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Suns' Booker: 'I'm done with not making the playoffs'

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Phoenix Suns haven't exceeded 24 victories in a season since selecting guard Devin Booker 13th overall in 2015, and are once again out of the playoff picture after winning just 21 games - the franchise's worst winning percentage since 1969 - in 2017-18.

Booker is tired of losing and vows to never miss out on the postseason again.

"I'm done with not making the playoffs," said Booker during his exit interviews on Wednesday, according to ESPN. "I'm serious. This is probably my last year ever not making the playoffs. If that's putting pressure on myself, I'm going to take this summer and work that hard so that it doesn't happen again."

Phoenix finished the season with both the NBA's worst offense (100.8 points per 100 possession) and defense (110.6 points allowed per 100 possessions). It won its final game against the visiting Dallas Mavericks, but that came after a stretch when it notched just a single victory in the previous 18 outings.

Booker said his ultimate goal is "turning the franchise around and getting back to how it used to be."

"You watch the highlights of (Charles) Barkley, (Steve) Nash, and them and how alive the arena was," Booker said. "So, one of my goals is to get back that way."

The 21-year-old averaged 24.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 0.9 steals on 43.2 percent shooting across 54 appearances. He's eligible for a max-contract extension this summer.

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