Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker conveyed his mentality after his team was recently eliminated from playoff contention. 

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts on the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Footprint Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Suns failed to qualify for the Play-In tournament after recently losing eight consecutive games. Phoenix snapped the losing streak after having won against the Spurs on Friday night.

In a postgame interview with 12Sports reporter Jake Garcia, Booker conveyed why he decided to play despite the Suns not having anything to play for.

“It took a real Suns fan to be in there tonight…I pay real respect to the person that it was either their first time or maybe their last time seeing me play,” Booker said.

Despite the Suns having a disappointing campaign, Booker is still one of the premier players in the NBA. Booker averages 25.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46.1% from the field. In fact, Booker ranks ninth in the league in points per game.

NBA fans across the globe travel and spend a lot of money in order to see their favorite players perform. Booker, who is the Suns all-time leading scorer, knows the responsibility that comes with being a premier player not only for the NBA but for the team that drafted him in 2015.

Phoenix had high expectations coming into the season. The Suns acquired 2021 NBA champion head coach Mike Budenholzer in hopes to establish a championship culture.

Furthermore, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Booker were expected to be a prolific trio that was going to lead the Suns to be one of the top teams in the association.

However, the Suns lack solid depth, size and a true playmaker to operate the offense that features three dangerous scoring threats.

Durant, 36, is still performing at an All-NBA level by averaging 26.6 points, 4.2 assists and six rebounds on 52.7% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. The 2014 MVP has missed the last six games due to an ankle sprain he suffered back on March 30 against the Houston Rockets.

Beal, who has played in only 53 out of 81 games, hasn’t played to the expectations of his five-year, $251 million contract that features a no-trade clause he signed while with the Washington Wizards.

Beal still has two years remaining on the contract and is owed $110 million. Beal’s deal is being touted as one of the worst contracts in the history of the NBA.

It’s likely that Durant will be moved this summer and Booker may follow suit. As for Beal, it is going to be tough for the Suns to find a franchise that will take Beal’s contract.

However the Suns’ offseason shakes out, the trio of Booker, Beal and Durant underperformed greatly across their two seasons together.