.3% from beyond the arc, and 100.0% from the free-throw line.

Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal have yet to play together. The Suns have a 4-5 record.

Suns' Kevin Durant: 'We Can't Go Where We Want to Go' Without Devin Booker  | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report

“It’s going to be a long season,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “Remain united. It’s disheartening. We’re bruised, we’ve got men returning, and we’re still going to get even more whole than we are.”

While Booker is out, Durant is doing everything he can to keep the Suns afloat. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 30.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 50.8% from the field, 40.5% from three, and 83.1% from the free throw line.

Kevin Durant has been the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker

It’s unclear when Booker will return to the lineup for the Suns, who surrendered 12 3-pointers to the Lakers, one of the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting teams.

“We had to get to their shooters better than we were,” Vogel went on to say. “They’re not a great shooting team, but they have capable players.” It was shown tonight. It’s difficult to slow down LeBron without being aware of your rotation to their shooters.”