“Great patience, DB,” Sandy Brondello yelled with encouragement across the floor during a scrimmage against the Mercury’s Male Practice Squad. “Nice job. Way to let the play develop.”

DeWanna Bonner had taken control of the ball, called one of the Mercury’s new offensive sets, told players where to go and hit Cayla Francis in the paint for the easy bucket. The entire play lasted a mere 10-11 seconds, yet the way Bonner deliberately organized everyone on the court was masterful.

No panic. No worry. She knew each screen, each cut, each rotation that would happen ahead of time, and executed it to perfection while vocally directing traffic.

DeWanna Bonner 7.0, if you will.

I’ve covered DeWanna Bonner for PhoenixMercury.com every single minute she’s been in the WNBA – from the moment she spoke with the media over the phone in 2009 immediately after she was drafted to her impressive 21-point season debut just a few days ago on June 5.

Bonner is a two-time WNBA Champion, three-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year and ranks fourth on the Mercury’s all-time scoring list (2,655 points) behind only Diana Taurasi (6,722), Penny Taylor (3,275) and Jennifer Gillom (2,793).

Indeed, Bonner’s resume speaks for itself. Though, I would strongly assert that she has never played basketball at a higher level than she is right now.

But I’m not the only one who thinks so.

“It’s hard to argue against that,” Sandy Brondello said recently. “She looks so comfortable on the floor. I think the game has slowed down quite a bit for her. She’s been asked to do different things every year she’s been in the league, and we’re asking her to do different things this year, certainly.

“Her command of the offense and intensity on defense is quite impressive.”

If you take a look at what Bonner’s role on the Mercury has been since 2009, you’ll get a different answer every year. The same is true in 2015, her seventh year in the league. That is to say – and it sounds tired – but she’s willing to do anything the team needs that gives them the best chance to win.

“She’s taken more of a leadership role this season,” Candice Dupree said. “I think her versatility is probably her greatest strength and a testament to how much she wants to win.

“She has a confidence in her game with a work ethic to match.”

There is, perhaps, no better example of her evolving role than the one she’s already adapted to this season. With Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor out, Bonner has made a conscious decision to shift her mentality towards being both a scorer and a playmaker.

However, Brondello has also asked Bonner to play an amplified role on the defensive end of the floor, especially along the perimeter – something she radically improved upon last year (Bonner had a career-best defensive rating of 98 in 2014).

“She’s tenacious,” Leilani Mitchell added. “Her length and energy are key for us defensively. I knew she was tough but I didn’t realize how much until I got here [to Phoenix] and practiced against her every day.”

Witnessing Bonner’s growth and maturity firsthand as both a person and player over the past seven years has certainly been a privilege, and a quintessential example of why she’s one of the most important players ever to don a Mercury uniform.