While the Phoenix Suns get closer to tipping off their 2022 NBA Playoffs Sunday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, there was a bit of a let-down around the team prior to tip.

On Sunday, the league named its three finalists for Most Valuable Player. Despite a strong close to the season and gaining traction in the race, Phoenix All-Star guard Devin Booker was not among the finalists for the award.

The three up for the award this season are Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Prior to tip of Game 1 against New Orleans, Booker tweeted a mysterious lyric from Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Momma, look at your son
What happened to my smile?

— Book (@DevinBook) April 17, 2022

What could it mean?

Could it have something to do with his MVP snubbing? Could it just be a pre-playoffs message as Booker himself gears up to enter the “jungle?”

That we don’t know, but knowing Booker, we could expect him to use this to fuel his postseason performance.

Devin Booker reading the MVP Finals list pic.twitter.com/VzsRayUpCO

— J. Strand (@DJ_Ajaxx) April 17, 2022

Congratulations to Monty Williams COY, Mikal Bridges DPOY, Cam Johnson 6th Man finalists.

Feel terrible for Devin Booker, any other year he's the run away MVP but I'll take the MVP they give away in June! BOOK IT!

— FLEX From Jersey (@FlexFromJersey) April 17, 2022

The disrespect to @DevinBook in the NBA has got to stop.He is by far one of the best in the game and struggles to make All star games.And the fact that he is the best player on the best team and he is not a MVP finalest is straight trash. Stop disrespecting this man.

— Keith_Alu (@kaleikekoa17) April 17, 2022

What’s over/under on points for Devin Booker this evening after not being a MVP finalist?

— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) April 17, 2022

The Suns host the Pelicans in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Sunday at 6 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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