“Don’t Wanna Get Back”: Devin Booker Reveals The Only Road To Redemption As Suns Fall In Round 1 Of NBA Playoffs

Game 4 of the Playoff series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns saw the latter team lose for the fourth consecutive time. As a result, they have now been eliminated from the ongoing NBA tournament. The team was unable to maintain momentum, despite the fact that shooting guard Devin Booker came out on top with 49 points. This unfortunate situation would have disappointed the player since he has been waiting for over 3 years to compete for the ultimate title.

Devin Booker engaged in a Q & A session with several media members in the game’s aftermath. During the exchange, it was highlighted that Booker last reached the NBA Finals back in 2021. Additionally, the Suns have barely managed to come close to that threshold since then. When asked about his frustration over not reaching the finals again, he clarified that the finals are not the pinnacle of success for him.

“I want to win it; I don’t wanna get back,” said Booker. He revealed being aware that the NBA is a tough league; and that only one franchise can stand on top. Moreover, the player also stated that once a team loses, everyone goes into “panic mode,” figuring out where steps should be taken next to improve. According to Booker, that is not what the Suns’ roster should do. “Over time, you know, experience is the best teacher,” the Suns star continued, adding, “The more time you can spend together, feel this hurt together, and go through it together, the better off you are in the future.”

Through his remarks, the player made it clear that there are better solutions than engaging in trade talks and changing the main lineup. After all, Booker has spent the entirety of his 9-year NBA career with the Suns. He has seen many other players come and go from the franchise in that time period. As Devin continued to state that success “Starts from the top, trickles down from there,” he emphasized that if he, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and even Frank Vogel worked on themselves, they would have a chance of performing better next season.

While Devin Booker may hold one opinion, the rest of the NBA world may not think the same. For one thing, the Suns may have to engage in a trade to avoid facing the penalties incurred by crossing the ‘Second Apron’ limit. Furthermore, the Suns have not won even a single championship title, and revamping the team may help. Despite his continuing loyalty, some NBA analysts have hypothesized that Devin Booker may succeed better by aligning himself with another franchise.

How did Devin Booker perform during the 2023–24 season?

Devin Booker may not be returning to the NBA basketball court until the next season. However, he leaves it by adding some credible stats and records to his name. During the regular season, the 27-year-old put up an average score of 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. While his point average was lower than the one he secured during the previous season, it was still the second-highest in his nine-year NBA career. Unfortunately, the same score dropped once the Suns reached the playoffs.

Appearing in 3 of the 4 playoff games, he scored 20.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Booker’s season was also filled with some notable feats. While he may not have recorded a triple-double, he did score 50+ points in three games, the most in a single season. The player also recorded his second overall 60+ points game, becoming only the 9th player in the history of the NBA to do so.

During a game against the New Orleans Pelicans back in April, Booker scored 52 points and 9 assists. This allowed him to become the second player, after Wilt Chamberlin, to score 50 or more in three consecutive games against the same rival franchise.

Devin Booker’s prowess has shown that he is worthy of being a championship contender. Now, it remains to be seen whether he will hope to do that while remaining with the Suns or some other franchise.