Suns feeling good about guard Booker’s progress
Who’s happier? Devin Booker or Igor Kokoskov?
Probably a toss up. Phoenix’s franchise player and new first-year head coach were all smiles Wednesday afternoon as Booker has returned to shooting with his injured right hand after having the splint removed.
“It feels great man,” Booker said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “Not all the way back, 100 percent normal yet, but it’s getting ready.”
Booker still hasn’t been cleared for contact, but Kokoskov flashed a big grin, too, when asked about Booker’s progress.
“It makes me happy,” Kokoskov said. “I’m happy for him. I’m happy for us. We’ve mentioned it several times if you ask Devin, he would play (Wednesday).”
He wasn’t the only one excited, Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough was also at Wednesday’s shootaround – and he was smiling, too.
Kokoskov’s isn’t looking to speed up the process. Booker is anxious to receive complete clearance, but the Suns trainers and organization clearly have a say on when the $158 million man will be a full go.
“I don’t make those decisions, but I’m following protocol,” Booker said. “(Trainers) know what they’re doing. That’s their profession. It’s been fun.”
Booker said at media day he looked to be back for the Oct. 17 season opener against Dallas. Having him shooting two weeks before should give the franchise more confidence that’ll actually happen.
“We’re just following the steps,” Kokoskov said. “That’s not my jurisdiction. I know nothing about when it comes to medical, science. The medical staff, we have one of the best in the league. They’re going to tell us when the next steps are. We’re going to follow those steps being disciplined and wait for him to make the recovery and to play.”
Booker had surgery Sept. 10 to repair the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint after his hand swelled a week earlier while playing basketball in Phoenix.
He began wearing a splint on his right hand and did so throughout training camp in Flagstaff and at last Saturday’s open practice for the fans.
On Monday, Booker sat on the bench for the preseason opener against Sacramento splint free after returning from Los Angeles where he had the original surgery.
“Just for a quick check in,” Booker said. “It wasn’t really much. Look at the scars. Just let the doctor look over it.”
Wearing two small tape wraps around his two outside fingers, Booker gripped a tennis ball during the game.
On Tuesday, Booker was in the practice gym in full uniform shooting — and making — free throws and even a corner 3-pointer before chatting it up with the New Zealand Breakers.
“Every day, it gets better,” Booker said. “I’m happy about it. Finally shooting a little bit with my right hand. It feels good.”I hadn’t take a shot in over three weeks with it. It felt really good.”
When his right hand was completely out, Booker worked diligently with his left hand in terms of passing, dribbling and even shooting. He’ll now cut back on the left-handed 3-point shots, but plans to continue working with his left hand.
“I’m still limited on my right hand and what I can actually do, but like I said when I was working on it, there are things I have to use it for in a game,” Booker said. “Left hand passes. I won’t be taking any more 3-pointers with it, but a lot of left hand passes. I’ll still work on it.”
Canaan still out
Point guard Isaiah Canaan was out again Wednesday with an injured thumb.
Kokoskov continues to say it isn’t serious.
“He went through the shootaround,” Kokoskov said. “Tomorrow he’s going to practice and he’ll be available Friday.”
The Suns play Portland in their third preseason game Friday at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Canaan is one of four point guards the Suns have on their current roster with second-year pro Shaquille Harrison and rookies Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton being the other three.