News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Predicts: The biggest questions this roster has yet to answer

Yesterday on Bright Side Predicts, our writing crew took their shot at optimism. There are silver linings out there if you know where to look, and we found them. Today, as the season creeps closer, the tone shifts. We’re looking at what keeps us up at night. Is it the roster? The coaching staff? The construction of it all, the finances, the culture?

For a team projected to win 31.5 games, sitting dead last on FanDuel at +7000 to take the Pacific Division, those numbers tell a story. There’s doubt in the system, and some of it feels earned.

So we asked our team what concerns them most heading into the season. Here’s what they had to say.

What is your biggest concern about this roster or coaching staff?​

Brandon: The biggest concern I have at this point is the lack of a true point guard or table setter, especially in the first unit. We’ll see how this current iteration goes as Book and Green look to make playmaking leaps. On the coaching side, how this staff handles the rotations will be super interesting to monitor, especially for a first-time head coach leading the way.

Holden: Inexperience and lack of wing scoring. Jordan Ott is a first-year head coach with no incentive for his team to be bad this season. While Booker and Green look to carry a lot of the scoring load, not that you can replace Kevin Durant, but there is no replacement for his wing scoring.

Bruce: My biggest concern is that the Suns do not have enough offensive firepower compared to the Wild Wild Western Conference. The Suns lack any star offensive threats besides Devin Booker, which is a significant shift compared to last year. They do have some role players who can get hot, but they will need them to be consistently on fire to keep them afloat offensively.

The Suns also have young players, and investing time in their development is something Suns fans can have hope in.

Kevin: My biggest concern is how minutes are distributed between veterans and young players. Obviously, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Nick Richards, and Nigel Hayes-Davis are established veteran players who deserve to play quality minutes on most NBA teams.

The Suns also have Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Koby Brea, who require playing NBA minutes to develop. How does Jordan Ott and the front office balance trying to win now and develop its young players? It is a small hole to thread the needle through, which is easier said than done.

Luke: My biggest concern is that ownership/FO will feel the need for another knock-down-rebuild, before we give this a real chance.

Pano: The depth, the lack of experience, and the uncertainties. I think we are one or two injuries away from being in real trouble. Our entire team lacks experience, whether it’s the players or the staff. From my point of view, we only have Booker, Brooks, O’Neal, and Hayes-Davis with some leadership experience. Is that enough to guide such a young team?

Miah: The roster balance still worries me. Until Green proves he can truly run the point, I’ll keep wondering what might’ve been with a legit veteran PG to quarterback this team. There’s a lot of promise, but that floor general role remains a question mark.

Voita: There’s plenty to keep an eye on. The team lacks a true point guard, though that’s becoming common across the league. The center depth looks solid, but injuries could slow the growth we’re hoping to see.

What concerns me most is the team’s ability to generate offense in the final minutes of close games. That’s when execution tightens, when predictability sets in, and when coaching inexperience can start to show. Those moments will reveal the roster’s strengths, but they’ll also expose its flaws.

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The writing team had plenty to worry about with this group, and it’s hard to land on one thing that rises above the rest. Maybe it’s a mix of problems that all bleed together, feeding into the same uneasy feeling. But that’s the point here.

What sits at the top of your list? What’s the thing that makes you hesitate before buying in to this team as the new season begins?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...eam-concerns-roster-coaching-culture-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Ott Ball: A defense that attacks instead of absorbs

Defend or explode. This seems to be the motto of these new Phoenix Suns. Under Jordan Ott, Phoenix is betting everything on pressure and speed, even if it means flirting with the limit. This is a high-risk philosophy, but one with high potential.

A defense based on pressure, not caution​

The preseason defensive rating at 102.2 (5th) and the forced turnover rate at 24.2% (1st in the NBA) are indicators of a system based on aggression.

The Suns do not absorb attacks; they provoke them. They push the tempo, cut passing lanes, and use their activity to turn every defensive possession into an offensive opportunity: 31.3 points generated from opponent turnovers, 1st in the league.

Phoenix Suns pre-season transition — 31.3 pts/game pic.twitter.com/heDGwJI4AL

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 19, 2025

This is exactly the philosophy announced by Ott during the offseason: an aggressive defense as a catalyst for pace, one that presses, disrupts, creates chaos and uncertainty in the opposing offense.

The 12.5 steals (2nd) and 6.5 blocks (6th) are proof of this, as this vision and these stats perfectly define the spirit of: “okay, you’re going to score, but it will never be easy.”

Phoenix Suns Rim protection pic.twitter.com/EF2jjFM8pf

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 19, 2025

But there is a downside: 29.8 fouls per game (2nd). This aggression often tips the scale of sustainability; it is a pace that is even unsustainable during the regular season. How can a defense function properly if its best players are never on the floor together? Everyone knows the answer.

The Suns impose a constant physical duel, even at the risk of putting themselves in danger. It’s a high-risk defense but one that yields high rewards — the franchise and fans have experienced the “Run & Gun,” and they are now poised to experience the “Gun & Run.”

A connected defense, but without continuity​

The statistics on opponents’ shots are telling: 42.4% shooting success and only 39 points scored in the paint (4th in both). This is indicative of a defense that communicates, switches, is aggressive, and functions as a true collective organism, perfectly embodying the vision that Jordan Ott wants to convey. He expressed these sentiments in June during the introductory conference:

Defensively, I want to play aggressive. … And then we’re going to communicate. … Offenses are becoming more conceptual in how we communicate. At the end of the day, defense needs effort. All-out effort all the time. And then we’re going to have to be connected. Through the 48 minutes … there’s going to be some type of adversity. Can we stay connected … and the last piece … is we’re going to do it collaboratively.”

Phoenix Suns defensive action — The art of creating difficult shots : pic.twitter.com/rBZhSpxt1u

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 19, 2025

The Suns close off drives, using the mobility of their interiors (Ighodaro, Richards, Maluach, Fleming) to switch without too much suffering. But behind this beautiful facade, the fragility on the boards reveals the cost of the system…

When everyone arrives at the second curtain, it’s logical that not many remain for rebounds, and we know it’s difficult to dominate individually in this area of the game (only 28.5 defensive rebounds per game, the lowest score at 30th during this preseason).

Certainly, opponents’ shots are challenging, but the Suns allow far too many second chances: opponents have grabbed an average of 13 offensive rebounds per game (20th), leading to nearly 19 points on second chances (24th).

Rebounding: a real question mark for this season? pic.twitter.com/ykdzE4M8w3

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 19, 2025

As repeated for a few weeks, we need to take a step back on these numbers and performances; it’s only the preseason. But even in this small segment of 4 games, these results are really encouraging and promising for what’s to come. The Suns have ranked among the best defenses in the league. Questions remain, particularly regarding rebounding and our defensive cleanliness, but we have reason to be somewhat optimistic as we approach the start of the regular season.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...isk-high-reward-nba-defense-strategy-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Rookie extension appears unlikely for Mark Williams

Mark Williams is entering his fourth year in the league and starting fresh with a new team. He was drafted 15th overall in 2022 by the Charlotte Hornets, where he spent his first three seasons. He averaged 35 games played each year and has never appeared in more than 44.

As Mark Williams enters his fourth season, he’s eligible for a rookie extension. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal, set to earn $6.3 million while wearing a Phoenix Suns uniform.

This is that tricky zone for a front office. The team has to decide if a player’s future production is worth betting on now, or if it’s better to wait and see. Williams is a mystery. He can put up a double-double when he’s on the floor, but staying on the floor has been the problem.

There are two ways this can go. The first seems most likely. The deadline for rookie extensions is today, and there’s been no word from the organization that Williams has a new deal. That means the Suns are putting him in a prove-it year. If he stays healthy and performs, he’ll hit restricted free agency next summer, giving the team a chance to match whatever offer comes his way.

Suns big Mark Williams said he's let his "game take care of itself" and just "focus on basketball" when asked about a rookie extension.

Deadline is today. #Suns pic.twitter.com/lQeof49aXP

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 20, 2025

The other path would have been to extend him now, locking in cost certainty and a little peace of mind. That would give the Suns control over their center situation moving forward and keep Williams as an asset they could manage more strategically down the line.

The right move, in my opinion, is to hold off on a rookie extension.

I understand the desire to lock him up and control his future, but with Williams’ injury history, that’s a dangerous gamble. Committing $10–15 million a year for four seasons could turn into another depreciating asset. If he can’t stay healthy, you’re staring down another situation like the contracts of Jusuf Nurkic or Nassir Little: deals that were tough to move.

We still haven’t seen Williams suit up for the Suns. He didn’t play a minute in the preseason. The team is handling him carefully, using the velvet-glove approach in hopes of keeping him ready for the long haul. Time will tell if that’s the right call, both in how they’re managing his health and in choosing not to extend him.

The hope is simple. That he’s on the floor in two nights at the Mortgage Matchup Center, wearing purple and orange. And that we get more than 35 games out of him. Because if we don’t, he’s worth the $6.3 million, and nothing more.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ision-injury-history-prove-it-season-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Predicts: The Suns’ Sixth Man

We are a day away from the start of the Phoenix Suns season, and tonight the NBA tips off. Basketball is back, and so are we.

At this point, we only have two more questions left from the Bright Side of the Sun writing staff. We’ve covered plenty already, so if you missed our earlier thoughts, you can catch up here.

Now we turn to a new question. Who could be the best player coming off the bench for the Suns? There are plenty of options, and the answer might shift as rotations change and injuries come into play. Here’s what our team had to say.

Who is your pick for the Suns’ Sixth Man of the Year?​

Brandon: Since my answer is Collin Gillespie to the last one, this one may surprise you. I’m going with Grayson Allen. Think he is due for a big year and will bounce back across all categories for his best season yet in the NBA. Get ready for a ton of three-guard lineups, folks!

Holden: I think it has to be Grayson Allen. I think we could see his impact be similar to what it was his first year with the Suns two years ago. He’s the strongest playmaker in the second unit, and his shooting prowess is obviously elite, which could help him play with the starting unit late in games.

Bruce: The pick for me here is Royce O’Neale.

I believe that O’Neale is one of the better three-point scorers on this bench unit and that will be necessary for the Suns’ success on the offensive end of the ball. With Booker and Gillespie, they will need wing scorers who can be consistent from three-point range, and Royce was that three-point shooter from last season. Even with him getting older, the wing can still hold himself solidly on the defensive end.

O’Neale has had to play a bigger role in the past, but this year, I genuinely see him embodying the bench 3&D wing, which is a necessity for this team.

Kevin: As long as he is on this team, the Suns’ most important bench player is Royce O’Neale. He is reliable defensively and has shot the lights out since arriving in Phoenix. He can play multiple positions, and his connectivity is significantly underrated. He will be the Suns’ most reliable player off the bench this season. While his consistency will not be flashy and exciting, it will directly contribute to winning, and many of the younger players will learn from O’Neale how to survive in the NBA.

Luke: Collin Gillespie or Grayson Allen. Dark horse selection: Rasheer Fleming (I secretly expect him to become the player that Ryan Dunn is tagged as being… and it will happen in under 30 regular-season games).

Pano: My favorite since his arrival: Nigel Hayes-Davis, his entry into the rotation may take some time, but I have no doubt that he can establish himself as the first option off the bench for the long term. He will bring serenity, defense, scoring and why not a little creation, he is multifunctional and that is all we need to guide the rotation.

Miah: Grayson Allen, though probably not in a way that grabs headlines or trophies. He’s just steady. Every season, even with reduced minutes, his per-minute numbers hold strong or even improve. That consistency is the mark of a great sixth man, and I think he’s carving out a solid niche for the next five years of his career in the NBA.

Voita: Like many, I’m going with Grayson Allen. He has to be. He’s the most dynamic offensive weapon this team brings off the bench.

Collin Gillespie can steady the offense and keep things organized, but the real burden of production will fall on Allen’s shoulders. He’s the one who can shift momentum in an instant, the one who has to carry that second unit when the starters rest. As for Royce O’Neale, I don’t see him sticking around past the deadline.

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You’ve heard our cases. So who do you have winning the Suns’ Sixth Man of the Year? And why?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-fantables/90831/bright-side-predicts-the-suns-sixth-man

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns look gritty, hungry…and ready to break our hearts again

Here’s the thing nobody wants to say out loud yet about the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns: this might not work.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s October. The air smells like hope and freshly opened Gatorade coolers. Everyone’s “locked in,” “buying in,” and “ready to prove people wrong.” This is the season’s honeymoon phase, where optimism is cosplaying as hard work and a few Instagram workout clips are all it takes to restore faith in humanity, the system, and the vision. Or is it alignment?

The front office did their part, or at least…they did things.

They brought in a brand new GM and a brand new head coach, both of whom have the combined experience of an unpaid intern running a 2K MyLeague. But hey, new blood, new vibes, right? You look at the roster and start talking yourself into it. Grit of sandpaper. Fire of a dragon. Willpower of Samson (pre-haircut version, obviously). You can practically hear the montage music swelling as everyone dives for loose balls in your imagination.

The amount of “give a shit” I’ve seen from the Suns in this preseason game is so very refreshing to see pic.twitter.com/YeojqxXNVO

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 4, 2025

But here’s the uncomfortable truth, the thing you can feel creeping in like the world’s slowest fourth-quarter collapse (which is something we know, as T-Swizzle would say, ‘all too well’): there’s a very real chance this all blows up in our faces.

Gravity has left the room. You are now floating in a vacuum of emotion and reflection. It’s like the battle room in Ender’s Game. “The enemy’s gate is down!”

We know how this goes. This isn’t our first heartbreak. We’ve been ghosted by destiny so many times we should probably stop texting it back. The history of this franchise reads like a Greek tragedy written by a guy who really hates air conditioning, happiness, and mythical fiery birds. Every time the universe hands us hope, it takes it right back like, “Oh sorry, wrong address.”

Last season? Expectations through the roof. The kind of hype that makes Vegas look silly for pumping up the numbers. And sure, there were cracks in the roster. Hairline fractures, really. But on paper, they were contenders. The year before that? Same story. And both times, what did we get? The exact opposite of the script we were promised. A team supposedly built for rings and revenge ended up getting swept into oblivion one year and failing to even make the party the next.

It’s like clockwork. The higher the expectations, the more spectacular the implosion. We’re not rooting for a basketball team at this point. We’re participating in a social experiment about pain tolerance. Summer goes by, bleeds into autumn, and we can once again find ourselves reasoning with the unreasonable.

So here we are again, standing at the edge of another season with that weird mix of optimism and emotional scar tissue. Things feel good right now. The vibes are immaculate. Everyone’s talking about grit, culture, and whatever other buzzwords teams use when they’re not actually good yet.

But here’s the thing about vibes: they don’t score points.

It’s a long road ahead, full of teams that would love nothing more than to make us question our life choices by mid-January. And if success doesn’t show up early (and let’s be honest, that’s a very real possibility) it won’t be hard to diagnose why. Maybe the pieces don’t fit. Maybe the roster’s built like a Lego set missing a few bricks. Maybe winning takes a backseat to “figuring things out,” which, in Phoenix, is the eternal preseason state of being.

So yes, the trade deadline could get interesting. Dillon Brooks might as well keep a go-bag ready. He’s the perfect “make a move” asset: valuable enough to draw interest, affordable enough to move, and exactly the kind of player teams convince themselves they can “fix.”

That’s where we are. Hopeful, cautious, and painfully self-aware. Because if there’s one thing this franchise does better than anyone, it’s turn hope into performance art. This is the Phoenix Suns, where optimism is seasonal, disappointment is permanent, and reality never misses rent day.

And as fans, we need to be ready for that. Because deep down, we’ve been here before. We’ve seen the “gritty new era” and “fresh start” movies enough times to know how they usually end. Spoiler alert: the hero dies, the locker room turns on itself, and by February, we’re arguing about rotations in the comment section like it’s a hostage negotiation.

So sure, get hyped. Dream a little. But maybe keep one eye on reality, because there’s a universe out there, —probably this one — where the whole “new culture” thing lasts about as long as a Deandre Ayton double-team.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...e-roster-outlook-trade-deadline-dillon-brooks

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Welcome to the Suns’ 2025–26 season

Today is the day. The 2025–26 NBA season begins, and somehow it feels like the Suns last played during the Obama administration. Back on April 13, this fanbase collectively exhaled like someone finally unplugged a smoke alarm that had been chirping for nine straight months. Hope? Flatlined. Vibes? In hospice. The team looked like they were running a trust fall exercise with no one behind them.

We weren’t tired in the normal sense, like “wow, that was a long season.” No, this was existential fatigue. Watching the Suns was like sitting through a five-hour director’s cut of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. You weren’t sure what was happening. Every game felt like a group project where everyone forgot their part, and the final presentation was somehow a midrange fadeaway that clanked off the front iron.

The fanbase hit that special level of exhaustion where you stop being angry and start making peace with the chaos. We were past “fire the coach” and into “maybe basketball was a mistake.” The Suns had become an emotional treadmill: lots of motion, no progress, and plenty of sweating.

So yeah, we wanted it to end. The losses, the excuses, the haunting sound of Kevin Durant sighing through postgame interviews. The half-hearted rotations, the “we’ll figure it out” quotes, the “we’re building chemistry” speeches that aged faster than milk in the Arizona sun. We were done.

But here we are again, willingly climbing back into the burning house because it’s opening night and the thermostat of optimism has been reset to “maybe this year.” Because if being a Suns fan has taught us anything, it’s that delusion is not a flaw. It’s a lifestyle.

Since the end of last season, this franchise has twisted itself inside out, trading away talent, waving (and waiving) goodbye to payroll, and clawing for a course correction in the middle of Devin Booker’s prime. It’s been a fever dream of decisions.

What comes next is anyone’s guess. The outcomes are infinite, the expectations anything but. It could all click, or it could implode in new and fascinating ways. Either way, intrigue is guaranteed. That alone is worth something.

I keep ping-ponging between hope and dread about this team. Part of me wants to buy in again, to believe that maybe this season will be different, that success isn’t just a mirage shimmering over the Valley pavement. After all, when they’re winning, writing about them is a joy. When they’re losing, it’s like describing a car crash in slow motion every day for eight months.

We’ve been through this dance together, you and I. We’ve seen the organization spin in circles like a Roomba trapped under a dining room chair, bumping into the same mistakes and somehow acting shocked every time it falls flat. They’ve tested our patience, our sanity, and our commitment to pretending this is still fun.

This season won’t be any different. It’ll have flashes of brilliance, the kind that make you shout, “This is it!”…right before everything collapses into chaos again. There will be nights where the ball moves beautifully, like poetry in motion, followed by weeks where it looks like performance art about suffering.

That’s basketball. That’s fandom. The sport gives you a reason to care, then immediately punishes you for doing so.

In the past, these preseason words were written on the day the season began as a rallying cry. Something to spark belief. To motivate the masses, or at least, self-motivate as to why this team and this year would weld together into something memorable.

This year feels different. This year, there’s no battle cry. Only curiosity. A quiet kind of hope that maybe, amid the chaos, something real takes shape.

This year, I am here to be entertained. That’s it. Nothing noble, nothing grand. Because entertained I have not been. Not for two long, weird seasons. Sure, there were moments. A flash of brilliance, a single quarter where it all clicked, a possession where you thought, “Maybe they get it now.” But the broader narrative? Disappointment. The kind that lingers. The kind that makes you question how something so expensive can feel so hollow.

So no, there’s no rallying cry this year. No bold declarations about destiny or banners.

What I’m offering instead is a shrug and a soft murmur: “Hey, let’s watch this together.” Let’s see if they can surprise us. I’m not expecting surprise, mind you. My expectation is intrigue. Curiosity. The kind that makes you lean forward instead of scroll away.

Because for the first time in a long time, I’m watching for development. For hints of a culture that might actually last longer than a viral highlight reel. It’s been ages since Phoenix basketball had that kind of substance. And no, the Finals run wasn’t culture. It was combustion. It was lightning in a bottle. Seven Seconds or Less? That was a culture. That was an identity. That was a way of life that burned bright enough to leave a shadow.

What I’m hoping for now is the start of something that sustains. Which, let’s be real, is nearly impossible in the modern NBA. Egos and luxury tax aprons chew through stability like termites through drywall. But if this team can stand upright long enough to figure out who they are, if they can identify which pieces belong in this supposed movement, then maybe they can build something real over the next five years. Because they’ll have to. They’re out of draft picks, buried under dead money, and operating in a league that eats inefficiency for breakfast.

The odds are bad, and they’ve earned that. But we’ll still be here. Watching. Waiting. Wanting.

So as the season begins, I ask you to come in with an open mind. Success won’t show up in the standings. It’ll live in the effort, in the cohesion, in the attitude. Those are fragile things; hard to measure, easy to lose. They slip through your fingers like sand at low tide.

This isn’t a season of proclamations. It’s a season of intrigue. Of quiet hope. Of shared curiosity about where this train is headed. We don’t know the destination. We never really do. But we’re all aboard again, tickets in hand, ready to find out.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...r-roster-reset-rebuild-hope-intrigue-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns: Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Jared Butler, keeping four centers

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable – a round table of Bright Siders – give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week​

Q1: If Mark Williams stays healthy this year, do you believe the Suns will finish the season with four centers on their roster or possibly look to move one of them at the trade deadline?​

GuarGuar: If Mark stays healthy, I really think we end up moving Nick Richards at some point or just cut him. He’s just a guy to be honest and nothing about his game is exciting and he definitely cannot be a starter on a contending team in the future. We can probably package him with someone else at some point before the deadline. If Mark is out though he is a quality backup/3rd string center so I can’t blame the team for keeping him around.

Ashton: That is a big if Mark Williams finished the season healthy. But no, I do not see four centers on the roster at the end of the season.

If MW manages 60, heck 50, games I see Nick Richards being traded for a second-round pick and some filler. And I expect those conversations to occur closer to the trade deadline than towards the end of the season.

May as well bring out my pessimistic side. I would take the under 50 games that Mark Williams plays. Conditioning training is your new buzzword. And what the heck does that even mean? Something about rebuilding his core strength?

OldAz: Like many questions, the correct answer is always “It depends”. In this case, the question hinges on a single factor of Mark Williams’ health. In reality, there are multiple other factors at play in this decision. Is Oso really able to hold up as a center in the NBA? If not, then they don’t have four centers to start with. How quickly does Maluach develop? If he develops quickly and is worthy of significant minutes AND Williams stays healthy, then even three centers on the roster of that quality may be too many. Finally, if Williams does stay healthy, what are their conversations with him about his desire to stay, knowing that Maluach is the future?

All of these questions are equally important in determining if they should move on from one of their centers at the trade deadline. The secondary question is much easier to answer in that Richards is the most movable asset with value among the four, once they do decide to pull the trigger and trade from their Center depth.

Rod: It’s quite possible that one of them gets moved at the deadline, in that case, but far from certain. I don’t think that Suns will be in a hurry to move anyone but if another team wants to add depth to their center rotation going into the final stretch before the playoffs I don’t doubt that the Suns will be getting calls and perhaps a trade offer that works out well for them too. In that case, I can see them making a deal.

Man-man isn’t going anywhere, but I wouldn’t count out Richards or even Ighodaro being dealt for the right offer. Richards is on a fairly inexpensive but expiring contract, which makes him the most likely candidate. If Williams does stay healthy, he’ll be a restricted free agent this summer who will need to get paid, and I don’t see the Suns wanting to give out new contracts to both him and Richards so moving him during the season, even if only for a small return, makes more sense than just letting him walk at the end of the year.

I’d really like to keep Oso, but I do think he’s already shown himself to be a quality backup/depth center and will have a good NBA career as one, even if he never develops into more of an offensive threat. Yes, if he had an outside shot worth talking about, then he could become a very good PF and probably a quality starter at that position…but he hasn’t done so yet, and there’s no reason to think that it will happen anytime soon. I’d hate to lose him but I would bet that other teams would certainly ask about him if center depth was what they were looking for.

Q2: Between Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming, which rookie do you believe could get the most court time early on this season?​

GuarGuar: I don’t think either will get much time to start the season if I’m being honest. However, if I had to choose, I’d say Maluach based on what we saw in preseason. Defensively, he looks pretty ready, and we wouldn’t ask a ton of him offensively outside of being in the dunker’s spot or finishing off pick-and-roll feeds. He’s absolutely huge and you cannot teach that sort of size. He’s also our 10th pick, so I can’t see management coming down asking for him to get some minutes before 2026 starts.

Ashton: This relates closely to question one, so I believe it will be Maluach that will see more run at the center position. It is not a place where I would want to place a rookie into a starting position but with Williams on conditioning time (cough cough), I do not think the Suns have a choice but to play him.

Does KM see 20 minutes a game? Tough bet there.

Fleming did not see a bunch or preseason minutes, which tells me he will not see a bunch of regular season minutes.

OldAz: This one is fairly easy for me, and the answer is Fleming. Maluach, despite having a good showing in preseason, is still a raw rookie with significant other options at center. Fleming may also be raw, but he looks more like an actual PF compared to anyone else on the roster. This alone in my mind should get him opportunities to develop and see what he can bring to the team. I think both should get minutes, because that is where development happens, and both should be given a long rope to make mistakes and grow. As long as the effort and intensity are there, the development of young players like Fleming and Maluach should be given a high priority this season.

Rod: I’m picking Fleming in this one because the Suns don’t actually have another true power forward on their roster. Oso is big enough and quick enough, but very limited offensively. Dunn just doesn’t have the size to to play at PF and still hasn’t proven to be a consistent contributor offensively. There will likely be times where they need Fleming’s size, defense and offense at the 4 and he will get opportunities to play.

Maluach will also get his opportunities, but with Williams, Richards, and Ighodaro also on the roster, I just don’t think the Suns will need to put him on the court regularly and will attempt to develop him more slowly because of that.

Q3: Was waiving Jared Butler a mistake?​

GuarGuar: Time will tell, but at the end of the day, this was for our 3rd string PG. Butler is a great scorer, but this team has plenty of those. Goodwin is way more defensive-minded and fits the identity Gregory and Ott are trying to build here. Neither Goodwin nor Butler would’ve played, but the reason I would’ve kept Butler is because if he did end up playing, it meant we were really shorthanded and probably would need his scoring boost. You don’t just accidentally score 35 in a preseason game; you have to have that kind of talent. If he turns into something legit, this front office definitely will be shaking its head.

Ashton: There are some real crystal ball questions in all this. Is Jalen Green hurt and for how long? Then it was probably a mistake as we will not get any real answers from the Suns organization to the extent of the injury.

And as I write this on a Wednesday morning before the Sunz and Kangz game, it looks like GA hit the injured list. This is so ironic. Now the Suns have a shooting guard position problem?

So, where I initially shrugged it off, it might be a good idea to call up Butler’s agent again.

I want to go on a quick tangent here. Does it seem to the board that there are more NBA injuries before the regular season starts? I was not aware the training regiment in Cancun was that acute. It seems like most of the NBA news I read these days are focused more on injury reports.

So, it was a mistake. The more backup plans the better.

OldAz: At the end of the day, I don’t think it was a mistake. I totally understand the argument that they should have kept him in that last roster spot and could always waive someone later. However, the last couple of spots off the bench rarely get significant playing time, and if there is a need for meaningful minutes, it is even more difficult to divide those minutes between younger veteran players. Both played well in the preseason, but while Butler’s high was certainly higher than Goodwin’s, I believe Goodwin was more consistent.

I also think there’s an element where they went with defense over offense, and who better fits the new team culture. Finally, there is something to be said for why Butler has not been able to stick with any team in his young career. We as fans may not know the full story, but if it were purely based on talent, then the Suns would not be making a decision on him for the last roster spot anyway. Better for everyone involved to give him the opportunity now to find the best, next opportunity available for him.

Rod: Not really. I would have liked them to keep him on the roster, but keeping that 15th roster spot open gives the team some flexibility in case they need to add someone at another position in case of an injury, as well as saves them some luxury tax dollars. With it coming down to a choice between him and Goodwin, I believe Ott decided on defense over offense in this case. Goodwin doesn’t have all the offensive skills that Butler does, but I think he’s a more versatile defensive player capable of guarding positions 1-3 well and just fits what the Suns are trying to do this season better.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Quotes of the Week​

“All five guys got to be a threat, all five guys got to be willing to shoot even if the ball comes to you and you have a good look at 20 (on shot clock), that might be the best shot you get.” – Jordan Ott.

“Effort and communication. Those are always the two main ones that sit with me. We can make everything work if we have those things dialed in. It might always be at its best, but our low days have to be higher than most.” – Devin Booker

“On a night-to-night basis, we’ll have a plan going into it, but we have to be a little fluid as coaches and kind of read the games and see exactly who is impacting winning out there on the court on a night-to-night basis.”- Jordan Ott on the Suns’ center rotation

“He’s like a music box. Literally, every day he’s probably singing a different song every single day.” – Jordan Goodwin on Suns rookie Khaman Maluach

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Suns Trivia/History​

Devin Booker 4th on highest NBA career earnings of all-time via @boardroom. #Suns pic.twitter.com/GhvvfXfJrb

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 20, 2025

On October 22, 1976, twin brothers Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played together in a game for the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first pair of twins to play for the same NBA club. The Suns ended up losing the game 111-98 to the New Orleans Jazz.

On October 25, 1975, Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor member Alvan Adams made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in an 89-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He was just 2 assists short of getting a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) in his NBA debut. Adams also played a big role in helping the Suns get to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, where they were defeated 4-2 by the Boston Celtics. Adams was named to the All-NBA Rookie Team, won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and was selected to play in the All-Star Game that year.

On October 25, 2013, the Suns traded Shannon Brown, Marcin Gortat, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall to the Washington Wizards for Emeka Okafor and a 2014 1st round draft pick (Tyler Ennis was later selected). Okafor was injured at the time of the trade and never played a single game for the Suns.

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Important Future Dates​

Oct. 25 – 2025 NBA G League Draft (1 p.m. ET)
Oct. 27 – Nov. 6 – NBA G League Training Camps open
Nov. 6 – Rosters set for NBA G League Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
Nov. 7 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins
Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed
Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Feb. 5 – Trade deadline (3:00 pm ET)
Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...r-depth-maluach-fleming-minutes-butler-waived

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The quarter that changed everything for the Suns in their comeback win over Sacramento

After a match that started full of energy and desire, our Suns gradually succumbed to the Kings’ offensives and a fire-setting Zach LaVine, forcing Ott and his team to retreat to the locker room with a 17-point deficit.

One might have thought the game was already over, but Phoenix reacted superbly to close the gap in the third, outscoring the Kings 36-21. Let’s go over the six beams that supported the third quarter success!

---

Oso initiates, Oso concludes​

After a quarter that begins with a missed shot by Brooks following a poor offensive possession and a three-pointer by Allen in transition, Oso has the opportunity to be the Suns’ main force on the half-court at the start of the second half.

J'adore cette relation entre les deux pic.twitter.com/uETs411R1k

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 23, 2025

Ighodaro brings the ball up, positions himself on the perimeter, and initiates a DHO with Devin Booker. The point guard forces the blitz and gets help from Eubanks, which opens up the lane to the rim for Oso, who only has to finish calmly with a good pocket pass from Dbook.

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The rebound​

I’m quite proud of them on this point; I mentioned it in a recent article, noting that this would be a significant question for the season. Sure, we have fairly athletic profiles, but we still lack size and assurance. Yet they silenced me right away.

They dominated this area throughout the match, with 14 more rebounds than the Kings (including twice as many offensive rebounds), and they inflicted a very nice 14-6 edge in the third. This is both the quarter with the most rebounds for our team and the one with the lowest score for Sacramento.

---

Our guards on fire​

Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Collin Gillespie were involved (through scoring and assists) in 35 out of 36 points for the Suns in this 3rd quarter.

Impliqué sur 35 des 36 points des Suns dans ce 3e quart-temps — Booker, Allen et Gillespie auront été les précurseurs de ce comaback face aux Kings pic.twitter.com/46OrkFnDfF

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 23, 2025

They did it all, succeeding at drives, three-point shots, setting up teammates, all with incredible cleanliness and efficiency: just 1 turnover and 10-13 shooting field goals. They were the precursors, the initiators, and the offensive engines of this comeback.

---

Clean basketball​

To elaborate on what was mentioned above, our Suns were overall very clean, offensively and defensively: just 6 fouls, a 15/24 shooting record, and only 1 turnover. Jordan Ott’s wish was fulfilled, and his team maximized their possessions.

---

Lesson in motion​

Maxime Raynaud, as a rookie in the post versus Mark Williams, made the mistake of not reading the entire situation… Booker, with the move of a pure veteran, slipped behind him and stole the ball, charging straight toward the basket for a quick dunk. A lesson in game reading and experience offered live.

Le filou pic.twitter.com/Gf1NsxUC5y

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 23, 2025

I find this revealing of a certain state of mind and the ability to capitalize on every mistake or failure from the opponent. Here, in this possession, the Frenchie remained too static and turned away from the game for too long, and Booker took advantage of it to steal the ball and then score to allow the Suns to come within 5 points.

---

The return of the Dunngeon​

As a true watchdog, Ryan Dunn defended against the entire Sacramento team in the third quarter, the coach, the video analyst, and a few fans who made the trip…

Back to the "Dunngeon" pic.twitter.com/9gtmFjkm8i

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 23, 2025

No kidding, our sophomore was really tasked everywhere. One moment on Schroder, a possession on Lavine, a box-out on Eubanks, a contest on DeRozan. Certainly, he can be frustrating at times (especially offensively), but on the other side, what a breath of fresh air he brings us. With his mobility, energy, and wingspan. And this quarter proves it perfectly.

---

Our Suns will continue their streak in the fourth quarter, providing the first thrills, but also the first victory of this long and exciting season.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...devin-booker-ryan-dunn-os-o-ighodaro-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Breaking down the Phoenix Suns wing rotation with a flavorful twist

There are two things that I love most in this world, the Phoenix Suns and wings. There is nothing better than watching hoops and eating a plate of wings. Nothing.

And for the last week, I have been trying to come up with a clever way of breaking down this year’s Phoenix Suns wing rotation, and then, maybe one of the best (or quite possibly the absolute worst) ideas I have ever come up with happened: break down the Phoenix Suns wing rotation by using chicken wing flavors.

Good idea or bad idea? I don’t know, but I’m going to wing it.

The Parameters​

You could make an argument that just about any Suns player outside of Collin Gillespie and the three seven-footers on the roster are wing players, so for the sake of this article, Devin Booker and Jalen Green are guards, and no player on the wing list will take any of their minutes. Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Koby Brea, and Isaiah Livers are the ones we’re going to break down.

Most, if not all, of these players outside of Brea and Livers have a legitimate case for extended minutes in the rotation this season. Some players like Brooks, Dunn, Allen, and O’Neal are more entrenched than the others. There’s no possible way for all of them to be in the rotation this season, just like there is no way to order all the wing flavors you want.

The Traditional Buffalo Wing: Ryan Dunn​

Dunn is the most obvious candidate to receive the bulk of the wing rotation minutes this season. He checks off both boxes for what the Suns are trying to do this season: win games and develop their young core. The Buffalo Wing never misses, and you can always expect it to be good. Dunn playing 30-plus minutes a game this season will help the Suns win, and it will give him a chance to develop into a legitimate high-level role player that the Suns can build around for years to come.

The Knockout/Atomic Wing: Dillon Brooks​

The easiest comparison to make by far, Dillon Brooks’ passion and intensity are just like the spiciest wing on the menu; it will fire you up, but too much can make you sick. Brooks’ addition has helped the Suns in many ways, beyond just his defensive ability. His toughness, attitude, work ethic, and leadership will show themselves time and time again this season. He is the most established wing on the Suns and deserves a lot of minutes, but if he is playing 36 minutes a night at the expense of developing the other young wing players, it could hurt what the Suns are trying to do long term.

Dillon Brooks took an elbow to the head during practice yesterday.

Wouldn’t say who it was from but said he had to get six stitches. pic.twitter.com/1kuloS1Yd0

— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) October 18, 2025

The Honey Barbecue Wing: Grayson Allen​

There is nothing sweeter than watching Grayson Allen shoot the rock, and nothing sweeter than a Honey Barbecue wing. His form is exquisite, and his accuracy is precise. The way you want to share a good wing with your friends is exactly how I feel about Allen. He is such a weapon that the Suns need to let him play, build up his trade stock, and get him to a title-contending team where he can continue to be great. Oh, and hopefully get a young prospect with high upside back in return.

The Lemon Pepper Wing: Royce O’Neale​

Lemon pepper wings have never disappointed me once, and the same can be said about O’Neale. He is not flashy; he is consistent. You don’t order a whole tray of lemon pepper wings, but it is an absolute lock if you are ordering a party pack. O’Neale will play anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes a game at times this season. Depending on the rotations, the matchups, and the Suns’ record, O’Neale will be the consistent professional he has been throughout his career. The Suns need his veteran presence, whether or not he is playing consistent minutes this season.

The Garlic Parmesan Wing: Nigel Hayes-Davis​

In our Bright Side Predicts series and other articles on the site, I have sung the praises of what Nigel Hayes-Davis could potentially bring to this team with his shot-creating abilities. Hayes-Davis, to me, is like a Garlic Parmesan wing, a quality wing that I wish were a little better.

Over the four preseason games, we saw that he can create his own offense, but the downside was how poorly he shot the ball. He finished the preseason a combined 7-of-27 over four games. I still believe that there is a role on this team this season if he can provide individual scoring juice off the bench this season, but he has to make the shots he creates for himself.

Regardless of his production on the floor this season, he is another veteran in the locker room who can keep morale high and mentor the young players to become high-caliber NBA players. Why? Because he flamed out in the NBA once, grinded his way through Europe, and got back to the NBA by changing his game, he knows how to survive.

The Cajun Wing: Rasheer Fleming​

The Cajun wing is all boom or bust; the perfect Cajun Wing is the best wing out there, but it can go wrong in many different ways. It can be too spicy, too mild, and too much. Fleming has the potential to be one of the best players on the Suns in a couple of seasons.

His athleticism jumps off the screen when you watch him play, but he has no idea what he is doing. He is still uber raw, and his shooting needs a lot of work. So, for sure, throw him out there in short spurts to give him some experience, then bring the young guy over, have him sit and watch guys on the Suns and the other players on opposing teams with his similar abilities, and have him soak it all in. Then, next season, it is his time to go out and play.

The Mild/Plain Wing: Isaiah Livers​

No one pulls up DoorDash to order Mild Wings. If you eat wings, you want them to pop with flavor.

Unfortunately for Livers, he does not have the same pop as the other wings on this team. Will the wings work when you need them in a pinch? Yeah, mild wings are better than no wings, so of course, you want them on the team in case of an emergency. That is how I see Livers this season: he can come in, shoot the ball well, be in the right spot defensively, and not look out of sorts on the floor. But he has the same appeal as a mild wing compared to the other wings on this team.

The Asian Zing Wing: Koby Brea​

The Asian Zing wing is not one I am going to try very often; I have to be feeling a little funky to get it. The same goes for Koby Brea, not a guy who I imagine the coaching staff will look to consistently, but he is a guy who has scoring potential that not a lot of other players on this team have. There will be a handful of games this season where Brea balls out with his shot-making, and when that happens, all of us will be clamoring for him to get more minutes.

The Carrots, Celery, and Ranch​

Out of all of these wings, will any of them make an NBA All-Star Game? Based on the other young wings around the NBA, probably not. But can all of these players carve out solid NBA careers or continue building on their NBA careers? Yes! Every player has tangible or intangible winning qualities that can be used to varying degrees of success for the Suns this season. My hope for this wing rotation this season is that the Suns operate like a hockey team. Pair the bright young wings with the grizzled veteran wings and just keep them rotating in and out like a shift change. Each guy brings a different flavor to the mix, and I hope we see all of them this season.

If you did not like my wing flavor-player comparisons and can you come up with better ones? Sound off in the comments.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...vors-dillon-brooks-grayson-allen-royce-oneale

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Suns get Clipped after hot start, fall 129–102 in L.A.

The Phoenix Suns played the first night of their first back-to-back of the season against the Los Angeles Clippers, and it wasn’t what you’d call “pretty”, losing 129-102. This one didn’t come close to matching the energy of opening night. After building a nine-point lead in the first quarter, the Suns were outscored 115–79 the rest of the way.

They finished the game shooting 41.1% from the field. For perspective, they shot worse than that only seven times all of last season.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 21 points, while Devin Booker finished with 18 on only ten shot attempts. Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Collin Gillespie all took more shots than Booker, which says plenty about how off-balance the offense was.

Defense will be the deciding factor for this team, but against a group with the Clippers’ firepower, that test can get ugly fast. The Suns lost the battle in the paint 52–34 and were outrebounded 43–37. James Harden torched them again, putting up 30 points in 28 minutes on 8-of-11 shooting and 5-of-6 from deep, with seven assists and seven boards. Kawhi Leonard added 27.

The Suns drop to 1–1 on the season and 0–1 in Pacific Division play. The Clippers move to 1–1 as well.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Suns came out buzzing again, sticking to their plan of going straight to the rim. That kind of pressure is their calling card right now. When they stay committed to it, the three-point looks start to flow, and Phoenix was 5-0f-11 from deep in the first period.

The Clippers made their move early with a 10-2 run, but the Suns didn’t flinch. They stayed locked in and punched back with an 8-0 stretch. Ryan Dunn kept the energy alive, finishing strong at the rim and picking up four quick points.

The dream scenario: Ryan Dunn evolves into a modern Shawn Marion. Give me that universe. https://t.co/Tq7ClefmZ0

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 25, 2025

Dillon Brooks, who led the Suns in shot attempts during their win over Sacramento, was back at it again. He scored 10 of the team’s first 21 points and did it in full Dillon Brooks fashion: talking, pressing, and making life miserable for Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. The offense looked sharp early, full of movement, pressure, and unselfish play, highlighted by a 12-0 run midway through the quarter.

The Suns’ aggression came with a cost. They racked up eight fouls in the quarter, and the Clippers took full advantage, hitting all ten of their free throws. The Suns went two for three from the line.

Kris Dunn gave the Clippers a boost off the bench, scoring four points and picking up two steals. James Harden led all scorers with 14 on perfect shooting, including two from deep. Booker had 6, Brooks added 10, and Oso Ighodaro chipped in 5. Both teams shot better than 55% from the field.

After one, it was Clippers 34, Suns 33.

The Suns opened the second quarter out of rhythm, scrambling on both ends and giving up a 8-0 run to the Clippers. Even after the timeout, Los Angeles kept it rolling into a 12-0 run to start Q2.

The lineup of Colin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Nick Richards couldn’t find much flow. The ball stopped moving, the spacing collapsed, and the offense stalled. Before long, the Suns were staring at a 13-point hole.

The second quarter turned into a three-point shootout. Both teams started launching from deep, and it felt like whoever blinked first would fall behind. Phoenix went 5-for-15 from beyond the arc in the quarter, while the Clippers hit 7-of-12. So it was the Suns who fell behind.

James Harden caught fire, drilling three of his four attempts from deep and lighting up the Suns’ defense.

HARDEN BACK TO BACK

HEAT CHECK

pic.twitter.com/LzP8VVFexP

— Sai (@LeGoatedOne) October 25, 2025

By halftime, the Clippers were 11-for-19 from three (57.9%) while Phoenix sat at 10-for-27 (37%).

Harden poured in 26 points before the break, and Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 15. Booker had 8 on 2-of-5 shooting. Phoenix did the dirty work on the glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds, but they only turned those into 8 second-chance points. The turnover battle was close, but the Clippers made more of theirs, turning them into 5 extra points.

At the half, the Suns trailed 72-56.

Second Half​

After giving up 34 points in the first quarter and 38 in the second, the Suns opened the third by letting the Clippers rip off a 10-0 run. Phoenix didn’t score until Devin Booker hit a free throw with 8:16 left in the quarter. It was a mix of problems that led them there. The shooting struggles kept piling up, the turnovers mounted, and the Clippers kept finding easy looks inside.

Every time Booker touched the ball, two defenders closed in. The Clippers might not have a reputation as a lockdown defense, but that kind of constant pressure throws everything off. Even with the extra attention, Booker has to find ways to be more effective if the Suns plan on winning games like this.

Players with more shot attempts than Devin Booker:

Dillon Brooks
Royce O'Neale
Grayson Allen
Ryan Dunn (tied)

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) October 25, 2025

Midway through the third quarter, Devin Booker had all six of Phoenix’s points.

As the quarter wore on, only Booker and Dillon Brooks could find the bottom of the net. The rest of the offense went quiet. The movement stopped, the cutting vanished, and the flow disappeared completely. By the end of the quarter, the Suns had been outscored 34-21. They shot 30% from the field and went 3-for-12 from deep, while the Clippers hit 68.8% of their shots.

Los Angeles dominated the glass 13-7 and stretched the lead to as much as 32. Kawhi Leonard dropped 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the period, and after three quarters, it was all Clippers, 106-77.

omg that's toughhh, Kawhi pic.twitter.com/CUaoNB4muZ

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 25, 2025

The Suns still brought some edge to start the fourth, trying to stay active and disruptive, but when Colin Gillespie and Nigel Hayes-Davis are the ones tasked with guarding Kawhi Leonard and John Collins, the matchup tends to swing the other way.

With 8:33 left in the quarter, Phoenix fans got a small bright spot: the debut of Rasheer Fleming, the team’s 31st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Here comes Rasheer! pic.twitter.com/KnCE33K77e

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 25, 2025

On his first possession, Rasheer Fleming went to work, taking a turnaround 12-footer that rimmed out. He didn’t wait long to make an impact, though, picking up his first career assist on the next trip down by finding Colin Gillespie in the corner for a three.

Nigel Hayes-Davis had a nice stretch midway through the fourth, scoring five straight points and giving the Suns a bit of life. And with 4:46 left in the game, Khaman Maluach, the Suns’ 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, checked in for his debut.

And here’s the debut of Khaman Maluach ! pic.twitter.com/ENNzFkXw4B

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 25, 2025

Maluach didn’t make much of a mark in his debut. His first points came at the free-throw line, giving the Suns their 100th point of the night. By then, they were already down by 27.

The rest of the game was cleanup duty. The Clippers coasted to the finish, handing the Suns a comfortable loss.

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Up Next​

The Suns are right back at it tomorrow night, traveling to the Mile High City to play the Denver Nuggets tomorrow night.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...james-harden-kawhi-leonard-highlights-129-102

 

[Phoenix Suns]

4 takeaways from the loss against the Clippers

After a great win over the Kings, our Suns traveled to L.A. to face a fully loaded Clippers team (a rare sight…). They started the game well, but just like against Sacramento, Phoenix completely collapsed in the second quarter — except this time, they never managed to climb back. Here are the 4 things that stood out to me from this loss.

Offensive Rebounding​

Even though they lost the overall rebounding battle (37–45), the Suns actually came out on top on the offensive glass (15 boards). The problem? Those extra chances didn’t turn into points.

At halftime, Phoenix already had 11 offensive rebounds (3 from Ryan Dunn and Dillon Brooks, 2 from Mark Williams…), but only 4 second-chance points to show for it — a poor conversion rate that says a lot about how inefficient the team was overall.

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Shooting efficiency​

Speaking of inefficiency, let’s talk shooting splits. The Suns shot 41% from the field on 90 attempts, while the Clippers hit 59% on just 76 shots — and from three? 34% for Phoenix versus 55% for L.A. The Suns launched 47 threes compared to only 29 for the Clippers.

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Wasted possessions?​

Volume doesn’t equal control. The Suns played fast, took a ton of shots, but lacked structure. Ninety attempts for 102 points — that’s not the mark of a well-oiled offense. The extra possessions and offensive boards didn’t pay off because the team simply couldn’t capitalize.

The Clippers did the exact opposite: fewer possessions, cleaner execution. They scored 129 points on 94 possessions — a masterclass in efficiency and shot selection. The difference between both teams was clear: Phoenix played fast, L.A. played smart.

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Booker only took 10 shots?​

Yes — only 10. That’s fewer attempts than Brooks, Allen, O’Neal, and even Gillespie. For someone like Devin, that’s just not enough. He’s the engine, the tone-setter of this team. Regardless of his shooting rhythm, it’s not on Dillon Brooks to take 17 or 24 shots like he did two nights ago against Sacramento.

Booker has to show up when things get rough. The team sank in the second quarter, and he only took one shot during that stretch. Sure, he was defended tightly (but not that tightly) and focused on playmaking — but still, that’s not the level of assertiveness expected from your leader. He looked like a spectator out there.

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In short, this game was a reminder that effort and volume don’t always beat structure and execution. The Suns showed heart on the glass but lacked clarity in their offensive identity — the kind of balance they’ll need to find fast.

Next up: Denver. A true test, against the reigning champions of control and discipline. If Phoenix wants to bounce back, it’ll take more than energy — it’ll take intention.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...rebounding-devin-booker-passivity-denver-test

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The fan base wants fireworks, the Suns need foundation

We’re three games into this new season, and the picture looks about like what we expected. A team hovering below .500, fighting uphill with a schedule that offers no favors. You could see it coming back in August, staring at those first ten games. It was a gauntlet, plain and simple. So at 1-2, the Suns are sitting exactly where logic said they’d be.

Sure, you can start to dig and note the statistical opportunities for the team. They’ve committed the most personal fouls in the NBA, tied with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder with 79. They’re shooting just 32.8% from deep, 23rd in the league. Their defensive rating is 124.8, 29th in the league.

Yet scroll through your social feed, and it feels like we’re watching the collapse of a contender. The tone is wild, disconnected from reality. It’s as if the summer conversations about growing pains never happened. Like this roster was built to chase trophies instead of traction.

The delusion’s familiar, though. It’s the echo of a fan base that still wants to believe in miracles, even when the math says otherwise.

The suns are ass. I can’t believe I actually had high expectations for this team.

— Bookskiii (@Ballinon1) October 23, 2025

I heard the Rockets need a guard pic.twitter.com/WIXV6a1h6E

— Book’em (@dbookownsyou) October 26, 2025

Suns need to trade jalen green for a point guard

— . (@Jballing3r) October 26, 2025

Really? We’re already talking about trading Devin Booker and Jalen Green, eh? The same Jalen Green we’ve yet to see play basketball with the Suns? Yeah. Okay.

It’s still early. Too early to start panicking, too early to start calling for trades, too early to pretend we know what this team even is. The noise online would have you believe otherwise, but that’s what social media does. It breeds overreaction. It’s a place where frustration meets Wi-Fi, and everyone’s an expert until the next game tips off.

We don’t even have the edges of the puzzle figured out yet, but people are already trying to flip the table. I get it. Losing sucks. Watching a young team stumble through its growing pains isn’t exactly a dopamine rush. But perspective matters.

This season isn’t about chasing a top-four seed or storming into May basketball. It’s about culture. Reset. Development. Call it whatever buzzword you want, but the truth is simple: this is a year for learning, not for contending. The team has to grow into itself, and that takes time. The fans need to do the same.

Overreacting to back-to-back road losses against contenders like the Clippers and Nuggets isn’t productive. It’s exhausting. This team is young. There’s potential. There’s energy. But it has to be cultivated, not coerced.

We’ve seen what happens when impatience runs the show. We’ve watched the front office pull the trigger too fast, trade for too much, and sacrifice development for the illusion of contention. That’s how you end up here, stuck between what was and what could be.

So tweet what you want. Yell into the void. But understand that every overreaction feeds the wrong narrative. The bus stops here. The only real path forward is patience. Not blind faith. Not delusion. Patience.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...e-team-development-culture-reset-nba-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Wonders, Week 1: What’s really behind the Suns’ defensive struggles?

The Phoenix Suns got a taste of what being in the Western Conference is going to be like during the 2025-26 campaign in their first week of the season. After a 20-point comeback on opening night against the Sacramento Kings, the Valley got dominated by the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets on consecutive nights.

It remains early in the year, but the team already has some major questions. Here are the five main for week 1 that we want your thoughts on:

Why have the Suns struggled so much in the second quarter?​

In 2/3rds of their games so far, they’ve lost by at least 22; in all of their contests, they’ve gotten handled in the second frame. Opponents have outscored them 117 to 84 so far in quarter two, meaning they’re losing those 12 minutes by almost a point a minute. The fewest points a team has scored against them in the second is 37, which Denver did to them on Saturday. What is the cause of this?

Thoughts on Jordan Ott and the new guys so far?​

How do you think Jordan Ott has coached so far? Phoenix won in dramatic fashion in a game they were favored in, and got manhandled in their two games they were heavy underdogs. What do you think of his rotations early on? So far, only rookie Khaman Maluach has gotten meaningful minutes, and it was just because Mark Williams didn’t play on the second night of the back-to-back. Do the rookies need to be playing more? How much of the team’s struggle do you put on their new leader?

Dillon Brooks has been highly featured early on, and both Mark Williams and Nigel Hayes-Davis have been main bench players through three games. What have you liked and disliked about their roles and what you’ve seen from them so far, along with the rookies’ lack of playing time?

Is Dillon Brooks shooting too much?​

Brooks has led the team in shots in every game so far. He’s taken 14 more shots than Booker has and is shooting under 38 percent from the field. Obviously, the shot distribution is inevitably going to change when Jalen Green returns soon, but in his past spots, Brooks was known for being overzealous with his shot selection. What does he and the Suns need to do with his shooting attempts?

Will the defense get better?​

The Valley’s 126 points per game allowed to opponents is fourth in the NBA, and two of the three teams above them are two of the final teams without a win still. Phoenix has struggled to stop other teams when they go on runs. Mark Williams looks to be starting soon ,which will give them more height and length inside, and Green is more athletic than Allen is, but will it be enough to improve the defense?

How do you feel about Devin Booker’s year so far?​

He’s been without what is supposed to be his secondary scorer, and Booker has seen numerous double teams and traps early on. He’s been efficient with his scoring and is 16/16 with his free-throw shooting after struggling on opening night. How do you think he’s managed the offense playing point guard and being without Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, or Chris Paul for the first time in six seasons?

---

What are your thoughts on the season so far? Let us know below.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ooks-shooting-devin-booker-defense-jordan-ott

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns look to steady the ship against Utah

Who: Phoenix Suns (1-2) @ Utah Jazz (1-1)

When: 6:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Watch: Suns+, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7, KSUN

---

The first road trip of the season wraps up Monday night in Salt Lake City, where the Phoenix Suns face the Utah Jazz. The first two stops were against the Clippers and Nuggets, both heavyweights in the Western Conference. This one is against Utah, a team most expect to finish below Phoenix in the standings.

That projection doesn’t mean much right now. The sample size is small, but the Jazz rank fifth in offensive rating at 121.7 and ninth in defensive rating at 111.2. Their +10.4 net rating sits third in the league. Phoenix, conversely, is 28th in the league with a -15.2 net rating. It’s early, but it’s a reminder that any team can show up on any given night, and when you play connected basketball, results tend to follow.

That’s what Phoenix is chasing tonight. A sense of continuity. A commitment to the kind of team play that has shown itself in flashes so far. For brief stretches, this group has looked not only competent, but energized and relentless. The challenge is finding that balance between playing with aggression and losing control of it.

Probable Starters​

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Jalen Green — OUT (Hamstring)
• Dillon Brooks — QUESTIONABLE (Right Groin Soreness)

Jazz​

• Isaiah Collier — OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)
• Georges Niang— OUT (Left Foot)

What to Watch For​

All eyes will be on Devin Booker tonight as he works to find his rhythm and his role in this new setup. Some believe he’s been too quiet, too passive, and there’s truth to that. He needs to take control and remind everyone that this is his team.

It’s not easy when defenses are throwing doubles and triples at you, but there are ways for head coach Jordan Ott to free him up and get him better looks. He also spent the last two games facing elite talent, so there’s hope that Utah’s youth might give him a little more room to operate.

Lauri Markkanen is the other name to watch.

Through two games, he’s averaging 26.5 points on 56% shooting and hitting 40% from deep. He stretches the floor and punishes you if you sag off. Utah has size across the board, so the undersized Suns will need to make up for it with effort. They’ve done well in that area so far, ranking third in total offensive rebounds. That’s the kind of energy they’ll need again tonight.

Key to a Suns Win​

The first half will tell the story in this one.

Through the first week of the regular season, the Utah Jazz rank fourth in the league at +28 in first-half scoring. The Suns sit at the bottom, at -50. That makes the start crucial. We’ll be watching to see if this group can finally come out sharp and execute on both ends.

Phoenix has the kind of roster that should thrive on defensive intensity, but effort hasn’t always turned into results. Their shooting hasn’t helped either. They’re hitting 44% from the field, which ranks 25th, and 32.8% from deep, also 25th. You can play hard, you can create open looks, but if the shots don’t fall, it’s an uphill climb.

So tonight, the focus is simple: respond early, find rhythm, and stop digging themselves into first-half holes.

Prediction​

I think we’re in for a battle tonight, one of those games defined by runs. Utah’s size will test the Suns, but depth-wise, these two teams are pretty evenly matched. That’s why the minutes from Phoenix’s bench will be critical. If the second unit can hold its own and bring energy, it could swing the balance in the Suns’ favor.

Suns 125, Jazz 120

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-lauri-markkanen-stats-prediction-it-captures

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Suns lose to Jazz in 138-134 OT thriller

The Phoenix Suns lost to the Utah Jazz 138-134 Monday night in an overtime thriller, snapping their 10-game losing streak against the Valley. After being down 27-7 early on, the team rallied back and tied the game late in the second quarter, and even led for a short period in the third quarter. The Jazz led by seven with 20 seconds left, but after some Devin Booker heroics and a Mark Williams tip-in, the game went to overtime, but missed free throws and rebounding problems cost them in the final five minutes.

Booker led the Suns in scoring with 34, Lauri Markannen had a career high 51-point for the Jazz. Utah out rebounded Phoenix by 16 and hit 17% more of their free throws on five more attempts. The team stayed resilient throughout the contest, but once again their defensive woes and ability to generate consecutive stops plagued them once again in this early season.

The team is now 1-3 on the season and have lost three consecutive games.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Jazz got off to a quick start, getting up 16-2 in the first four minutes. Utah came out guns blazing and the Valley struggled to find the bottom of the net on offense. After Jordan Ott called a timeout, the Jazz continued to dominate from three and got their lead up to 20.

At the end of the first, Phoenix trailed 39-27 after ending the quarter on a 9-2 run. Utah hit eight triples in the quarter. Lauri Markkanen had 14 for Utah.

Turnovers, missed shots and offensive rebounds were running awry to begin the second for both teams. The Jazz went on a 5-0 run to start the scoring, but Phoenix combatted it with a 7-0 run spearheaded by Collin Gillespie’s playmaking, leading to a Utah timeout. Additionally, with Dillon Brooks out because of a groin injury, Isaiah Livers gave Phoenix some valuable play on both ends in his first meaningful minutes with the second unit as a member of the Suns.

Phoenix played with more pace that helped them get out of their offensive woes and cut deeper into the deficit. After a few Royce O’Neale and Devin Booker triples, the Suns turned what was a 20-point Utah lead into a tie game with a few minutes left in the half.

ROYC3 pic.twitter.com/hG00I8iu05

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 28, 2025

At the end of 24 minutes, the Suns trailed 64-61. Grayson Allen led the Suns with 11 points while Markannen had 20 for the Jazz.

Second Half​

Utah went on a 12-5 run to start the third to bring their lead to double digits and force the Suns into calling a timeout. After the break, the Suns went on a 12-5 run to bring the game back to a one possession contest, and return the deficit back to what it was at half.

After a transition dunk from Booker, the Suns finally had their first lead of the night. Mark Williams then followed the Booker slam up with a jam of his own off a Gillespie lob pass.

MARK WILLIAMS NASTY AND-1 OOP pic.twitter.com/Cmyi6IDmjm

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) October 28, 2025

Despite the Phoenix slams, the Jazz rallied back and took a 94-86 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Utah kept their momentum heading into the fourth quarter and once again, got their lead back into double digits, but the Suns fought back as Booker started taking over, hitting shots and getting his players involved; the Jazz lead was just 3 with 5:51 left in the game, just for Utah to push it back up to 10.

When it looked like the Suns were completely out of it late, Gillespie hit consecutive triples to bring them within just with less than two minutes left in regulation. The Jazz had a seven-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining, the game appeared all but over. Then, Booker hit a few threes and after a strong defensive play by Gillespie forcing a jump ball, the Suns got a chance to tie the game after a missed Booker free throw and Mark Williams hit a tip-in to tie the game at 124. With 1.9 seconds left, Lauri Markannen had a chance to win it, but missed a baseline jumper over Booker: Overtime.

BIG MAN WORKING DOWN LOW. pic.twitter.com/b5QZQo2wfa

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 28, 2025

Overtime​

The Jazz took a five-point lead early in the period just for the Suns to go on a 6-0 run to take a 131-130 lead for their first since the third quarter. With 1:19 left, the Jazz took the lead and after Mark Williams missed the team’s second free throw of the period and struggled to get a defensive rebound on a critical Utah possession, they lost the thriller.

---

Up Next​

The Valley will head back to Arizona, where they’ll face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 7 pm local time.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ecap-suns-lose-to-jazz-in-138-134-ot-thriller

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Ryan Dunn’s sophomore season is starting to look like a reality check

The sophomore year of an NBA player is where the truth starts to show. It’s the season that reveals what a player might actually become. The rookie year is chaos, pure survival mode. You go from the relative structure of college, where basketball is something you do alongside academics — or at least pretend to — to a life where basketball becomes everything. Every hour, every breath, is about refining the craft.

Then comes the reality check. The schedule doubles. The bodies are stronger. The speed is faster. You’re no longer the best player on the floor every night, and that humbles you fast. The rookie season is about learning and adapting. It’s about getting punched in the mouth by the league and figuring out how to respond.

The sophomore season, though, is where all that learning takes shape. It’s where the lessons from year one mix with the grind of the offseason and start to form something tangible. For someone like Ryan Dunn, the 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, this is that year. The rookie season was the introduction. The sophomore season is the statement.

In Phoenix, Ryan Dunn carries more weight than he probably would anywhere else. His rookie season took place on a team loaded with talent but starving for effort, focus, and defensive energy. Those happen to be the exact areas where Dunn thrives. So when he hit the floor, his energy popped off the screen. He was the guy diving for loose balls while others stared at them. He was loud in all the right ways.

That kind of thing doesn’t go unnoticed in this city. Fans fell in love with it. On a roster that often felt lifeless, he was the spark; the proof that someone still cared.

Now, year two is here, and the glow of that rookie shine is giving way to a harsher light. The expectations are different. The team itself is different. The front office built this roster around guys who fit Dunn’s mold, players who hustle, fight, and treat every possession like it matters. That means Dunn isn’t the lone energy source anymore. He has to prove he’s more than a role player.

Through four games, the results have been mixed. The effort’s still there. The athleticism still grabs your attention. He’s crashing the glass, jumping out of the gym, dunking with that same wild bounce that made him a fan favorite. But his jumper remains a liability, and the defensive consistency hasn’t matched the reputation.

It’s early, but if this sophomore season is the proving ground, then Dunn’s got work to do. The heart is there. The tools are there. Now comes the part where he turns potential into production.

Part of Ryan Dunn’s struggle comes down to something simple. He shouldn’t be starting at power forward.

At 6’6”, he’s undersized for the role, and while the modern NBA celebrates versatility and wingspan over bulk, there’s still a physical toll when you’re battling legitimate bigs every night. Across the league, more teams are leaning into what we used to call “having a power forward and a center.” Now it’s dressed up as the “double-big lineup.” Either way, it means muscle, length, and size down low. And Dunn doesn’t have that advantage.

The modern power forward can stretch the floor and bang inside. Dunn can’t consistently do either. His shot looks clean, and the mechanics are fine, but the numbers don’t lie. He’s shooting 43.5% from the field and 30% from deep. The free throw percentage, down to 46.3%, is the real concern. It points to something mental, not mechanical.

You can see it in how defenses treat him. They give him space, daring him to shoot. In the corners, where he should be most comfortable, he’s hitting one out of every three attempts.

The frustrating part is that it all looks right. The balance, the release, the rhythm. It just doesn’t go in often enough. And when you’re already undersized, that kind of inefficiency makes you a liability in a starting lineup built around spacing and movement. Dunn’s effort still stands out, but until the shot starts falling, he’s fighting uphill every night against players who have both the height and the touch.

What’s equally troubling is the defense, which is supposed to be Ryan Dunn’s calling card.

His defensive rating sits at 126.9, though I take that with a healthy dose of skepticism. Defensive rating is often more about who you share the floor with than what you do as an individual. Add to that the fact that the Suns’ team defense has been awful — 29th in the league with a 123.7 rating — and no one’s numbers look good right now.

Still, Dunn’s net rating of -20.3 is a team-worst, and that matters. When he’s on the floor, the team gets worse. When he’s off, they stabilize. Per FantasyLabs, Devin Booker’s net rating improves from -12.3 next to Dunn to -4.6 without him. That’s not the kind of data you can wave away.

And then there’s the Utah game. He played 17 minutes and finished a -29. Normally, I don’t live or die by single-game plus/minus, but that kind of number in that little time is brutal. He wasn’t keeping up, and it showed.

Ryan Dunn (-29) and Oso Ighodaro (-15) got sent to the shadow realm tonight. Rough outing

#NotAligned

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 28, 2025

Watching him, you can see the gears turning. He’s thinking through possessions instead of reacting. Should he collapse into the paint to body up the opposing power forward? Should he chase over the screen or switch and trust the help? He’s stuck between instincts and assignments, and that half-second of hesitation is killing his defensive edge.

This is the growing pain phase, and on a team built around development, he’s going to get the time to figure it out. But early returns point to him being more of a rotational piece than the defensive stopper everyone hoped he’d become. Ideally, he’s coming off the bench, backing up Dillon Brooks, and defending on the wing rather than banging with bigs inside. That role gives him freedom, both defensively and offensively, and plays more to what made him stand out in the first place.

Right now, though, he’s learning the hard way that the sophomore year is where the league starts to study you back.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...e-struggles-shooting-development-nba-progress

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Collin Gillespie has earned his shot in the starting lineup

Showing little emotion, win or lose, Collin Gillespie gets it. He understands that the Phoenix Suns have no real expectations this year, that wins or losses might not matter to owner Mat Ishbia. But they do matter to Suns fans, whose expectations are simple: “Yes, let’s pull off a victory against a Jazz team we should beat.”

You can see it in Gillespie’s weary eyes during every dead ball; he’s already made a name for himself here in the Valley. Maybe not yet around the NBA, but when it comes to minutes played and all-out effort, he stands apart. It is the effort that matches Deandre Ayton, when Lakers teammates bribed him with candy and video games before a big game to get him to play hard. The Suns need to start turning Gillespie’s hustle into wins, or the poor guy might lose his mind.

After playing nearly 32 minutes against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, Gillespie isn’t one for words after the overtime game ended with a loss. “To get out there and play and compete, but the goal and the objective is to win,” he said after Monday’s loss. “I’m pretty pissed off we didn’t win.”

"To get out there and play and compete, but the goal and the objective is to win. I'm pretty pissed off we didn't win."

Collin Gillespie after Suns OT loss to Jazz as he played 32 minutes.

On missing 3 to give Suns lead late in OT: "I wanted that one bad." #Suns pic.twitter.com/vRRwj0cMc2

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 28, 2025

---

Wanting the win badly, you could tell that even with 15 points, 13 assists, and three steals, it still wasn’t enough for Collin Gillespie. He felt like he could have done more, but how could he, when he left everything he had on the floor Monday night? Maybe the only thing left for him to do is start the game.

Suns’ guard Jalen Green is looking to make his return this week if he stays on track with his workouts, but should Green start? Jordan Ott has tempered the insertion of Mark Williams, so why not Jalen Green? After all, Gillespie is right there and capable.

The best course of action might be to start Gillespie and see if he is truly a diamond in the rough. Based on his attitude and the big-time plays he makes throughout the game, Gillespie is already emerging as the kind of leader the Suns need at the point guard position, a spot many thought was not necessary years ago when people believed wins could be manufactured through pure talent alone.

Gillespie has both the skill and the vision to help this team claw its way back to .500 in the standings. Through four games, he is averaging 24.3 minutes, 10.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals. This is production that does not just show up on a stat sheet but translates into energy, effort, and accountability every time he is on the floor.

If I am Suns coach Jordan Ott, I am pulling the trigger and starting Gillespie before this season slips away. To a lot of people and media personalities, the Suns already look like a mess, but a surprising rebirth after a 1-3 start, led by Gillespie’s grit and leadership, is staring Ott right in the face. All it takes is a little trust in the guy who has been doing all the little things right while the rest of the roster figures itself out.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-role-jordan-ott-trust-leadership-grit-effort

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Booker leads Suns rally but they fall short to Grizzlies, 114-113

The rhythm of the Phoenix Suns skipped a beat in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, ultimately resulting in a tough loss, 114-113.

Devin Booker struggled early, starting just 1-for-9 from the field and unable to find his rhythm until the final minutes of the third quarter. Fortunately for Phoenix, Booker had help from teammates Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie, who combined for 23 points in the first half to keep the Suns within reach.

Once Booker rediscovered his touch, the Suns made a push, but by then, the Grizzlies had taken control, building a double-digit lead and stealing the show in downtown Phoenix.

And that they did. The Grizzlies caught fire from deep, hitting four contested threes with hands in their faces, refusing to stay silent as the nets kept swaying.

Booker did his best with 29 points in the second half but was unable to hit the game-winner.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Suns came out playing big, scoring 10 of their first 13 points in the paint. Starting center Mark Williams made his first start of the season, taking control during the opening six minutes.

In that stretch, Williams recorded six points and a blocked shot on Jaren Jackson Jr., setting the tone for the Suns’ defense.

MARK BLOCK. BOOK BUCKET.

pic.twitter.com/avlTdKqNyo

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

Taking a 21–15 lead into a Grizzlies timeout at the 4:21 mark of the first quarter, the Suns had already tallied seven assists, two blocked shots, and forced four turnovers. Their defense fueled the offense, leading to five fast-break points.

The Suns went small to end the first quarter, with Oso Ighodaro at center and Nigel Hayes-Davis at power forward. The Grizzlies took advantage of the smaller lineup, as Ja Morant repeatedly attacked the paint and helped Memphis take a 27–26 lead to close the quarter.

Collin Gillespie brought a spark off the bench, running the Suns’ offense with confidence. By picking his spots and staying aggressive, he added four quick points to put Phoenix back on top 33–31, keeping the game close during valuable bench minutes.

Devin Booker checked back in with five minutes left in the second quarter and the Suns holding a 43–41 lead. With Mark Williams commanding attention inside, the floor opened up on the perimeter. The Suns became lethal from outside, forcing the Grizzlies to scramble on defense.

The consistent effort from Ryan Dunn, along with his knockdown shooting from three, gave the Suns exactly what they needed — paint protection and strong team rebounding. Dunn contributed seven points and five rebounds, helping the Suns keep their lead heading into halftime.

Dunn Corna Three pic.twitter.com/Os3ntgR4E6

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

Suns, 53. Grizzlies, 49.

Second Half​

After finally playing a first half without trailing by 20 points — their most complete opening half of the season — the Suns carried that momentum into a physical start to the third quarter. Review after review piled up as the game turned into a whistle-filled grind on both ends.

Ryan Dunn and Mark Williams found themselves in the middle of nearly every play, their energy paying off as they began connecting on passes to each other at the rim.

ALLEY OOOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/FvmbVHhdrQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

Halfway through the third quarter, Oso came back into the game for Williams, but was unable to capture the moment and execute when it came to the mismatches. Booker was on the same page as Oso, not living up to the moment and coming through when the Suns went small.

With the Suns down 68-67, Booker was 3-13 from the field. It really looked like he lost a step.

With Booker hitting a few shots after I doubted him, the Suns still could not pull away from the Grizzlies, trailing 81-78 entering the fourth quarter.

The smooth touch of Ja returned in the fourth quarter, swirving through the defense and finding the ball at the bottom of the net. The Grizzlies kept grabbing the loose balls and running the fast break to break away from the Suns, but whistles and fouls held the game to a slow pace.

Going up by five with around eight minutes left in the game, the Ja outmatched the Suns, who had to spend a timeout and try to regroup.

Down by as many as 10 points, the Suns had their hands full as the Grizzlies tried to pull away. Booker continued to fight to keep Phoenix in it, but the rest of the roster — led by Mark Williams — struggled to maintain offensive efficiency down the stretch.

With three minutes left in the game and the Suns trailing by just four, their scrappiness carried them through the final stretch. Phoenix tightened up defensively, getting their hands in passing lanes and forcing the Grizzlies out of rhythm. Memphis went cold from three, while Booker continued to heat up, eventually tying the game at 108 apiece.

With seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, Booker made up for it with 16 points in the quarter but came up short after missing the game-winning shot.

Grizzlies 114, Suns 113.

---

Up Next​

The Phoenix Suns remain home, taking on the Utah Jazz in the first In-season Tournament game, Halloween night at 7:00.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...spie-grizzlies-edge-one-point-loss-game-recap

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Breaking down Mark Williams’ performance against the Grizzlies

I had the pleasure (or displeasure based on the result) of being in the building for the Suns-Grizzlies game.

Phoenix plugged Mark Williams into the starting lineup for his first start of the season. Minutes restriction be damned. I decided to track his every step with general thoughts. I am glad he showed out, because this could’ve been a very underwhelming write-up considering it was predetermined.

Tonight's Starters.@gobellbanks | #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/ipcOAUnfJq

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

What better time to track every impactful moment from Mark Williams than on this fine evening?

His stints:

• Q1: 6 minutes, 34 seconds
• Q2: 5 minutes, 27 seconds
• Q3: 6 minutes, 34 seconds
• Q4: 9 minutes, 8 seconds
• Total: 27 minutes, 43 seconds

Final line: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 assist, 9-11 FG, 28 minutes​

Williams had a lot of strong contests, deflections, and altered plenty of shots. Thought he was moving the best he has all year on both ends of the floor. Super impactful game beyond the box score.

1st Quarter​

Williams Q1 stats: 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 3-3 FG, 7 minutes, +1

Mark Williams started the game with a nice roll to the rim, finishing an easy two. He followed that up a couple of possessions later with a nice dish to Ryan Dunn for his first assist of the game.

Mark going to work down low

He's up to 6 PTS early in the first! pic.twitter.com/g79iUc5m3b

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

He picked up his first foul of the game at the 9:20 mark. His next two buckets were easy looks at the rim to get him up to 6 points in the quarter. Williams checked out after his first 7-minute stint.

2nd Quarter​

Williams Q2 stats: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2-3 FG, 5:30 minutes, +4

Mark checked in with 5:27 left in the half for his second stint. Immediately catches and tips a lob; it rims out, but he’s able to secure the miss and put it in. His next bucket… wait for it… another easy 4-footer at the rim.

He got beat off the dribble on a Jaren Jackson Jr. drive with a late contest towards the end of the quarter, but his movement overall looked the best it has this season.

3rd Quarter​

Williams Q3 stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 3-4 FG, 6:30 minutes, +/- 0

The first bucket of the third for Mark came off a lob for another easy finish from a Ryan Dunn dime. He continued to feast inside, with Memphis struggling to contain him at the rim.

ALLEY OOOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/FvmbVHhdrQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

He followed that up with another inside look, cleaning up his own miss to give him 16 & 6 through his first 16 minutes of action.

Mark Williams is a monster.

Super efficient tonight. In his first 16 minutes:

16 points, 8-10 FG, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, +2.

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) October 30, 2025

At the 6:40 mark, he ripped down his 7th rebound, then the very next defensive possession, he held his ground on a drive for a positive defensive stand. That vertical defensive threat we all hoped for. He checked out at the 5:26 mark, similar to his first 7-minute stretch in the opening quarter.

4th Quarter​

Williams Q4 stats: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1-1 FG, 2-2 FT, 9:05 minutes +1,

The big fella drew a trip to the charity stripe at the 8:09 mark and connected on both to push his total to 18 points. The next possession down, he ripped a contested rebound away from Santi Aldama to collect his 8th board of the game.

Williams’ 10th rebound was snared after an excellent contest to force a miss at the rim. It led to a transition jumper for Booker to cut the lead down to 4 with 4:05.

Williams had a massive deflection that he tipped out and led to a Suns’ fastbreak, where Devin Booker drew the foul and hit both free throws to cut the lead to two. His hands were everywhere. Contests, deflections, you name it.

A massive steal from Williams with just over a minute remaining led to a slam on the other end, shifting the momentum entirely.

MARK WILLIAMS STEAL ON ONE END.

MARK WILLIAMS SLAM ON THE OTHER END.

SUNS LEAD.

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

Unfortunately, the euphoria was short-lived as Ja Morant hit a game-winner with 7 seconds left. Phoenix had a chance, but Booker missed. Game over. Another heartbreaker for these Suns.

On an encouraging note, at least Mark Williams showed out for the second straight game. We have something here.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...s-20-points-11-rebounds-performance-breakdown

 

[Phoenix Suns]

A team searching for identity may have found its heartbeat in two players

Even with the Suns struggling to start with a 1-4 record, there have been some bright spots on this team. For a squad battling injuries, two guys have risen to the occasion, showing their true potential in the NBA and on outstanding contracts with the Suns. These two players have also demonstrated that not only can they thrive individually on this team, but also work as a great duo, which we have also seen early in the year.

You may be wondering who I am talking about, but if you have been watching, you would know who I am specifically referring to. That’s Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams.

Both players have proven themselves this season and demonstrated that they deserve a long-term contract. Gillespie is on a one-year deal after serving as a two-way player last season, stepping up in the face of numerous injuries. Williams is in the final year of his rookie deal, and since he was not given an extension, he will enter the free-agent pool next year as a restricted free agent. This puts them in a position to play guns to the wall and show all they have to the organization, so they can ensure that contract on a rising team that already has roles carved out for them.

So far this year, they have delivered in that department and only look to become more intriguing pieces throughout this season in this rotation. Colin has already impressed so much that you have fans and writers here (deservingly so) pushing for his start in this rotation with Jalen Green still recovering from his hamstring injury.

Regardless of which camp you are in for that discussion, it’s your own opinion, but he definitely has shown the case warrants the debate. To start this season, this is Collin Gillespie’s averages courtesy of Basketball Reference in the first five games.

Gillespie has been dominant to start the season so far, taking advantage of the minutes he has been given. He has risen to the occasion when needed, serving as the secondary ball handler alongside Devin Booker or initiating the offense on his own, as we saw last night against the Grizzlies. In that second quarter, Devin Booker was out for the first 5:27 into the second, and this is where Gillespie took off. The guard took control of the offense, scoring 10 of his 13 points with both of his assists in this short stint.

This is where fans once again saw that Gillespie was not a fluke from last season. That he has the heart and passion to fight on both ends, even if he is undersized at 6’1”, he is never going to give up on that defensive end, making those hustle plays. As a fan, and given the promise of this change in identity and culture, this is clearly evident in the play from Collin Gillespie and only makes me more excited about what he can become here in Phoenix.

Looking at some of his advanced stats on Databallr, we can see that what we see on the court is translating statistically. On the left are his stats in the last 40 games compared to the past 5. You can see that both his catch-and-shoot and pull-up three attempts are higher, with his pull-up three percentage also rising. His on-ball percentage is lower to start, as he has had more opportunities playing with Devin Booker, but with Jalen Green coming back, I see that rising as he will be the lead playmaker for the secondary unit. What this tells me is that Gillespie will be valuable offensively wherever he is and will only continue to grow here in Phoenix.

Gillespie had a career-high in assists the other night vs. the Utah Jazz, notching 13. This is just another great area to see the young guard grow, feeling out his comfort in the pick-and-roll, while also having the knack for making the extra pass on the perimeter for an additional three points. Here is an incredible stat showing his ability to work with the centers the Suns throw at him this year.

On the season Collin Gillespie has 28 Assists averaging 5.6 this season to start
10 of them (36%) have been to one of either of the bigs the Suns have mainly used this season
He is really working that connection with whatever center is tasked to do so, working the PnR game well

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

Gillespie has effectively leveraged his connections with each big man, yielding some impressive results for his teammates, especially Mark Williams.

Mark Williams says it’s been great building two-man chemistry with Collin Gillespie in the minutes they’ve shared the floor.

Also asked him about the areas he’s trying to improve defensively. He wants to be more intentional about protecting the basket. pic.twitter.com/FV1VzJjmAz

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 29, 2025

Williams has seen his potential grow brighter and brighter since his debut, and that case has only been solidified with his recent two performances. His connection with Gillespie has been a significant factor in that success, but he has also shown he can be a threat without him.

Williams came into this year with his highest game total being 44, and the Suns wanted to change that, not only for the player’s benefit, but also to get a complete evaluation of him leading up to his free agency. With the Suns also having frontcourt issues over the past few years, they needed someone to bridge that gap for rookie Khaman Malauch to learn behind. The Suns have definitely gotten a good bluepring for Maluach in Williams here, as he leads the team, averaging 10 rebounds in only four games (remember, he missed the Denver game). Not to mention that he has had double-digit boards and led the team in rebounds in three of four of these contests.

This is all on a minute restriction, may I add. You were there when he came off the bench, besides vs. the Grizzlies, where he got his first start. Williams is proving to be the beast the Suns want on the boards and have desperately needed as well. So far, his averages are higher in his career, and this can only be a giant momentum swing for the big man this year. Even if fans want to complain about him not getting the start immediately, there are reasons for it, and for Williams, ramping him up this way was the best case, in my eyes.

"I'm a little more familiar with that. Yeah, it felt good."

Mark Williams gets his 1st start with Suns, posting a second straight 20-point double-double of 20 points (9-of-11 FGs) and 11 rebounds to go with four steals and a block in loss to Grizzlies.

"I don't think my mindset… pic.twitter.com/O4OlnCGyyA

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025

This quote from Duane Rankin, courtesy of azcentral, shows that Williams also agrees that getting to this spot his now great and comfortable for him. He will only continue to blossom in my eyes on both ends for this Suns team, as they still struggle in some rebounding areas compared to last year.

As you can see, even with the small sample size for Williams, he has been better on the defensive glass, something the Suns do need help with. With him starting for the near future as well, I only see these numbers inflating and becoming more dominant in the future.

The Phoenix Suns rank 16th in the NBA in second chance points at 15.8 even with their struggles to rebound early it looks more promising compared to last year when they averaged 12.4 and were ranked 26th in the league.

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

This compared to their offensive rebounds also shows growth as they were 27th last year averaging only 9.2 per gam. This season the Suns have 14.2 OREB per game placing them 7th to start
Defensive rebounds still are an issue though, the Suns are 26th at 28.6 per game

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

As you can see, the second-chance points (scoring and allowing them) have been an issue for this team, and this year, they are fixing it. Williams is also averaging 3.5 offensive rebounds, accounting for around 25% of the Suns’ offensive rebounds, proving that his patience on the glass and relentless effort not to give up on multiple attempts have been key.

The Suns have still struggled on the defensive boards, similar to last year, allowing opponents 19.8 second-chance points, ranking them 29th. They have struggled to control those possessions, but at least show growth in some areas. If you want to read more about Williams’ activity on the glass, check out this article I had from game one of the year.

Arguably, though, the best thing about both of these players is the great chemistry they have formed early on. With Williams starting off the bench, he and Gillespie made some early magic, and the numbers prove it. Once again, shoutout to Databallr for these stats, but this is how the Suns look with Gillespie and Williams’ numbers on and off the court.

As you can see, when Gillespie and Williams have shared the floor, even for 50 minutes, it results in an offensive rating of 126.4, a defensive rating of 105.6, and a net rating of +20.8. Just looking at that compared to when they are both off the court or one is there, it is a drastic difference. This team thrives with these two making plays for each other, and this connection will only grow throughout this year here in Phoenix! Clearly, they are difference makers and have both shown areas of growth from seasons past. We only hope this stays consistent, and I believe it is here.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ormance-stats-chemistry-early-season-analysis