Translator's note: The original text was published in The Athletic, and the data in the article were as of the time of the original text (October 3 local time). The dates and times involved were all local time
Phoenix News - Shortly after Steve Nash visited the training hall and talked with the Suns players and coaches, Devin Booker was asked about the importance of the Hall of Fame point guard appearing in the training camp.
"It's so important, brother," Booker said, "he can be here, for all of us, just knowing he's in the training hall, to improve everything."
As the two-time MVP and the engine of the Suns' "7 seconds or less" tactics, Nash has returned to the team as a senior adviser. While Nash may spend more time with the management and coaching staff, it is probably the one who benefits the most from his presence and wisdom. After all, Nash isn't the only one here with a new character. Booker, who will turn 29 this month, is about to enter his 11th season. He will be the undisputed leader of the team for the first time. Chris Paul is the main controller of the voice during the Suns' NBA Finals in 2021. The Suns, with Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as the core, have failed to win a playoff game over the past two seasons, and the team lacks a strong locker room leader.
As a four-time All-Star guard, Booker understands that this is his role. Although he is not the oldest player in the roster, he has the most experience. He is also the face of this team. In July, Booker signed a two-year, $145 million max salary extension that will keep him in the Suns until the 2029-30 season.
"I have an unfinished career here," Booker said of the team's stumbling road to championships. "I know what this means to the city and the team. It's my job as a leader. It's my responsibility as a cornerstone of the team."
Booker never shys away from speaking out, but leadership needs much more than that. This is a gradual process. Before training camp began, Booker invited the team to Flagstaff, where he spent most of the offseason to escape the heat of the desert. There, the Suns played an in-team training game at Northern Arizona (Book’s dog was nearby), played golf in Pine Canyon, and enhanced feelings in the cooler temperatures.
"That's very different," said rookie center Kaman Maluach. "I'm going to Flagstaff for the first time."
"It's kind of like a mini camp." rookie guard Kobe Breya said.
Book's motivation is simple.
"We have a new team, (so) just want to get everyone together, get out of their comfort zone, and be together, and we do spend some time in the training hall," Booker said. "We don't want training camp or the week before the training camp to be the first time we meet because I know how important those off-court relationships are to play side by side on the field."
Booker emphasized this at the media day at the Sun Hall last week. In an interview with team flagship radio, he said the past two seasons with Durant and Bill were the toughest of his career, even more difficult than when the Suns failed to win more than 24 games in the first four seasons of his career. Booker said of the past two years that the Suns players get along well, but “when everyone has their own plans and doesn’t have the same common goal”, there will be no good results.
The changes this season start with him.
After training on Monday, Nash stood in a corner of the Suns training hall and spoke with former Suns guard Rex Chapman, who works in the team's management. Alabama coach Nate Oates and former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau also watched the training there the week before.
The news of Nash's employment not only excited the Suns fans, but also the players on the team. Defender Colin Gillespie said the first text he received came from his mother after big boss Matt Ishbiya announced the news. She told Gillespie to learn as much as possible. She also said: "Don't be afraid to ask questions."
Like Booker, Nash, 51, is one of the most popular players in the team's history. The Suns initially selected the point guard with the No. 15 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but traded him to the Mavericks two years later. Nash spent six years in Dallas, growing up to be an All-Star before signing with the Suns as a free agent in 2004. In the first three seasons under Mike D'Anthony's "running and bombing" system, Nash won two MVP trophys and was second only to his friend Dirk Nowitzki in his third place.
When playing in The Tom Tolbert Show in the summer, Warriors head coach Steve Cole - who served as the Suns General Manager while playing for Nash - said he had seen Nash pass a perfect ball in practice, but his teammates made the ball out of bounds. Cole said Nash would pat his chest and say, "My fault, my fault."
"That's so powerful," Cole told Tom Tolbert. "That's, you know, you're watching and thinking, 'Please, that's a perfect pass'. But how great is this response? It can take the pressure on others and just say, 'Hey, I'll take it, my fault'. I think that's the embodiment of leadership. And I saw that in Steve Nash."
Booker doesn't need to organize the offense like Nash -- his scoring performance is too important, but if the Suns want to get a season that can be used as a springboard for the future, he needs to improve his teammates' performance as the Suns legend has done.. He needs to give them confidence. After talking to Chapman, Nash stopped and hugged Dillon Brooks, who was also a Canadian, who was practicing three points at a nearby basket. At its peak, Nash faces a defender like Dillon - a guy who enjoys being irritated by his opponent. A few days ago, Dillon commented on Nash: "He will be an important person we can rely on." After that, Nash chatted with development coach Martin Cleveland and then met with general manager Brian Gregory.
Although it is not clear how long Nash will stay here, Gregory pointed out at Media Day that Nash has appeared in the training hall frequently. In a conversation, Nash, who served as Nets head coach from 2020 to 2022, referred to the Suns as "we", which gave Gregory a pause. He thought to himself, "Yes, that's what it should be."
"Everything we're talking about, the qualities we want the players to embody, and our team's identity, and Steve Nash is the embodiment of all this," Gregory said. "He's going to have a huge impact."
New Suns coach Jordan Ott
Last summer, Booker met Jordan Ott before he interviewed the Suns head coach position, who was an assistant coach for the Cavaliers. They watched about 20 minutes of video together, and Booker was impressed by Ultra's view that the game had changed. He understood that the effective method that was implemented two years ago may not be so effective today.
After getting the job, Ultra felt very lucky. Even though the Suns made a big change in the roster – only seven players from last season’s 36-win roster returned – he still has a top talent who can build a team around him, a player who has become a star in the league and plays a key role in the Olympics.
"I have been to different teams," said Ott, who has worked for the Cavaliers, Hawks, Nets and Lakers. "It is a great luxury for us to keep the team's superstars in our own city and training hall. The good atmosphere brought by the players' hard training in the training hall starts with the top stars."
As the Suns' scoring champion, Booker's total score is 16,452 points, ranking 18th among active players. Despite his decline in efficiency last season, he is so good that his organizational skills are often overlooked. Booker's assists per game increased from 5.5 to 6.9 to 7.1 in three seasons after Durant joined the Suns. Past opponent Dillon recently called his new teammate the offensive Wizards.
This season, Booker will partner with Jaylen Green, a scorer with athletic and slam-striking scorer, and the Suns got him in the deal with the Rockets involving Durant (and Dillon and the draft pick to pick Malu Archie). Dillon should be the starting small forward, while sophomore dynamic Ryan Dunn and Mark Williams, who were all-in-one threats obtained through the Hornets trade, may form the starting frontcourt. Booker said he and Green — the 23-year-old averaged 20.1 points per game in four seasons with the Rockets — are still learning how to work together. He said he thinks it would be helpful to speed up the game. His message to Green is: Stay aggressive.
"He has done a great job since day one," said Ott of Booker's leadership. "He is not a boastful person, he only speaks when he has a point he really wants to emphasize. He is such a person. He is a thoughtful and noble person, and when he speaks, everyone listens because what he says is very well-intentioned."
Perhaps it's lucky to have a 50% win rate. Booker said he didn't pay attention to such remarks and chose to keep the team's goals in his heart. He knew the sun was young. He knew they would make mistakes. His job is to lead them through the difficulties.
"I understand how important my voice is in this younger team, so it's my job to handle it well," Booker said.
And if he needs help, a Hall of Fame point guard is around and is ready to provide assistance.
Author: Doug Haller
Translator: GWayNe
source:7m cnvn