Suns' Devin Booker takes slight dip in ESPN NBA Rank, still top 20

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is once again on ESPN’s Top 100 NBA players going into the 2026-27 season. He just isn’t ranked as high. The five-time All-Star is 20 on this year’s list. Last year, Booker ranked 16. ESPN ranked Tyrese Haliburton 19th as the Indiana Pacers point guard will return aft

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What is the story about?

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is once again on ESPN’s Top 100 NBA players going into the 2026-27 season.

He just isn’t ranked as high.

The five-time All-Star is 20 on this year’s list. Last year, Booker ranked 16.

ESPN ranked Tyrese Haliburton 19^th as the Indiana Pacers point guard will return after missing last season with a torn Achilles.

Here’s ESPN’s list from 18 to 11, as it counts down the top players. The network will reveal its top 10 on Sept. 24.

18. LeBron James (Philadelphia 76ers). Ranked 8^th last season.
17. Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors). Ranked 30^th last season.
16. Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks). Ranked 27^th last season
15. Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors). Ranked 20^th last season.
14. Jaylen Brown (Philadelphia 76ers). Ranked 19^th last season.
13. Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets). Ranked 9th last season.
12. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). Ranked 7th last season.
11. Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers). Ranked 28^th last season.

ESPN reduced its panel of voters from more than 100 NBA insiders, reporters, editors and producers to seven: Ben Golliver, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Bobby Marks, Dave McMenamin, André Snellings and Matt "Stats" Williams.

The panel ranked players “based on predicted contributions — quality and

quantity — for the 2026-27 regular season only.”

Goodwill called Booker a “rare one-team star” in his breakdown of the Suns' all-time leading scorer.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks to drive into the lane against the Denver Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 24, 2026.

“Booker is one of the most malleable stars as the Suns have assembled various teams around him in recent years and yet, he continues to thrive. From teaming with Chris Paul to playing alongside Kevin Durant to now, having Dillon Brooks as a running mate. Pencil him in for 26 points and six assists, the ability to play both guard positions and playing through nicks and bruises. His 11 years in the league have been in the Valley, and he's signed through 2029-30 — a rare one-team star.”

Goodwill added that Booker is one of five players with at least 1,000 drives last season and one of eight players who scored 1,000 points on drives (on a minimum of 500 drives) according to Genius IQ tracking.

Booker’s fantasy projection is 26.5 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds. Last season, Booker averaged 26.1 points on 45.6% shooting, six assists and 3.9 rebounds.

He connected on just 33% of his 3s, just above his career-low of 32.6% in 2018-19.

Brooks is 76th on the list after not being ranked last year, while Suns teammate Jalen Green is not ranked.

The Suns acquired Brooks and Green from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade in the 2025 offseason.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Devin Booker takes slight dip in ESPN NBA Rank, still top 20