Devin Booker made ‘very uncharacteristic’ choice after Suns’ season ends in blowout

The Suns had been eradicated from the NBA playoffs on Thursday evening after suffering a 125-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Recreation 6 of the Western Convention semis.

Enjoying with out Chris Paul (who had been injured since Recreation 2) and DeAndre Ayton (who missed Recreation 6 with a rib damage), the Suns had been blown out on their residence courtroom to the No. 1 seed within the West – ending an unbelievable run that Phoenix guard Devin Booker had been on all through the sequence, during which he scored 83 factors on practically 80 % capturing in Video games 3 and 4.

Booker struggled in Recreation 6, scoring 12 factors on 4-of-13 capturing – and after the sport (and the Suns’ season) was over, Booker left the world with out talking to media.

“That is very uncharacteristic for Booker, who usually embraces the tasks that come together with being the face of the franchise,” tweeted ESPN’s Tim McMahon after the sport was over. “Native media members couldn’t recall the final time he left area with out fulfilling his media obligations.”

Final 12 months, when the Suns additionally noticed their season finish in a blowout on their residence flooring through the Western Convention semis – a 123-90 bloodbath to the Mavericks in Game 7 – Booker did communicate to media, as did Paul.

Maybe Booker is conscious that the group might probably face a serious overhaul within the offseason below new proprietor Mat Ishbia.

Booker, Kevin Durant, Ayton and Landry Shamet are the one 4 gamers below fully-guaranteed contracts. Paul, who’s 38, has a group possibility, as does Cameron Payne.

Ayton, who had an underwhelming sequence matching up with former MVP Nikola Jokic, has additionally been constantly floated in commerce rumors.

Booker, who remains to be solely 26 and appears to get higher yearly, will probably be again in 2023-24, as will Durant.

Nevertheless, the group that received the primary two video games of the 2021 NBA Finals earlier than shedding 4 straight to the Bucks appears to be going backwards after back-to-back second-round knockouts.

Maybe Booker’s early exit could possibly be an indication of some inside frustration for a group that was thought of among the many favorites to win the NBA championship after they landed Durant in a blockbuster commerce from the Nets.

It’s a commerce that additionally decimated the Suns’ draft property as they now will search for methods to construct round Booker and Durant.

They’ve now been steamrolled of their final recreation of the season on their residence flooring for the second-straight 12 months.

“It was just about the entire recreation,” Suns head coach Monty Williams stated. “Eighty-one factors within the first half. It was deflating to only see them rating like that, working down the ground getting straightforward buckets.”