Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker underwent successful surgery on his right hand Monday and will be out of action for about six weeks, the Suns confirmed Monday.
Per the Suns' statement, Booker "underwent successful surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Steven Shin at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Booker’s expected recovery time is approximately six weeks."
That likely means Booker will miss the Suns' training camp in Flagstaff, which will begin Sept. 25, as well as most of the preseason, but he could return in time for the Suns' first regular-season game on Oct. 17.
On his Instagram page, Booker posted a photo of himself post-surgery and thanked everyone for their support.
Booker suffered the hand injury in March and missed the final 12 games of the Suns' 2017-18 season. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported surgery was deemed necessary after Booker recently experienced swelling in the hand.
In July, the Suns signed the 21-year-old Booker to the largest contract in franchise history -- a 5-year, $158 million deal.
Booker was selected by the Suns with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He averaged 24.9 points per game last season -- the second-most in NBA history by a guard 21 years of age or younger (only Michael Jordan averaged more). Booker also averaged 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds last season, and he set career highs in field-goal percentage (43.2) and 3-point percentage (38.3).
Per ESPN, Booker is the third-youngest player in NBA history to record 4,000 career points; LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the only players to reach that milestone sooner. Booker is also the youngest player in NBA history to record a 60- or 70-point game when he scored 70 vs. the Celtics last season.
