RSS Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns clash with the Nets for “China Games” finale

When: 4:00 am Arizona Time

Where: Venetian Arena, Macao, China

Watch: NBA TV

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The Phoenix Suns traveled over 7,000 miles across the world to play the Brooklyn Nets twice in Macao, China, at Venetian Arena. This is the second of two contests after the Suns won an overtime thriller by the score of 132-127.

As Kevin stated in the last preview, remember to set your alarms or your DVR, as this game tips off at 4 a.m. Arizona time. If you’re up at 4 a.m. Arizona time to watch this, you’re either an insomniac, a diehard, or both…but either way, the Suns are back for Game 2 of their China series against the Brooklyn Nets. After an encouraging opener against the Lakers that showed real flashes of identity, this matchup is another test of whether Phoenix’s new culture is starting to take hold. Preseason or not.

The Suns enter their third preseason game with a pristine 2-0 record. They have certainly looked connected despite not having Jalen Green or Mark Williams for either game, two of their top 4 players.

Vibes were UP at @NBA China Fan Day 2025 pic.twitter.com/VQplcc7FFS

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 11, 2025

Phoenix recovered from a slow start in the first contest to rally back for an overtime win against Brooklyn. They allowed 39 points in the first quarter, trailing by 10 heading into the 2nd quarter.

The Suns will look for a stronger start and more defensive energy early, although part of their struggles last game were due to Brooklyn quite literally not missing a shot early on. It was an eventful first game, with plenty of big celebrity names and the international spotlight shining on the Suns.

I doubt either of these teams focuses on making adjustments for each other. Most of the goal of preseason is about perfecting your internal goals and correcting any mistakes ahead of the games that count.

Let’s see what they can do in Round 2.

Probable Starters​

(Same as Game 1, barring late changes/injuries)

SUNS

• Oso Ighodaro
• Ryan Dunn
• Dillon Brooks
• Grayson Allen
• Devin Booker

NETS

• Nic Claxton
• Michael Porter Jr.
• Terance Mann
• Cam Thomas
• Noaln Traore

Injury Report
Suns

• Mark Williams — OUT
• Jalen Green — DAY TO DAY

Nets

• Egior Demin — DAY TO DAY
• Drake Powell — DAY TO DAY
• Haywood Highsmith — DAY TO DAY

What to Watch​

Strong Start?

After a disjointed, slow first half where Phoenix looked like the team that hit snooze on its alarm (Brooklyn opened 10-for-10 from the field and jumped out to a 26-8 lead), the Suns’ youth and bench energy saved the morning.

The Suns battled back from a 12-point halftime deficit, dominating the third quarter 30–13 to completely flip the momentum.

Jordan Goodwin led the Suns with 19 points in 18 minutes, including the dagger three in overtime, while Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks each added 18. But this game wasn’t about star power. It was about the foundation being laid beneath it.

Jordan Goodwin OT dagger with ALL of the reaxs!

SUNS UP pic.twitter.com/ongkWXuDqO

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 10, 2025

Rookie Success

We are all likely hoping to see more action from the rookies in this contest.

Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach were two of the biggest bright spots for Phoenix. Their energy, defense, and athleticism in the fourth quarter and overtime completely changed the game’s feel. Fleming’s instincts as a cutter and shot blocker stood out, while Maluach’s footwork and passing vision at his age continue to make him one of the most fascinating long-term projects on this roster.

“Man Man” and Rasheer both getting 25+ minutes in this one would be ideal. We’ll see how Jordan Ott handles the rotation. Unleash the rooks!

Khaman Maluach, who just turned 19 last month, is very much still growing into his 7’1”, 250 LB frame

But he’s already showcasing the flashes of physicality you want out of a big man that you invested top-10 draft capital into

The Suns will be patient with his development, but… pic.twitter.com/xfNir9pDLk

— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) October 10, 2025

Even Collin Gillespie, though somewhat quiet in the box score, showed flashes of exactly the kind of stabilizing, connective guard Jordan Ott wants in his system, someone who can defend, move the ball, and keep the pace steady. These are the kinds of games where he can really start to carve out his spot in the rotation.

Offensively, there’s still a lot to figure out. The starters never found much rhythm, shooting 44 percent from the field and missing 31 of 42 threes.

But the resilience was hard to ignore. Holding Brooklyn to 13 points in the third quarter, erasing a double-digit halftime deficit, and finishing the job in overtime shows the kind of grit and buy-in this new Suns group is trying to build.

Prediction​

Who knows what the rotations look like in this one. I just want to see continued heart and fight and some promising stretches from the rooks.

Suns win again, 124-121.

We shall see!

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ns-clash-with-the-nets-for-china-games-finale

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns rediscovered what fun feels like and it started with a toy named Labubu

How much do you know about Labubus? Up until Sunday, I hadn’t heard of them either. Some kind of collectible plush creature, the kind that lives in the same strange cultural corner as Beanie Babies or Funko Pops. One of those modern obsessions that makes you question where nostalgia ends and consumer hypnosis begins.

But it was during a conversation about Labubus, of all things, that something meaningful happened for the Phoenix Suns. A flicker of life. A reminder that “vibes,” as intangible and overused as that word has become, might finally be finding their way back to this team.

You can’t define vibes, but you know when they’re missing. For two seasons, they’ve been gone, buried under transactional basketball and the kind of tension that turns joy into obligation. When players clock in like accountants instead of artists, the game loses its heartbeat.

Then came Sunday in China. After the Suns dropped their final preseason game in China to the Brooklyn Nets, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks sat side by side at the postgame podium. Same setup we’ve seen before. Booker next to Chris Paul, Booker next to Kevin Durant. But this one felt different.

With Paul, you could sense mutual respect, even admiration. The young star absorbing wisdom from the veteran sage. Their exchanges had texture. They were two minds speaking the same basketball language. When it was Durant beside him, the dynamic shifted. It was corporate, efficient, clinical. “Let’s answer the questions and move on.” You could feel it on the court, too. Two assassins sharing the same mission, but not the same spirit.

On Sunday, it was Dillon Brooks. The NBA’s chaos merchant. The guy who thrives on noise. When a reporter lobbed an unexpected question their way — something light, something human — both players cracked. The moment didn’t belong to the game, or the stats, or the brand. It belonged to the people behind the jerseys.

“I notice that you carry a Labubu,” the reporter began the question, referring to the plush toy. Brooks began to smile as the question unfolded. Booker did as well. Through broken English, she continued, “Did you get a chance to a store? To storage those Labubu’s because it’s still very trending?”

“Yeah,” Brooks responded, as laughter spread throughout the press room. “I like the Labubu’s. I got like four of them. I like the trend. It’s cool and…um…it’s cute.”

Booker couldn’t contain himself. The mask slipped, the stoic veneer cracked, and laughter poured out of him. It was genuine, unfiltered, the kind that makes you forget there’s a room full of cameras. It was the rarest kind of moment for him. The silent assassin broke character, the killer smiled mid-hunt. Brooks laughed right along with him, like two conspirators caught in the act.

The reporter continued.

“Devin, I know you’re a very trending guy. You probably heard of Labubu, so how do you make comments on Dillon’s Labubu taste?”

Brooks responded, noting that, “I’m gonna get him one for his birthday.” Booker will be 29 on October 30.

The laughter continued as Booker responded to the question. “I think they’re cute.” He turned to his teammate and they jovially laughed.

The perfect teammate birthday gift

Dillon and Book got asked about labubu’s postgame pic.twitter.com/kto2TsEOgH

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 12, 2025

For a few seconds, there were no headlines, no expectations, no brand management. Just two hoopers sharing a laugh halfway across the world. And maybe that’s where it starts again. Not with a scheme or a stat, but with a spark. A reminder that even in a game obsessed with control, the best moments are the ones that slip through it.

The Suns might’ve lost the game. But for the first time in a while, it felt like they found something they’ve been missing. The kind of connection that doesn’t show up on a box score but can change everything that follows.

Will that press conference translate to wins? No. But it does offer something far rarer, a glimpse behind the curtain, and a reminder that basketball, at its core, is supposed to be fun. Yes, the NBA is a business. Contracts expire. Trades happen. Players become assets. But strip all that away, and what’s left is still human. The connection, the laughter, the shared sense of purpose that can’t be quantified but always shows up in how a team plays.

The Suns have been missing that. Desperately. You can trace the blame wherever you’d like, whether it be chemistry, leadership, or timing. But the past is written. What matters now is what’s being rewritten.

Seeing Booker and Brooks laugh over something as small and ridiculous as a toy might seem meaningless. Maybe it is. Maybe it’ll vanish as soon as the first losing streak rolls through. But for a fleeting moment, it felt like a pulse, like the beginning of something that’s been missing. A spark of joy. A sign that while this team may not have turned the corner talent-wise, they might be inching their way toward something even more valuable. Culture.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ughter-vibes-team-culture-nba-preseason-china

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The subtle ways Oso Ighodaro makes basketball easier for everyone else

Today, interior players play an increasingly important role in the animation of offensive systems. To last in the NBA, a big man can no longer be satisfied with finishing with a dunk, grabbing rebounds, or, for some, shooting three-pointers.

He must now be able to read the game, distribute passes, and create opportunities for his teammates. Oso Ighodaro seems to be in tune with this evolution. Let’s analyze this aspect during the last two games against the Nets.

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What Oso Ighodaro’s rookie numbers reveal about his offensive potential​

When discussing a player’s development, I like to conduct a statistical retrospective. In the case of Oso Ighodaro, we will only focus on his rookie season.

In terms of creation, even with his limited playing time, I found his rookie season interesting. He was primarily used as a finisher, but flashes of a modern interior playmaker profile were already visible. Statistically, nothing flashy in most metrics, but there are still a few that stand out.

Last season, he ranked in the top 10% in quick decision-making, particularly distinguishing himself with his ability to read the game and make decisions quickly, whether in PnR, DHO, or Short Roll. He’s a reactive and cerebral big man who, due to his quick decision-making, competes with some guards or more experienced bigs.

He’s not just a good passer for a big man; he’s a full-fledged creator. His passes are accurate, often well-timed (91st percentile in passing efficiency), and he enhances the cuts and off-ball movements of his teammates.

He fluidifies the offensive play, particularly from the head of the key, where he can initiate complex sets thanks to his fast and precise play (95th percentile in Quick Decision-Making Pass). His passes are mostly decisive as he generates scoring through passes better than 75% of NBA players (Quick Decision-Making Assist), a skill still to be developed but nonetheless interesting; he needs to create more and be decisive “off-system.”

Finally, to conclude this statistical section, Oso is a reliable and disciplined center who manages to limit turnovers. When the system is in place, he rarely sabotages a possession with a bad pass or poor decision-making. He is already an accomplished player at a young age in half-court play (94th percentile in Bad Pass Turnovers/75 and 88th in Dead Ball Turnovers/75).

Oso Ighodaro embodies the modern big: quick-minded, efficient in hand. His analytical profile highlights an intelligent, fluid, and disciplined player capable of connecting actions, maintaining pace, and maximizing possessions. But beware, there are still areas of improvement, particularly regarding risk-taking and his ability to sustain such a level in a larger role.

If he manages to increase his creation volume while maintaining this cleanliness, particularly this season when he can aspire to a real role in the rotation, he could become a high-level offensive hub in a moving system (as Jordan Ott desires). That is exactly the type of profile the Suns need to fluidify their half-court play.

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War of Macao​

Enough talk about numbers, it’s time to focus on the game now, and his offensive role in the Macao war against the Nets. We saw him in a role as an offensive initiator, almost like a ball handler:

Oso Ighodaro en tant qu'initiateur d'attaque

Il va être une bonne source d'alimentation pour les quick et flash cut. pic.twitter.com/3fDs9eFYOt

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 13, 2025

On the first possession of the video, we see him attack the defensive switch following a quick screen by Grayson Allen. The defense is disrupted, Claxton didn’t follow, and the guard finds himself alone at 90°.

Then — we still have this Oso-Allen connection — Ighodaro continues to work as an initiator and fakes the DHO, Grayson goes around him and receives a pocket pass from his big man that puts him in a good position to drive.

On the last possession, an off-ball action between the two guards, Brooks sets a 45° screen before popping to the top of the key. Oso reads it well and delivers a good pass to the forward.

In these three possessions where Ighodaro was put in an initiator role, only one ends in a basket, but all three are well executed, in terms of reading, positioning, and pass quality.

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I also liked the quality of his decision-making on Short Roll:

Oso Ighodaro sur short roll :

Une qualité de passe et une lecture du jeu qui doivent être utilisés sans modération. pic.twitter.com/iz5SNKLS1q

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 13, 2025

In both clips, it’s almost the same pattern: quick screen by Oso, who takes advantage of the fact that the ball handler draws the hedge to find himself alone in the middle of the defense, a brief moment of fixation with his gaze or the dribble, pass to the baseline cutter who ends up with an easy shot under the basket.

These are small things, but when put together, they could already, on one hand, greatly facilitate the team’s offensive movement, and, on the other hand, relieve our ball handlers (who are becoming rare in the team).

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Oso Ighodaro will probably not revolutionize the Suns’ offense by himself, but he perfectly embodies what the team needs to cultivate: movement, reading, and fluidity. In a roster that has often been stagnant around individual talent, he can become that discreet glue in the rotation that allows for collective play to flow.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...rn-big-offensive-creation-decision-making-nba

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Injury Update: Jalen Green reaggravates hamstring

The Suns cannot escape this thing clearly.

Unfortunately, the Phoenix Suns, who have dealt with injuries over the past three seasons, hindering their ability to perform at their best, seem to be facing the same issue this upcoming season as well.

For the Suns, they have been without two key players whom they acquired during this entire preseason. With them suiting up against the Los Angeles Lakers for their final preseason game, that remains the case, with Jalen Green and Mark Williams remaining out. However, a recent update reveals the severity of one player’s injury.

Jordan Ott said Jalen Green reaggravated his hamstring injury in China. They will have an update in 10 days, which would rule him out for opening night.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 15, 2025

In the latest update from Kellan Olson, we learn that Jordan Ott stated guard Jalen Green reaggravated his hamstring injury during the team’s trip to China. This injury had kept Green sidelined for the preseason, but it is starting to linger into the start, with him tweaking it recently. This is not good for the Suns for many reasons, but it also leads me to ask: Is there truly something in the water over in Phoenix?

There is no other explanation for why these injuries continue to occur season after season, even with new players. Now, Williams is a different story, as we all know, he had an injury history before coming in, but Green does not. In the last two seasons, the guard had played all 82 games and had been notoriously known for being healthy in his career.

Green hasn’t missed a game in two seasons. That streak will end on opening night.

Setbacks happen but ensuring it doesn’t become a year long problem is key. https://t.co/B4L7WRHEZq

— Espo  (@Espo) October 15, 2025

This also stinks as a fan because there is still uncertainty for many about how Green will fit into this lineup alongside Devin Booker. He is also the main piece from the Kevin Durant deal, one that has had a polarizing view of his game and fit within his new team. The fans want to see him step out on the court and see how he fits. For Green, this must also be awful, since he wants to prove he can be a key piece for Phoenix.

Final Thoughts​

Sadly, Green and the fans will have to wait until after opening night to see how this all works together.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ury-update-jalen-green-reaggravates-hamstring

 

[Phoenix Suns]

ESPN simulation predicts Suns to make Play-In

ESPN ran its annual full simulation for the 2025-26 NBA season. Yes, they simulated it. It’s not a prophecy, but it’s fun.

In this simulation from Kevin Pelton’s real plus-minus–based projections, the Suns finished ninth in the Western Conference at 42–40, good enough for a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but not much else. In the simulated play-in, Phoenix fell to the tenth-seeded Sacramento Kings, ending their postseason hopes before they even began.

The model, which utilizes statistical projections for every player’s impact and simulates the season thousands of times, is designed to measure team strength and probability, rather than relying on intuition. Still, it offers an interesting snapshot of how Phoenix stacks up analytically after a summer of turnover, new leadership under Jordan Ott, and a roster that looks drastically different from last year.

For reference, the Suns over/under line on FanDuel sits at 31.5 wins. This specific projection selected (out of thousands) places them 10.5 wins above that mark.

How the simulation works​

Pelton’s model uses advanced metric real plus-minus, which estimates how much a player contributes to team success per 100 possessions. It then projects minutes, rotations, and age-based improvement or decline to forecast team performance. The simulation is run thousands of times to generate win distributions, seeding probabilities, and potential playoff paths.

This year’s chosen run (simulation No. 620) was selected for its “interesting outcomes,” including the Golden State Warriors reclaiming the West with a league-best 63–19 record and the Orlando Magic finishing as the East’s top seed. Keep in mind, this is ONE handpicked projection of thousands.

Let me walk you through what that simulation suggests, and why it should make Suns fans both hopeful and skeptical. All in all, we can take this simulation with a grain of salt.

Phoenix’s Path​

In the West, the Suns’ 42–40 mark placed them just behind the Portland Trail Blazers (43–39) and ahead of the Sacramento Kings (38–44). It reflects a middle-of-the-pack where Phoenix’s young core shows promise, but with growing pains sprinkled in early on.

Here is their record through respective dates:

• Through Christmas: 10-16 (slow start)
• Through All-Star Break: 29-26 (massive run)
• Through April: 38-38 (flat to .500)
• Final Record: 42-40 (strong 4-2 finish propels them to 9 seed)

Based on the calendar year, Phoenix begins 10-16, but then fires off a 19-10 record from that point heading into Christmas to put them back in the playoff mix. That would be the ultimate sign of resilience after a slow start.

Then things flatten out with a .500 record in April, but a strong 4-2 finish propels them into the 9th seed and secures them a Play-In spot.

ESPN simulated the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Suns' record through date(s):

Christmas: 10-16
ASB: 29-26
April: 38-38
Final: 42-40 (9th seed)

Play-In Tournament: Sacramento defeats Phoenix. Suns eliminated. pic.twitter.com/JEux0ckPYF

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) October 14, 2025

The simulated standings put Phoenix in the play-in game against Sacramento, where they lost. That play-in loss would take place in Phoenix, by the way. Meanwhile, the Kings went on to upset Minnesota and advance to face the top-seeded Warriors.

The 63-win Warriors, mind you. (SMH)

The Orlando Magic ended up defeating those Warriors in 7 games to win their first-ever NBA title.

What does it say about this year’s Suns? ​

From a numbers perspective, a .512 winning percentage suggests the Suns are competent, which is all we can ask for. If I were on “Deal or No Deal” and the banker offered me 42 wins, I would take that and run to the bank.

This somewhat unexpected “success” or overachieving tracks with what we’ve seen early in the preseason: flashes of athleticism, energy, and defensive growth, but an offense still trying to find rhythm and identity.

If Pelton’s model is right, the Suns could spend most of the year fighting in the middle of the West, leaning on youth and cohesion rather than star power to stay afloat. It’s a far cry from the Durant–Booker–Beal failed “superteam” era, but it might also be the reset this organization needed. With low expectations comes more enjoyment.

Simulations are not predictions, and basketball seasons are not spreadsheets. But if the data has any truth to it, Phoenix has a potentially fun season ahead.

Keep in mind that was just one projection of many. Here is the “average outcome” from Pelton.

Still a few games above their over/under we discussed earlier, but not as fun as an above .500 season in the model Pelton selected.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-analysis/90570/espn-simulation-predicts-suns-to-make-play-in

 

[Phoenix Suns]

This Suns team has fight, but that might not be enough

What an exciting preseason we’ve seen from the Phoenix Suns so far. There’s no doubt the roster looks more energized. When you remove big names like Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant and replace them with players trying to earn their next payday, you should expect to see more hustle.

It’s just preseason, of course, but it’s refreshing to watch. And it probably gives Suns fans flashbacks to the post-Bubble, pre-Durant years when effort was a defining trait.

Still, I can’t shake a feeling. The 2025–26 Phoenix Suns remind me a lot of the New Orleans Saints.

And that’s not just because they happen to be my two favorite teams.

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Money Can’t Buy Wins (#1 Song by Mr. John Voita III)​

Both franchises have spent the last few years with talented, aging rosters and a willingness to mortgage the future to keep competing. Now, they seem to be facing the same reality.

The Suns had the most expensive roster in the league last year and gave away first-round picks like candy to assemble it. They traded a boatload of picks and young talent for Kevin Durant (now in Houston), then sent their “Point God” Chris Paul and more picks for the often-injured Bradley Beal (now in L.A.). Deandre Ayton was traded for Jusuf Nurkić (now in Utah) and Grayson Allen.

Since the Durant trade, the Suns have endured a second-round exit, a first-round sweep, and then failed to even make the playoffs in Durant’s third season. In response, the team traded Durant and waived and stretched Beal, who will now earn $20 million per year for five years not to be on the roster.

If that sounds bad, let’s talk about the Saints.

Since Drew Brees retired in 2021, New Orleans has tried to convince itself it could keep winning with the same core. Head Coach Sean Payton left and eventually joined the Broncos, so the Saints promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. They restructured contract after contract and shipped out young talent — Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Kaiden Ellis, Trey Hendrickson, Alex Anzalone, and more — just to stay afloat.

In the four seasons since Brees retired, the Saints have gone 30–38 with zero playoff appearances. This year, they’re 1–5. Even with the surprise retirement of QB Derek Carr, the Saints still project nearly double the dead cap money of any other team in 2026 ($87 million, compared to $44 million for the Eagles). All that restructuring and “kick-the-can” accounting caught up fast.

Dead cap money is when you’re still paying for players who aren’t even on your roster anymore. Sound familiar, Suns fans?

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Competitive Pieces and Rookie Head Coaches​

The Saints still have talented (and expensive) players: Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Demario Davis, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Taysom Hill. Some have set franchise records and made All-Pro teams. But despite fighting hard, they’re sitting at 1–5.

First-time head coach Kellen Moore has them competing every week — just not winning.

The Suns’ early reviews feel eerily similar. Devin Booker remains the franchise cornerstone in his 11th season, joined by defensive stalwart Dillon Brooks, young talents Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, and Khaman Maluach, and the often-injured-but-promising Mark Williams.

Vegas has the Suns’ over/under at 31.5 wins. Preseason articles mention “surprising hustle and effort.” First-year head coach Jordan Ott is already tweaking the team’s alignment, as GM Brian Gregory hinted he would.

It’s a team that wants to compete — but might not have the pieces yet to do it consistently.

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Face the Music at the Trade Deadline?​

Understandably, there are rumors swirling in New Orleans. Will the Saints move Alvin Kamara, who’s spent his entire historic career with the team? What about Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Pete Werner, or Carl Granderson?

They’ll have to decide by the November 4th deadline. Even if they scrape together a few wins, they’ll still have a losing record. At that point, do they finally accept they can’t compete — and trade valuable players now instead of wasting another year?

The Suns could be facing a similar decision come February 5th, 2026. The Western Conference is loaded. If Phoenix struggles early, will they pivot toward future assets?

Would another team take on the Jalen Green project? Could Nick Richards slot in as a reliable backup center elsewhere? Would someone pay for Grayson Allen’s 3pt shooting? How about a deal for Big Meal Royce O’Neale?

And the question no one even likes to think about: would the Suns ever consider trading Devin Booker if the return was a king’s ransom?

For the record, Alvin Kamara recently said he has no interest in leaving New Orleans for greener pastures. Devin Booker has said the same about Phoenix — repeatedly.

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Bring on the Disagreement!​

No worries. Bright Side of the Sun is a safe place for us die-hard fans. We can have debates and disagreements. I can already feel Mr. Positivity himself, @SoSaysJ (Justin from the Fanning the Flames podcast), sensing a disturbance in The Force. His lawyerly instincts will want to tell me that a few similarities don’t make an identical pattern. Maybe he’s right.

I want to be wrong about this. I hope Booker elevates Green and they form an elite, efficient backcourt. I hope Brooks and Dunn (cue the music!) lock down opposing scorers every night. I hope Williams stays healthy and Maluach develops faster than expected. Maybe we even uncover more diamonds from this draft class.

The ride begins in about a week.

But on the most recent episode of Fanning the Flames, Dan may have already captured what’s coming. I’m paraphrasing, but he said:

“Let’s talk about our terrible basketball team that we’re always trying to convince ourselves is good for some reason.”

Even Paul — usually the middle ground on Suns optimism vs. despair — replied, “I’m not convincing myself they’re good.” That left Justin alone to defend the dream of contention.

And that might just say it all.

This feels like the very beginning of a rebuild, one that could take years to clear the books, regain draft capital, and build a new young core.

I hope I’m wrong, I may be, but I doubt it.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ints-dead-cap-trades-booker-green-brooks-dunn

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns waive two players, trimming their roster before the season starts

The Phoenix Suns have announced they waived two players today, according to their X account. Guard Damion Baugh and forward Tyrese Samuel were released after short stints with the team.

OFFICIAL: The Suns have waived guard Damion Baugh and forward Tyrese Samuel.

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 15, 2025

Neither players were expected to make the regular season roster, which will likely constitute 15 players signed to NBA deals and three players on two-way contracts that can play up to 50 regular season games, which the Suns now have after waiving Baugh and Samuel. Despite being on the roster, neither played in any of the Suns’ four preseason games.

Baugh, 25, played 15 games with the Charlotte Hornets after stints with both the New York Knicks and Lakers’ G-League teams. Samuel, 25, spent last year with the Valley Suns after not getting drafted in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Suns’ regular season starts a week from today at home at 7 PM local time against one of their divisional rivals, the Sacramento Kings.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...regular-season-update-sacramento-kings-opener

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Why Phoenix feels like family for NBA/WNBA fans — on the court and on the page

Let’s get real. As someone (not so quietly) chasing the dream of becoming a traditionally published author, this story hit me right in the feels.

Because if there’s one thing I love as much as basketball, it’s storytelling. And when I discovered that the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation had worked with local author Claudia Sloan and Southwest Human Development to create a bilingual children’s book celebrating Valley culture through basketball earlier this year? Yeah, that’s the kind of harmonization I live for.

Because that’s Phoenix in a nutshell, isn’t it?
A place where fandom and family blur. Where cheering from the bleachers and reading before bedtime are just two versions of the same ritual: showing up for each other.

Dating back to 2024 (but no doubt, many months in the making), Mexican author and illustrator, Claudia Sloan, launched a community book as part of the City Edition Program. The book, We Are the Valley / ¡Somos El Valle!, isn’t just some novelty souvenir for toddlers in Devin Booker jerseys. It’s a cultural statement and a basketball-laced literacy mission. A reminder that in Phoenix, winning doesn’t just happen under arena lights—it unlocks on living room couches or within the sanctity of your child’s bedtime routine at 7:30 pm sharp, one bedtime story at a time.

And Suns fans have probably seen this for purchase at the arena. But this book is so much more than a fan purchase.

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“It’s not just one story — it’s two teams, two languages, and one Valley coming together.”

Claudia sloan – author/illustrator

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Paraphrasing slightly from Claudia Sloan’s author site, this hardcover edition features a beautiful glossy dust jacket and full-color printing across 40 pages plus endpapers. It’s fully bilingual—English and Spanish—designed in a unique flip-book style: start from one side to read the English version, flip it over to read the Spanish version, and both stories meet in the middle!

Each side includes fun surprises and subtle differences, making it a delight for bilingual readers, single-language readers, and language learners alike. It’s truly like having two books in one—packed with hidden details, crafted with love (and a whole lot of basketball spirit)… and proudly made in the U.S.A!

At the time of writing, this publication is not for sale outside of the U.S.A. However, families and Suns fans in Phoenix? This is for you.

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Literacy Is the Real Long-Term Championship Window​

When Jake Adams of Southwest Human Development (SWHD) described to me the power of reading—how a parent’s voice, rhythm, repetition, and storytelling create neurological foundations and emotional bonds—it sounds almost… familiar.

Sounds like basketball, doesn’t it?

• Repetition
• Rhythm
• Connection built over time

The child who learns to love language becomes the teenager who commands a locker room. The toddler who absorbs narrative becomes the adult who can lead, persuade, and listen. The real MVP isn’t always 6’6” with a silky midrange. Sometimes it’s three feet tall and asking, “Again?” after the last page.

That’s why this book matters. Because it proves Phoenix knows how to build winners. True winners.

“When families read this book together, they’re not just building language. They’re building lifelong relationships.”

Jake Adams – SWHD

That right there is Phoenix basketball energy. Less about performance and more about presence. The same values that shape chemistry on the court are being built in living rooms across the Valley.

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The Suns Mercury Foundation Is Helping Raise Readers, Not Just Supporters​

Let’s talk about legacy for a moment.

Stepping back from the sense of immediacy and the “what have you done for me lately” rhetoric that basketball fans may espouse regarding the Phoenix Suns and the Mercury’s recent efforts on the floor, it can be easy to miss that there is so much more success going on here that parents, caregivers and Phoenix basketball fans alike can feel proud about and protective of.

Once you get a cross-pollination of effort and resources, such as the Suns Mercury Foundation and SouthWest Human Development coming together to support families, young children, and caregivers alike, the potential for children across Arizona to have the start in life they deserve becomes the feasible goal it deserves to be.

And in its own small, powerful, and unique way, that’s where this book comes in.

From Storytime to Showtime​

As I write this, the final preseason buzzer is about to sound, with the Suns taking on the Lakers to kickstart the 2025–26 campaign. Soon, we’ll resume our nightly rituals of arguing rotations, tracking stat lines, and emotionally overreacting to everything Ryan Dunn does.

[Actually, there could be a children’s book in that for me… “Have You Done What Ryan Dunn Does?” I’ll have to reach out to Ryan’s team and see if he wants to get in on this creative writing thing. From what I hear, he loves photography.]

And maybe that’s the real legacy of Phoenix sports and the organizations that put their hand up to represent their communities—not just the memories we make in packed arenas, but the habits we pass down in quiet living rooms. Basketball gives us the language. Storytime makes it stick.

But before tip-off, let’s appreciate that while the scoreboard resets to 0–0, Phoenix is already undefeated where it counts most.

Championships are unforgettable. But traditions read aloud?
Those echo forever.

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A big thank-you to the Suns Mercury Foundation for their continued commitment to empowering young athletes and strengthening our basketball communities. Your work inspires stories like this one to take flight. And a big thank you to Jake Adams at South West Human Development for getting back in touch and providing insight into this project and the good work happening with SWHD.

And Claudia Sloan. This book wouldn’t exist without your creativity and spirit. We can’t wait to see what you do next! Thank you for bringing this story (and your many others) to life!

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...drens-book-valley-culture-literacy-basketball

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The regular season matters more than ever in a crowded Western Conference

I was duped as a Phoenix Suns fan two years ago, entering the first full Kevin Durant season, thinking that all that mattered was making the playoffs. I believed that once the Suns earned a top-eight seed out West, the rest would be history, that Durant and Devin Booker would make it look easy and bring home a championship. The regular season didn’t matter.

But that’s where I was wrong. Even back in the Deandre Ayton days, I always hated when fans and media members said the regular season didn’t matter for Ayton, that only the playoffs did. I pushed back, saying the season was what prepared him for the playoffs.

I don’t want to say I was right, but I think I’m onto something when I say the season does matter.

The Suns are in for a long season because the teams out West, even when resting, will have a backup plan. Even when injuries occur, their depth charts are loaded. Even when a team is tired from a back-to-back, every game will matter when it’s all said and done, and only one or two games separate the fourth and ninth seeds. It won’t come easy for any Western Conference team.

Ultimately, the upcoming 2025–26 season matters for the Suns and for every other team out West. Here’s why, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

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Starting with the juggernauts on top of the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams still have something to prove, and I can feel a real in-season rivalry brewing after last year’s seven-game showdown in the Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets look ready to take back control of the West, while the Thunder are coming for everything, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a young group that plays like they’ve already arrived.

What makes it exciting is that every game between those two actually means something now. You can feel the tension building, like both sides know this season could shape who runs the West for years to come. The Nuggets are fighting to keep their championship window open, and the Thunder are doing everything they can to slam it shut by keeping Nikola Jokic silent. But that will likely be impossible.

The Thunder are scary, but the Nuggets are looking more and more like the favorites to come out of the West. That is why the number one seed is very precious. Game seven last year for the Nuggets ended in Oklahoma City. I am sure they would love to have that one in Denver in front of their home crowd.

When it comes to injuries, the next tier below the Thunder and Nuggets includes the Los Angeles Lakers, who will start the season without LeBron James, expected to return in mid-November according to Shams Charania.

BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers are targeting a mid-November to early December return for LeBron James, as he will be taking a “patient approach” in his rehab from sciatica.

Get well soon, LeBron! pic.twitter.com/4w9eS1auZ9

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) October 16, 2025

The Houston Rockets will be without Fred VanVleet, the facilitator and leader of their offense, and the Dallas Mavericks will miss Kyrie Irving until the new year. Even with those major absences, all three teams are still projected to be top-five contenders in the West, which shows just how deep and competitive the conference really is.

If or when James and Kyrie return for their respective teams, both the Lakers and Mavericks will want to be near the top of the standings to have any real chance of making it out of the first round of the playoffs.

The San Antonio Spurs are now without De’Aaron Fox, but to me, that’s only a small bump in the road to remaining relevant in the West. The Spurs don’t need Fox. Honestly, I felt Fox wouldn’t last on the team anyway, given the emergence of rookie Dylan Harper, who I believe is just as valuable to his team this year as Cooper Flagg is to the Dallas Mavericks. These are rookies you can rely on to carry their teams on their shoulders and climb the ladder out West.

Even without their valuable starting point guards, both the Spurs and Mavericks will still dominate this league defensively and make any opponent want to give up before the third quarter even begins to wind down.

The only team that is on its own uncertain path is the Utah Jazz. A team that still has Lauri Markkanen and now future star Ace Bailey. A team that might be a fun watch, but still won’t know what direction they are heading until the trade deadline.

I want to say “let’s go back to the teams that matter”, but I am currently interested in what the Jazz can bring to the court and can be a sneaky hustle team that has a lot to prove in the early part of the season.

You can see in the chart below my predictions for how I expect the East and West to shape up this year. When it comes to the 6th through 14th seeds, teams like the Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and New Orleans Pelicans could realistically fall anywhere within that range. The Kings might end up being the odd team out, but aside from them, any of these teams have a legitimate shot at competing for the 6th seed.

Spoilers if you are following @SunsJAM, but this is my final prediction for the upcoming 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/eLEV2DrcDH

— MatthewLissy (@MatthewLissy) October 14, 2025

This season will be exhausting, but it will also be exhilarating—breathtaking, even—once we see how the standings look when it’s all said and done.

The Suns will compete this year, like the remaining teams in the Western Conference.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-nuggets-oklahoma-city-thunder-season-preview

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Jared Butler made his case, but timing keeps him off the Suns’ roster

The final roster cuts for the Phoenix Suns are coming soon, with the deadline set for Saturday to make any last moves. The team has already waived Tyrese Samuel and Damion Baugh, but decisions still remain on Jared Butler and David Duke Jr. Right now, there are 16 players for 15 spots.

The battle between Jordan Goodwin, whose non-guaranteed deal doesn’t lock in until January 7 after being waived by the Lakers, and Jared Butler has been one of the more interesting storylines of the preseason. It’s possible the team could waive David Duke Jr. and keep Butler to round out the roster.

But according to Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro, that’s not how he sees it playing out.

Some Suns fans have asked if both Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler could make the roster. I would say no. I believe only one gets the job – I would expect the Suns to keep some roster flexibility. No decision made yet, it's been a good battle – but I would give the nod to Goodwin

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) October 17, 2025

The reasoning is simple. If you sign Jared Butler, you have to add him to the roster, which means paying him roughly $2.6 million and tacking that onto the Suns’ cap total. While Phoenix isn’t close to hitting the first apron, they’re just $260,000 under the luxury tax. Adding Butler now would push them over that line, a move that doesn’t make much financial sense at this point in time unless you are in dire need.

By waiting, the Suns keep flexibility. They can evaluate their roster over the next few weeks, see where the cracks are, and address them when injuries or weaknesses inevitably show up. That’s the time to make an addition like Butler.

If he does get waived, though, expect another team to scoop him up quickly. He was one of the Suns’ standouts this preseason, averaging 15.5 points and five assists on 47/35/67 shooting splits.

At the end of the day, these final cuts aren’t about who deserves it most, but about timing, money, and margins. The Suns are playing a long game, one that values adaptability over impulse. Butler proved he belongs in this league, and whether it’s in Phoenix or somewhere else, he’ll land on his feet.

For now, the Suns’ front office will keep the ink dry and the options open, betting that the right move at the right moment will matter more than the quick one.

Update: Butler and Duke have been waived.

OFFICIAL: The Suns have waived guards Jared Butler and David Duke Jr.

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 18, 2025

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-butler-david-duke-jr-phoenix-basketball-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns’ biggest questions heading into the season

Going into last season, there was newfound optimism with the Phoenix Suns after a first rough season in the Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker era. People were happy that Tyus Jones was going to relieve Booker and Beal of point guard responsibilities and that the team would have some newfound continuity. That being said, there were questions that lingered for the team. How would they fare inside playing mostly Jusuf Nurkić and Mason Plumlee at center? Did the team have enough wing depth around Kevin Durant? Would Mike Budenholzer fix the team’s three point shooting and fourth quarter issues they had the previous season?

Unfortunately for Suns fans, the answers to those questions were not the ones that the team needed to improve on a disappointing 2023-2024 campaign, and the Valley missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.

Here are the Suns’ Biggest Questions heading into the 2025-2026 campaign:

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How much can Devin Booker truly carry?​

With Durant out of town, there are zero doubt on whose team the Valley’s are: Booker’s. Slated to play point guard and his starting shooting guard Jalen Green out for at least the season opener, Booker will have a lot on his plate to start the year and for the entirety of it.

With Phoenix lacking playmakers across the roster, it will be on Booker to set up his teammates for offensive success on many possessions. Turning 29 later this month, he should be in the middle of his prime, and his ability to be an offensive engine could be the difference between the Suns being in playoff contention, or at the bottom of the standings.

Players have been in similar situations to what Booker is in now. When he played for the Houston Rockets, James Harden had many comparable rosters to what Booker has around him this year and led Houston to multiple playoff births. Stephen Curry led the Warriors to a 39-33 record in the 2020-2021 season without Klay Thompson by his side, almost making the playoffs in the process. Whether Booker can get to the level of those players when he needs to most remains to be seen.

How will the young players play?​

As was mentioned on media day by Owner Mat Ishbia, this season for the Suns will be judged on more than just their record. One way that the season could be measured is by the development of the young talent the team has.

Jalen Green, Mark Williams and Ryan Dunn, all 23 or younger, are expected to start this season and have opportunities to contribute in ways they previously didn’t have the opportunity to. Rookies Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea all have different skillsets and play different positions; they will be given multiple opportunities throughout the year in both high and low stakes positions to prove themselves.

In what appears to be a retooling year for the Suns, the development of their young players will not only give them answers for their future roster construction plans, but also how they should feel about the offseason moves they made to acquire young talent.

Is Jordan Ott the head coach of the future?​

Entering his first season as an NBA Head Coach, the jury is out on how the former Cleveland Cavaliers Assistant will fare in his new gig. He was part of the coaching staff that helped Evan Mobley become an All-NBA and the Defensive Player of the Year talent, was an assistant with the Lakers when they made their surprising run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals and spent time with the Brooklyn Nets before and During the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving era.

Now leading a team for the first time, Ott’s ability to develop players, build relationships and keep the team afloat during difficult stretches will play a major role in whether he’s another one-year coach like Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel were in Phoenix, or a longterm solution at the position.

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What answers do you think the Suns will get to these questions?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...core-development-roster-questions-durant-beal

 

[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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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