Devin Booker has become one of the league’s top shooters.

The defending 3-point shooting champion shot a career-best 38.3 percent from distance last season.

Yep, he’s a shooter, but Dragan Bender doesn’t think Booker’s the best one on the team.

“I’d have to go with Troy (Daniels),” Bender said after the final day of training camp Friday at Northern University. “He’s a natural shooter. He comes into the gym and can make many 3s in a row with ease. I’d have to go with Troy.”

Daniels did lead the Suns last season in 3-pointers made (183) and 3-point percentage (40). He played in 25 more games than Booker, but still shot a higher percentage despite attempting 74 more shots than him from long range.

Based on those numbers, Bender is correct, but when asked if he thought Daniels was really a better shooter than Booker, the third-year pro from Croatia adjusted his opinion based on injury.

“Right now definitely, without Devin’s hand,” said a smiling Bender about Booker, who still has a splint on his injured right shooting hand after having surgery on it Sept. 10.

Nice recovery.

Booker still can’t use his right hand, but he looked darn good shooting lefty in camp. He’s certainly a quality shooter, but Bender ultimately gave Daniels the nod for the title of team’s best shooter.

“Devin and Troy are right there, but I’d say Troy is a more natural shooter,” Bender said. “A guy that can knock it down at any time.”

Now the 7-footer can knock it down from deep, too.

A career 34.5 percent 3-point shooter, Bender shot 36.6 percent from distance last season. With Phoenix adding Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson to improve its 3-point shooting, Bender figures to be a part of that perimeter mix to create matchup problems this season.

“It’s a great system, a system for shooters,” said Bender, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft. “It suits us as a team. Like I said, we have a lot of people who can shoot the ball well from the outside. We value that and we’re trying to play off our strengths. We definitely have a lot of people who can go downhill and create for others, kick the ball out. We just have to be ready to shoot the ball.”

Suns first-year coach Igor Kokoskov acknowledges Bender’s shooting ability, but wants him to do more.

“He’s got to find a way to guard people,” Kokoskov said. “To contain the ball better. To be more involved and have more a presence under the basket when it comes to rebounding, rim protection.”

Bender was third on the team in blocked shots last season with 53, but he averaged less than one a game in 82 games. He managed just 4.4 rebounds a game last season.

So as good Bender can shoot, the Suns could use more blocks and boards from him.

“It’s coming with age, but he’s got to grow up fast,” Kokoskov said. “We felt him at camp. He brought energy. He brought a presence, that voice. He’s grown and that’s his transition from being a boy to a man.”

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