Playoff exits usually force NBA stars into a position where their abilities are questioned. Yet, Devin Booker isn't being bothered by such questions, and this silence led Stephen A. Smith to inquire about the reason.

The Phoenix Suns were obliterated by their playoff rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in all four games of the series to date, which led to the end of their 2025-26 campaign. Following the Suns' last loss on April 27, Smith raised a question about Booker's failure to carry his team on the April 29 episode of ESPN’s First Take.

He inquired, “We demand so much of everybody else. What about [Devin Booker]? He gets no shade thrown in his direction.” 

Smith made sure to speak about his good stats first. The guard dropped 70 points in a single game early in his career and has secured multiple All-NBA selections. Still, that individual scoring contrasts with a lack of playoff success, aside from a single Finals back in 2021.

Under owner Matt Ishbia and head coach Jordan Ott, the team added new players like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. However, facing defending champions led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exposed a huge gap in team strength.

Booker averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He did not play poorly, but he failed to dominate enough to change the outcome. 

But while other stars face backlash after failing to perform in an expected way, there are reasons why Booker isn't experiencing the same.

Reasons Behind Devin Booker Staying Free of Criticism Even After the Suns’ Loss

When players like James Harden or Donovan Mitchell fall short in the playoffs, the backlash is often loud. These stars face criticism for early postseason exits year after year.

There are a few key reasons for this softer treatment. Booker has shown loyalty to one franchise for his entire career without creating issues. He avoids trade demands, stays out of offseason drama, and maintains a very strong off-court image. 

The team went up against the reigning champions in the very first round. The current roster is still developing its chemistry. Booker is obviously not the only reason his team was eliminated.

The debate comes down to a clash between individual accountability and team context. Whether this outside pressure changes anything might just define the next phase of his basketball journey.

So, after learning all this, do you think Booker deserves backlash, or is the team roster at fault? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Souvik Roy