Phoenix-The best paid team in the NBA is officially among its best artists this season.
The Phoenix Suns, with a list that included an All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, were eliminated from the postseason dispute on Wednesday night when 125-112 fell to Oklahoma City Thunder from Oklahoma City for their eighth consecutive loss, all for double figures.
The Dallas Mavericks concluded the last place in the Game Tournament of the West Conference and the Suns will go home for the low season after their regular season end against Sacramento on Sunday.
“There is no one, a person or a player or a coach who is the problem,” Booker said. “When you have had such a bad season, it’s a lot of things. I think the most frustrating part is being so close a few years ago, and now return to where we are.”
Booker was referring to 2021, when the Suns arrived at the NBA finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. The franchise has endured a agonizing delay after adding Durant and Beal in a couple of great success.
The Suns ended with a record of 49-33 last season before being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. This season was even worse: Phoenix is 35-45 and became less competitive as the season advanced.
Durant and Booker have been quite healthy and productive this season, but Beal has been injured by great fragments and the first year coach Mike Budenholzer could never find a constant game rotation. At 36, Durant was still one of the best scorers in the NBA, averaging 26.6 points and making his 15th All-Star team.
Phoenix actually started the season with an 8-1 record, but Durant fell due to a calf tension and the tail began. Even when he returned, the Suns could never recover their early shape.
“There is no answer for that, there are no words for it,” Booker said after the Suns lost for 38 against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. “Nothing I can say can really improve it.”
Durant sat in the last five games due to a crooked ankle, which only exacerbated the free fall.
Wholesale changes could reach the franchise in the coming months.
Budenholzer, a native of Arizona brought to the desert with a lot of fanfare, did not speculate on his future after Wednesday’s loss.
“It’s quite raw at this time, it’s quite fresh,” said Budenholzer. “It has been difficult. There is no doubt about it. We have not been as good as we have needed and we hope to be.”
The only player who seems to be in the Suns next year is Booker, who has played the 10 NBA seasons in the desert. He said that establishing a better team culture, regardless of who is close, will be critical to recover next season.
“I think that is one of the steps we jumped,” Booker said. “Learn through the victories and the loss, continuing to improve every day, regardless of the circumstances. We had places in which we did it, but it has to be something that is activated at all times.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
