News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns might lose more than we want but they won’t bottom out

We’ve reached the point where we are forming predictions for the 2025–26 Phoenix Suns. Every move, from the draft to trades to free agency, has shaped what we believe this team can become.

And let’s be clear: this is a developmental season. The roster has been infused with youth, the front office reshaped, and the direction reset. It’s a team built around one All-Star, a second guard brimming with athletic upside, and the promise of a defensive identity that could change everything for the franchise.

But this won’t be instant gratification. This is a process. It will take time. Losses will stack up, and they will sting, but that’s part of the journey. No one should expect anything different.

What really grabs my attention right now is how many people believe this team is destined for a 20–62 season. Or worse. I see it in the Bright Side comments, I hear it during Suns JAM Session live feeds, and my DMs are full of people convinced this is rock-bottom basketball.

Maybe, months from now, you’ll get to pull this article back up and hit me with an “I told you so.” But I can’t get there. I don’t see a reality where the Phoenix Suns finish with 20 wins or fewer.

Why? Because being that bad takes work. It’s not as simple as being young, hiring a new head coach, and trying to find your identity. Winning fewer than 20 games has only happened twice in franchise history: the inaugural season in 1968–69 and, half a century later, the infamous 2018–19 campaign.

And that 2018–19 team? That was a special kind of disaster. They ranked 28th in offensive rating, 29th in defensive rating, and finished with a net rating of -9.2, second-worst in the league. They were painfully young, directionless, and full of lottery picks who hadn’t figured it out…or never would. They didn’t just lose games; they never looked like they knew how to win them.

For all the challenges this team is going to face next season, I just don’t see them bottoming out like that. Sure, the offense will likely take a step back. That’s what happens when you lose Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal and the shot-making gravity they bring. But defensively? They should be better than the 27th-ranked unit we saw a season ago.

Look at NBA history since 1960: only 100 teams have finished with 20 or fewer wins. That’s over 65 seasons and barely one and a half teams per year. You think the Suns are going to be one of them?

News flash: they’ll play two games against every team in the Eastern Conference. Even if they go .500 against a weaker East, that’s already 15 wins. It’s simply hard to be that bad unless you’re trying.

Last year, three teams failed to hit 20 wins: the Hornets, Wizards, and Jazz. None of those teams had an All-Star anywhere near Devin Booker’s level. And while the Suns might look like chaos waiting to happen if things go sideways, they’re still in the process of forging an identity. One rooted in defense, in making teams uncomfortable, in forcing them to work for every bucket. That matters. That wins you games.

Charlotte didn’t have an identity last year. Neither did Washington. Utah’s identity was openly tanking to get Cooper Flagg. The Suns won’t be tanking this season. They can’t. They don’t own their pick, so losing on purpose is worthless. To finish with 20 or fewer wins, you practically have to be trying to lose. And this team? They won’t be.

So yes, this team could end up worse than we expect, and honestly, expectations are already pretty low. But they’re not going to be so historically awful that they lose over 62 games. That’s not just bad basketball. That’s a monumental collapse.

When a team is building its identity on toughness, hustle, and effort on the defensive end, it’s really hard to lose that many games. I get why people are frustrated and don’t fully buy into the vision right now. But to say this team is only winning 20 games? That’s missing the context of just how rare and difficult that level of losing actually is.

Maybe it’s just a knee-jerk reaction. Maybe some people really believe it. Time will tell who’s right. But right now? I think that prediction is way off base. Because pulling off that much losing is a lot harder than people think.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...why-they-wont-win-only-20-games-or-bottom-out

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Alyssa Thomas and the Mercury have become the Valley’s must-see show

Something special is brewing in downtown Phoenix. The Mercury have locked in a playoff spot, and with Alyssa Thomas orchestrating the show, they’ve become one of the most electrifying teams to watch, not just in the Valley, but across the entire WNBA. Thomas, a walking triple-double, has already recorded seven this season, the most ever in a single year, while leading the league in assists.

At 26–14, the Mercury are tied with the Las Vegas Aces for the West’s second-best record and sit just three wins shy of surpassing their franchise-best 29 victories from 2014. The chase is on.

The energy is contagious. Fans are packing the arena, fueling the Mercury as they push toward a fourth championship, and even members of the Phoenix Suns are showing up to be part of the X-Factor.

When someone says who watches the WNBA?

Here’s your answer: @Suns pic.twitter.com/jadNjgvwvt

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 3, 2025

Last night’s 85–79 win over the Indiana Fever wasn’t just another Mercury victory. It was a Who’s Who of Phoenix Suns in the building showing their support. Newly acquired Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green were courtside, joined by Devin Booker, who turned heads in a clean pair of Jordan 3’s.

On the floor, Alyssa Thomas once again delivered. She poured in 23 points — her seventh 20-plus performance of the season — while nearly notching another triple-double with 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

It’s a reminder that basketball season is right around the corner. With Suns players back in the Valley ramping up for training camp and preseason, why not take in a team that’s already executing the vision Mat Ishbia has preached?

The Mercury are fun, fearless, and closing in on the postseason. And we’ll be here at Bright Side to cover it all.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...yoffs-suns-fans-wnba-devin-booker-jalen-green

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Valley Suns announce Tip Off Tournament and regular season slate

No, there’s no polished graphic to share here. What there is, however, is the unmistakable sense that basketball is nearly back in full force across the Valley. And it’s not only the Phoenix Suns preparing for the grind ahead. Their G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, has unveiled its schedule for the upcoming season.

This will be just the second year of following the Valley Suns, which means fans are still getting used to the rhythm and quirks of the G League calendar. Unlike the NBA’s straightforward slate, the G League season is split into two distinct phases. It begins with a 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, where every team across the league competes for the chance to hoist the NBA G League Winter Showcase trophy. For the Valley Suns, that journey tips off November 8 against the South Bay Lakers and runs through late December.

Once that tournament concludes, the G League resets for the true grind: a 36-game regular season. This is the stretch where the wins and losses matter most, with playoff seeding on the line. It’s a unique setup, one that mirrors the developmental spirit of the league while offering fans two distinct storylines to follow.

Valley Suns 2025-26 schedule. #Suns pic.twitter.com/2IrhJa0kTW

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 2, 2025

So as the Suns prepare for their own climb back to contention, their younger counterpart is gearing up for a season that’s every bit as compelling in its own way.

In a statement from the team:

The Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, today announced its Tip-Off Tournament and regular season schedule for the 2025-26 season, which will begin on the road with back-to-back games against the South Bay Lakers on November 8 and 9. The Valley Suns will begin their 24-game home schedule against the Rip City Remix on November 14 at 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena

The Valley Suns longest homestand of the season will run between November 27 and December 13, hosting the Salt Lake City Stars and South Bay Lakers twice, and the Stockton Kings and Warriors once each. The schedule features eight back-to-backs throughout the season, including five at Mullett Arena.

Last year offered a promising glimpse of what the Valley Suns could become.

They closed out the Tip-Off Tournament with a 10–6 mark before rolling to a 20–14 record in the regular season. Their postseason push included a first-round victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors, only to end at the hands of the eventual champion Stockton Kings.

As this new season approaches, there are still some unknowns. Final roster decisions have yet to be announced, and the intrigue grows around how much time any of the big club’s new rookies might spend with the affiliate. Developmental minutes in the G League can be a proving ground and a chance for young talent to sharpen skills, adjust to the professional pace, and make a case for bigger roles in Phoenix.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ule-release-home-opener-mullett-arena-tip-off

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview: Jalen Green is the swing piece for the Suns

Jalen Green Breakout SZN?​

Shooting Guard, 6’4”, 178 pounds, 23 years old, 4 years of NBA experience

The Phoenix Suns need Jalen Green to make a leap this season. With Kevin Durant traded and Bradley Beal off the team, Green enters Phoenix with a heavy burden on his shoulders and big shoes to fill. The Suns did not trade for a veteran scorer to paper over weaknesses. They added Jalen Green, a young bucket-getter with a high ceiling and a lot to prove. This is a clean break into a new chapter for Green and for Phoenix.

The question isn’t whether he can score. He can. It is whether he can turn that scoring into consistency, fit the team context, and form a sustained partnership alongside Devin Booker. He has star potential, but the question is if he’ll be able to put it all together.

He was the headliner of the Kevin Durant trade, but many question his long-term fit next to Booker in Phoenix. How will he answer the skeptics? Does he end up a rental that they flip, or is he a cornerstone for the future? We’ll find out a lot this season about the future and direction of the Phoenix Suns, depending on how the Green era goes.

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2024-25 Recap​

Last season was a mixed bag for the former second overall pick. There was progress, no doubt. But some of the concerns loomed large, especially come playoff time for the 23-year-old. Green finished the 2024–25 regular season at 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while playing all 82 games and averaging 32.9 minutes. I think it’s worth highlighting that he played in all 82 games in consecutive seasons.

He shot 42.3 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from three, and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line.

His playoff run left a lot to be desired in a vacuum, but he also had a 38-point outburst in Game 2, showcasing his raw upside.

“In Houston, he was both a promise and a puzzle. He was the leading scorer on a two-seed, yet doing so on volume over efficiency.“

Green was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 after coming through the G League Ignite program. Each year, he has shown gradual improvement, but there hasn’t really been that “aha” moment for him where he makes the big leap all at once. Yet.

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Contract Details​

Jalen Green signed a 3-year, $105 million contract with the Houston Rockets, with an average annual salary of $35,111,111. In 2025-26, Green will earn a base salary of $33,333,333, while carrying a cap hit of $33,584,499 and a dead cap value of $33,333,333.

(courtesy of Spotrac)

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Strengths & Weaknesses​

Jalen Green is an athletic freak with the ability to effortlessly lift off and finish around (or through) contact at the rim. He has an off-the-dribble game and can attack downhill when he’s at his best.

Green poured in 38 points, drilling eight three-pointers, and recorded six assists in Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors to help the Houston Rockets even the series. That game wound up being an outlier, though, after Green struggled mightily in the rest of the series. He failed to score more than 12 points in the other five games, and in four of the seven, he scored single digits.

In attack mode, he is unstoppable. He is comfortable hunting his shot in transition and in pick-and-roll bursts. In games where he and Devin Booker are downhill and aggressive, the Suns will be a handful for opposing defenses.

Durability is another skill that the Suns could sure use more of. Yes, it is a skill. Green has now played in all 82 games in consecutive seasons, as we noted above. That is a rare and impressive feat in today’s NBA.

The progress we need to see includes increased volume in rim attacking, improved shot selection, and becoming a more impactful defender.

Defense is a work in progress. He has the tools. Wingspan. Athleticism. Quickness. But he is not yet a plus defender who can erase his offensive lapses. In a loaded Western Conference, defensive limitations get magnified. While most of the talk is about the offensive fit, Green and Booker will need to learn how to play off one another defensively as well.

Inconsistent rim pressure

For all of Green’s athleticism, he ranked in the middle of the league on “drives per 36 minutes” last season, which suggests he is not yet an elite, relentless rim presser who forces constant contact and free throws the way some top wings do. His 11.5 drives per 36 ranked 68th among 375 players who played at least 500 minutes in 2024-25. That wasn’t far ahead of Beal, who ranked 75th at 11 drives per 36.

Shot selection swings. High-volume guys come with volatility. Green can be prone to taking ill-timed pull-ups and contested threes. This is something that his fellow former Rocket, Dillon Brooks, can struggle with as well. There have been times when those two shot Houston out of games.

The general weaknesses for Green are similar to the things we heard about Devin Booker when he was younger.

Empty calories. High-volume scorer. Doesn’t impact winning. Defensive liability. Poor shot selection. We’ve heard it all. Some of it is true, while some of it is subjective.

Comparing the first 4 seasons of Devin Booker versus the first 4 seasons of Jalen Green pic.twitter.com/VEo8Ecdmwc

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) August 24, 2025

One Key Factor​

The key factor to the Suns’ season will not solely be about how many points per game Jalen Green averages. It’s how he fits alongside Devin Booker, and if his weaknesses (listed above) improve. He’s a good bet for averaging 20+ ppg, but the question is, how will he get those 20 points? How does the defense look? Has the shot selection and playmaking improved?

I look at the playmaking specifically, due to the increased role he’ll take on in that department since Phoenix only has one true point guard on its roster.

Holden added this in his piece in Devin Booker’s preview, and it’s worth adding it in here as well.

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Prediction Time​

I think Green will have a strong season. Stronger than the skeptics believe, and he fits better next to Booker than you’d think on the surface. That being said, I’m still not sold on the defense and ability to build a title contender with those two are your primary options. That leaves the Suns with a decision to make, especially with that much money committed to the guard duo.

Let’s roll with him playing in all 82 games again, because why put anything else into the universe?

Stat Prediction: 82 games played, 23.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/36/79 shooting splits.

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Final Thoughts​

If Phoenix leans into a two-guard system with staggered screens, early rim runs from Mark Williams, catch-and-shoot reps for Green, and clear isolation lanes for Booker late, this can work. If minutes are jammed into the same half-court moments with no structural spacing or play design, both will step on each other’s toes, and efficiency will crater.

The Suns’ coaching staff must choreograph, not tolerate, the pairing. If the Suns do more damage than expected this season, it’s very likely due to Jalen Green breaking out. Let’s hope that is the case.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...w-jalen-green-is-the-swing-piece-for-the-suns