Devin Booker is tired of losing.
This might be the understatement of the year, but the shooting guard phenom has been met with futility since he came into the league — and a 14-game losing skid isn't helping matters for his Phoenix Suns. The 22-year-old will take part in All-Star Weekend to defend his 3-point shooting title, but he thinks his team doesn't deserve a break at all:
“We don't deserve an All-Star break,” Booker said after a 117-104 loss to the Sacramento Kings, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “We need to work on our game as players. I know me, I'm going to be at All-Star weekend, but right after that, I've got to touch a basketball and still polish up on things. I hope that everybody has that same mindset.”
Booker has been marred by injuries this season, but he has still managed to trot out stud-like performances to no avail. His 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists after a two-game absence did little to put the game in contentions, as the Suns were forced to play catchup after a poor first half in Sacramento.
The native Michigander is scoring at the same pace as last season (24.9 points per game), but that has yet to translate into wins for a team with the second-worst record in the league:
“It’s just fighting that uphill battle,” Booker said. “When you’re fighting that uphill battle, any mistake can ruin it. Just do our work early so we don’t have to fight uphill all game.”
Booker signed a five-year, $158 million max extension of his rookie contract this summer, hoping to be the centerpiece of the franchise for years to come. After only 11 wins in the season, it looks like there's a lot of work to be done.
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