Devin Booker Injury Update: Suns Star’s Groin Strain Return Timeline Revealed

Devin Booker Sends Clear Message to NBA Officiating While Gearing Up for Pivotal Pelicans Clash PHOENIX — Devin Booker has never shied away from big moments, but this week the Phoenix Suns star is making headlines for more than his late-game shot-making. BOOKER BLASTS NBA’S LAST TWO MINUTES REPORT After the league admitted three officiating errors in the Suns’ narrow 119-116 loss to Golden State, Booker called for the NBA to scrap its “Last Two Minutes Report,” arguing that the post-game document only “adds more frustration” for players and officials alike. The three-time All-Star said consistency matters more than public accountability theater, framing the report as a distraction that doesn’t change results in the standings. WHY THIS MATTERS FOR PHOENIX Booker’s remarks land during a brutal December stretch in which every game has playoff-style stakes for a Suns roster fighting for Western Conference positioning. Phoenix has already endured injuries and lineup shuffles, making clean whistles—and peace of mind—critical as they chase rhythm heading into 2026. ROAD TEST IN THE BIG EASY The timing of Booker’s officiating critique is no coincidence. On Friday the Suns visit the red-hot New Orleans Pelicans, owners of four straight home wins and a suddenly suffocating defense. With sharpshooter Grayson Allen sidelined, Phoenix needs Booker’s scoring gravity to offset lost spacing and ignite an offense that can stagnate when depth is thin. PELicans HAVE FELT BOOKER’S WRATH BEFORE Booker averages over 29 points per game in his last six trips to Smoothie King Center, routinely slowing pace, hunting mismatches and bending the Pelicans’ switch-heavy schemes. New Orleans head coach Willie Green—Booker’s former assistant in Phoenix—knows the scouting report: limit transition, force the ball out of Booker’s hands early and live with contested mid-range jumpers. MVP-ADJACENT NUMBERS KEEP BUILDING Since Thanksgiving, Booker is posting 30.4 points, 7.2 assists and 5.3 rebounds on 52/43/88 shooting splits, form that has vaulted him into early MVP chatter despite Kevin Durant’s own scoring explosions. Booker’s usage approaches 35 percent when Allen, Bradley Beal or Eric Gordon sit, a workload that underscores how vital whistle consistency and free-throw opportunities are to Phoenix’s offensive math. ALL-STAR VOTES AND SEO-SIZED IMPACT Fan balloting opens in two weeks, and Booker’s candid comments could galvanize a national audience that often embraces star authenticity. From a marketing angle, the Suns guard is leveraging headline visibility just as sneaker company Nike prepares to roll out his Book 2 signature model in wider colorways. More buzz means more eyeballs—a cycle Phoenix won’t complain about as they push for another primetime Christmas slot next year. WHAT’S NEXT • Friday: Suns at Pelicans, 8:00 p.m. ET • Sunday: Suns host Rockets, first meeting since last month’s double-OT classic • January 2: NBA releases its next two-minute pool report, all eyes on league response to Booker’s critique BOTTOM LINE Devin Booker is dominating both the scoreboard and the narrative. If his words spark officiating reforms—or simply inspire another scoring avalanche against New Orleans—the Suns’ playoff seeding and Booker’s award candidacy could hinge on this late-December surge. Either way, fans searching for “Devin Booker news,” “Booker Pelicans preview” or “NBA Last Two Minutes controversy” will find the Suns’ franchise centerpiece at the heart of every conversation.