Booker’s scoring abilities were never in question, and during the 2022-23 postseason he led the entire league with an incredible 33.7 points per game. While that didn’t result in a championship, we now know that Booker can score at a level few can match, even when the game slows down and he gets a ton of attention from opponents.

Back in Paris, Booker was the one who embraced the challenge of defending all opponents, big and small. The fact that he’s actually really good at it – he should have his best defensive season in 2024-25, regardless of the outcome of the MVP race – shows that he’s still improving nearly a decade after entering the league.

In an ideal world, the Suns would have guys like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale defending the outside scorers so Booker could save his energy for the other end. But if he decides to keep a young superstar like Anthony Edwards in check — and if he succeeds — then his MVP claim will take on a whole new perception.

Plus, there hasn’t been a guard/wing this century who has won the MVP award primarily because of his outstanding defense. Guys like Harden, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Phoenix’s own Steve Nash have done it primarily through scoring and playmaking, so if Booker could combine defense with his own scoring, he would be the kind of MVP we haven’t seen in a long time.