RSS Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game Flow​

First Half​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After one, it was Clippers 34, Suns 33.

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

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

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

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

HARDEN BACK TO BACK

HEAT CHECK

pic.twitter.com/LzP8VVFexP

— Sai (@LeGoatedOne) October 25, 2025

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

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

At the half, the Suns trailed 72-56.

Second Half​

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

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

Players with more shot attempts than Devin Booker:

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

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) October 25, 2025

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

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

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

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

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 25, 2025

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

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

Here comes Rasheer! pic.twitter.com/KnCE33K77e

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

Up Next​

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

4 takeaways from the loss against the Clippers

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

Offensive Rebounding​

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

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

---

Shooting efficiency​

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

---

Wasted possessions?​

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

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

---

Booker only took 10 shots?​

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

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

---

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The fan base wants fireworks, the Suns need foundation

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

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

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

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

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

— Bookskiii (@Ballinon1) October 23, 2025

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

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

Suns need to trade jalen green for a point guard

— . (@Jballing3r) October 26, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Dillon Brooks shooting too much?​

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

Will the defense get better?​

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

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

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

---

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns look to steady the ship against Utah

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

When: 6:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

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

Listen: KMVP 98.7, KSUN

---

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

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

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

Probable Starters​

Injury Report​

Suns​

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

Jazz​

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

What to Watch For​

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

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

Lauri Markkanen is the other name to watch.

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

Key to a Suns Win​

The first half will tell the story in this one.

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

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

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

Prediction​

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

Suns 125, Jazz 120

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

Game Flow​

First Half​

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

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

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

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

ROYC3 pic.twitter.com/hG00I8iu05

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 28, 2025

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

Second Half​

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

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

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

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) October 28, 2025

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

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

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

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

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 28, 2025

Overtime​

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

---

Up Next​

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#NotAligned

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Collin Gillespie has earned his shot in the starting lineup

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 28, 2025

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game Flow​

First Half​

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

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

MARK BLOCK. BOOK BUCKET.

pic.twitter.com/avlTdKqNyo

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Dunn Corna Three pic.twitter.com/Os3ntgR4E6

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

Suns, 53. Grizzlies, 49.

Second Half​

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

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

ALLEY OOOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/FvmbVHhdrQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grizzlies 114, Suns 113.

---

Up Next​

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Breaking down Mark Williams’ performance against the Grizzlies

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

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

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

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

His stints:

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

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

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

1st Quarter​

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

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

Mark going to work down low

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

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

2nd Quarter​

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

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

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

3rd Quarter​

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

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

ALLEY OOOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/FvmbVHhdrQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

Mark Williams is a monster.

Super efficient tonight. In his first 16 minutes:

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

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) October 30, 2025

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

4th Quarter​

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

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

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

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

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

MARK WILLIAMS STEAL ON ONE END.

MARK WILLIAMS SLAM ON THE OTHER END.

SUNS LEAD.

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 29, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

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

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) October 30, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Devin Booker slices up Utah for a season-high, Suns beat Jazz 118-96

On Halloween night, the Mortgage Matchup Center glowed in shades of orange and black. The court, painted in blazing orange for the NBA Cup debut, gleamed beneath the lights like molten metal. The Suns, draped in their stark black Statement Edition uniforms, clashed with the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the season. The result? A 118-96 victory for Phoenix.

How’d they pull that off? By leaning into their new identity. They pressed. They clawed. Devin Booker led the charge, cool as ever, slicing up Utah like a pumpkin under a porch light, scoring a season-high 36 points. Oh, and his body language looked good.

The Suns forced 21 turnovers and only coughed it up 12 times, cashing those mistakes in for a 29-13 edge in points off turnovers. Ryan Dunn was a machine again with 13 points and 11 rebounds, flying around like the court belonged to him. And even though Lauri Markkanen dropped 33, it didn’t matter. This one belonged to Phoenix from the opening tip. They trailed for all of 34 seconds, then grabbed a 20-point lead and never let it go.

For one night in Phoenix, the haunted house was theirs. The Suns took home their second win of the season, and yeah, it was a little spooky how good they looked doing it.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Suns found themselves in rare territory, jumping out to an 8-2 lead fueled by active hands and quick reactions. Three early Jazz turnovers turned into four of those points. Ryan Dunn let it fly from deep three times and came up empty each one. Man, if that shot could fall for him.

One interesting wrinkle from Jordan Ott came early, with a lineup of Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro. Before long, Goodwin forced a turnover, Gillespie buried a pair of threes, and the Suns found themselves riding a smooth 13-0 run.

It was a scorching quarter for Phoenix and a brutal one for Utah. The Suns closed on a 23-2 run, hitting 53.6% from the field despite going 5-for-16 from deep. They turned 9 Utah turnovers into 16 points, and behind Devin Booker’s 12 in the frame, stormed into the second quarter with a 20-point lead, 37-17. Phoenix had just 1 turnover in the quarter.

Book in the first:

12 PTS
4 REB
3 AST pic.twitter.com/DPmmUZKiTS

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 1, 2025

The defensive intensity carried into the second quarter, where the team was flying around and getting production from everyone. Defesnive continued to lead to offense for Phoenix.

DENIED BY GRAYSON. pic.twitter.com/40xdXhdQZ4

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 1, 2025

For the most part, the team stayed disciplined, although Oso Ighodaro found himself in foul trouble again, picking up his fifth with a little over five minutes left in the second.

Phoenix stretched the lead to 24, but a 9-2 run from Utah, mostly fueled by free throws, cut into it.

After dropping 37 in the first, the Suns managed only 17 in the second, shooting 22.7% in the quarter. Luckily, Utah couldn’t hit much either, finishing at 22.2%.

Lauri Markkanen, who lit up the Suns for 51 earlier in the week, was quiet this time around. He had 11 in the half, with 6 coming at the line. Booker led all scorers with 17, while Grayson Allen pulled down six boards to pace Phoenix.

At the break, the Suns were still in control, up 54-40.

Second Half​

The start of the second half felt clunky. Utah leaned into physicality, testing the Suns’ patience and flow. Every whistle chipped away at the rhythm, turning the first five minutes into a foul-soaked grind.

But once the stoppages slowed, Phoenix found its groove again.

The ball started moving, the pace returned, and the lead swelled back to 20. Devin Booker took control, hitting threes, spinning into fadeaways, and torching defenders who had no answers. It was vintage Booker, smooth and relentless. He poured in 12 in the quarter, pushing his total to 29 on the night.

Baseline Book!

Turned 29 yesterday. Up to 29 PTS today. pic.twitter.com/0Kvrf39niT

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 1, 2025

Lauri Markkanen found his rhythm in the third, outpacing his first-half production with 13 points in the period. Utah started to connect more, putting up 27 in the quarter, but Phoenix matched their energy and kept control. The Suns scored 29, maintaining their edge heading into the fourth.

Phoenix 83, Utah 67.

The fourth opened with Oso Ighodaro picking up his sixth foul, sending Lauri Markkanen to the line once again. Markkanen caught fire early, pouring in 9 quick points as Utah opened the quarter on a 12-8 run. Keyonte George and Markkanen had the scouting report down: go right at the Suns rookies. Oso and Dunn kept reaching into the cookie jar, and Utah kept cashing in at the line. With eight minutes left, the lead was trimmed to 10.

Ryan Dunn was everywhere, especially on the glass. After playing only 17 minutes in the first matchup earlier this week, his athleticism made all the difference this time. The team focused on keeping Mark Williams off the boards, and Dunn cleaned up everything that came loose. He finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, earning every bit of it.

The Suns kept their foot on the gas. Their defensive pressure never let up, and with timely threes dropping, every Utah run got shut down before it could breathe.

As for Devin Booker, the talk around his body language can take a night off. He looked locked in, calm, sharp, and fully in control. He poured in a season-high 36 points and made it look effortless. Suns win, 118-96.

Up to a season-high 36 PTS for Book! pic.twitter.com/4kbF832VOG

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 1, 2025

---

Up Next​

Wemby comes to town on Sunday night. The Alien. Be warned…

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...son-high-ryan-dunn-defense-turnovers-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

A look at the Suns schedule for the month of November

The Phoenix Suns’ start to the season in the month of October mostly went as expected. They literally won every game they were favored to win and lost all they were under dogs in. 2-4 to start the season, the Valley enters its first full month of the 2025-26 campaign not whole with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks still out with hamstring and core injuries respectively.

Here’s a peek at the Suns’ schedule this month.

---

Staying mostly in division​

• Sunday, November 2nd vs San Antonio Spurs
• Tuesday, November 4th @ Golden State Warriors
• Thursday, November 6th vs Los Angeles Clippers
• Saturday, November 8th @ Los Angeles Clippers

Outside of the Spurs, the Suns will play three-straight games against their Pacific Division foes. As of publishing, the Spurs remain one of only two teams in the Western Conference still undefeated. The Warriors and Clippers, while not undefeated, are looked at as some of the top teams in the conference and both are above .500 and in the top-eight of playoff seeding to start the season.

The Suns will get two shots at revenge against the Clippers after they dominated them in their second game of the season.

Games against struggling teams​

• Monday, November 10th vs New Orleans Pelicans
• Wednesday, November 12th @ Dallas Mavericks
• Thursday, November 13th vs Indiana Pacers
• Sunday, November 16th vs Atlanta Hawks
• Tuesday, November 18th @ Portland Trailblazers

The Pelicans remain one of the few winless teams left in the league. Many people are continuing to question their decision to give up full control over their first-round pick in this year’s upcoming draft. Speaking of the draft, the Suns will get their first look at the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, when they face the Maverickss. Cooper Flagg is off to a strong to his career, putting up historic numbers for an 18-year-old.

Just like the Mavericks and Pelicans, the Pacers and Hawks and have struggled out the gate due to various injuries and team growing pains. The Suns will get one of their best chances to work their way up the standings with this stretch early in the season. The Trail Blazers have had the strongest start to the year for all these teams, but their head coach Chauncey Billups remains away from the team after a federal investigation opened up with his name involved.

NBA Cup games and KD’s return​

• Friday, November 21st vs Minnesota Timberwolves*
• Sunday, November 23rd vs San Antonio Spurs
• Monday, November 24th vs Houston Rockets
• Wednesday, November 26th @ Sacramento Kings*
• Friday, November 28th @ Oklahoma City Thunder*
• Saturday, November 29th vs Denver Nuggets

(*=NBA Cup Games)

After their first NBA Cup game of the month and another look at the Spurs, the Suns mini home stand will conclude with the much-awaited return of Kevin Durant to Phoenix. Durant played three years in the Valley, and led the team in scoring in two of his three seasons, helped them win a playoff series in 2023 and reach the playoffs in 2023 and 2024. After his return, the Valley will finish up their NBA Cup play with games against the Kings and the defending champion Thunder before ending the month, hosting the Denver Nuggets.

---

How do you think the Suns will do with their mostly Western Conference schedule in November?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ce-matchups-kevin-durant-return-nba-cup-games

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker’s body language isn’t the problem everyone thinks it is

The Suns sit at 2-4 to start the season, and what’s defined this stretch more than anything is effort. It hasn’t always shown up in the standings, but you can feel the care, the grind, the want. When you’re sitting at 2-4, you start searching for reasons and ideas to make it better. Hell, even teams that haven’t lost yet are still figuring things out this early in the season.

One of the early narratives this season has been Devin Booker’s body language, with AZ Sports’ Dan Bickley calling it out in his latest “Bickley Blast” after the Suns dropped that one-point heartbreaker to the Grizzlies last week.

“It’s cruelly ironic that the one I’m most worried about is the one I never considered,” Bickley blasted. “Devin Booker, who might have had the most deceiving 32-point I’ve ever seen last night, and his body language isn’t ideal either…A player who cannot find a rhythm or a comfort zone. A player who went straight off the court last night without shaking hands then declined media availability afterwards. Now neither of those things are a big deal to me, but they are windows into our most important player, and it seems Valley sports fans are at peak frustration.”

The Suns looked competitive on Wednesday against the Grizzlies, but what do we make of Devin Booker's performance and body language?

Today's Bickley Blast: https://t.co/KnQjNYaLer pic.twitter.com/jMcYO2eB85

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) October 30, 2025

Peak frustration? Come on. This isn’t that. This is a team with little to no expectations, so how can we be anywhere near peak frustration?

I’ll tell you about “peak frustration”. It was watching the miserable Suns the last two years, when the dream was a championship, and the result was a postseason sweep one season and missing the playoffs entirely the next. That was peak frustration. Night after night of half-assed effort, turnstile defenses, and “chillin’” comments. Collapses breed frustration.

What we’re seeing now is something different. This is a season of adjustment, a time to exercise perspective, because this team is in the middle of a retool, not a collapse.

Yes, Devin Booker hasn’t looked comfortable to start the season. But that hasn’t stopped his production.

His discomfort makes sense when you think about it. He’s out there trying to find his rhythm alongside a revolving door of new teammates. Ryan Dunn is the only consistent returning starter from a season ago, and he started just 44 games last year. The new starting five hasn’t been healthy once, and through six games, Booker’s already played with 56 different lineup combinations. Fifty-six.

So yeah, there’s going to be some unease as he learns who fits where, how they move, and how their presence shifts the geometry of his shot. Yet still, Booker is producing.

Through 6 games this season, Devin Booker has been a part of 56 different lineup combinations.

So yeah, maybe he doesn't look as comfortable as you like. Yet he's still producing. pic.twitter.com/5ClSanANvE

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 1, 2025

Despite all that, what we’re seeing from Devin Booker, even if it doesn’t feel like peak Booker, is statistically the best version of him to ever open a season. That’s not opinion, that’s math. I went back through the first six games of every Suns season from the past eleven years, broke down the numbers, and compared them side by side. Here’s what I found.

Across eleven seasons, Devin Booker has opened the year playing in the Suns’ first six games a total of six times. His first full six-game start came in 2017-18, when he averaged 20.5 points per game. Since then, he’s done it five more times: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2022-23, and the past two seasons. Overall, Booker averages 23.9 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in his first six, doing so on 48/39/82 splits.

When you step back and look at the full context of this season, Devin Booker is averaging 30.3 points per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 43.2% from deep. Add 6.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds, and you’ve got a stat line that screams efficiency, control, and growth.

Now, you might wonder where that stacks up with his other season starts.

Technically, it’s not his highest scoring average — he opened 2023–24 putting up 31.5 a night — but that came in only two of the first six games. So, if we’re talking full participation, this is the best scoring start Booker’s ever had in a season where he’s played all six. It’s also his second-best shooting start from the field behind 2022–23, when he hit 52.9%. Those 6.5 assists? The highest he’s ever averaged to open a year.

Devin Booker’s start to the 2025-26 season stacked up against his first 6 games from every other year of his career (in which he played all 6 games, which is now 6 times total):

30.3 PPG: 1st
43.2 3PT%: 1st
6.5 APG: 1st
49.2 FG%: 2nd
4.3 RPG: 2nd pic.twitter.com/7x1llebkIp

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 1, 2025

Maybe he didn’t shake hands after a game where he missed two shots, one of them the would-be game-winner. That’s not negativity, that’s frustration. The good kind. That’s a player who cares, who’s pissed because he expects better.

You can say his body language looks off, and maybe it does, but that’s not a red flag. It’s a reflection of someone trying to find rhythm in a rotating cast of teammates and lineups. I lean into he doesn’t look as comfortable as we’re accustomed to seeing versus his body language is off. But that’s just me.

The irony? This is statistically the best all-around start Booker’s ever had, yet people are worried about his vibe. His 67.5 eFG% is the second-highest of his career to start a season. He’s the first player in franchise history to score 30+ points in 5 of the team’s first six games. Do we need him to smile the entire time, too?

The only number that actually looks uncomfortable is his plus-minus: -16 through six games. The only time it was worse was 2017–18, when it sat at -42. So yeah, maybe he looks uneasy, maybe he’s searching for flow, but that’s part of the process. This isn’t a symptom of something wrong; it’s the look of a player carrying a team that’s still trying to figure out who it is.

Oh, and as for body language? How’s this for ya?

Devin Booker's postgame interview was interrupted by a special guest… Dillon Brooks

Book pours in 36 as Phoenix moves to 1-0 in @emirates NBA Cup West Group A action! pic.twitter.com/EDSkIpudpJ

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2025

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...formance-start-2025-nba-season-stats-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Ott Ball: An offensive philosophy already taking shape?

Six games in, and one question already arises: what does the Suns’ offense under Jordan Ott actually look like? Between a desire for movement, spacing, and ball-sharing, the philosophy announced in preseason still seems to be finding its balance. The intentions are there, but their translation on the floor remains inconsistent — sometimes brilliant, often uneven.

---

Tempo as the main weapon?​

Jordan Ott was clear from his introductory press conference: “We’re going to play faster. […] Playing earlier in the clock.” The heart of his offense is tempo.

Phoenix doesn’t aim to wear down opposing defenses in the half-court, but to outrun them. The staff is betting on a simple mathematical principle: the earlier a possession is played, the more efficient it is — taking advantage of defensive disorganization before it sets.

This approach demands conditioning, quick reads, and a clear hierarchy of responsibilities. The goal isn’t recklessness, but clarity at high speed — to provoke imbalance and turn defensive stops or rebounds into easy buckets.

The words are there, but do they show up in the numbers? Of course, the Suns sit near the bottom of the standings for now, but is there alignment between the theory and the stats — or a clear dissonance between the two?

The Suns under Jordan Ott want to accelerate the pace — and the numbers confirm it. Fourth in total shot attempts (85 per game) and in three-point attempts (39.2), they play at one of the fastest rhythms in the league, ranking 10th in pace. The idea is clear: create danger in the first seconds of the possession (via NBA.com).

Around 35% of their shots come between 22 and 16 seconds left on the clock — top 8 in the NBA. This offense aims to be instinctive, fluid, almost instantaneous: 53% of shots come without a single dribble — a league-high — and nearly two-thirds are taken within two seconds of catching the ball, the second-highest mark in the league. Phoenix isn’t looking to “manufacture” the perfect shot, but to strike before the defense has time to breathe (via NBA.com).

---

A living, fluid, collective offense​

Phoenix’s offensive system relies on two main finishing actions: spot-ups — which account for 31% of their possessions (at 1.11 points per possession) — and cuts (7th-most frequent in the NBA), plus two secondary ones: pick-and-rolls and off-screen actions (around 25% frequency).

In total, nearly 60% of Phoenix’s offense runs through these four actions — numbers that perfectly align with Jordan Ott’s desire to simplify the game and keep it in motion.

To illustrate this philosophy, here are four sequences from the start of the season that best represent the offensive identity Phoenix is building.

We start with a Second-side Action for Royce O’Neal — simple, efficient: all five players are involved to free our forward in the corner.

Second-side Action pour Royce O'Neal pic.twitter.com/udRYLJfgUk

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) October 30, 2025

---

Then, a beautiful passing sequence to move and stretch the defense, ending with a cut from Oso Ighodaro:

C'est mieux quand ça joue vite… pic.twitter.com/IaI4vDJa60

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) November 2, 2025

---

Next, a screen-the-screener action — once again for Royce O’Neal — built from a cross-screen and off-ball movement involving Ryan Dunn and Dillon Brooks:

Screen-the-screener Action pic.twitter.com/Cz7mQGQdKW

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) November 2, 2025

---

Finally, a clip showcasing Nigel Hayes-Davis in an offensive hub role — positioning himself at the heart of the defense to create a 3v2 situation:

5v5 to 3v2 pic.twitter.com/U1FXN0swCj

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) November 2, 2025

---

Between bright ideas and wasted opportunities​

The Suns’ offense is ambitious, fast, and fluid — but far from perfect. The stats speak for themselves. Phoenix ranks fifth in offensive rebounds per game, yet their second-chance efficiency is poor: just 0.94 points per possession on putbacks, placing them 25th in the NBA. In other words, the team creates plenty of extra possessions — but wastes too many of them.

Transition offense, another supposed strength of this fast-paced system, has also underperformed. At just 46.8% efficiency, it falls well short of the potential expected from a team built to attack early and punish defensive imbalance.

Then comes the paradox of ball movement. The Suns average 23.7 assists per game (8th), but 54.8 potential assists (2nd), meaning many good looks go unrewarded due to poor shooting efficiency. The movement is there, but the finishing isn’t — the ball travels beautifully, the scoreboard less so (via NBA.com).

These numbers reveal the gap between offensive intention and on-court execution. The aggression and rhythm are real, the philosophy is clear, but for the offense to become truly dangerous and sustainable, Phoenix will need to reduce turnovers, capitalize on second chances, and finish plays more efficiently.

---

The Suns’ offense is moving fast. Sometimes faster than its own execution can handle. Jordan Ott has installed a clear philosophy: rhythm, movement, simplicity. The structure is there, the principles are visible, but consistency is still missing. The “Ott’s Ball” era is in its early foundations: a modern, ambitious idea that must now learn to turn controlled chaos into sustained efficiency.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-an-offensive-philosophy-already-taking-shape

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns dominate Spurs in Sunday night showdown

In one of the more surprising outcomes this NBA season, the Phoenix Suns thoroughly dominated the San Antonio Spurs Sunday night. The final score was 130-118, but that was not indicative of how well the Suns played. It was the most enjoyable game of basketball the Suns have played in years. While it was not the biggest scoring night of Devin Booker’s career, it was one of the best games he has ever played in his 11 seasons.

Offensively, he controlled the game for Phoenix and made a good defender in Stephon Castle look lost all night long. He scored 28 points on 10-of-15 from the field and had 13 assists. The shotmaking, playmaking, and pace that he played with were perfect the entire game. When the Spurs doubled, he got the ball out of his hands quickly, leading to assists and hockey assists to his teammates.

He was the engine of the Suns’ best offensive performance this season. The Suns assisted on 34 of 46 made field goals, and shot 19-of-32 from the 3-point line. Everyone on the team was involved, as seven players finished in double digits.

But as good as Booker and the Suns were offensively, Ryan Dunn and the Suns were just as impressive defensively. His energy and relentlessness guarding Wembanyama along with Royce O’Neal, were incredible all game long.

Watch Ryan Dunn here

Spurs go slice for Wembanyama, Dunn adjusts positioning to take first hit on the switch & front

Dunn continues to fight with multiple efforts to the catch point, eventually stamping the stop pic.twitter.com/qAIvalU4jo

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner (@StephenPG3) November 3, 2025

He and Grayson Allen were the second-highest scorers for Phoenix with 17 points each.

The Suns lost the rebounding battle, the turnover battle, were outscored 64 to 38 in points in the paint, and shot 19 fewer shots than the Spurs they still controlled the entire game. The offensive execution and ball movement were so exquisite that the Suns did not miss enough to get any offensive rebounds (although Dunn got his handed on plenty of misses).

Regardless of whether it was an off night for the Spurs or a fluke shooting night for the Suns, it was nice to see what this team is supposed to look like at its best, even without Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and get back within a game of .500 at 3-4.

This ball movement pic.twitter.com/KPKMNOPnOt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 3, 2025

Game Flow​

First Half ​

The Suns were blazing hot to start the game, knocking down 6 of their first 8 from 3 to open up a 25-14 lead. Devin Booker attacked the paint and kicked the ball out to shooters who did what they are supposed to do, snipe. The hot start continued all half as the Suns were 11-of-15 from 3, and 24-of-38 from the field. Five Phoenix players hit multiple 3s: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Ryan Dunn, Jordan Goodwin, and Devin Booker.

Scoring against San Antonio in the paint is tough, and the Suns’ game plan to hunt 3s opened up its entire offense. The Spurs were ultra-aggressive in the second quarter, closing out to shooters, opening up driving lanes for Dunn, who flashed his improved handle by getting to the basket with ease. Nick Richards was also the beneficiary of the Spurs’ lack of defense; he scored 10 points as the recipient of drives from his teammates, including drawing a foul on Wembanyama trying to block his shot.

Defensively, the Suns swarmed Wembanyama, and Mark Williams blocked his shot early to set the tone for the first half. Nothing was going to be easy for the Spurs alien. The Suns limited Wembanyama to zero first-quarter points and just two points the entire half. Anytime he put the ball on the ground, the Suns were quick to the ball, forcing him to pick up the ball and let his teammates attack a scrambling Suns defense, which held up for the most part. If not for Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson scoring 23 combined points off the bench, this game would have been over at halftime.

Unfortunately for the Spurs, Harper left the game early with a lower leg injury and did not return. He joins a laundry list of other Spurs on the injury list, including De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan, but despite all of the Spurs’ injuries, they still were undefeated before playing the Suns. Which is why this performance from the Suns was so exciting, it was their best-played first half in years, which they led 70-52 at halftime.

Second Half​

The Suns did not take their foot off the gas in the third quarter. After an O’Neal 3, the Suns jumped out to a 77-53 lead out of halftime. Booker knifed through the Spurs’ defense and scored 10 points in classic Booker fashion, from the midrange.

Book is cookin'

Added 10 points to his total in this third quarter. pic.twitter.com/sPhQeKcapD

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 3, 2025

No matter what the Suns did everything seemed to work out in their favor. They led by as much as 31, up 97-66 after a Gillespie 3-pointer. With the Spurs down 102-78 to begin the fourth quarter the Suns had the chance to end the game but San Antonio came out with more energy and fight. San Antonio got into the penalty and had Phoenix scrambling. A San Antonio 12-0 run cut Phoenix’s lead to 14 at 111-97. Out of a timeout, Jordan Ott and his team responded as Devin Booker drew three fouls in one possession on Castle and knocked down both free throws.

After another Wembanyama miss, Booker secured the rebound, pushed the ball in transition, and found Dunn for a wide-open 3 in the corner, bang. On the next possession Booker came off a screen, got to the left elbow, elevated, and knocked down a midrange pullup push the Suns back up 21, 118-97 with 4:15 left in the fourth quarter.

It was then that Suns fans could exhale as Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson emptied his bench as Phoenix cruised to victory.

---

Up Next​

The Phoenix Suns play at Golden State on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. MST.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...zzling-three-point-shooting-san-antonio-upset

 

[Phoenix Suns]

What Ja Morant’s latest suspension could mean for teams like the Suns

Every time it feels like things are clicking again, every time it feels like the Suns have found their rhythm, someone somewhere finds a way to stir the pot. And this time, the noise is coming from Memphis, where something interesting might be brewing.

If you haven’t been keeping tabs, the situation between the Grizzlies and two-time All-Star Ja Morant has taken a strange turn. After beating the Suns last Wednesday, Memphis lost to the Lakers on Friday, 117–112. Morant’s stat line that night? 3-of-14 from the field, 0-of-6 from deep. And in the fourth quarter, where the Grizzlies entered up 91–89, he went 0-of-2 in 8:25 played.

After the loss, Morant didn’t hold back. When asked if he thought he should have played more in the fourth, he fired back, “Go ask the coaching staff if I should play more or not.” When pressed on what could have gone differently, he added, “According to them, probably don’t play me. Honestly. Basically, that is what the message was.”

Ja Morant when asked questions from the media:

“Go ask the coaching staff.” pic.twitter.com/16x7ScdlWZ

— No Context NBA (@NoContext_NBA_) November 1, 2025

Needless to say, Morant appeared frustrated.

The Grizzlies’ response? A one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

In Phoenix, we’ve seen bad body language before. We know what it looks like when a player’s frustration starts bleeding into everything else. Morant’s demeanor during those late-game timeouts said plenty, even before he opened his mouth. Add in his postgame comments, and you can feel the tension rising in Memphis. There’s a growing sense that this could be the early stage of a breakup between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies.

Here’s a breakdown of everything that happened from last night pic.twitter.com/iY7jjSCq1W

— MD (@mike_daddino) November 1, 2025

Cool. That’s not a Phoenix Suns problem. That’s a Grizzlies problem. Still, it does make you wonder what a trade for Morant might look like.

According to Bleacher Report, five teams could make a run at him. The second team on that list? The Phoenix Suns.

Eric Pincus floated the idea of the Suns sending out Jalen Green, their 2027 first-round pick, and the $5.9 million trade exception in exchange for Ja Morant. He added the following:

This one hinges on what the Grizzlies think of Green, an increasingly polarizing player.

The 23-year-old is an athletic, high-level NBA scorer who struggled in his first postseason appearance last year with the Houston Rockets, outside of one monster performance in Game 2 vs. the Golden State Warriors.

Green is also less expensive than Morant with $105.8 million left on his deal, though he can opt out before the 2027-28 season.

The Suns could fill the greater positional need with Morant, giving up the only first they can send (the lowest selection between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz).

Phoenix could profit from the Grizzlies’ drama, on the premise that the Morant situation needs to be resolved before it poisons the rest of the season.

Ah, so we’ve found ourselves here again. Seven games into the season, and the Suns are already being linked to another disgruntled star looking for a new home. But it does spark an interesting conversation for a team that still hasn’t seen the full picture of what Jalen Green can be, and one that could use some stability at point guard given the overlap in skill sets on the roster.

We just saw Ja Morant last week, in a game where he dropped 28 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. More importantly, he hit the game-winner that put Memphis ahead 114-113. My takeaway from that night? Morant doesn’t look nearly as explosive. Years of injuries have dulled what once made him electric.

The question now is whether patience can continue to hold, both in the front office and among the fan base. Because yes, Morant is talented. Yes, he fills a positional need. But if you look at his contract, he’s owed $39.4 million this year, $42.2 million next year, and $44.9 million in 2027–28.

So right as this team has started to find some financial footing, we’re being tempted again. With another high-priced star and another round of “what ifs.”

I’m sure plenty of fans have strong opinions on this one, and it’s fair to wonder if those opinions have shifted after what we’ve seen from the Suns over the past few games. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...en-green-trade-proposal-contract-analysis-nba

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: The most surprising Sun so far has been?

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

---

We are close to 10% of the way into the season. The Suns have played seven of their 82 games so far and with players in and out of the lineup and new additions, the team is not fully whole yet. That being said, members of the squad have had the chance to show how their game has improved from the offseason and into the Valley’s new look team. Here are some players who are off to some interesting starts.

Devin Booker​

While the franchise cornerstone’s stats are somewhat similar to his stats from previous seasons to start the year, his efficiency is off the charts, shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three. Coming into the season definitively running point guard for the first time in his career, Booker has taken complete responsibility in running the offense, handling doubling teams and taking the game over when he feel he needs to like he did Sunday night to close out the Valley’s upset win over the the undefeated San Antonio Spurs.

Collin Gillespie​

Averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category, Gillespie has asserted himself as the team’s backup point guard. He’s played minutes with the starters during important stretches, knocked down over 40% of his threes on a staggering seven attempts a game and recorded double digits in his last four contests. He’s kept the offense afloat when Booker has been out, and despite being 6’1”, is averaging nearly a block a game.

Royce O’Neale​

It was unclear what his role would be entering the season with the team trading for Dillon Brooks and looking to go in a younger direction, but O’Neale has started in every game since Brooks went down and tied a franchise record for most threes made through the first six games of a season with six. Since moving into the starting lineup, he’s averaging 14.8 points and 4.3 threes made per game, shooting 50% from behind the arc.

Mark Williams​

Still on a minutes restriction, Williams continues to assimilate to his new team. He had two 20-point and 10-rebound games last week, and was a main part of the defensive effort, limiting early MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama to a season-low nine points on 4/14 shooting and six turnovers. Williams’ role will continue to adapt once he starts playing in back-to-backs and isn’t on a minutes restriction, but as the team’s new starting center, he’s showed an ability to defend and be a paint presence for the offense.

---

Considering the turnover Phoenix had this offseason, have any of these players surprised you the most to start the season? Or is it someone else? Let us know.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...urvey-the-most-surprising-sun-so-far-has-been

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Thread: Suns (3-4) @ Warriors (4-3)

Game 8: The Golden State Warriors.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-game-threads/91921/game-thread-suns-3-4-warriors-4-3

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Baller: The fight showed up late, but it showed up

Remember how it felt watching the Suns take down the Spurs? The energy, the precision, the sheer absurdity of it all. They were lights out from deep, splashing 58% of their threes. It was a night that didn’t make sense in all of the right way for Phoenix, the kind you hang onto for a while because it reminds you what the ceiling looks like.

Then came Tuesday.

The Suns fell back to earth, scoring just 108 points in a loss to Golden State. The Warriors took their turn playing god from beyond the arc. Every kick-out, every broken play, every bench guy who hadn’t scored in weeks found the bottom of the net. Golden State couldn’t miss. They punished every lazy rotation, every late closeout, every ounce of hesitation.

That’s life in the NBA. One night you’re untouchable, the next you’re the punchline. You start to wonder what this loss actually means. Maybe it’s nothing more than math evening the score. Maybe it’s a glimpse of defensive cracks that were always there, hiding behind the hot shooting. Maybe it’s both.

Suns are like the stock market. They’re going to have high surges and low dips through out the season and people will buy and sell the idea of them on a daily basis.

— Espo  (@Espo) November 5, 2025

To their credit, the Suns kept swinging. Maybe it came too late, but the fight was there. You can feel the foundation starting to take shape, the kind that doesn’t crack when things get ugly.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings​

Through seven games, only three players have claimed the Bright Side Baller crown: Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Devin Booker. After Sunday night’s win over the San Antonio Spurs, Booker grabbed his third of the season with ease, dropping 28 points and dishing out 13 assists. He took home 67% of the vote. Pretty convincing.

But part of me wants to call an audible here. Because while Booker was the headliner, it was Jordan Ott’s game plan that really tilted this one. His defensive schemes bottled up one of the most explosive young players in the league. So yeah, I’m doing it. Executive decision. This Bright Side Baller goes to Jordan Ott.

Bright Side Baller Nominees​

Game 8 against the Warriors. Here are your nominees.

Devin Booker
38 points (13-of-24, 1-of-5 3PT, 11-of-11 FT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, +8 +/-

Mark Williams
16 points (6-of-12, 0-of-0 3PT, 4-of-5 FT), 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +1 +/-

Grayson Allen
16 points (6-of-15, 4-of-9 3PT), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, -20 +/-

Ryan Dunn
10 points (4-of-12, 2-of-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, +2 +/-

Royce O’Neale
8 points (3-of-8, 2-of-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -20 +/-

Collin Gillespie
8 points (3-of-8, 2-of-4 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -11 +/-

---

Time to cast your vote and tell us why!

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...nts-golden-state-bench-dominates-118-107-loss