It’s official, the Phoenix Suns have been eliminated from the Play-In race. For the first time since 2019, Devin Booker and the rest of the team won’t be in the postseason, despite boasting the highest-paid All-Star trio in the NBA. The Suns are 11th in the Western Conference with a 35-45 record, putting them out of the reach of the 10th-placed team, the Dallas Mavericks, with a 38-42 record.
There are a few issues that analysts and fans can point to as the reason for the team’s underachieving campaign. One of the main reasons that has been talked about multiple times is the health of the stars. The injuries that Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant sustained throughout the long, grinding season hindered the Big 3 from sharing the floor and only played 46 games together, according to StatMuse.
Now that their playoff hopes are out the window, Devin Booker addressed some of the problems. Booker was asked about the importance of building a winning culture and an identity this season.
“I think that’s one of the steps that we skipped,” Booker said when asked about the Suns building a winning culture and identity.
“We had spots where we did it but it has to be something that’s turned on at all times.”
“I think that’s one of the steps that we skipped.”
Devin Booker on building a culture and identity that translates to winning #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/Y98VE9Pox5
— Connor Moreno (@cmorenoNBA) April 10, 2025
Booker tried his best to lift the Suns this year and only missed five games. However, his efforts aren’t enough, even though he averaged 25.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
Booker’s statement following the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Golden State Warriors sums up the season
On Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns had a lopsided 133-95 defeat against the Golden State Warriors. Booker had 21 points and four assists on 41.2 percent shooting from the field. The shooting guard also tried his luck from deep but couldn’t get anything to fall even after five attempts.
Following the contest, Booker was asked by NBA insider Duane Rankin how he could wrap his head around such a loss against Golden State.
“There’s no answers for it. There are no words for it. Nothing I can say can really make it better,” Booker said.
"There's no answers for it. There are no words for it."
Devin Booker after Suns 38-point loss to Golden State.
"Just no winning habits." #Suns #DubNation pic.twitter.com/NIudyfqiNj
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 9, 2025
Booker was also asked about the biggest problem for the Suns. However, he doesn’t think there’s one significant problem he could single out.
“There’s not one thing, one person, one player, one coach that’s the problem. You have a season this bad, it’s a bunch of things. I think the most frustrating part is being that close a few years ago and now back to where we are.”
Phoenix has two games left in their schedule. However, even if they win those games, it won’t put them back in the Play-In race.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
