Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is expected to sit out all of training camp and preseason, but that doesn't mean he's resting on his laurels.

Booker had surgery on his right hand a little over two weeks ago, but he is using the approximately six-week recovery time to develop his left, non-dominant hand.

"I always messed around a little bit growing up, just shooting with my left hand, but now I'm actually getting real work in with my left hand," Booker told the team's website. "I think it's going to be a big help."

Now seen as the cornerstone of a rebuilding Suns franchise after signing a five-year, $158 million maximum contract extension this offseason, the 21-year-old is also using his forced time off to improve how he thinks about the game.

"If you're out there on the court, you get caught up in competing and winning," said Booker, who averaged 24.9 points per game last season. "You can't really pay attention to everything that's going on. Being on the sidelines, seeing it from a different angle, I think has been a big help for me."

With a team that features three lottery picks taken in the past two drafts, and just three players 30 or older, Booker is something of an elder statesman in Phoenix and says he is using his time sidelined to improve his skills as a leader.

"I think it's part of that leadership role," Booker said. "I can go in there and watch one player the whole time and see what he's doing. I can go in there and watch the team's defense and see what they're doing and have my input on it."

The Suns will open the 2018-19 season against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 17 in a game that is expected to feature three lottery picks in Phoenix's Deandre Ayton (No. 1) and Mikal Bridges (No. 10), and Dallas' Luka Doncic (No. 3). Booker hopes he'll also be on the court that night.

"The plan is to be ready for Game 1," Booker said.