PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker will miss the start of training camp after being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The Suns said that the two-time All-Star won’t participate in the media day. The team said, according to AP, that it would have no further updates until he’s ready for training camp.
The 24-year-old Booker helped lead the Suns to the NBA Finals last season before they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
He averaged 25.6 points per game last season, teaming with veteran Chris Paul to form one of the league’s top backcourts.
Booker was also part of the US team that won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The Suns “will have no further update” on Booker’s status until he is “available to participate in training camp.”
They play the first of their four preseason games Oct. 4 at Sacramento and open the 2021-22 regular season Oct. 20 at home against Denver.
Booker led Phoenix to the NBA Finals in his sixth season after missing the playoffs his first five years. Averaging 27.3 points in his first postseason run, Booker posted back-to-back 40-point games in the Finals as the Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
Last season, 11-time All-Star Chris Paul missed the first two games of the Western Conference finals under health and safety protocols as he tested positive for COVID-19.
Cam Johnson, Jalen Smith and Dario Saric also had bouts with COViD-19 last season.
For Brooklyn Nets star James Harden, he has already begun his training to gain that edge all summer long. Last week, he was seen working with NBA skills coach Chris Brickley.
After a hamstring injury kept him from competing at a high level in last year’s playoffs, Harden’s number one goal as of late has been getting in shape.
The 32-year-old admitted that his conditioning was not where it was supposed to be last season so now he wants to change that.
De’Andre Hunter’s growth in his second season and his two-way play is one of the key reasons Atlanta Hawks optimists think this team can take a step forward off its impressive playoff run. He can be an X-factor for this team.
After what can only be described as a dreadful rookie season, Hunter looked much better in the 23 games he was healthy enough to play in last season in Atlanta. He averaged 15 points a game with a 60.3 true shooting percentage, plus he is a quality wing defender.
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