The two biggest names on the Phoenix Suns have a shot at history this year.

With only two more preseason games to go, the 2023-24 season will finally begin for the Phoenix Suns, who have a lot riding on the shoulders of superstars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

Such is life at their level, but with Bradley Beal and other brilliant veterans surrounding them, the Valley finally has a shot at an NBA Finals championship. 

According to NBA.com’s Jeff Case, Durant and Booker have an opportunity to further cement their legacy this year.

Devin Booker

In the first half at Moda Center, Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Matisse Thybulle (4) of the Portland Trail Blazers.

An Example:In his seventh season with the Suns, NBA player Devin Booker has already surpassed Steve Nash as the franchise leader in 3-pointers made and attempted. He can go up to third all-time in field goals made and second all-time in scoring if he has a good season. Booker is now fourth all-time in team scoring with 12,688 points and needs 1,233 points in 2023–24 to overtake Alvan Adams (13,910) for second all-time. Booker sits second in the rankings, behind only Kevin Johnson (12,747) by a scant 60 points. Booker’s 2017–18 season was the first time he scored less than 1,700 points in a season.

Booker is fourth all-time with 4,453 career field goals. To move past Shawn Marion and into third place, he needs 427 or more points. Booker has now kicked at least 525 yards in five consecutive seasons, and six times in his previous seven. He should have no trouble passing Marion.

Kevin Durant

Forward Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns takes a free shot in the first half of an exhibition game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

To wit: “Scoring has never been a problem for Durant, and even switching teams in the middle of the season couldn’t hinder his expertise in basket-making. This time last year, he was sitting pretty at No. 21 on the all-time scoring list. As the season came to a close, he had leapfrogged Alex English, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, and Oscar Robertson to finish the year in thirteenth place.

This is the year that Durant has a very good chance of becoming one of the top 10 scorers in NBA history. There are three players between Durant and No. 10 Moses Malone (27,409): Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946), Elvin Hayes (27,313), and Moses Malone (518).

Durant’s scoring total of 1,366 in 47 games last season was quite similar to his point total of 1,643 in 55 games in 21-22. About 1,600 points would put Durant ahead of Carmelo Anthony (28,289) for ninth place on the all-time scoring record this season. With a healthy season of 2,000 points or more, he would easily overtake Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) for the eighth rank in scoring history. Finally, Durant needs 3,108 points to become the seventh player in NBA history to score 30,000 points.

Paul, who played for the Suns, is now second all-time in assists behind Jason Kidd by 591. Case notes that Paul is 4,305 assists behind the Warriors’ newest backcourt player, John Stockton, therefore it’s quite improbable that Paul would ever catch up to Stockton.