News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

SBN Reacts: Fans want Ryan Dunn to start

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phoenix Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Four of the five starting lineup spots appear as a lock for the upcoming season. Devin Booker and Jalen Green will man the guard spots, Mark Williams will be the staring center, and Dillon Brooks will play small forward. The power forward position is the one in question.

The top candidates for the position are Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Rasheer Flemming. This past week, we asked Suns fans who should be the starting power forward, and they had a clear answer.

I think the fans got this one right. The Suns’ offseason has been a lot about getting and playing a younger style of basketball, reflected by them keeping Khaman Maluach and moving up to get both Flemming and Koby Brea. Dunn fits that mold, and he’ll be given an opportunity to solidify his role on the team for the future. For a starting unit that projects to lack a strong defensive prowess, Dunn is the best option at the position to fortify the defense in the first five. Additionally, Dunn played significantly better last season when he was starter, averaging more points, rebounds, and assists when he started. While he’s undersized, Dunn’s near 7’1” wingspan makes up for his 6’8” height.

I’m surprised that Nigel-Hayes Davis got the second most votes, considering his age and uncertainty, but I’m not surprised that O’Neale got the least amount of votes of the power forwards on the team. While he may be the most reliable, because of his age, he doesn’t project to be a part of the team long-term, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s shipped to a title contender that lacks forward depth, like the Cleveland Cavaliers, FanDuel’s Eastern Conference Champion favorite, during the season.

This season looks to be one full of player and team development, and if Dunn is the starter, he gets to build off of his rookie campaign which saw inconsistent minutes and play from a game-to-game basis. If he starts, Dunn and Booker would be the only returning players to be in the starting lineup. He could add a level of continuity to a unit that projects to have little of it.

While a lot can change, expect Dunn to be the starter where he’ll have an opportunity alongside Dillon Brooks to guard some of the Western Conference’s toughest wings and work on his offensive game.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-forward-ryan-dunn-devin-booker-dillon-brooks

 

[Phoenix Suns]

What does a successful season look like for Dillon Brooks?

We’re continuing our Bright Side series by exploring what success looks like for each Suns player in 2025–26.

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The addition of Dillon Brooks is something Suns fans should not overlook.

He is everything they have been missing since the departure of Jae Crowder. An instigator. A protector of stars. A starter of scuffles. Brooks is polarizing, no question about it. He is loved by teammates and loathed by opponents.

He is the guy who thrives in hostility, who takes on the toughest defensive assignment, and who does not flinch when tempers flare. For all the criticism he has faced in recent years, there is a truth here that Suns fans know all too well: every good team needs a villain of their own. Phoenix has not had one in quite some time.

Boy, could the Suns have used a player like Brooks alongside Durant and Booker.

The chip on his shoulder should only grow with another team moving on from him. At 29 years old, he’s at an inflection point in his career. Does he take a leap and grow into something more, or is he exactly who he is, for better or worse?

Let’s take a look at what a successful season looks like for Dillon Brooks.

The Numbers​

The Suns do not need Brooks to be a 20-point scorer. They need him to bring toughness every single night, to set the defensive tone, and to hold his teammates accountable when things get sloppy. If he can deliver that, his addition might be one of the most important steps Phoenix takes in building its next identity.

Last season, Brooks averaged 14.0 points per game, the 4th-highest total of his 8-year career. From 2019 through 2022, he averaged 16.2, 17.2, and 18.4 points per game, respectively.

There will be an opportunity for Brooks to get back to that level, especially coming from a well-balanced Rockets team that had several scoring options. In Phoenix, he lines up to be the third option behind Booker and Green, leaving plenty of opportunity for the former Oregon Duck.

For reference, these are the points per game of players who will be rostered next season in Phoenix. Granted, the context behind these numbers isn’t linear due to drastically different team situations for all.

• Devin Booker — 25.6 PPG
• Jalen Green — 21.0 PPG
• Mark Williams — 15.3 PPG
• Dillon Brooks — 14.0 PPG
• Grayson Allen — 10.6 PPG
• Nick Richards — 9.5 PPG
• Royce O’Neale — 9.1 PPG

That being said, there could be some more offensive upside that remains untapped. This could be the exact environment for him to showcase his scoring output.

Last season, he shot a career-best 39.7% from three-point range on a career-high 6.3 attempts. That exceeded his career mark of 35.5% by a pretty significant margin. If he can hover in the 37-40 percentage range from deep, then that’s a win for Phoenix.

There is some juice there offensively. I predict around 16.5 points per game this season. Heck, he could even approach the 18 ppg mark if things really click.

Dillon Brooks this season:

14.0 PTS
39.7 3PT% (career high)
6.3 3PA/g (career high)

• 45.9% on mid range jumpers (top 20 in the NBA)
• 10 threes against Boston (tied for the Rockets franchise record for made threes in a game)

One of the most underrated players in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/VrDJ16nxWR

— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) April 18, 2025

Outside of the defense, intangibles, and shooting, one of Brooks’ most important traits for the Suns will be availability. He has played in 72 or more games in three consecutive seasons.

Jalen Green appeared in all 82 games a season ago as well, so adding a pair of reliable, capable NBA starters should help the Suns quite a bit. Booker, Green, and Brooks will be responsible for a massive chunk of the offensive workload.

How much does an increased offensive burden impact his defense? That’s something to monitor, especially in games where one of Booker or Green are out, struggling, or in foul trouble.

Jalen Green is excited about what Dillon Brooks will do in Phoenix! (via @PlayersTribune) pic.twitter.com/wAXc2ltIO2

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) July 23, 2025

The Suns are not asking Dillon Brooks to reinvent himself. They are asking him to bring the toughness, defensive intensity, and edge that have defined his career, but to channel it in a way that elevates the team rather than distracts from it.

If Dillon Brooks can strike a balance on both ends, he could end up being more than just a role player. He could be the heartbeat of a younger Suns roster that desperately needs an identity.

For a franchise in transition, that might be exactly what success looks like.

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Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below.

Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-crowder-replacement-defense-scoring-identity