News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Wonders, Week 9: Suns split the baseball series

Just two games this week, the Phoenix Suns split their two games with the Golden State Warriors, winning on Thursday at home and losing on Saturday on the road. Both contests were nail biters coming down to the final second.

Here are the main questions for Week 9 that we want your thoughts on:

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Does Dillon Brooks need to change his play style?​

While he had at least 22 points in both outings this week, Dillon Brooks’ aggressive style of play almost cost the team in their win against the Warriors on Thursday. Up five with 38 seconds left, Brooks flagrantly fouled Stephen Curry, giving Curry two free throws and the ball afterward. Curry hit both foul shots and a Jimmy Butler three tied the game.

Fortunately for the Suns, with the help of Devin Booker and Jordan Goodwin’s game-winning free throw with 0.4 seconds left, Phoenix was victorious, but after the game Brooks said he needed to do some reflecting.

"I've got to do some soul searching."

Suns forward Dillon Brooks on reflecting on his flagrant 1 foul on Stephen Curry late in Suns win over Warriors.

Said he was trying to stop Curry from getting an offensive rebound, joked he's been lifting too much. #Suns #DubNation pic.twitter.com/dPibNgp56r

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 19, 2025

In the team’s previous game, Brooks picked up a critical foul that got him his second technical foul and ejected in the final minute of the game while the Suns were making a miraculous comeback. Brooks was noticeably much quieter on Saturday’s game, but does he need to change his demeanor to help the Suns?

Is Devin Booker out of his shooting slump?​

In his last 6 quarters, Devin Booker has scored 61 points on 54% from the field. His performance on Saturday, where he scored 38 points, tied his highest scoring game this season and his best since returning from his groin injury he suffered on December 1st against the Lakers. Heading into this past week, Booker was shooting 39.8% from the field and 21.2% from three in his past 12 games.

After a few strong performances that helped the Suns down the stretch, is it time to say the team’s franchise player is finally out of his massive shooting slump?

The Collin Gillespie question​

As Jalen Green continues to get closer to a return, Collin Gillespie’s play has only gotten stronger. Averaging 15 points per game in December, Gillespie is having the best month of his career and helped run Phoenix’s offense while Booker was sidelined. With Green returning, is it fair to wonder whether he’ll remain in the starting lineup? While it is possible that Grayson Allen will be the starting lineup casualty, by removing Allen from the lineup and keeping Gillespie in it, Phoenix removes an elite shooter while adding another ball handler when both Green and Booker are already ball-dominant guards.

Green is expected to return soon, as early as this week according to NBA Insider Kelly Ilko. What should the Suns do with Gillespie when Green gets back?

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For questions to answer after every game, follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content like this:

Devin Booker with another 38-point game against the Warriors this year. Why has he found so much scoring success against them?

Mark Williams with another quiet game. Why has he struggled against the Warriors this year?@BrightSideSun

— Holden Sherman (@HoldenSherman1) December 21, 2025

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ks-foul-collin-gillespie-jalen-green-rotation

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns and Lakers for the 3rd time in 3 weeks

Who: Phoenix Suns (15-13) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (19-8)

When: 7:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

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

Listen: KMVP 98.7, KSUN

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Does anyone else have Laker fatigue, or is that only me? Maybe it is personal. I have spent the last couple of weeks battling it out on the great grass plains of Naboo, also known as Twitter, going back and forth with a fan base that felt oddly insecure after their most recent win over the Suns a little more than a week ago. It reached the inevitable point where the argument ran out of oxygen and they went straight to the emergency button: championships. That is usually the tell.

Typical Laker fan response whenever they can't hold their own in a sports debate… https://t.co/BtWKRCXKc0

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) December 16, 2025

So maybe it is me. Or maybe we are all a little tired.

But here we are again, for the third time in three weeks, the Suns are playing the Lakers.

What is interesting about the Lakers is how much they feel like a paper tiger. At 19-8, sitting fourth in the Western Conference, you would expect some dominant trait to jump off the page. Something that makes you pause. When I prep for the Suns JAM Session Podcast, I build out the attribute meters. Three point shooting. Pace. Defensive rating. Dunks. Each bar represents one tenth of the league, so if you are near the bottom in a category, you barely register. It is a simple visual, but it tells the truth quickly.

When I dropped the Lakers into that exercise, the result surprised me. They do not shoot the three well. They do not play fast. They are not a strong defensive team either. There is no overwhelming strength holding it all together.

The Phoenix Suns are not elite across the board in those areas, but they are also a seventh seed sitting at 15-13. A team living in the middle while figuring itself out. That is the point. The Los Angeles Lakers are more vulnerable than the national conversation would have you believe.

We are about to see that tested tonight at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Probable Starters​

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Grayson Allen – DOUBTFUL (Right Knee Injury Management)
• Jalen Green – OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)
• Jordan Goodwin – AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)

Lakers​

• Luka Doncic — OUT (Lower Left Leg Contusion)
• Rui Hachimura — OUT (Right Groin Strain)
• Austin Reaves — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Strain)
• Gabe Vincent — OUT (Lumbar Back Strain)

What to Watch For​

Would it be petty to point at the officiating? Maybe. It is also fair. The Los Angeles Lakers tend to get a whistle that feels foreign in Phoenix. Los Angeles is tied for the league lead with 28.9 free attempts per game. Fun fact: the last time the Suns averaged 28.9 free throw attempts per more in a season? 1995-96, when the team averaged 30.1.

The last time these teams met, the Lakers lived at the line, and that is an effective way to beat the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix plays aggressive. They poke. They prod. That is part of their identity. Asking them to dial that back is asking them to stop being the irritant they have become.

Against the Lakers, the margin is discipline. When Los Angeles is shooting free throws, it neutralizes one of Phoenix’s real strengths, which is getting out in transition and letting young legs create easy points. So yes, eyes will be on how this one is called by Mark Lindsay, Mousa Dagher, and Jenna Reneau tonight. The rule always applies: do not put the game in the officials’ hands.

Oh, and watch to see if the Suns can grab some rebounds again. It has been since the November 28 matchup against the Thunder since the Suns actually managed to win the battle on the boards. That is eight straight games of being bullied on the glass. The total deficit? A staggering 66 rebounds.

The last time the Suns outrebounded an opponent? 8 games ago on November 28 against the Thunder pic.twitter.com/SS22XIaGVj

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) December 23, 2025

Key to a Suns Win​

Beyond surviving the whistle, Phoenix has to cash in from three point range. Over the last ten games, the Suns are shooting 32.6% from deep. That number is not good. And the looks have been there. It is not as if the competition is forcing Phoenix into bad three point attempts or rushing them into misses. These are clean looks.

Out of 374 three point attempts in that span, 205 have been wide open, which is 55%. They are hitting 32.7% of those shots. If those start falling, the math shifts quickly.

Over the last 10 games, 55% of the Suns’ three-point attempts have been wide open (205 of 374)

They’re converting just 32.7% pic.twitter.com/rk182zBdVC

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) December 23, 2025

Shots that were falling earlier in the season are not going down right now. You can wonder if some of that is fatigue, guys playing above their expected role for long stretches and carrying a heavier load than planned. That feels plausible. It also does not help that the Suns may again be without one of their true snipers, with Grayson Allen listed as doubtful and potentially missing his 11th game of the season.

The opportunities will be there. The Lakers allow teams to shoot from deep. Opponents are hitting 38.5% from three against them, the second-highest mark in the league, and they also give up the eighth most attempts. If the Suns can find their range, this is a game they should be able to take.

Prediction​

I’m feeling good about this one. Yes, the news on Jalen Green was unfortunate. It means that his injury was much more severe than we initially anticipated, and him being out 4 to 6 weeks already said it was a severe injury.

But the Lakers are a team that the Suns can beat. They didn’t have any issues with them in the preseason. They handled them pretty convincingly in the game in which Devin Booker left in the first quarter with an injury, and it came down to poor officiating and an untimely foul by Devin Booker on LeBron James at the end of their last game.

Phoenix is the type of team the Lakers don’t want to see. Because they hustle. Because they have youth. Because they have grit. These are Laker killers, and that’s what the Suns will do tonight.

Suns 122, Lakers 109

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-odds-injury-report-free-throw-stats-nba-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker lead Suns to easy 132-108 win over Lakers

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 132 to 108 for their 16th win of the season on Tuesday. Dillon Brooks led the team with 25 points and Devin Booker chipped in 21 and 11 assists in his first full-game shooting over 50% from the field in over a month. All five starters scored in double figures and Jamaree Bouyea chipped in 14 over the bench.

Luka Dončić missed the contest for the Lakers and the Suns took advantage. Phoenix forced the Lakers into offensive droughts and the team’s 45 points in the third quarter was the most they’ve scored in a single quarter all season.

While LeBron James and Dillon Brooks didn’t have the back-and-forth they did when the two teams faced off nine days ago, Brooks had some fun throughout the contest. He dropped his shimmy after hitting a three in the team’s hot third quarter.

Do the shimmy, Dillon pic.twitter.com/T8xNV0YYu5

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 24, 2025

The Suns finish the month 2-1 against the Lakers and win their final home game of 2025. Phoenix is now 2.5 games out of the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

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Game Flow​

First Half​

The two teams traded baskets to start, including Dillon Brooks and LeBron James. Phoenix was getting out in transition while Los Angeles was doing their damage in the half court.

With the Lakers second-leading scorer Austin Reaves in his first game back, he came off the bench for Los Angeles and the Suns’ second-unit limited him in his first minutes in 13 days. Coming off a calf injury, the Suns went at him on defense and Jamaree Bouyea was able to get a quick six points.

After one, the Suns led the Lakers 29-26.

With Booker on the bench, Phoenix’s offensive effort was a team one to start the second, mainly featuring Bouyea and Collin Gillespie. Ryan Dunn had a thunderous slam.

DUNN DOWN THE LANE pic.twitter.com/kht9NoAwBE

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 24, 2025

Getting into the bonus early into the frame, the Lakes hung around with their contributions at the charity stripe and Austin Reaves starting to get it going after a slow first quarter.

With the majority of the starting lineup in midway through the second, Phoenix worked on spreading the ball around helping match Reaves’ hot scoring. After 24 the Suns were up 67-57.

Second Half​

Phoenix started the third with a 10-2 run, leading to an early JJ Redick timeout. The Suns shortly then got the lead up to three, and Phoenix was moving the ball around like they were in the first half. It took Phoenix just 3:57 to score 22 points in the quarter. Dillon Brooks was having himself a quarter, including plays you’ll probably see on his end-of-season highlight reel. Unsurprisingly, he enjoyed scoring on LeBron James.

Dillon Brooks just FRYING Lebron at this point. pic.twitter.com/Cdq2Z5bupL

— Gabe Guerrero (@GabeGuerrero03) December 24, 2025

Brooks finished the third with 12 points and the Suns dropped 45 points on the Lakers, the most they’ve scored in a singular quarter this season.

The Lakers were not getting back in transition fast, and the Suns were taking advantage of it. Phoenix’s lead was never challenged. After three the Suns led 112-86.

While the Suns didn’t clear the bench, Collin Gillespie was the only Phoenix starter in the game at the beginning of the fourth. Shortly after, Phoenix started to bring in the reserves, including Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach and Nigel Hayes-Davis, who all got their first run since December 10th.

The Suns cruised to an easy win while the starters got to rest and the reserves got some extended minutes.

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Up Next​

The Suns don’t play again until after Christmas, as they take on the Pelicans in back-to-back games on December 26 and 27.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ker-lead-suns-to-easy-132-108-win-over-lakers

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Thread: Suns host Luka-less Lakers

Game 29: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns.

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Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-thread-suns-host-luka-less-lakers-discussion

 

[Phoenix Suns]

5 mock trades that could land the Suns a starting-caliber power forward

With Nick Richards’ name coming up in recent trade discussions for the Suns, I decided to craft some mock trades, and you guys had mixed opinions on them. A majority of the Bright Side Community did not want ANY guards, regardless of whether that guard can help now and in the future.

That being said, I listened to your requests and decided to look for the position of need: that is, all you clamored for was power forward.

In this article, I now have five more trades involving Richards for that piece everyone so covets in this fanbase, so let’s get into it.

Trade 1: Dean Wade​

This trade is out of left field, but hear me out: the Suns get Dean Wade and a 2028 second-round Cavs pick for Nick Richards.

The Suns do this to take on Wade’s expiring contract and gain additional draft capital in the process. For many of these Nick Richards trades, this is going to be the outcome of the deal. Richards has yet to prove to be stellar, and teams want his contract for the possibility that he could be solid, but if not, they can free up space to make more moves. Wade is someone the Cavs have been trying to trade since this offseason, as they wanted to avoid the second-apron tax before the start of the year. Wade has been spotty in his performances, and with a disappointing 16-14 record, the Cavaliers could look to make moves.

The Suns also get someone who can do what they need: stretch and space the floor as a three-point shooter and help grab rebounds. He has nights when he can be the hottest from three, so take the risk and get the additional capital to take on an expiring.

The Cavaliers were some people’s favorites out of the East after some successful regular seasons in the past, but with this start, it could look gloomy. I do not think they blow it up, but they could easily trade one or two of the core four pieces to shake it up. The one player that comes to mind for me is Jarrett Allen, someone who I think could be moved somewhere and allow Evan Mobley to take over that center position. That would have them needing a backup center, and Richards could be that guy. As a backup, he could fill the void behind Mobley and be cheaper than Wade,

Trade 2: Jalen Smith​

This trade revisits a team from my last article, the Chicago Bulls, but this time for Jalen Smith. The Suns end up trading Nigel Hayes-Davis, Nick Richards, and a 2026 Philadelphia 76ers second-round pick to the Bulls.

The Suns do this to reunite with Jalen Smith, the former lottery pick who actually found himself a solid role around the league. May not have turned out to be the player the Suns thought they were drafting, but he has been good. We have seen one reunion with Jordan Goodwin go smoothly, so who is to say this one would go south? The Suns bring in Smith, who can play both power forward and some small-ball center (for all those Oso haters, this is music to your ears), and help this team as a win-now player. He can provide similar skills to a Dean Wade and is a better player than him, hence them having to give up more.

Honestly, I do not think Chicago would want to trade Smith, and they would rather have him on their team. They resigned him and have been in on this contending wave for way too long, not knowing when to reset or retool around their stars. That being said, with his contract being minor and him not being a core piece, if the right offer came the Bulls’ way, I think they’d consider it. Richards is a different big man from Smith, but he could be a solid backup to Nikola Vucevic. Not only that, but Richards’s better defense contrasts with Vucevic’s predominantly offensive game.

The only problem with doing this deal one-for-one is that the Suns are hard-capped as a first-round team. Manager of this site, John Voita, wrote a fantastic article detailing the difficulties of moving Richards and explained why here.

I’d also like for you to read the rest of this article to understand all the moving parts in these demands for a power forward.

So, with that being said, I wanted to avoid having the Suns hard-capped as a first-round team, to have flexibility if they look to make other transactions at the deadline as well. Therefore, they toss in Nigel Hayes-Davis to ensure they can maintain the ability to make more moves. Hayes-Davis just hasn’t panned out in his short tenure here so far, and he’s the most expendable contract to toss in. The Bulls will not take him on for free; that is why the second-round pick comes into play with the Suns sending it out.

In retrospect, the Bulls could ask for Oso Ighodaro alongside Richards to nullify the first apron hardcap and the sending of additional draft capital. The thing is, I do not see the Suns moving off of Ighodaro, as they still give him rotational minutes and want to develop a second-round pick they were happy to trade up for.

Trade 3: 3 Team Deal​

This is a three-team trade that helps every team involved. The Suns get Guerschon Yabusele and their own 2028 second-round pick back from the Knicks. The Pelicans receive Nick Richards from the Suns and a 2027 Indiana Pacers second-round pick from the Knicks. Lastly, the Knicks get Jose Alvarado.

For the Suns, they get a power forward, one who had a good year with the 76ers but has not fit in on the Knicks. The Suns take a flyer on the Euro League and Olympic standout who is looking to stay in the NBA. Yabusele can be exactly what Smith and Wade can be for this team as that bench power forward who can play some filler minutes as they await the development of Rasheer Fleming. They also get their own second back for taking on this contract, helping them restock ammo for trades.

The Pelicans do this deal, as they have been rumored to move off Alvarado for a bit, with the Knicks holding interest. The Knicks want to bring back the hometown kid and could use his scrappiness and solid playmaking to bolster their bench. Since the Pelicans do not wish to take on Yabu’s contract as they have Derik Queen fulfilling their forward minutes, they take on Richards and a second, as Alvarado holds value to New York.

The Knicks sent out Yabusele as he does not fit into their new system with Mike Brown, and has been struggling. In return, they get a much-needed bench needle mover in Jose Alvarado, who does all the little things championship contenders love. Only moving off two seconds is fine as well, leaving you still with some rookie contracts to use if needed as enticers in moves down the line.

Trade 4: Wizards Duo​

Once again, we revisit the team we covered in the previous trade article, the Washington Wizards. This time, they ended up sending the Suns Marvin Bagley III and Anthony Gil for Nick Richards.

Marvin Bagley has turned himself into a solid role player for the Wizards in his post-Kings tenure. Unfortunately, injuries derailed this center’s early years, but he is starting to be a solid rotational piece later in his career. As a solid rebounder and shooting almost 62% from the field, he will definitely garner some trade interest. He could be an impactful forward they use alongside Mark Williams or Oso Ighodaro, and he is also not a significant investment on the expiring deal.

Now, Anthony Gill, I know, is a beloved Wizards bench guy, but the trade could not be completed unless he was included. If this were to transpire, I’d expect Gill to be waived and then resign for Washington, with the agreement reached before the deal was done.

For the Wizards, they ultimately move off Bagley and bring in Richards, someone who is going to replicate Bagley’s role as the backup behind Alexander Sarr. With Bagley playing up his value and the Wizards wanting to be bad, taking a flyer on Richards and then moving him for another piece, as they did with Bagley, could get them another pick, which helps in a rebuild.

Trade 5: The Let’s Throw a Shot for It​

Now here is the big three-team trade, and one I think would be the hardest to accomplish out of this list. The Suns get Jarace Walker from the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors get Nick Richards from the Suns. Lastly, the Pacers get Ochai Agbaji from the Toronto Raptors, along with two seconds from Toronto in 2026 and one from Phoenix in 2029.

For the Suns, they get Jarace Walker, a lottery pick who does not have the high potential many saw in him as he rose. Regardless of whether it was stagnant playing time in his developmental years or his inability to shine now with the Pacers’ injuries, he has not been great for this team.

That being said, the Pacers covet every one of their guys and do not give them up for anything cheap. Even with his struggles, I think the Pacers view Walker’s trade value as higher than many teams that want to acquire him; that is why they would likely need to be enticed with draft picks. They get the 2029 Phoenix second-round pick, but do not want Richards’ expiring contract. They are in the market for a starting big man and have an excellent quality backup in Jay Huff already, so no need for Richards.

That is where Toronto comes into play, taking on Richards’s contract. They have been linked to him in the past, with some recent reports suggesting they tried to send Suns Agbaji’s contract. The Raptors need a third center in this rotation, and Richards can do that perfectly, providing the shot-blocking and rim protection that their backup, Sandro Mamukelashvili, does not offer. By doing this favor and taking Richards, they need the Pacers to return the favor. For them to do that, though, the Raptors have to throw in their own second-round pick.

Finally, here is where the Pacers catch up on two second-round picks and Agbaji’s contract. Similar to Walker, he still has one more year left, so it’s mainly a trial for these guys in their new homes. Agbaji, though, brings some solid scrappiness and solid perimeter defending that this team needs. Being another aid to the group of Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard gives this team even more depth as it heads toward a big run next year.

They also get two seconds, as they are going to be reluctant to move off Walker for their attachment to lottery picks and the holes in his positional need. The Pacers will be the most hesitant, but they could also pull the trigger with their season already gutted.

Final Thoughts​

Well, that one was a lot harder than the previous one, but it was still a fun exercise. I love coming up with these mock trade articles, scanning for specific players who could help take this team over the top and into those fun conversations in a few years.

Let me know your thoughts on these moves below, and explain why you would or would not. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well! You may see some more of these break out as we inch closer to the trade deadline.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ward-dean-wade-jalen-smith-jarace-walker-2026

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The case for patience with Royce O’Neale

I will start by wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas. The holidays are for spending time with the people you love, so this morning I am spending a little time with you. Because I love this community. Because, knowing they’ll never love me back, I love this team. Because I love this organization, in every version it has shown us (and we’ve been through some dark versions, having we?). All right. Gushy portion complete.

Let’s talk about Royce O’Neale.

His name keeps popping up as the trade machine starts humming louder. With a little over a month until the February 5 deadline, it makes sense. His $10.1 million contract is clean. It stacks nicely with others like Nick Richards. It helps the math. And once that happens, people start talking themselves out of liking him. It is easier to move on from a player once you have decided he is expendable.

Royce is a pathetic basketball player and I’m tired of pretending he’s not.

— (@OwnedBySuns) December 21, 2025

Well, that is not very merry. I am not there. I am not ready to trade Royce O’Neale.

O’Neale has been with the Phoenix Suns for two and a half years. Over 134 games, he has averaged 9.1 points on 42/40/71 splits, with 4.9 rebounds in 25.7 minutes a night. He arrived at the 2024 trade deadline when James Jones was searching for stability around Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. The veteran minimum carousel was not cutting it. Jones bundled contracts, rolled the dice, and Royce came back in the deal.

Since then, he has been a steadying presence. Not perfect. Not always loud. Someone who understands spacing, timing, and when to get out of the way. And when he catches fire, we have all seen it. He can lift a second unit and drag a team through a stretch when the waters get choppy. Every roster needs a few guys like that. Especially this one.

Yes, I get why people want to move on from him. Inconsistency comes with the territory at $10.1 million a year. That is the lane. Show me the player in that salary range who delivers the same thing every night. Lonzo Ball is not doing that. Caleb Martin is not doing that. Kyle Anderson is not doing that. If Royce were airtight in every area of his game, his number would look very different.

He has flaws. Transition playmaking can be shaky. The jumper goes cold. He does not pressure the rim. Defensively, there are nights where certain matchups turn into a struggle (Houston comes to mind). He also does not have the size everyone wants from the power forward spot, which is where he often ends up when he starts.

So yes, I understand why his name lives inside mock trades. I still am not ready to move him. Here is why.

There is no mystery deal waiting that drops the perfect player into Phoenix. Teams hold onto players who check every box. Anyone you bring back will come with their own issues. Size alone does not solve basketball.

Young teams need veterans. He is the oldest guy in the room. The players call him “Unc” for a reason. He does things off the court that never show up in a box score and still matter. On the floor, he remains a very good basketball player. His three-point advanced numbers are positive across the board. From shot quality to efficiency, percentage to talent, he’s one of the best three-ballers in the game. And the Suns have him on a damn good deal.

I like Royce. Off nights happen to everyone. He shoots it. He moves it. He defends on the perimeter. He fits the energy of this group. What magical upgrade are we pretending is sitting out there waiting to be claimed?

Size at the four is a real conversation. But let’s say that the team does find this mysterious unicorn power forward that another team is somehow willing to part with for a collection of Suns’ assets. That player will have their deficiencies as well, and if he’s obtained for stacked contracts from Phoenix, chances are he’ll have a compensation rate that doesn’t necessitate the same price-for-value-paid as O’Neale. Perhaps we get him here, and then floor spacing at the four becomes a problem. “If only we had a guy at the four who could hit the three!”

Royce brings a trait that eventually brings back the kind of assets people keep dreaming about. That requires patience, which has been the theme of this entire season. He still has two and a half years left on his deal. Which means he is not sitting in the sweet spot yet for teams hunting the trade market. Those teams want players with a little runway, not a quick fling.

Look ahead to this summer. He will have two years left on his contract. That is when things get interesting. Picture a team that flames out in the postseason and realizes it was one shooter short. That team does not care about draft picks the same way rebuilding teams do. They care about fixing a problem. With two years left, Royce is not a rental. He is a solution they can live with beyond one spring.

There is another angle too. Wait another year. By the summer of 2027, when his deal reaches its final season, that contract becomes attractive to a different group of teams. The ones struggling. The ones trying to get off long-term money. An expiring deal gives flexibility. That is where Phoenix could extract value, because the other side wants relief more than they want to hold talent.

This is where patience comes back into the picture. This team is outperforming expectations right now. Their second-best player, at least by contract and theory, has barely been available. Royce, like a lot of guys on this roster, has not even settled into what his true role looks like when everyone is healthy. Yet people want to move him whenever he has a couple of off nights in a role he will not be living in all season. And Rasheer Fleming could be the ultimate answer at the power forward position, so why handicap his development by acquiring someone who will stunt it on the cap sheet?

That is impatience. That is shaking the snow globe because you want to see it move. I do not get it. The Suns are 16-13. They have dealt with injuries. They have faced one of the toughest schedules in the league so far. And they are still standing. Why rush to rock the boat? For fun? I guess I get that part. I play with the trade machine too.

But if February 5 comes and goes and Royce O’Neale is still on this roster, I am perfectly fine with that. His value feels more likely to rise than fall, especially heading into next summer. There is something good happening here. No reason to stir it up.

Unless we are talking about Nick Richards. That conversation? I am fully ready for that one.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-trade-rumors-deadline-patience-veteran-value

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns – A Christmas Wish List, Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Trade Chips

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

Fantable Questions of the Week​

Q1: We all know that a quality starting power forward is at least in the top 5 things on the Suns’ Christmas wish list, but what else should be there?​

GuarGuar: Wish #1: Good health! This team has had the injury bug with almost everyone at different points throughout the season. And no Jalen Green for almost the whole year! Let’s get healthy for 2026 and see what we got.

Wish #2: Better rebounding! We do play very small lineups, but we need to improve upon our 24th rank in rebounding. Box out and crash the glass!

Wish #3: Book’s 3-point shooting to come back! He’s been in a funk when it comes to the 3-ball since November, and I’d love to see him regain form and confidence and make him even more lethal. Seems like it’s mental right now.

Wish #4: Dillon Brooks to pass just a LITTLE bit more. He really can be a possession stopper at times, and it hurts us. I love his overall aggressiveness and scoring, though I just would like a little more passing awareness.

OldAZ: This is tough because I’m pretty happy with where the Suns are and their newfound direction, but here goes:

Better health. These injuries have been a long-term plague on the franchise, the resurrection or reincarnation of Joe Proski (basically a redo of #1, but there was a time when older players came to Phoenix and were rejuvenated.

A fair and consistent whistle across the league. This is not some conspiracy theory where I blame the officials for every loss, but officiating has been terrible and inconsistent, and while certain teams have benefited greatly (like the Lakers for years and OKC currently), I think the Suns would adapt quickly and benefit overall if officials suddenly became better at their jobs and a lot more consistent.

Some relief in the next CBA. The whole league has problems with the current setu,p and there was decent balance before the latest CBA limited teams. Now that the Suns have an owner with means, willingness to spend, and (hopefully) has already learned his lesson about star chasing some fiscal relief in the CBA would be great.

Rod: Well, Jalen Green getting and staying healthy for the rest of the season is #1 for me. I can only imagine what the Suns’ record would be right now if he hadn’t missed so many games. I’d say that 20-9 instead of 16-13 would be a reasonable estimate.

Next, see the Nash, be the Nash, Collin! Gillespie’s been great for us so far this year but I think there’s even more potential there. I hope that he’s getting plenty of opportunity to pick Steve’s brain and soaking up every tidbit of advice he can get from him.

With Ryan Dunn’s free throw percentage up to 70.0% this season (he was hitting less than 50% of his FTs last year), he’s about half way to where he needs to be. Now I’m using one of my Xmas wishes to get his 3-point percentage up to at least league average. I want defenders thinking, “oh, crap!” whenever they see him undefended at the 3-point line.

And finally, to dream the seemingly impossible dream, PLEASE give Oso at least a reliable 15-16 ft jumper! A three point shot would be great but I’d be deliriously happy with him just having something other than that push shot to rely on when he’s more than 2-3 feet away from the basket.

Q2: At what point during the season do you believe Rasheer Fleming and/or Khaman Maluach could start getting meaningful minutes in games?​

GuarGuar: Honestly, I don’t know if either is going to get much meaningful run this season. It would take a big man injury for Khaman. He looks every bit like a project, and honestly, Fleming hasn’t been inspiring at all when he plays either. His 3-ball looks atrocious coming off his hands, and if he can’t be somewhat reliable from there, he’s not ready to get PT on a team competing for a playoff spot.

OldAZ: I feel like Jordan Ott talking about injured players and always saying the same thing without saying anything new. They have both been progressing in their time in the G League. Fleming looks like he is very close to needing reps with the big club to continue progressing. The key will be giving him room to figure out where to be, what to do, and get comfortable without always looking over his shoulder, afraid of getting pulled if he screws up. Both will need room to screw up and learn when they get their opportunity.

For Fleming, this next stretch of 14-15 games may be that time as he appears to be able to fit in and contribute at least defensively and on the boards. Maluach is also getting closer, but with Oslo’s newfound role with the 2nd unit and Williams’ contributions, it is hard to do those same rotational minutes for a third center at the moment. Luckil,y he is also still more raw and not quite as ready as Fleming.

Rod: I can’t really give a specific time/date, but I could see one or even both of them getting some real court time as soon as the Suns make a trade. We all know that Nick Richards is likely to be moved before the trade deadline automatically making Maluach the Suns third-string center. If the Suns intend to continue holding Williams out on the 2nd night of back-to-backs, KM should definitely begin getting meaningful minutes then.

With Fleming, I think it could start happening at almost any time…especially when it’s obvious that his defensive talents are needed at PF. Any trade the Suns make might also hasten his debut, depending on who’s leaving and who’s returning. I’d really like to see him in particular playing in the main rotation. He’s looked pretty good with the Valley Suns, and I’d like to see him get accustomed to playing with our better players. The garbage time minutes he’s been getting make it hard to judge just how well he could perform, as those guys just aren’t used to playing with each other ,which makes those minutes more of a period of semi-controlled chaos than real team basketball.

Q3: Other than Book, Brooks and Green, which Suns player do you believe could bring back the best possible return in a mid-season trade?​

GuarGuar: I think Grayson would net a pretty decent return given his production, and he’s on a pretty reasonable contract. Teams love floor spacers, and he certainly is an excellent one.

OldAZ: We have talked a lot about RO and GA being values to other contending teams, but those require a trade partner that has a surplus in an area the Suns need in order to trade. More likely is finding a trade partner that is not contending, and those teams want young talent and/or picks, which the Suns don’t have. This leads me to believe Dunn would actually bring the most return because he has shown NBA ability and highlight-level athleticism. Packaging him with one of Royce or Grayson could be the combination that brings the best return. However, the Suns are exceeding expectations, and this totally depends on how they view Dunn for their future and who that returning player might be. I honestly don’t see them moving Dunn, but that wasn’t what the question asked.

Rod: I’ve got to say Grayson Allen. He’s been off his game lately, but I don’t expect that to last and when he’s playing at his best, he’s very, very good. Any team wanting to boost their 3-point shooting would want him just for that, but he’s shown much more to his game this year as a ball handler and facilitator, which makes him a great plug-and-play guy in almost anyone’s backcourt. I think the Suns could get back a solid player or two in retur,n and possibly a draft pick or two in return for him.

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

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Quotes of the Week​

“It’s going to make us better. All these close games against really good teams with really good players in real tough environments.” – Jordan Ott

“We’ve consistently played hard. We’ve been in a lot of dogfights, a lot of late-game situations. A lot of situations to learn from. Moving forward, hopefully we don’t make the same mistakes, specifically late game and close out some of these close games better.” – Devin Booker

“Every night, every night he (Jamaree Bouyea) has been great, under control. Always talk about his personality, just even keeled. He goes out there and plays like a vet, been fantastic, super helpful with that second group.” – Jordan Ott

“He (Oso Ighodaro) communicates and he’s a high-IQ player. So he understands what’s going on, and he’s always a play or two ahead.” – Devin Booker

“Whether or not the fans or whoever on the outside thinks, that’s all we care about is winning.” – Oso Ighodaro

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Suns Trivia/History​

On December 25, 1968, the Suns made their national television debut on Christmas day as an ABC audience and a season-high Coliseum crowd of 10,355 witnessed the Los Angeles Lakers post a 119-99 victory.

On December 29, 2006, the Suns defeated the New York Knicks 108-86 to begin what would be a (then) franchise record win streak of 17 games. The previous franchise record of 15 games was accomplised by the same team earlier in the season and ended only 10 days before the new win streak began. This record would stand unti the Suns surpassed it with an 18 game win streak between Oct. 30 and Dec. 2 in 2021.

On December 30, 1992, the Suns defeated Houston 133-110 to finish December with a 14-0 record, tying for (then) the third-best month in NBA history and, at the time, the longest win streak in franchise history.

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This Week’s Game Schedule​

Thursday, Dec 26 – Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans (6:00 pm)
Saturday, Dec 27 – Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans (5:00 pm)
Monday, Dec 29 – Suns @ Washington Wizards (5:00 pm)
Wednesday, Dec 31 – Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers (1:30 pm) NBA TV

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This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule​

Saturday, Dec 27 – Valley Suns @ Memphis Hustle (7:00 pm)
Monday, Dec 29 – Valley Suns @ Memphis Hustle (7:00 pm)

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Important Future Dates​

Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed
Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Feb. 5 – Trade deadline (3:00 pm ET)
Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA
March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends
March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...st-rasheer-fleming-khaman-maluach-trade-chips

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Jamaree Bouyea shows you don’t need big minutes to make a big impact

Among all the surprises of this early season and the end of the year, one player stands out more than the others: the 6’2” spark plug that is Jamaree Bouyea. With 7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 stocks in just under 15 minutes, the San Francisco native, who joined the team in mid‑November, keeps impressing the fanbase.

Hey, hey Jamaree Bouyea!! pic.twitter.com/SeuNqvnX9u

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

But his impact on advanced data is even bigger than you’d expect.

---

A silent and efficient catalyst​

Listed as a secondary ball‑handler, Bouyea stands out above all for his decision‑making and his offensive versatility. He can pull up from three, handle the ball to manipulate space, create his own shot or connect the play when an advantage already exists. He’s not an elite creator or passer: he plays clean, he plays within himself, but he’s not the guy who’s going to manufacture a high‑value look out of three broken actions.

His real offensive strength lies in his driving ability and his body control, both on the ground and in the air. As early as the 2021 scouting reports, he was already described as having “remarkable offensive footwork” and “deadly changes of pace and crossovers when attacking the rim.”

– Fake
– Quick First Step
– finish between two players pic.twitter.com/K5jQBENbJJ

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

In other words: even before entering the NBA, Bouyea was identified as a driver with an explosive first step, capable of finishing over or around much bigger players.

– Screen game
– Quick First Step
– Hang Time pic.twitter.com/1yvYUvL9Sh

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

With the Suns, after bouncing around several franchises and their G‑League teams, Bouyea has emerged as one of the quiet but essential revelations of the season. His offensive efficiency has reached a level rarely seen: 154.8 PSA, 6.5% TOV, a perfectly controlled game that fits his second‑unit role like a glove. Clean, efficient, and exactly what this roster needed.

His 75.6% eFG, backed by 47% from three, makes him one of the most profitable role players in the league. Sure, the volume is limited, but what he’s producing right now deserves to be highlighted. With a TS+ of 122, he’s outperforming league‑average efficiency by a wide margin, confirming his status as a silent but indispensable catalyst in the Suns’ success.

Defensively, Bouyea brings constant activity, illustrated by a 1.9% BLK% and 1.9% STL%, proof of his ability to disrupt passing lanes and contest at the rim. He compensates for his lack of size with, once again, sharp decision‑making and high‑level feel, allowing him not just to survive defensively, but to actually contribute.

– Hug
– disrupts the passing lane
– Steal pic.twitter.com/G8i4kd7MNI

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

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His impact on Phoenix’s game​

Beyond his individual numbers, Bouyea’s impact is crystal clear in the team’s performance when he’s on the floor: a +15.2 Net Rating, the second‑best mark on the team behind Isaiah Livers (+21.1). League‑wide, he ranks in the 96th percentile among point guards (via Cleaning the Glass). He’s just as impactful in the halfcourt (+13.6 pts/play) as he is in transition (+20 pts/play).

The team posts a +10.9 eFG% boost with him on the floor, which is a massive jump that shows how his direct, downhill style smooths out possessions. His presence in the second unit immediately reshapes the offensive geometry: rim attempts increase by +4.3 percentage points, while the rest of the shot profile tightens up. Bouyea pushes the offense toward more profitable zones without drifting into low‑value shots, exactly what you want from a disciplined secondary guard on a team that tends to waste possessions.

Except for the mid‑range, where the team stays neutral, every area of the floor becomes more efficient when he’s out there. The Suns shoot +10% better at less than 4 feet, proof of the pressure he puts on the defense and his ability to create easy finishes for himself or others. And from three, the effect is even more striking: +11.6% team accuracy, a rare indicator that shows how his drives, his first step and his pull‑up threat open cleaner looks for his teammates.

In short: Bouyea isn’t just individually efficient. He raises the efficiency of the entire group simply through the nature of his game: direct, aggressive, clean, and perfectly calibrated to maximize every possession.

---

Jamaree Bouyea may not be the most anticipated player, nor the one people talk about the most, but he embodies exactly what a modern role player should be: reliable, disciplined, efficient, and capable of impacting a game without ever dominating the ball. His stint in Phoenix shows that you can transform a rotation simply by playing the right way, attacking the right zones, and bringing constant energy on both ends.

And with the recent announcement of Jalen Green’s extended recovery timeline, there’s little doubt Bouyea will keep earning trust — and keep making noise, one way or another.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...etrics-bench-impact-jalen-green-injury-update

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Phoenix Suns overcome poor shooting night to beat the New Orleans Pelicans

It was not the prettiest win this season, but a win the day after Christmas and on the road is tough to do for any team in the NBA, and that is exactly what the Phoenix Suns did against the New Orleans Pelicans. Devin Booker scored 30 points on 10-of-16 from the field, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists in a gritty, sloppy, foul-heavy win, 115-108.

Mark Williams was a dominant physical force, with 24 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and a block. When the Pelicans were doubling Booker in the fourth quarter, Williams was the guy getting the ball in the short roll. He turned it over, trying to force-feed Dunn on a cut, but then decided to just attack the rim with aggression. He was fouled twice and converted six of his eight free throws, all in the fourth when the Suns needed him most.

The Suns took every punch from the Pelicans and fought to win this game. The Pelicans shot 42 free throws, but only made 25, leaving the door open for a Suns team that shot miserably from three, just 8-of-40.

Zion Williamson scored 20 points, while Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy III each scored 19 to lead New Orleans, who looked like they might pull out a win up 90-85 in the fourth quarter. Phoenix’s resiliency and toughness showed up late, when they needed it most.

Collin Gillespie scored 16 points, including the biggest shot of the game, after slipping on a wet spot and appearing to tweak his leg late in the third quarter. Ryan Dunn scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had the two biggest defensive plays of the game: a block on Zion Williamson with the Suns up 107-106 and a minute remaining, and then on the next possession, he walled up Poole and forced a turnover that led to a Booker to Williams alley-oop in transition to seal the win.

There were many times the Suns could have lost their poise and folded because of the officiating, all the missed wide-open threes, injuries, and the continual fight the Pelicans showed, but they never did, and that is why they won the first game of two against the Pelicans this weekend.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Suns opened up the game on an 8-2 run, as Collin Gillespie got free for multiple 3-point makes early in the game. Booker was attacking the mismatch he had with Bryce McGowen, finding Mark Williams and Gillespie for wide-open shots early. Derik Queen, for the Pelicans, showed that he is still a very unpolished rookie, as he missed a wide-open three in the corner, threw up a wild layup that hit the top of the backboard, then turned it over in transition in three plays in a row.

The Suns, however, were unable to take advantage of the Pelicans due to their own sloppy play. Booker threw a pass to the corner to what should have been a wide-open Jordan Goodwin three, but instead went out of bounds. Then, later in the first quarter, Goodwin drove and threw the ball out to the corner that Ryan Dunn vacated to cut to the basket. The Suns still led 21-14 after a Booker midrange shot, but the Pelicans closed out the quarter with Zion Williamson taking advantage of the small Suns front line with Ighodaro and Dunn, and drew foul after foul to keep the Pelicans close.

The Suns had multiple opportunities to create separation from the Pelicans in the first period, but were not quite crisp enough to take advantage. It was not a lack of effort, though; they played with intensity and competitive fire, scoring 11 second-chance points alone in the first quarter. Jamaree Bouyea encapsulated it with his own drive, miss, rebound, and putback attempt that he was fouled on. The final minute of the quarter plagued the Suns. Oso Ighodaro fouled Jordan Poole on a 3-point attempt that resulted in a four-point play and the last play to end the quarter should have been a wide-open Oso Ighodaro dunk, but instead Gillespie’s pass was too high, resulting in another Suns turnover. The Suns led 26-23 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was better for the Suns, after seven turnovers in the first quarter they committed just one in the second. It started with a Poole three, who scored 11 first-half points to lead the Pelicans in scoring. On the other end, Ryan Dunn found a driving lane and dished to Ighodaro for a dunk. A few possessions later, Gillespie fell trying to take a charge on Jordan Poole and crashed into Dunn’s leg.

Ryan Dunn is now back on the Suns bench heating his right knee https://t.co/IWHJHNAJyp

— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) December 27, 2025

With Dunn out, Jordan Ott turned to the rookie, Rasheer Fleming, who flashed his upside and showcased why he has yet to earn consistent NBA minutes early in his career. In seven minutes of play, Fleming was 0-of-3 from three, all were wide open, showcasing that the Pelicans were more than willing to let him fire away. Defensively, he was engaged, but found himself out of position multiple times, and fouled Fears for being too physical, after he made a great play by making Fears pick up the ball.

On the positive side, his athleticism popped as he outran every Pelicans player for a transition layup, rebounded a Booker miss and put it back in for a layup, and had a nice finish in traffic on a nice feed from Goodwin. All in all, Fleming was +3 in his minutes and was a positive contributor in his first stint.

The other bright spot in the first half was the fantastic play of Mark Williams, who dominated the glass and the paint. He scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked one shot in the first half. He also produced one of the most spectacular plays of the season, this is an insane, whoopsie-daisy almost travel, self-lob off the backboard for a thunderous dunk.

OFF-THE-GLASS TO HIMSELF

MY OH MY MARK WILLIAMS!

Watch here: https://t.co/Fy9hnleCLx pic.twitter.com/jEJJQSszim

— NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2025

The Suns led 53-48 at halftime after a dismal first half shooting from three, shooting just 21% on 5-of-24 from long range. The Suns’ offensive rebounding was both the key to their success in the first half, but also resulted in multiple Pelicans layups in transition because they were late getting back.

Second Half​

The Suns opened the third quarter fast and looked poised to take control of the game. Booker found Williams off the pick and roll for a wide-open dunk, and then Williams outran Queen down the floor for a wide-open dunk on the secondary break to push the Suns ahead 60-52. Unlike the beginning of the season, these Pelicans did not roll over. Instead, they grit their teeth and found ways to stay in the game. The Suns led 63-54 when Booker turned the ball over, and Murphy finished with an incredible alley-oop layup. Then Murphy stole a casual Williams pass intend for Booker that resulted in a thunderous dunk on the other end.

After scoring two points in the first hal,f Brooks woke up and scored eight points in the third quarter. He and Murphy each picked up technical fouls for physical play and some extracurricular trash talking.

Then the refs started to call a lot of fouls. The Pelicans shot 16 free throws in the third quarter alone. The Suns’ peskiness and physicality resulted in multiple fouls in the backcourt, leading to free throw attempts for the Pelicans. Meanwhile, the Suns continued to generate open looks from three, but could not get many to fall.

The Suns still led wire to wire in the third quarter and again had the chance to separate from the Pelicans at the end of the period after a Dunn putback layup had the Suns up four, 79-75. But after getting a stop, Ighodaro fouled Yves Missi on an offensive rebound attempt, where Missi hit one of his two free throws. Dunn again got to the basket and finished with a beautiful layup at the basket to get Suns up five.

Gillespie then found a wet spot and slipped, appearing to injure his groin, as Williamson got an easy put-back dunk. After a wide-open miss from Goodwin, Poole found Missi for a wide-open dunk to cut the deficit to one. On offense, Dunn was whistled for a ticky-tack foul on a screen, and the Pelicans missed two free throws to close the quarter. Another sloppy quarter of basketball, and the Suns led 81-80, stuck in the mud and in a dog fight against the Pelicans.

The Pelicans had been fighting hard all night, and finally broke through early in the fourth quarter, taking a 90-85 lead early in the fourth quarter. A Murphy III three forced an Ott timeout, with Booker and Brooks checking in with nine minutes left in the fourth. The two Suns stars stopped the bleeding as Brooks hit an elbow jumper, and Booker drew multiple fouls in one possession and hit both free throws to cut the deficit to one, 90-89.

Booker continued to carry the Suns, getting to free throw line and getting to his midrange jumper to get the Suns a 96-95 lead. But the referees continued to call a tight game, and Booker was whistled for a technical foul after a driving layup, and the Pelicans quickly spurted to a 99-96 lead. Refusing to let Booker beat them anymore, the Pelicans doubled Booker almost the second he crossed halfcourt, but Mark Williams continued his dominance and beat the Pelicans inside with his brute strength and size. He scored seven of Phoenix’s nine points to boost the Suns ahead 105-102. The Pelicans kept on coming, with Poole and Williamson continuing to get downhill and score against the Suns’ defense.

Up 107-106 with 90 seconds to play, the Suns went to Gillespie with Booker getting swarmed, and Poole guarding Gillespie, the Suns decided Gillespie was going to win or lose the game. The Suns got exactly what they wanted as Gillespie diced up Poole and drove to the lane but he missed the easy layup. Then the hero of the game, Ryan Dunn, who exited the game in the first half and was in the game for O’Neale because of his defense and athleticism, blocked a Williamson layup attempt at the rim on the ensuing possession, then Williams miraculously grabbed the loose ball and threw it off a Pelicans player while falling out of bounds to get Phoenix the defensive stop and the ball.

Undeterred from his previous failure, Gillespie came off of a Booker screen, which the Pelicans refused to switch with Poole guarding Gillespie, so Gillespie calmly kept Poole on his back, discarded Poole, and laced a wide-open mid-range jumper to put the Suns up three, 109-106.

The Suns defense has been suffocating in the final stages of the 4th.

No surprise that Ryan Dunn was at the center of it.

Blocked Zion, then clamped down Jordan Poole.@12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/WrgJz50Mn0

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) December 27, 2025

The Pelicans quickly got down the floor, and Dunn, who was guarding Poole, played perfect defense on the Pelicans guard. Dunn walled up, forced Poole into the air, and deflected Poole’s feeble attempt at a pass to a teammate. Brooks quickly got the outlet pass, kicked up ahead to a sprinting Booker, who found Williams for the alley-oop slam and a “boom room” exclamation point from Kevin Ray.

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Up Next​

Same team, same spot, Saturday evening at 5:00pm Arizona time at the Smoothie King Center.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...suns-gritty-road-win-pelicans-booker-williams

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Injury Update: Mark Williams being questionable is new territory for Phoenix

The Phoenix Suns will face the New Orleans Pelicans for the second straight night this evening, marking their fifth back-to-back of the season. In every previous back-to-back, the team has chosen to sit center Mark Williams. He has a long injury history, and the Suns are doing everything they can to limit fatigue that could turn into something lingering.

Mark Williams is listed as QUESTIONABLE tonight against the Pelicans

The Suns are 1-3 on the second night of back-to-backs, all of which are games in which they have opted to rest Williams

W vs IND
L vs HOU, DEN (x2) pic.twitter.com/KY7nnnFWgW

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) December 27, 2025

After putting up 24 points and 13 rebounds last night and serving as a primary force in the win over the Pelicans, the team has not committed to playing Mark Williams tonight. But they haven’t ruled him out either.

Williams had several family members in attendance for last night’s game, and according to him, they will be back in the building again this evening.

“It’s cool for them to be here,” Williams said after last night’s game. “They’ll be at the game (Saturday) too.”

If he plays, it will mark his first back-to-back appearance of the year. This is the first time all season the team has listed him as questionable on the second night of a back-to-back, as the team typically lists him as ‘out’ with an injury management designation.

Williams was a key piece in last night’s win, and the Pelicans had no answer for him on the interior. He scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in the Suns’ 115-108 victory. For all the hype around Dereck Queen, he could not handle the aggression, the motor, or the approach Williams brought to the floor.

This feels like a signal. It suggests the Suns are growing more comfortable with where he is physically, balancing stamina and fatigue as it relates to his injury history. Or this is good usage of the injury report, forcing the Pelicans to prepare for Williams’ presence, even if he doesn’t play.

We will ultimately see whether he plays or if he plays in a limited capacity tonight. Phoenix runs it back against New Orleans tonight at 5 PM Arizona time.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ack-to-back-rest-pelicans-workload-management

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Suns show they can beat you more than one way in 123-114 win over Pelicans

Playing the same team on consecutive nights is never simple. Tendencies surface. Adjustments follow. As the Phoenix Suns faced the New Orleans Pelicans on the road for the second straight night, they showed an important trait. They can win the same matchup in different ways. Friday night was about rebounding and paint pressure. Saturday belonged to the three-ball.

The Suns fly out of the Big Easy with two wins in two nights after their 123-114 victory.

Mark Williams played his first second night of a back-to-back this season and made his presence felt. He finished with 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench before his night ended early after an altercation with Jose Alvarado. Both players were ejected for fighting in the third quarter.

Phoenix buried 20 three-pointers, tying its season high, and used that shooting to put the Pelicans away. It was a true committee effort. Seven players scored in double figures, led by 20 points from Devin Booker.

The Suns now sit at 18-13 on the season, still comfortably seventh in the Western Conference. They move to 2-4 on the second night of back-to-backs.

Game Flow​

First Half​

Ryan Dunn was ruled out for the game, but Mark Williams was available. He did not start, but for the first time this season, he was active on the second night of a back-to-back and able to play.

Mark Williams in IN tonight against the Pelicans, playing in his first back to back with the Suns

Ryan Dunn will be OUT pic.twitter.com/FxutwyS40j

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) December 27, 2025

It was a rough shooting start for the Suns, opening the night 4-of-12 from the field. Still, they grabbed an early 11–9 lead by creating extra chances, scoring seven second-chance points off three offensive rebounds.

Trey Murphy came out hot for New Orleans, knocking down his first three triples and scoring 9 of the Pelicans’ first 18 points. Isaiah Livers returned after missing 11 games, and his first involvement was a rough one: an inbound steal by Jose Alvarado followed by a foul that sent Murphy to the line. He hit both free throws to tie it at 25-25 with 3:07 left in the first.

Zion Williamson came off the bench again and provided instant offense, scoring eight quick points, all at the rim. Murphy led all scorers with 11 in the quarter. Dillon Brooks was the tip of the spear for Phoenix, going 4-of-7 from the field for 10 points. The Suns shot 36% from the floor, the Pelicans shot 52%, and ten offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points that kept Phoenix close.

Second-chance production has been the Suns’ lifeline early: 16 points generated off 10 offensive rebounds in the first

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

After one, Pelicans 33, Suns 32.

It was nice to see Rasheer Fleming knock down a three to open the second quarter. With Ryan Dunn out, he picked up extra minutes, and after going cold last night, seeing one drop felt good. That shot helped spark an 8–3 run to start the quarter for Phoenix.

Collin Gillespie had the shooter’s touch early. He buried his first four three point attempts, with three of them coming in the opening four minutes of the second. The confidence was obvious, and it gave the Suns some much-needed juice.

COLLIN FROM THE PARKING LOT

Up to 15 PTS in the first half! pic.twitter.com/eMZjXWE4TW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 28, 2025

The shooting came alive for Phoenix in the second quarter, and the defensive pressure picked up with it. Pelicans head coach James Borrego picked up a technical after a play where Dillon Brooks bumped Trey Murphy on the way to a shot. Murphy did not get the call, and Borrego made sure the officials heard about it. Devin Booker missed the technical free throw for those keeping notes at home.

The whistle that hurt Phoenix last night, especially in the third quarter, but it tilted their way a bit in the second. New Orleans was called for five personal fouls. Phoenix had four. For the half, the Suns attempted 9 free throws. The Pelicans attempted 10. Even when it feels like you are getting help, the margin is thin.

Saddiq Bey drove baseline with Booker defending and Book was whistled for a foul. Jordan Ott challenged the call with 2:18 left in the second and Phoenix trailing 45 to 41. The challenge was unsuccessful.

Phoenix outscored New Orleans 33-22 in the quarter, shooting 54% from the field and 6-of-10 from three. The Pelicans shot 32% overall and 1-of-6 from deep. Collin Gillespie led the way, knocking down four threes in the quarter and scoring 12 points in the period. He led all scorers at halftime with 15.

Mark Williams gave Phoenix a huge lift off the bench, finishing the half with 10 points and 7 rebounds, all of them on the offensive glass.

At the break, the Suns held a 65–55 lead.

Mark Williams has 7 rebounds in 10 minutes.

ALL of them are offensive rebounds. pic.twitter.com/KafNOmF1bz

— Espo  (@Espo) December 28, 2025

Second Half​

The second half opened with exactly what you want to see. Oso Ighodaro jumped a passing lane, stripped Derik Queen, kicked it ahead to Devin Booker, and Book buried a transition three above the break. More of that. Please.

Booker, who had three fouls in the first half, quickly picked up his fourth foul, and that seemed to flip a switch for Queen. The rookie found some confidence and became more of a focal point for New Orleans on the offensive end. Phoenix also got a little loose with the ball, coughing it up three times in the first three minutes. That sloppiness opened the door. The Pelicans went on a 14-8 run in the opening four minutes and trimmed the Suns’ lead down to four, and Queen had 10 of them.

DQ is THAT guy pic.twitter.com/cjGN14fJ94

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 28, 2025

As the quarter wore on, the Pelicans’ offense settled into its familiar routine. Give the ball to Zion and let him try to bulldoze his way into the paint.

With 2:06 left in the third and the Suns holding an 87-83 lead, things boiled over. Jose Alvarado started pushing and shoving Mark Williams. It escalated quickly. Jersey grabs. Wild swings. Williams threw a couple of defensive swats to get Alvarado off of him. Officials stepped in, and both players were ejected for fighting.

It almost felt intentional on Alvarado’s part. Williams had been a real problem for New Orleans, and suddenly, there was a scuffle that guaranteed a double ejection. Alvarado knew it too. Once it was over, he sprinted straight down the tunnel, fully aware of how that was ending.

Jose Alvarado knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t trying to win a fight. He was trying to win an ejection. Took his shot at Mark Williams and hoped the refs did the rest https://t.co/C2WSOzpBbb

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

It was a clunky third quarter. The Suns turned it over 6 times, and those mistakes turned into 9 points for New Orleans. If not for the three-point shooting, Phoenix might have let the game slip right there along with the ball. The Suns went 5-of-11 from deep in the quarter, which kept things steady.

New Orleans edged the period 30-28, but Phoenix still walked into the fourth with an eight-point cushion, up 93-85.

The non-Booker minutes were always going to matter to open the fourth, and they ended up being a wash. Both teams went 10 to 10 with Devin Booker on the bench, which kept everything steady.

Rasheer Fleming delivered an absolute gem on the defensive end, skying for a block on fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears. It was clean. All ball. Unfortunately, the officials saw it differently and sent Fears to the line. Still, clip it and save it. Fleming is an outstanding athlete, and moments like that keep showing up.

Rasheer Fleming with the CLEANEST block you've ever seen, and the refs called it a foul pic.twitter.com/YPFEXED11x

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) December 28, 2025

After the scuffle in the third quarter, the officials were clearly on high alert for anything extra. Nick Richards ended up with a technical foul, and I am still not entirely sure what prompted it. One of those moments where the whistle felt ready before the action even arrived.

Where would the Suns be without Jamaree Bouyea? He poured in 10 points in the fourth quarter. But the Pelicans refused to go quietly, and Trey Murphy kept punishing Phoenix from deep. With 4:30 left in the fourth, he drilled a huge three that trimmed the Suns’ lead down to three and cranked the tension back up.

With under five minutes to go, the margin sat inside five points, which meant we were officially in clutch time. Phoenix came into the night with the third-highest offensive rating in those moments, and it showed. Devin Booker delivered five massive points inside the three-minute mark, and the defense followed suit. The Suns stretched the lead to 7 with two minutes left. Then Dillon Brooks buried a huge 16-footer to make it 9, and at that point, it finally felt like the game was tilting their way for good.

Suns win 123-114.

---

Up Next​

The road trip continues on Monday as the Suns head to the nation’s capital to take on the Wizards.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...hree-point-shooting-adjustments-mark-williams

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Thread: Suns and Pelicans, Part Duex

Game 31: Suns at Pelicans.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...thread-suns-and-pelicans-part-duex-discussion

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Mark Williams suspended one game for altercation with Jose Alvarado

The Phoenix Suns will be without their starting center in Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards.

Center Mark Williams has been suspended one game for the altercation that took place in New Orleans on Saturday night. Jose Alvarado (the initiator) is suspended for two games. They were each ejected from the game following the heated exchange of elbows and fists.

The NBA is suspending New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado for two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams for one game after their fight Saturday night, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025

Williams was essentially defending himself from Alvarado and didn’t initiate any swings until he was swung at. There was some light shoving back and forth prior, but it was ultimately escalated by Alvarado, which is why he received two games.

It’s no surprise that Jose Alvarado was part of the scuffle, as his history with Phoenix has been filled with some heated moments in plenty of losses.

Looking back at this, it looks more like Williams was trying to block the punches thrown by Alvarado rather than engage in an all-out brawl. What is he supposed to do, just sit there and allow someone to swing at him?

Shams: Jose Alvarado suspended 2 games, Mark Williams suspended 1 game for fighting.pic.twitter.com/F5QPqQhQl9

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 29, 2025

The Williams suspension feels like the NBA trying to make a statement that they won’t put up with any form of fighting, removing context from the situation at hand. New Orleans did not miss Alvarado after he was ejected, and Phoenix sure did miss Williams. That was likely in part of why he started the whole thing.

Either way, these types of interactions are far more likely to occur when you get the same opponent in back-to-back nights.

Expect Oso Ighodaro to start in place of Mark Williams for the game against Washington.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...d-one-game-for-altercation-with-jose-alvarado

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker finishes 15th in first batch of NBA All-Star fan vote

The first batch of the NBA’s 2025-26 All-Star fan vote came in today.

Devin Booker is 15th in the first All-Star fan voting returns. He is behind Jamal Murray, Anthony Davis, and James Harden, among others.

Lakers' Luka Doncic and Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the NBA's first 2025-26 All-Star fan voting returns: pic.twitter.com/no0xNHMuXD

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025

Booker is the only Sun to appear on this top-20 list. He is looking to make his fifth All-Star appearance in his 11th NBA season.

Suns fans who want to make a difference: Tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 30) marks a “3-for-1 Day,” where each fan vote will count three times. The next fan voting update will be shared next Tuesday, January 6th.

Fan voting represents 50% of the vote to determine the five players from each conference to be honored as starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, with current NBA players and a media panel accounting for 25% each.

This year, All-Stars are being selected without regard to position.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-15th-in-first-batch-of-nba-all-star-fan-vote

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Balanced effort propels Suns to 115-101 victory over the Wizards

WASHINGTON — The Phoenix Suns defeated the Washington Wizards 115-101 to extend their win streak to four and improve their record 19-13 for the season. It was a balanced effort for the Suns, while Dillon Brooks led them in scoring, five players scored in double-digits tonight as the team pulled away from the scrappy Washington team in the third quarter. Brooks, Colin Gillespie and Devin Booker all had at least 20.

Phoenix remains undefeated on their road trip with one game left on it. After a slow start to the month, the Suns have won five of their last six and are on their longest winning streak since mid-November when they won five straight games.

The team has taken advantage of their easiest opponents this season. For teams currently not in the playoff or the play-in, Phoenix is now 12-2 and haven’t lost to this type of opponent since October.

Washington cut the lead down to double digits for a large part of the fourth, but thanks to strong defense and Dillon Brooks; shooting, Phoenix held on.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The two teams exchanged buckets for the first half of the first quarter. Neither team was able to create any sort of lead. The first lead of more than one possession came with 5:58 left in the first.

With the Suns injuries and suspensions, Rasheer Fleming and Nick Richards entered the game in the first quarter which is when the Wizards started to get it going. Washington went on an 8-0 run to take the largest lead of the game, but thanks to Collin Gillespie and Jamaree Bouya, Phoenix weathered the storm.

At the end of the first quarter, the Suns trailed Washington 23-22. The two teams shot a combined 17/51 from the field.

The start of the second was more back and forth from both teams. Collin Gillespie multi-level scoring matched Wizards rookie Tre Johnson’s hot shooting.

As the Suns were starting to retake the lead, after a strong layup inside, Dillon Brooks picked his 11th technical foul. Brooks is now 5 techs away from from getting a one-game suspension.

At the end of the second Phoenix started to build a but of a lead. Thanks to some triples from Jordan Goodwin and Royce O’Neale.

Second Half​

The Wizards young core really showed themselves at the beginning of the second. Tre Johnson hit a deep three and Alex Sarr was running the offense, but the Suns started to build a lead thanks to Collin Gillespie and Royce O’Neale’s shooting. Phoenix built a 15-point lead with 5:31 left in the third.

The team had a balanced scoring effort, and it was reflected in the box score: four of five starters scored in double figures by the end of the third and Jordan Goodwin had double figures off the bench. Phoenix kept their lead around 8-12 points throughout the rest of the third, leading to a 87-79 lead heading into the fourth.

After the Suns went up 13, Washington stormed back to go on a 7-0 run leading to a Jordan Ott timeout. After the timeout, the Suns took control of the game and eventually got their lead back to double digits to help them close out the game with ease.

---

Up Next​

Phoenix will head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers for their final game of 2025 and the last game of their four-game road trip.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...pels-suns-to-115-101-victory-over-the-wizards

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Schedule Watch: The fight for a playoff spot

We are 32 games deep in the 2025-26 season. There are just 50 of these things left… where has the time gone?!

Jordan Ott has done wonders with this team, leading them to six games over .500 despite several injuries to key players sprinkled in throughout the year.

Phoenix is currently sitting in the 7th seed out West with a record of 19-13. They are just 1.5 games back of the 6th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, and 2.0 games back from the Lakers and Rockets. They’re hanging around.

And now, with Nikola Jokic set to miss a month, the depleted Nuggets could be a team to watch free-fall over the next 10-15 games. Phoenix is only 3 games back from them.

December was a strange scheduling month, sandwiched between the NBA Cup and the holiday season, which threw things out of whack. The Suns survived a brutal stretch without as much damage as many anticipated, especially without Jalen Green and Devin Booker for part of that stretch.

Next 5 Games:​

The next step for the Suns to take is to play themselves out of the play-in bracket and into the top 6 to secure a playoff spot without the stress of a play-in game (or two). It doesn’t get much easier, but the key is to take it one game at a time, as they’ve done all year.

• @ Cleveland Cavaliers
• vs. Sacramento Kings
• vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• *@ Houston Rockets
• @ Memphis Grizzlies

This is a brutal 5-game stretch here. Cleveland is a tough road test to kick things off. Then, you factor in the back-to-back against the Thunder and Rockets, and things could get messy if you drop tomorrow’s game. The Kings and Grizzlies games are ones you have to take if you can’t pull off any upsets. 2-3 is acceptable, though 3-2 would be preferred.

Could we see the Suns rest Mark Williams for the first game against OKC so he’s available for the Houston one?

The Next 5 Games After That​

• vs. New York Knicks
• vs. Washington Wizards
• @ Miami Heat
• @ Detroit Pistons
• @ New York Knicks

A whole bunch of East Coast teams here, and it continues long after, with 12(!) straight games from January 9th to January 30th all coming against teams from the “other” conference. They have some more tough tests here, especially that 3-game road trip against playoff teams in Miami, Detroit, and New York.

If they come out of this 10-game stretch 5-5 or better, that’s a win in my book. Not to say that they can’t do better, but staying afloat despite tough stretches is the name of the game to set themselves up for a big run in February/March.

Jalen Green’s status is something every Suns fan will be monitoring closely as well. If they can get him back halfway through this stretch, that’s a morale boost that could lift them higher. His return will require a bit of a learning curve with how to make him work in their system, as it does for any player returning from an injury for an extended stretch. I’m not overly concerned on that front.

This 10-game stretch won’t make or break the season, but it’s filled with another set of tests for the fun Suns team.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...s-schedule-watch-the-fight-for-a-playoff-spot

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Jalen Green’s praising of Collin Gillespie came with a $25,000 fine

The NBA announced that Jalen Green was fined $25k after using profanity in the team’s on-court live television interview after the Suns’ win over the Washington Wizards Monday.

Injured Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green fined $25K "for using profanity when interrupting a teammate’s live television interview" after 115-101 win Dec. 29 at Washington. #Suns pic.twitter.com/8Wtn00fMx4

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 30, 2025

Green, out since November 8th with a right hamstring strain, interrupted Collin Gillepsie’s postgame interview with Suns sideline reporter Amanda Pflugrad to show his teammate love after he had his second-highest scoring game of his career and knocked down 25 points to lead Phoenix to a 115-101 win over the Washington Wizards for their fourth-straight win.

Jalen Green fined $25K for using profanity when interrupting a live television interview.pic.twitter.com/bwqLDTkMwA

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 30, 2025

While his words may have cost Green some change, many people enjoyed the postgame interview and the camaraderie that the team displayed during it. During the interview, Dillon Brooks also interrupted Gillespie’s interview to call him “Mr. Consistent.” Phoenix has won four-straight and their 19-13 start has surprised many fans and pundits.

The vibes have quite literally never been better pic.twitter.com/nAIrWasL7w

— Erik Ruby (@ErikRuby) December 30, 2025

THIS TEAM pic.twitter.com/InGKXkSYvj

— Cage (@ridiculouscage) December 30, 2025

While Green will remain out for the team’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s expected to re-evaluated early in January and could make his return to the court in the next month, but he’ll be doing it with $25,000 less in his bank account.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ng-of-collin-gillespie-came-with-a-25000-fine

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Is Dillon Brooks on his way to the best season of his career?

Arriving this summer with the heavy task of replacing Kevin Durant, the Canadian — long criticized around the NBA for his style and his loud mouth — is somehow nailing the assignment. Sure, it’s less lethal and less flashy than the Slim Reaper, but his impact on the game, the locker room, and the team’s culture is undeniable. I said it, I hoped for it: that he would take a step forward.

And after 32 games, 26 of which he has played in, we can safely say we’re watching the best version of Dillon Brooks we’ve ever seen.

---

What do the statistical trends show?​

In an offensive role with far more responsibility, Dillon Brooks is posting a career‑high Usage Rate at 27.2%, a +10% jump compared to his last two seasons in Houston. And he’s having his biggest volume season ever: over 17 field‑goal attempts per game, including 7.2 from three.

Typically, when usage increases, efficiency decreases. But for Dillon, that’s…not really the case. Well, not entirely. His overall efficiency has reached a new peak with 57 TS% and 97 TS+. It’s below league average, but for a guy taking 15+ shots a night, that’s honestly not bad.

Dillon Brooks 25‑26

• 27.2% usage (career high)
• 17 FGA per game
• 7.2 threes attempted
• 57 TS% / 97 TS+ (ch)
• 55% on 2s (ch)
• 50% midrange (90th pct)
• 73% at the rim… but only 15% frequency
• 13 games with +20pts

The best version of himself.

— P| #WorldBFree (@PanoTheCreator) December 29, 2025

Where he’s really exploded is inside the arc: 55% on two‑pointers this season compared to 49% for his career. Free throws and threes follow the classic rule — more shots, less efficiency — but again, nothing catastrophic. The paradox is that he’s actually better on “bad shots”: 46% midrange frequency for 50% accuracy (90th and 78th percentile in the NBA). Meanwhile, he’s finishing at 73% in the restricted area…but only goes there 15% of the time.

So what’s causing these changes?​

First, his new role.

He’s no longer a secondary option or a guy waiting in the corner or at 45°. He’s a primary ball‑handler, right next to Devin Booker. I’m not teaching you anything here: Dillon Brooks is our second offensive option this season. You may applaud this analysis: more usage means more shots. Very good Pano.

Then, there’s the guy who left, the greatest midrange shooter in NBA history. Kevin Durant in Phoenix was taking 55% of his shots from midrange and hitting 52% of them. And on top of that, our offensive style has radically changed: less isolation, less static sets, less star‑system basketball. More ball movement, more motion offense, more good‑quality threes, and a better rim frequency, something we had lost since Ayton left.

Put all of that together, and Dillon ends up inheriting the spots KD left behind. And it’s not just a visual impression or a narrative bias: the Suns’ 2025‑26 season confirms this exact redistribution of responsibilities.

With Durant gone, Phoenix lost its midrange metronome, the guy who could create a clean shot at any moment. And even though the offense has modernized with more movement, more drive‑and‑kick, more spacing, the system still naturally produces possessions where someone has to punish the defense in the in‑between areas. Those shots don’t disappear. They just change hands. And the hand taking them now belongs to Dillon Brooks.

In short, Brooks didn’t replace Durant’s talent, but he replaced his function. And in the Suns’ 25‑26 offensive context, that’s exactly what the team needed.

---

And defensively, where does Dillon Brooks stand?​

If his offense surprises, his defense reassures. And more than that: it structures the team.

Since he arrived, Phoenix has regained something it hadn’t really had since Mikal Bridges: a wing who takes the opponent’s best perimeter player every single night without ever backing down.

His “matchup difficulty” and “defensive positional versatility” scores say it all: 99th and 97th percentile this season. Behind the provocative persona hides one of the most versatile defenders in the league, with a defensive task list as long as a Christmas Eve grocery list.

Looking at his 25 main matchups this season (based on possessions defended), Dillon Brooks has battled stars like LeBron James, Trey Murphy, Anthony Edwards, James Harden, SGA, and even Amen Thompson; players with wildly different profiles and roles. It highlights his defensive versatility and his reputation as a guy who refuses no challenge, whether it’s a slasher, a creator, or the MVP of the league.

What stands out the most isn’t just his individual level — which is no longer up for debate — but the contagious effect he has on the group. The Suns defend harder, longer, and more collectively. Rotations are sharper, closeouts more aggressive, communication louder. Brooks is a constant reminder that this team wants to win through effort, discipline, and physicality.

---

Dillon Brooks isn’t just having the best season of his career. He’s having the season that redefines who he is, and who the Suns want to be. At almost 30 years old, players don’t “progress” in the traditional sense anymore. The evolution comes from details, from role changes, from decision‑making. And Dillon Brooks chose to put himself at the service of the collective.

Because what represents him best isn’t his game, his trash‑talk, or even his defense — it’s his ability to change the culture of a team.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ason-kevin-durant-replacement-defense-culture

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Thread: The Suns close the year in Cleveland

Game 33: Suns at Cavaliers.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...s-close-the-year-in-cleveland-cavs-discussion

 

[Zedster]

Nice recap on the Wizards game. Good to see the balanced scoring effort paying off - that's been one of the more encouraging aspects of this Suns team compared to previous years. Five guys in double figures is exactly what you need when facing tougher opponents down the stretch.

The Dillon Brooks analysis is interesting. I'll admit I was skeptical when he came over, but the numbers don't lie. That defensive versatility chart is pretty telling - guarding everyone from LeBron to SGA to slashers like Amen Thompson is no small task. The midrange efficiency filling that KD void makes sense too, even if it's not quite the same level of shot creation.

That upcoming schedule is rough though. Cleveland tonight, then OKC and Houston on a back-to-back? That's a gauntlet. The Cavs have been rolling all season and playing them on the road to close out the year is no easy task.

The Jalen Green fine is hilarious honestly. $25k for hyping up your teammate on live TV. The league is so weird about this stuff. At least it shows the chemistry is there - that postgame interview with Brooks calling Gillespie "Mr. Consistent" was genuinely fun to watch. Team seems to actually like each other which hasn't always been the case with Suns rosters.

Hoping they can steal one in Cleveland tonight but I'd be happy if they just keep it competitive. 2-3 through this next five game stretch would be solid given the competition.