Devin Booker to Return to Phoenix Suns "Soon"

The Phoenix Suns should have their superstar back in time to make one last desperate push for the playoffs. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the team believes Devin Booker could return in time for Tuesday's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.

Woj says there is "optimism" Devin Booker (groin) could be back in the Suns lineup on Tuesday vs. the Nets pic.twitter.com/O9VF2zNhj3
— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) February 1, 2023

Booker has missed 18 straight games with a lingering groin injury and has appeared in only 29 of a possible 52 games so far this season. He was his typically electric self when available, averaging 27.1 points per game with a solid .585 true shooting percentage.

Despite Booker's extended absence, the Suns are 27-25 and seventh in the Western Conference. Fellow superstar Chris Paul has also been similarly afflicted with bad health, missing 21 games so far this season. If the two can get healthy over the closing stretch of the season, the Suns will have a chance to climb out of the play-in tournament and rediscover the chemistry that carried them to the finals following the 2020-21 season.

If Booker can't make it back in time for Tuesday's game against the Nets, his next chance will be on the following Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks.