Devin Booker was pretty transparent about how things went this season.
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns did not plan on having these conversations with two games remaining in the NBA season.
They should have been preparing for the NBA Playoffs or, at the very least, the Play-In Tournament. Instead, we are discussing the Suns’ first postseason elimination since 2020.
The playoffs felt inevitable when they began the season 8-1. Then, the team sputtered after Kevin Durant’s injury, which snowballed to where we are today. The Play-In seemed like a foregone conclusion early in the year, but as the season progressed, the momentum shifted negatively to the point of no return.
Devin Booker on Suns 8-1 start to the season, via @DuaneRankin:
“We might have gotten a little ahead of ourselves.”
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 10, 2025
Even when the math said the Suns could make it, we all knew this was coming. It felt inevitable. There were “fun” (sarcasm font) spurts here and there where they looked competent and tricked us into thinking they might’ve figured it out. They did not.
Devin Booker highlighted some key areas of focus for himself and the team last night and was very candid in his responses.
Devin Booker on where he needs to be better next year: “I don’t think I shot the ball well this year. Just win games at all costs, try and empower my will on the other team…being a leader, using my voice more. Pretty much everything when you fall this short” pic.twitter.com/ekxpFR8QtO
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 10, 2025
The Quotes
(On thoughts about this season…)
“It’s been a slow bleed out. I’ve been feeling this way for the majority of the season. I think the small glimpses of good stretches that we’ve played, gave me hope, and probably gave everybody else hope. So, you never want it to be squeezing into the last spot of the play-in, in the first place. Kind of expected at this point.”
This was a rough listen. I don’t think you could describe the season better than by calling it a “slow bleed out” because that’s exactly what it was. I’m not sure if “kind of expected at this point” is refreshing or terrible to hear, but maybe somewhere in between. It definitely looked like the team checked out early. There’s no fooling the media or fans.
(On what he thinks needs to change going into next season…)
“More than one thing. But summertime is the time to digest and look back to see what went wrong. Compare it to when things were going right and vocalize that.”
There will be plenty of time to digest this disaster of a season. From top to bottom, the organization must evaluate who will stay and who will go. It should be a cutthroat process where no one is safe.
(On making a culture within the team this season…)
“I think that’s one of the steps that we skipped, like I was saying. Learning through the wins and the losses. Just continue to get better every day, no matter what the circumstances are. We had spots where we did it, but it has to be something that’s turned on at all times.”
Devin Booker’s loyalty cannot be questioned at this point. He has gone through some terrible times in Phoenix. The question begs, how much more patient will he be? I do not foresee a world where he is traded this offseason. No chance. That said, if they are a lottery team again next season, the noise will only get louder.
Booker has not missed the playoffs since 2020, and before that run, he had never made the playoffs. He was a lot younger during those struggles and had more patience to endure the tough times.
How much patience does he have left?
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images