RSS Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

A look at what the rest of the Pacific Division did this offseason

Over the last five seasons, the Phoenix Suns lead the Pacific Division in total wins by 11 games. Despite their recent success, due to a failed Big Three experiment and poor asset management, the Valley is projected to win the least amount of games in their division according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with a lot of that being contributed to how they operated this offseason.

While it was a hectic and eventful offseason in Phoenix, here’s how the rest of their division behaved this offseason:

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Los Angeles Lakers​

Biggest Move: Extending Luka Dončić

Most Controversial Move: Signing Deandre Ayton

Biggest Loss: Dorian Finney-Smith

By extending Dončić and preventing him from hitting unrestricted free agency a year from now, the Lakers solidified their spot as a perennial playoff contender by employing one of the league’s best shot creators and play makers long term. While tensions with LeBron James appeared to be high earlier in the offseason, those have seemed to fizzle down. Los Angeles beefed their center position by signing the former Sun in Ayton, questions continue to hover around if he is the right person to play alongside Dončić and Reaves because of his motor and defensive impact.

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Golden State Warriors​

Biggest Move: N/A

Most Controversial Move: N/A

Biggest Loss: Kevon Looney

Yep, that’s right. The Golden State Warriors have done absolutely nothing this free agency period. Outside of their two second round selections, Golden State has had one of the quietest off-seasons in NBA history, all due to their standoff with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. If the Warriors sign other free agents, it could hard cap them to sign Kuminga, so they’re expected to fill out their roster once a solution with him is finalized. A resolution is expected soon, but as of right now, nothing has changed.

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Los Angeles Clippers​

Biggest Move: Trading for John Collins

Most Controversial Move: Signing Bradley Beal

Biggest Loss: Norman Powell

The Clippers were one of the most active teams this offseason. Slated to have one of the oldest teams in NBA history, Lob City projects to be one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Signing Brook Lopez and swapping Norman Powell for John Collins, they upgraded their size and have multiple floor spacing bigs. Signing Chris Paul and Bradley Beal add ball handling that they lost with Powell, but with both of their injury histories, it is yet to be seen how consistent of contributors they will be.

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Sacramento Kings​

Biggest move: Signing Dennis Schröder

Most Controversial Move: Hiring Doug Christie as head coach

Biggest Loss: Jonas Valunčiūnas

The Kings had a generally quiet offseason. Hiring Christie once they were eliminated from the play-in tournament, the Kings are bringing most of their roster back from a season ago, but now have the biggest replacement for De’Aaron Fox since they traded him back in February with Schröder. Expect 7’1” rookie Maxine Raynaud to replace Valunćiūnas at backup center, providing them with more youth in their rotation.

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All told, the Pacific Division reshaped itself in distinct ways. The Lakers secured Luka Dončić while gambling on Deandre Ayton’s consistency. The Warriors practically stood still, their silence louder than any move. The Clippers doubled down on veteran depth, trading youth for experience and rolling the dice on injury-prone stars. The Kings, meanwhile, leaned on continuity, putting Doug Christie in charge and handing the keys of stability to Dennis Schröder.

Each path signals a different vision for contention. Which of these offseason shifts do you believe will echo the loudest once the games begin?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...rades-lakers-warriors-clippers-kings-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: The Mercury ended the New York Liberty’s title defense in dramatic playoff fashion

The Phoenix Mercury entered their first-round playoff series against the defending champion New York Liberty with the odds stacked against them. Few expected them to advance, and most national analysts picked New York to roll through.

But on Friday night in Phoenix, the Mercury flipped the script. In front of a fired-up home crowd for a decisive Game 3, the Mercury stunned the Liberty 79–73 to knock out the reigning champs and punch their ticket to the next round.

Like we said, Mercury vs. Everybody.

(Except for Sean Hurd) pic.twitter.com/WJeAGzSLTZ

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 20, 2025

Alyssa Thomas once again set the tone, recording yet another triple-double and further cementing her place in the history books. She now owns five of the seven total triple-doubles in WNBA playoff history, a staggering testament to her dominance.

With Thomas leading the way, the Mercury weathered New York’s push and sent the Liberty packing, closing the door on their repeat hopes. Breanna Stewart gave it her all, scoring 30 points for the Liberty, but 20 points from Thomas and 23 points from Satou Sabally were enough to give Phoenix the win. DeWanna Bonner had 8 rebounds off the bench, which passed Candace Parker for the most playoff rebounds in WNBA history.

With 8 rebounds tonight in the @PhoenixMercury’s win, DeWanna Bonner passes Candace Parker (610) for 1st all on the Playoffs rebounds list #WelcometotheW

WNBA Playoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/cUKnJTIl3v

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2025

For Phoenix, it was more than just an upset win. It was a statement and proof that they’re far from finished in these playoffs.

Their reward? A date with the league’s best. The Mercury now turn their attention to the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA’s top seed and a team that gave Phoenix fits all season long. The Mercury went just 1–3 against Minnesota in the regular season, setting the stage for an uphill battle in the semifinals.

Game 1 tips off Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Minnesota, airing nationally on ESPN.

Congratulations to the Mercury for punching their ticket to the WNBA Semifinals. And for proving once again that postseason basketball is all about belief, resilience, and timely execution.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...rty-wnba-playoffs-alyssa-thomas-triple-double

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: The Mercury looked ready to steal Game 1 until the Lynx flipped the script

The playoffs are unforgiving. They expose cracks, magnify mistakes, and punish hesitation. When you’re facing the top seed in the league, there’s no room for slippage. On Sunday afternoon, the Phoenix Mercury slipped, and the Minnesota Lynx made sure they paid for it, winning 82–69, in a game that swung not with a single moment, but with the slow, inevitable tide of adjustments.

For a half, the Mercury looked like they belonged. They threw haymakers in the paint, bullied their way to 42 of their 47 first-half points inside, and carried a seven-point lead into the break despite shooting an icy 13% from deep. It was gritty, it was physical, it was the kind of basketball that had Minnesota off balance.

“She gotta guard me too”

TALK YOUR TALK, AT pic.twitter.com/mZHx2CRwWF

— PHNX Mercury (@PHNX_Mercury) September 21, 2025

Then the script flipped.

The Lynx turned Phoenix’s strength into weakness, collapsing the lanes, gobbling up rebounds, and flipping the math. The second half was a clinic for Minnesota: 22–12 in the paint, 10 second-chance points, 11–0 in transition. The Mercury’s foundation crumbled, their rhythm dissolved, and what felt like control quickly turned into survival.

Courtney Williams was the dagger. Relentless and precise, she poured in 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting, sprinkled in seven assists, and steered Minnesota to a 1–0 series lead that never felt in doubt once the momentum shifted.

Courtney Williams masterclass today in an 82-69 Game 1 win against the Mercury:

23 points
11-19 FG
8 rebounds
7 assists
5 steals
+11 pic.twitter.com/XTT4fK0r2p

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 21, 2025

Phoenix, meanwhile, lived on the wrong end of variance, finishing just 3-of-23 from beyond the arc. You can win a half on grit alone, but you can’t win a series shooting like that. Not against the number one seed. Not in the playoffs.

“They really did a good job in the second half, to hold us to 22 points, they turned it up on that end,” Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbets stated after the Game 1 loss. “Obviously, we didn’t shoot it very well from three, that was another factor, but yeah, they did what they were supposed to do.”

The semifinals are not like the first round, which was a best-of-3 series. It’s a best-of-five. Game 2 will be in Minnesota on Tuesday night at 4:30pm Arizona time and on ESPN.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...lynx-wnba-playoffs-2025-game-1-recap-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

40 Questions Suns fans can’t wait to ask on Media Day

For most of the NBA, Media Day doesn’t hit until September 29. But Suns fans won’t have to wait that long. Because Phoenix is one of the few teams traveling overseas this preseason, the organization gets a head start on the league calendar, with Media Day officially tipping off September 23. We are two days away.

Yay for Suns fans!

It might only be 6 days earlier, but after a summer of rumors, roster shake-ups, and that endless stretch of July and August with nothing but comment-section debates to tide us over (and we thank John Voita for getting us through it yet again), those six days feel like a delicious valley-centric headstart we deserve. For you humble, long-suffering, and comely Suns fans, it means an early peek at new faces and the first chance to see how the 2025–26 campaign begins to take shape.

Media Day might feature a baseline of staged photos and soundbites; however, it’s the unofficial opening to the season. It’s the place where optimism is tested, narratives are launched, and the long grind of the year ahead first comes into focus. As a fan base, we get the opportunity to hear what the playing group, the coaches, and the front office have to say about the state of things, where they’ve been and where they’re headed. If not literally, then perhaps metaphorically.

And with everything new in Phoenix (from the front office to the sidelines to the roster itself), there might not be a fanbase in the league hungrier to hear what’s next.

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The First Words From a New Era​

So, what kind of questions would we love to hear answers to?

You likely have a short list already going, and keep that close at hand. We’ll want you to share your thoughts shortly. Below, though, I’ve gone on the hunt for questions and have compiled a list of questions that may (or may not) be of interest to Suns fans. Ideally, we’d love to hear anything that the entire Suns organization has to say at this point.

As you meditate on the questions below, consider which player specifically you’d love to hear answers from. Perhaps it’s more than one?!

The Roster: Fitting the Pieces Together​

Training camp is about more than conditioning; it’s about chemistry. With so many new faces in Phoenix, fans will want to know:

1. What’s the energy like in the locker room heading into camp?
2. How would you describe the Suns’ identity right now?
3. Who’s the loudest voice in practices so far?
4. What’s one word you’d use to describe this year’s Suns team?
5. Which teammate surprised you most when you first got on the court with them?

Role definition matters too — especially with a deep guard and wing rotation:

1. How do you see yourself fitting alongside Devin Booker?
2. What specific skills do you think you bring that the Suns needed last season?
3. For the new guys — what part of the playbook are you picking up quickest?
4. For returners — what feels most different about this camp compared to last year?
5. Who do you expect to guard most in practice — and how does that sharpen you?

And then there’s growth. Every fan wants to know who’s leveling up:

1. What did you focus on most in your offseason training?
2. Which young player is going to surprise fans this season?
3. How do you handle balancing your own goals with team goals?
4. For the rookies — what’s the biggest adjustment so far?
5. For vets — how do you keep camp fresh after so many years?

Finally, some fun — because personality is just as much part of the season as stat sheets:

1. Who’s the funniest teammate in the locker room?
2. What’s the go-to pregame playlist or song this season?
3. Who’s the most competitive at non-basketball activities (cards, video games, etc.)?
4. If you weren’t playing basketball, what would you be doing today?
5. Who’s going to surprise fans with a breakout moment this season?

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The Coaching Staff: Setting the Tone​

New head coach Jordan Ott enters his first Suns camp with plenty of eyes on him. What he chooses to emphasize now will define the season later.

1. What’s the biggest emphasis you’re setting in training camp?
2. How do you balance minutes for such a deep wing rotation?
3. What does an ideal Suns pace of play look like to you?
4. How do you envision staggering Devin Booker with the bench unit?
5. What’s your approach to developing younger players while competing to win now?

But Media Day isn’t just about Xs and Os. It’s about philosophy:

1. How do you instill accountability across such a diverse roster?
2. What’s the one thing you want this team to be known for defensively?
3. How do you personally define a “successful season”?
4. What’s the most important lesson you’ve carried into your first Suns camp?
5. Which assistant coach do the players respond to most strongly?

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The Front Office & Ownership: The Bigger Picture​

When the cameras swing to GM Brian Gregory and owner Mat Ishbia, the focus shifts to vision.

1. What’s the long-term vision for this roster core?
2. How much input did players like Booker have in shaping offseason moves?
3. How do you balance chasing a championship now with building for the future?
4. What does success look like in Year 1 of this new roster construction?
5. What’s your message to Suns fans about where the team is heading?

And sometimes, a little levity matters too:

1. What’s your favorite part about Media Day?
2. What has surprised you most about building an NBA roster from the inside?
3. For Ishbia, do you still get competitive urges to jump into practices?
4. If you could play one position on this Suns roster, which would it be?
5. What makes Phoenix a unique basketball city compared to others in the league?

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And there you have it, a cheat-sheet of sorts for your Media Day listening pleasure! It would be great to hear questions such as these asked of the players, coaches, and front office of our favorite basketball team.

Why Media Day Matters​

Media Day is about answers and interaction. It’s about opening the curtain and reminding fans that the long summer is over. It’s the start of a season of hopes, frustrations, comebacks, and surprises. And, as Dan-Fly would say, “there’s only 3 days to go!”

So, your turn! Drop your comments below.

(1) What questions would you love to ask/have answered?

(2) What kind of answers would you love to hear given on Media Day?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...estions-roster-coach-gm-jordan-ott-mat-ishbia

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: How high can the Suns climb?

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.

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Less than two weeks from the Phoenix Suns’ preseason beginning, it is time for some predictions from you all! After an offseason full of turnover, both on the roster and in the front office, the Suns have a completely new team compared to a season ago.

Devin Booker is still leading the team, but Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are on the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers respectively, and despite being projected to win around 46-47 games last season according to most sportsbooks, the Valley’s over under is set at 31.5 for the 2025-2026 campaign on FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Valley’s squad, compared to a season ago, is younger and less proven. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Mark Williams are all under 30 and have no all-star appearances between the three of them, and all of them are projected to play some of the largest roles of their careers as starters. Additionally, rookies and sophomores Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Flemin,g and Ryan Dunn all look to play significant roles this year all while first-time head coach Jordan Ott runs the show.

Many analysts have the Suns finishing near the bottom of the Western Conference, attributing it to the depth that the Western Conference has and the talent downgrades the team made. But what if everything goes right for the Suns? Alongside Devin Booker returning to an All-NBA player, what if Jalen Green and Mark Williams blossom in their new roles with a new team, Dillon Brooks plays at an All-Defensive level, and the young players are able to contribute at a more consistent level than anticipated? Where would the team be in the standings?

If everything goes right for the Suns, how many games can they win this season? 30,40,50, 60 wins? What do you think? Additionally, what needs to go right for the Suns to achieve their ceiling?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...survey-devin-booker-jalen-green-dillon-brooks

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Steve Nash joins the Phoenix Suns as Senior Advisor

The Phoenix Suns are bringing back a legend to the organization. MVSteve. The heartbeat of Phoenix for many years and the reason many folks became Suns fans in the first place.

Mat Ishbia took to social media to announce the return of Nash to the Suns’ organization, stating, “Steve Nash was an amazing player and exactly what the Phoenix Suns are all about. His grit, toughness, and winning mentality have defined our organization in the past, and I’m so excited to share that Steve is formally joining the

@Suns as a senior advisor and will help us define our future for years to come!”

Steve Nash was an amazing player and exactly what the Phoenix Suns are all about. His grit, toughness, and winning mentality have defined our organization in the past, and I’m so excited to share that Steve is formally joining the @Suns as a senior advisor and will help us define… pic.twitter.com/cm1VkMrBtv

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) September 22, 2025

Nash, 51, has had quite the ride since retiring from the league in 2015.

He worked as a consultant for the Golden State Warriors, then as the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets, and was preparing for a media career as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video and a co-host on the Mind the Game podcast with LeBron James. He also maintains roles as a co-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team and has a philanthropic foundation.

PHNX’s Greg Esposito said, “Everything I’ve heard is that changes nothing in terms of the Amazon role. Will be interesting to see how much he truly will be involved.”

Steve Nash was expected to join Amazon Prime's broadcast team this season.

He was set to join former teammate Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin on set.

Not sure if this deal changes any of that. Interesting little subplot to follow.

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) September 22, 2025

The two-time MVP and Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor inductee should provide a strong voice in the Suns front office. The advisor title gives him some flexibility to be involved in whatever capacity he (and the team) are comfortable with, with the ability to scale up eventually.

A Suns legend forever in our hearts. Welcome back to the Valley, Steve.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...s-senior-advisor-mat-ishbia-announcement-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

3 reasons the Phoenix Suns won’t make the Playoffs

We strive to provide a balanced mix of optimism, pessimism, and pure analysis covering the Phoenix Suns.

Bright Side’s Kevin just poured in some optimism, providing 3 reasons to be optimistic that the Suns will make the playoffs. Now, it’s my job to be the Debbie Downer and play devil’s advocate. I know, I know. There’s already plenty of “negative” coverage surrounding the Suns.

I try to view this from the lens of skepticism and pessimism, with the hope of being completely wrong. These are the flaws that many outsiders and skeptics see.

I’m in the camp that we need to be proven wrong and have the right to be cautious with any sort of optimism after how the past several seasons have gone. They owe it to us to prove us wrong.

Here are three reasons the Suns will miss the playoffs this season.

#1) Devin Booker and Jalen Green simply do not work together​

This is a possibility you must brace yourselves for. There is no telling how this duo works together until we see it. It could be a home run, and they pleasantly surprise us with their ability to play off of one another. Or, it could be a disaster with too much overlap.

This is the most important piece to this Suns puzzle this season. If they exceed expectations, it starts with these two guys. If it falls apart, it’s likely because this duo didn’t click. Sure, “the others” matter — but this is the needle mover.

My main concerns are about the playmaking (or lack thereof), the defensive issues, and the overlap in their games. I’m not saying Jalen Green is Bradley Beal 2.0, but there are a lot of similarities in their games strictly from a “role” perspective. How will this pairing be any different? That’s a question Jordan Ott will have to address early on to make it work.

For Jalen Green, it’s been 3 years of shaky decision-making, streaky scoring, and subpar defense. If he doesn’t make “the leap” (and many guards never do), Phoenix could find itself relying on an inefficient volume scorer who doesn’t elevate teammates. If he plateaus, the Suns just traded for a name rather than a difference-maker, and their ceiling drops hard. We are hoping that is not the case.

Booker needs to show improvement from long range. He’s coming off a season where he shot 33.2% from deep on career-high volume. Nearly half the year, he was a non-factor from long range. 37 games under 30% from three, 25 games with one or fewer makes. That’s not a small-sample slump. That’s inconsistency. If he hovers closer to last year’s number than his MVP-candidate 2021–22 splits, Phoenix’s offense simply doesn’t have the firepower to hang with playoff teams.

That is an area we need to see improvement in next season with an increased workload. The playmaking and playing off-ball will also be huge next to Green.

For this duo to mesh, Green’s playmaking and efficiency must improve, and Booker has to help stretch the floor and play on and off-ball efficiently.

#2) The West is too good​

Simply put, the lack of talent compared to their peers could doom them. The West is loaded with not only elite teams, but there’s a large chunk of talented teams, and even some of the lower-end teams will be sneaky good and competitive. In other words, there will be very few “easy wins” for anyone.

If Phoenix were in the East, this would be an entirely different discussion. But… they are not. ESPN (somewhat) recently released its forecast for the season, picking the Suns to finish 13th overall with 30 wins.

The Thunder, Rockets, Nuggets, Wolves, and Clippers look like the top dogs, with talented teams like the Lakers, Warriors, Mavs, Spurs, and Grizzlies lurking. That’s already 10 teams there alone, and then you factor in the sneaky talented Blazers and Kings, and you realize how deep the West is.

No easy nights. The Suns will be tested on a nightly basis. Phoenix needs to avoid letting it spiral or snowball during those tough stretches.

#3) Dillon Brooks Is Not a Cure-All for the Defense​

I still have some concerns over this defense as a whole. Dillon Brooks brings attitude, hustle, and an edge. Nobody’s disputing that.

He’s not the kind of defensive anchor who single-handedly drags a unit from bottom-10 to playoff caliber. He shouldn’t be responsible for that type of overahul. In Houston, the Rockets improved defensively, but that was also tied to Alperen Şengün’s growth and a coach (Ime Udoka) who demanded buy-in across the roster on a far younger and more athletic team. Phoenix doesn’t have that infrastructure yet… though they are trying to build toward that.

If Brooks is forced to cover for lapses everywhere else, his impact shrinks. And offensively, he can still be a black hole who hijacks possessions. Phoenix has a good start in building this identity with Ryan Dunn and Dillon Brooks, but the real question comes down to who else guards on the perimeter and who takes over as the defensive anchor?

Mark Williams has the chops, but hasn’t put it all together yet. We all know about the health issues, too. If he stays on the court, he has to be that guy for the Suns to make a defensive leap.

Phoenix is banking on a lot of “ifs”.

They need Booker and Green to blossom together. Brooks needs to get some serious help to elevate the defense. They have to take care of business in the tough Western Conference. But if even one of those bets fails, the Suns are staring at another sub-500 season and watching the Play-In from home.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-jalen-green-dillon-brooks-western-conference

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Phoenix delivers historic rally and forces a deadlock with Minnesota

After dropping Game 1, when the Lynx flipped the script with a dominant second half, the Phoenix Mercury answered with a script-flip of their own Tuesday night. Phoenix clawed back from a 16-point halftime deficit to force overtime and ultimately claim an 89–83 win, evening the series at 1–1.

Minnesota looked every bit the top seed in the opening half. Napheesa Collier poured in 17 points, Kayla McBride added 11, and Courtney Williams chipped in 10 as the Lynx built a 48–32 lead. Phoenix didn’t help themselves either, coughing up nine turnovers to Minnesota’s four.

But the second half belonged to the Mercury. Phoenix forced 11 Lynx turnovers and converted them into 16 points. They outscored Minnesota 47–31 after the break, fueled by 8-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. That surge pushed the game into overtime, where Alyssa Thomas took over, scoring 7 of Phoenix’s 10 points in the extra frame to seal the victory.

Satou Sabally led the Mercury with 24 points, while Thomas added 19 points and 13 assists in her standout performance. Being down 20, it was the third-largest comeback in WNBA playoff history.

When the moment demanded, they delivered.

AT and Satou scored 48% of the team's 89 points in tonight's overtime win. pic.twitter.com/uhShYWCk6d

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 24, 2025

“I think it just says we’re very resilient. We’re a tough group,” head coach Nate Tibbets said after the game. “It would have been very easy for us to give-in tonight. A lot of teams would’ve.”

With the series now tied, the action shifts to Phoenix. Game 3 tips off Friday at 6:30 p.m. at PHX Arena, with momentum up for grabs in this pivotal matchup.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ba-playoffs-game-2-comeback-overtime-win-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Open Thread: Suns Media Day

It’s here. Finally, it’s here. Phoenix Suns Media Day has arrived.

No matter where you stand on this team — optimist, pessimist, or somewhere in between — you can’t help but feel a spark today. Media Day is that moment when hope kicks in. When you let yourself imagine the possibilities, however wild they might be.

This is our first real chance to see the squad together, to hear their voices, to feel the energy of a new season. The front office reshaped this roster all summer. We know the climb ahead won’t be easy (it rarely is) but today isn’t about the grind. It’s about the fresh start.

Basketball season is almost here. The weather’s turning, the vibes are good, and the Valley is ready.

So let’s dive in. Suns Media Day begins at 10 AM, and you can watch it right here. Jump into the chat and share your thoughts as the first chapter of this season gets written.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-news/89553/open-thread-suns-media-day

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Player Preview Anthology: The 2025-26 Phoenix Suns

Media Day is tomorrow. The first real introduction to your 2025–26 Phoenix Suns. It’s our first chance to see the newly acquired players donning the purple and orange, to put faces to names, and to start shaping expectations for the season ahead.

For the past month, our Bright Side writing team has been pounding the keyboards, breaking down every player on the roster. We’ve looked at where they’ve been, where they might fit now, and where this season could take them. I don’t say it enough, but thank you to our team for the work they’ve put in. It shows, and it matters.

So here it is: the Suns roster, gift-wrapped. As you’re watching Media Day tomorrow, if a player pops on the screen and you find yourself wondering, “Who’s that guy?”, we’ve got you covered. Below are our predictions for each member of the team.

How accurate will we be? Time, as always, will tell.

Devin Booker​

Per Holden Sherman:

I think Booker will have a strong season, averaging around what he usually does, having a slight uptick in scoring, but his impact will go beyond the scoreboard. His influence on rookies Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea, and Rasheer Fleming will be what makes it a great year for him, not how many 40-point double-doubles he has.

In a time of retooling and realignment for the Valley, Booker needs to spearhead the way, and will do so for the 2025-26 season, and in the process break Tom Chambers’ single-season record for points per game in a season he set at 27.2.

Stat Prediction: 73 games played, 28.4 PPG, 7.0 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG on 48/37/87 shooting splits

Jalen Green​

Per Brandon Duenas:

I think Green will have a strong season. Stronger than the skeptics believe, and he fits better next to Booker than you’d think on the surface. That being said, I’m still not sold on the defense and ability to build a title contender with those two are your primary options. That leaves the Suns with a decision to make, especially with that much money committed to the guard duo.

Let’s roll with him playing in all 82 games again, because why put anything else into the universe?

Stat Prediction: 82 games played, 23.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/36/79 shooting splits.

Dillon Brooks​

Per John Voita:

Ah yes, predictions. Trying to forecast Dillon Brooks feels slippery, because so much of his game lives outside the box score.

His value isn’t tethered to averages or percentages, it’s rooted in energy, effort, and attitude. Those are the things you feel more than you measure, and they are the things that tilt games. Still, if we’re going to attach numbers to his impact, I’ll play along.

Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 14.3 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG on 42/38/80 shooting splits

Mark Williams​

Per John Voita:

Mark Williams is one of the hardest players on this roster to project because everything hinges on that one variable: health. And if I’m being honest, I think it’s going to hold him back again this season.

The Suns know this, though. That’s why Nick Richards and Khaman Maluach are here. They’re like Geico geckos. Insurance policies in human form. Their presence means Phoenix can be patient, can give Williams the extra time he needs to get right without grinding him into dust. It’s all baked into the acquisition, part of the plan.

I don’t see him playing more than half the games. But in the ones he does play? He’ll matter. He’ll control the glass, tilt possessions, and give Phoenix the physical interior presence they’ve lacked. And for a team trying to rediscover its identity, that’s exactly where they need to start. By owning the boards.

Stat Prediction: 49 games played, 12.8 PPG, 2.1 APG, 10.8 RPG

Grayson Allen​

Per Holden Sherman:

If he’s on the team throughout the year, Allen has a defined role as the roster’s marksmen and will help both the team’s guards and bigs operate with more space. If he’s having a strong season, I think it’s more likely that he’s dealt because the Suns can clear more time for younger players and continue to recuperate all the assets that they’ve lost over the past few seasons.

If Jalen Green or Dillon Brooks are ever out of the lineup, expect Allen to take their spot and play alongside Devin Booker in the starting lineup, something he did two seasons ago. I expect a slightly better year from Allen compared to last year, with a more defined role.

Stat Prediction: 71 games played, 12.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.6 SPG on 46/43/86 shooting splits

Ryan Dunn​

Per Bruce Veliz:

With Dunn getting a bigger role within this group, I do see him taking the leap that is going to be needed for Phoenix this upcoming year. Since he is one of the best defenders on the squad, I see him prioritizing defense more than offense throughout the year. Even though that is the case, I do expect him to hvae some crazy dunks as we saw last year with Dunn soaring through the air to attack the rim. With Brooks being alongside him, I do see him being used less as a three-point scorer, but I do think in instances, he will be able to hit them when needed.

Dunn should expect the most development out of the young guys, and this will be shown with his playing time.

Stat Prediction: 78 games played, 8.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG on 45/34/53 shooting splits

Collin Gillespie​

Per Brandon Duenas:

Gillespie becomes a breath of fresh air for Suns fans clamoring about the point guard issues. I anticipate a strong season from him.

Stat Prediction: 75 games played, 8.0 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.9 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/39/85 shooting splits.

Royce O’Neale​

Per Matthew Lissy:

I don’t see Royce finishing the season with the Suns. It really comes down to how competitive this team can be in securing a top-four seed out West, a goal that feels close to impossible right now. O’Neale will be a better fit on another roster, and the Suns are likely to look for draft capital in return.

According to trade machine scenarios, the Suns could potentially land a first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks. That would be an intriguing move, as Dallas could use O’Neale’s shooting and defensive versatility to fortify their playoff push. For the Suns, recouping a first-rounder would provide a much-needed asset to balance the books and plan for the future.

Stat Prediction: 32 games played with Suns before trade, 7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 42.3% from three

Oso Ighodaro​

Per Bruce Veliz:

The last time we saw Oso Ighodaro out there on the court was the Summer League, and he impressed every Suns fan. The forward looked to be a different beast versus some weaker competition, where he could shine as one of the stars on the court. The Suns had Ighodaro playing power forward and center for this team, but were also letting him run some point forward for this team. Now this is something I don’t expect to translate into the season as much as we saw it, but it could be another facet of Ighodaro’s game that could see him get playing time. He looked more aggressive on the boards and looked more comfortable on the court with his poise on both sides of the floor. The big man can be disruptive in the paint with his long reach, and clearly was a difference for the Suns in that aspect.

Stat Prediction: 73 Games Played, 6.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, on 67/18/70 shooting splits

Nigel Hayes-Davis​

Per John Voita:

For Hayes-Davis, it’s about being an energy player every night, an intangible addition whose hustle and presence ripple beyond the box score. Every team needs that player, the one who, when called upon, gives everything they have. If he can embody that role, he’ll find success not only in his own eyes, but in the hearts of the fan base as well.

Stat Prediction: 51 Games Played, 5.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG, on 48/35/72 shooting splits

Nick Richards​

Per Matthew Lissy:

Richards will have more highlights and his stats will improve by a smidge, but that small improvement is exactly what Richards needs to gain a little more traction ot respcect in the league.

At the end of this 2025-26 season, the Suns will likely be in the hunt for a play-in seed and I think Richards will be a big part of it. Not the guy to make the winning play at the end of the game, but just enough durring the game to keep the Suns close and maning the boards like the Suns need him to.

Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 10.2 PPG and 10.6 RPG

Khaman Maluach​

Per John Voita:

I’ll predict we see more of him than originally planned, simply because Mark Williams will miss time. That’s the cost of doing business with him on your roster. Circumstance will force Maluach into the spotlight sooner than expected, but I still believe the Suns will manage his minutes with development in mind.

That word, development, keeps circling back for a reason. It was one of the key phrases Brian Gregory leaned on in his introductory press conference, and it aligns with his reputation for scouting and growth. Everything about his track record suggests a deliberate approach, one built on patience and measured opportunity. Which means Maluach will play, and he should play, but within a framework designed to nurture rather than rush.

Stat Prediction: 38 games played, 7.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.8 BLK

Rasheer Fleming​

Per Holden Sherman:

Just like his college career, I see Fleming improving as time goes on. His size and ability to space the floor, tied into the youth movement the Suns appear to be taking apart in, I see him carving a solid role for himself on the team, especially if Royce O’Neale is traded. There will definitely be some bumps, but his skill set should carry him to some solid stretches.

Stat Prediction: 70 games played, 8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG on 42/33/74 shooting splits

Isaiah Livers​

Per Luke Dacre Tynan:

The two-way contract ensures that Phoenix will start him with the Valley Suns to harden the legs and re-train the reads. Let’s call it prepping for match-fitness.

The call-ups follow if the shot is there and the positioning holds. In NBA minutes, think clean, low-usage production: corner threes, second-side drives, a rebound that ends a possession at the right time. Something like 12–15 minutes a night once he’s in, low turnovers, a threes-made ledger that keeps growing. Not splashy. Sustainable.

POTENTIAL 2025/26 SEASON STAT LINE CEILING:

33 NBA games played (and remaining healthy all season!), 16.8 Minutes Per Game (perhaps getting “decent minute” call-ups during injury windows or trade scenarios involving other wing players), 5.4 PPG (on good efficiency), 3.1 RPG, 1.1 APG

Jordan Goodwin​

Per Brandon Duenas:

Goodwin comes in and is exactly what you expect him to be. A hard-nosed guard that provides gritty play and hustles every second he’s on the court.

Stat Prediction: 65 games played, 6.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 42/33/78 shooting splits.

Jared Butler​

Per Bruce Veliz:

Ultimately, I am unsure if Butler will be on this roster, as he is on an Exhibit 9 deal and is reportedly in contention with Jordan Goodwin. That being said, even if he is here, his role will not be that expansive on this Suns team, unless the injuries come flowing like previous seasons. Therefore, if he stays, he will be that third ball handler in this rotation.

Stat Prediction: 51 Games Played 7.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, on 47/33/85 shooting splits

Koby Brea​

Per Bruce Veliz:

With Brea being on the two-way contract I am going to take that into my evaluation of his stats. If he were to get more time or a standard deal by the end of the season, his numbers could defintely be higher.

Stat Prediction: 42 Games 4.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.5 SPG on 44/41/87 shooting splits

CJ Huntley​

Per John Voita:

If you make your way down to Tempe, step through the doors of Mullett Arena, and catch a Valley Suns game or two, I’ll make you a prediction: CJ Huntley will pop. That’s the stage tailor-made for him. The G League runs like it’s plugged into a different voltage. It’s faster, looser, more chaotic, with every possession a chance to prove you belong. It’s basketball stripped of politics and rotations, a place where raw tools and effort show up immediately.

And that’s where Huntley will thrive. The athleticism, the hands, the late-bloomer confidence; those things translate in a hurry when the pace quickens and defenses aren’t fully formed. You’ll see the dunks, the blocks, the flashes of a stretch-four jumper, and for a moment you’ll let yourself wonder.

But the NBA isn’t built on flashes. Huntley’s contract makes him a two-way, and sure, that means up to 50 games with the Suns if the stars align. More likely, he’ll get a couple of call-ups here and there. Maybe when injuries pile up, maybe when the season drifts toward its finish line and experimentation sets in. Nothing more than that, at least not yet.

Stat Prediction: 5 games played, 2.1 PPG, 0.2 APG, 1.9 RPG

---

The predictions are in, and now comes the hard part: the journey back toward relevance. How will this Phoenix Suns team stack up in 2025–26? Soon enough, we’ll be rolling out our full slate of predictions. How the roster will perform, what the final record might look like, and where this group could realistically land in the Western Conference.

But that’s for later. For now, it’s simple. Media Day. The first step. The first glimpse. The start of whatever this season is going to become.

Let’s get excited.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...redictions-media-day-devin-booker-jalen-green

 

[Phoenix Suns]

3 things to watch during Suns training camp

Yep. The season is here. Yesterday, the Bright Side crew was on the ground for Media Day. We’ll have more to say about that as the week unfolds. Today, though, training camp opens. From here, the rhythm shifts into something daily. Sound bites will start to flow, patterns will begin to form, and we’ll gain the first hints of what this group might actually be.

This is the year the Suns have to walk the talk. We’ve heard an ocean of it since April, when the last version of this team collapsed under its own weight and left nothing but the acrid smoke of failure in its wake. Mat Ishbia tore it all down. A new general manager. A new head coach. A new system. Fourteen new players, younger and hungrier than what came before. With that came the buzzwords, sharp enough to cut glass: vision, alignment, identity. But training camp is where those words either grow legs or die on the page.

And camp will be more than diagrams on whiteboards or bullet points in press releases. It’s where bodies collide, chemistry sparks or fizzles, and the early shape of a season comes into focus. As Phoenix prepares for its first preseason game on October 3, here are three things worth watching as the work finally begins.

The backup to the backup point guard battle​

The Phoenix Suns brought in two players to battle for a single chair, and the music is about to start.

Point guard depth is thin, with Devin Booker and Jalen Green expected to shoulder the load in the starting lineup while third-year guard Collin Gillespie holds steady in reserve. That leaves one spot to be claimed, and both Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler are circling it with intent.

Butler arrives on a training camp and Exhibit 10 deal, a prove-it opportunity carved out of hustle and hope. Goodwin, familiar to Suns fans, carries a non-guaranteed contract that locks in come January, a reminder that his foothold is as precarious as it is promising. This is the essence of training camp: competition stripped down to its core, two guards scrapping to show they belong.

Butler turned a sliver of opportunity into production in Philadelphia last season, thriving when injuries forced the rotation open. Goodwin, meanwhile, has already worn the Phoenix jersey, though on a roster that now feels like a distant memory.

The slate has been wiped clean, and the fight is live once again.

Who earns the power forward position?​

The power forward spot has been a source of endless chatter all offseason, and if you ask the community, Ryan Dunn is already penciled in as the solution. But fan belief and coaching reality are often two very different things. The Suns enter camp with a handful of options, each carrying a unique pitch to the role.

Nigel Hayes-Davis may be the sleeper. His Media Day presence was impressive. He was measured and cerebral, the tone of a player who understands the game beyond the stat sheet. Add in a steady three-point stroke, and suddenly, you have someone who can slide into the first unit and keep the offense humming.

Then there’s Dunn. Entering his second year, he carries the defensive calling card that makes him attractive. The question is whether the offensive gaps, most notably his perimeter shot, have begun to close. Defense alone can get you on the floor, but to stay there, especially next to Booker and Green, you need to punish teams that sag off.

The rookie Rasheer Fleming brings intrigue as a developmental piece, raw but brimming with potential. And let’s not overlook the small-ball card in Dillon Brooks, who could change the geometry of the floor if the Suns choose to go that direction.

Each of these players has a case to make. The job is open, the competition real, and the answer, whatever it is, will help shape Phoenix’s identity moving into the season.

The development of the rookie class​

From the wide-angle lens, perhaps the most vital storyline of the Suns’ season isn’t about rotations or schemes, but about development. Specifically, how do you bring the rookies along? There are four of them on the roster, though two are tied to two-way contracts. Labels aside, the organization made a conscious investment in youth, and now the task is to nurture it with intention.

Training camp is the first proving ground. This is where the rookies begin to absorb the pace, the language, the physicality of the NBA. It’s also where the Suns can be deliberate in shaping their growth, smart with minutes, strategic with matchups, thoughtful with roles. What matters is less about immediate production and more about the foundation being poured beneath them.

Equally important is listening.

How do the rookies talk about the game? How do they frame the challenge? What slips out in the post-practice interviews that hints at their mentality? That’s the early litmus test. It tells you how they’re processing, how they’re adapting, and whether the steep climb ahead excites them or overwhelms them. And that, as much as anything, will shape how Phoenix’s youth movement takes root.

---

That’s right. Basketball season is back, baby. The long summer lull is over, and the noise of the game is rising again.

Stay locked in with Bright Side of the Sun as we sift through the flood of quotes, track the growth of this roster, and keep a close eye on the position battles that will shape Training Camp 2025. The story of the season is beginning to write itself, and we’ll be here for every line.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ter-battles-point-guard-power-forward-rookies

 

[Phoenix Suns]

5 Takeaways from Suns Media Day

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of covering my second Suns media day in person, joining a pair of Bright Siders in John Voita and Matthew Lissy. We took the back row by storm in a rather sparse attendance compared to seasons past.

There wasn’t that typical hype or “buzz” that we’ve seen in recent years, and that might be a good thing. Less national media. Less headlines. Less distractions. A few lawsuit questions sprinkled in, but other than that… the focus was basketball.

It was kind of refreshing. Here are five takeaways I had from the time there, and I’m sure many of you had the same thoughts.

#1) Mat Ishbia Preaches Patience​

“It Won’t Happen Overnight”

The front office wants fans to know this season is about creating a long-term foundation, not just short-term results. Ishbia’s comments centered on the future and the reality that this version of the Suns is still in building mode.

Talked a lot about this at Media Day. Success is making our fans proud of our team and excited to watch every game. Success is getting better every day all season. Most of all, success is building a championship culture and identity here in Phoenix. We are working on this with… https://t.co/qBxunZJ850

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) September 24, 2025

He emphasized time, patience, and growth, a contrast from his “all-in” reputation when he first bought the team. Ishbia even admitted he came in a little too ambitious and is self-aware enough to know they failed and changes needed to be made.

We can appreciate the transparency at the very least. There is still a long way to go, but this is the first step of this retool. I am happy to (with caution) give him another shot to redeem himself. But like he said, it will take time to build this up the right way.

The question is, how much patience will Suns fans have?

#2) New Identity being implemented by Ott & Gregory​

Brian Gregory stressed “organization, identity, and doing our own thing,” and highlighted Oso Ighodaro as cultural tone-setter. I thought it was interesting that Ott, Gregory, and Brooks all went out of their way to praise Oso.

Jordan Ott doubled down on Gregory’s vision and praised Dillon Brooks’ work ethic and leadership. Ryan Dunn called Jordan Ott a “basketball fanatic” and Collin Gillespie confirmed, adding he’d label him a “basketball junkie” and it the first one in the gym and the last one to leave it every night.

"The edge and competitive spirit he plays with is unmatched… He's an incredible worker, one of the hardest workers I've seen."@Suns HC Jordan Ott with high praise for Dillon Brooks pic.twitter.com/H45rLF5QTj

— NBA (@NBA) September 24, 2025

Phoenix wants to be known less for “star hunting” and more for culture building. Talk is talk, but it’s good to hear they have a hungry group with something to prove.

---

3. Booker Doubles Down on Loyalty: “Unfinished Business Here”​

Devin Booker dismissed any noise about his future, reaffirming that he’s all-in on Phoenix. After a summer of turbulence, Booker’s commitment is still the emotional anchor of the franchise. Book has never really brought high energy to interviews. He’s more of a calm and steady presence who never gets too high or too low.

"I have unfinished business here, I know how much [a championship] would mean to this city and this organization."@DevinBook on signing an extension with the Suns! pic.twitter.com/4eEoHejaVw

— NBA (@NBA) September 24, 2025

Devin Booker is clearly here to stay. We can only hope his patience persists during this rebuild. Mat Ishbia reiterated this, too: the Suns’ identity still starts and ends with No. 1. We’re all ready for a leap from Devin Booker.

---

4. Dillon Brooks is All About “Smash Mouth” Basketball​

One thing I found particularly interesting about Brooks was his very calm, yet firm vibe. He wants to “be himself” with teammates and make them realize he’s not that bad, it’s just an on-court persona that he leans into. “People would hate me if I were like that all the time,” he said. Dillon leaned into his villain reputation: film junkie, relentless defender, “annoying” presence who makes life hard for opponents.

He wants to guard all five posisitons and play “smash mouth basketball”. We need more of that in the Valley.

"The one-on-one battle I love, I take that with a lot of pride… just bringing that competitive fire every single night."

Dillon Brooks ALWAYS has defensive intensity on the hardwood pic.twitter.com/dG1lCJoZnA

— NBA (@NBA) September 24, 2025

His bond with Jalen Green also came up, which is something I’m looking forward to seeing on the court with that built-in chemistry.

Takeaway: Brooks isn’t just talk. He’s setting the tone for the team’s defensive identity.

---

5. Jalen Green is working on his in-between game​

Jalen Green’s focus is on developing an in-between game to punish defenses. He mentioned specifically that in the playoffs they were taking away the rim and the three from him, so he needs to make up the pay with his float game, mid-range pull-up, and more.

The bottom line is that Green feels wanted, and he’s excited for an opportunity where he’s going to get plenty of runway. Outside of Devin Booker, Jalen Green is going to be responsible for a large chunk of the Suns’ offensive output.

"It wasn't disappointing, it was more shocking. You kinda get over it, especially with the whole situation [with the Suns as] they are excited to have me here. That's a good feeling."

Jalen Green on being traded by the Rockets pic.twitter.com/eImXX2Foyo

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2025

There were several other interesting tidbits and pieces with Booker and the vets poking fun at Dunn and Oso “still being rookies” until game 1.

John Voita also covered Nigel Hayes-Davis, who had an excellent interview as well. Go read that here.

My favorite interview of @Suns Media Day? Nigel Hayes-Davis. Just…wow. pic.twitter.com/SapcsLrUUl

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

What was your favorite moment or quote from Media Day? Let us know below!

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ys-highlights-interviews-quotes-training-camp

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Does Jalen Green really need to work on his “in between” game?

There are countless questions surrounding the Phoenix Suns as the season approaches. Media Day rarely provides all the answers, yet it has a way of pulling back the curtain enough to let light spill in, even if it reveals more mysteries in the process.

Among the storylines worth watching, Jalen Green stands as one of the most compelling figures. Acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, he arrives in Phoenix young, athletic, and remarkably durable. It’s a combination that makes him one of the most fascinating additions of the summer.

To say that Green holds the key to this team’s fortunes might not be exaggeration. His growth could mirror the Suns’ trajectory. A former second overall pick, he now enters a defining season, one where the sting of being moved from a team that finished as the Western Conference’s second seed could serve as fuel. The question becomes whether that fire propels him into the next phase of his career, the phase where potential transforms into presence.

Media Day always brings the familiar refrain: “What have you been working on this offseason?” When Green answered, I felt my eyebrow rise.

“I’ve been working on my in between game a lot more,” Jalen informed the media on Wednesday. “The mid-range. Float. Just the in between game because as the season went on it was either three or to the cup and they was forcing me to have to score that in between game. Not allowing me to get all the way to the rim. And they would take away the three a lot more.”

Jalen Green said he's been working on his in-between game a lot more, whether that's floaters or pull-ups from the midrange. Teams were taking away his shots from 3 or at the rim, so he wants to adjust to the way he was being defended.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) September 24, 2025

I’ll start by saying this. I understand where Jalen Green is coming from.

The NBA is a league of scouting reports and counterpunches. Opponents will take your strengths, put them under a microscope, and strip them away until you’re left with nothing but your flaws. For Green, the mid-range is that exposed nerve. Force him into it, particularly to his left, and the odds tilt heavily in your favor.

Pull up his shot chart from last season and the numbers don’t lie. From the left corner three he hit 26.7%. From the left short mid-range he landed at 25%. From the long mid-range on that side, again 26.7%. Three misses out of four in those zones. That’s not an “area of opportunity”. That’s a liability.

His self-awareness in acknowledging that weakness matters, but it also reveals the paradox of his game. Because while the mid-range is shaky, the three-point shot isn’t exactly ironclad either.

Green shot 35.4% from deep last season. Respectable, but not something that bends defenses in half. And yet nearly half his attempts — 46% of his shot diet — came from beyond the arc. By comparison, only 20.3% of his looks were mid-range, with 33.7% inside eight feet. His diet leaned heavily toward threes, and while defenses tried to chase him off the line, the truth is they might not have needed to.

Even more telling? He was only marginally better in the mid-range overall, connecting on 36.2%.

In other words, he lived between inefficiency and streakiness, carving out bursts of brilliance but rarely sustaining them. The data paints the picture of a player caught between archetypes: not the relentless rim attacker, not the deadeye shooter, not the mid-range maestro. Instead, he floats somewhere in the in-between, a talented scorer still searching for the place on the floor where his game becomes undeniable.

And that is why my eyebrow went up.

Of course you should refine every part of your game, no one faults a player for putting in that work. And yes, the mid-range has been a clear weakness for Jalen Green, particularly on the left side where his percentages fall off a cliff. He looks far more comfortable when he goes right, and the numbers bear that out.

Still, within the context of this Suns offense, prioritizing the mid-range feels out of step. That real estate belongs to Devin Booker. It’s where he feasts, where his rhythm is born. And over the past two seasons, Phoenix already had two other players who thrived in that same space. The last thing this team needs is more traffic in Booker’s kitchen.

Green’s pathway is different. His game should live at the rim, exploding to the cylinder and warping defensive gravity, which in turn opens up lanes and clean looks for everyone else. Layer on top of that the development of a reliable three-point shot, and suddenly he’s not clogging Booker’s territory. He’s complementing it.

Which is why his Media Day answer surprised me.

The offseason felt like the perfect window to push that 35.4% mark from deep into sturdier, above-average territory. That was his career-best season from beyond the arc, and it came in a year where his shot diet leaned heavily toward threes. Booker as the primary playmaker should, in theory, create even better looks for Green out there, not in the teeth of the mid-range.

Flip the script and put Green on the ball, and now you’re asking Booker to slide into a Klay Thompson-like role: working off screens, curling into his mid-range spots, punishing defenses with the most polished aspect of his game. That’s symmetry. That’s balance.

So no, I don’t fault Green for grinding away at a weak spot. Improvement is never wasted. But from a hierarchy standpoint, from the way this offense should hum, the mid-range isn’t where he’ll make his mark.

Maybe his Media Day answer was a throwaway line, the kind you give when the question is routine and you’re eager to move on. Maybe he really has found growth there. Time will tell. What I hope is that he also poured hours into the three-point line, because if Green can level up from respectable to reliable out there, it changes everything. It changes his game. It changes how defenses guard him.

And it changes the ceiling of this Suns team.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...s-mid-range-shooting-three-point-offense-role

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Devin Booker and Jalen Green don’t need a point guard

The Phoenix Suns enter another season with one point guard on the roster, Collin Gillespie, a converted two-way player from last season. So here comes another season of disjointed, unorganized possessions on the offensive end of the floor, right? Here comes another season where Devin Booker will not be maximized offensively, right?

But have we stopped to ask ourselves, does Booker want or need a point guard?

“I do. I enjoy it,” Booker said when asked if he enjoys dictating possessions. “I think it starts with both of us (Booker and Jalen Green) with the ability to score. And once you become a threat, it’s going to open up easier opportunities for everybody else.”

Now, as Suns fans, we have been blessed to see some of the games’ best point guards play in Phoenix, including Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Chris Paul, to name a few. But if it is not one of those guys walking through the door, the ball should be in Booker’s and Green’s hands most of the time anyway, and not in the hands of a league-average point guard.

One of the reasons I believe Booker does not necessarily see the need for a point guard this season is that he wants to play a different style of basketball than what we have seen in Phoenix over the past few seasons.

“I think overall playing with a faster pace and getting up the court with what we call kick heads or skips. It doesn’t really matter,” Booker said.

Playing with a ball-dominant point guard usually means slowing the game down (think Jalen Brunson or Tre Young) and playing at a slower pace, which is the opposite of how Booker and Green want to play and a slow pace would hold back this team that has focused on becoming more athletic over the offseason. So, unless we can turn back time and take Tyrese Haliburton in the 2020 Draft, I do not think the Suns want to bring in a methodical, slow-paced point guard, especially one that gets targeted on defense.

“I think the way that we want to play and the play style that we’re trying to play like this year, that pace is gonna be the key to everything, and you know, playing fast and playing hard and getting out and running,” Green said.

If the Suns truly intend to play a faster, up-tempo pace like Booker and Green hinted at, it will require more than just him and Green to handle the ball and make those kick-ahead passes, and every player 1-4 will need to be comfortable making quick decisions with the ball in their hands. Playing a more frenetic style will not only help get Booker and Green easier opportunities in transition to score, but it should also help them play a faster pace in the half-court as well.

When Phoenix does have to play in the half-court, the ball will be in Booker’s and Green’s hands to create offense for themselves and for others. With more athletic lob threat centers than the last few seasons and Green’s explosiveness, Phoenix will put more pressure on the rim this season because of its athleticism. The athleticism that Green has to get to the rim specifically, will negate some of the need for a point guard because instead of manufacturing rim pressures through sets and organized offense, Green can start many offensive possessions by flying by his defender and putting the defense in rotations. And on the bright side, he has one of the best playmaking guards in Booker to learn from this season as well.

“I’m excited to play with Book. I think it’s going to be a good situation. I think I’m going to be able to learn a lot from him while at the same time, you know, adding what I could bring to the table,” Green said. “I think we’re going to complement each other a lot, especially, you know, with the system that [Jordan] Ott got us playing in. I think we’re going to play fast, and I think we’ll create a lot for each other and create for others. I’m very excited about it, and I think we’re going to shock a lot of people too.”

Another positive to not having to play a point guard 48 minutes is the defensive versatility it provides. Playing an undersized point guard often cripples NBA teams’ defenses, which Suns fans saw last season with Tyus Jones. The Suns’ projected starting lineup of Booker, Green, Ryan Dunn and media day favorite Dillon Brooks, the Suns have the most defensive versatility they’ve had on their roster since 2021 if Green and Booker both are locked in defensively.

The Suns are by no means a perfect roster right now, and one day may need to get an elite point guard to compete for championships again, but the Suns and Booker are perfectly fine to not have a point guard on the roster for the time being and are planning to play so fast that we will not even notice.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...reen-fast-pace-no-point-guard-offense-2025-26

 

[Phoenix Suns]

SBN Reacts: The Suns Ceiling is 40-59 Wins

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

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After an offseason full of changes on the roster and staff for the Phoenix Suns, the fans believe that this season has the potential to be better than last year’s.

Despite starting the year 8-1, the Suns went 28-45 down the stretch, for their worst season in 6 years last season, leading to them trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, buying out Bradley Beal and retooling the roster around Devin Booker with younger talent this summer.

That being said, if all goes right, most fans believe the Valley can have a better season than last year’s.

The results do not surprise me. With 42% of fans saying their ceiling is 20-39 wins, it makes me believe most fans think that if the Suns can wins 40-59 games this year think it’s more likely they win closer to 40 than 59.

With a young roster, potential is the key here when projecting for the team. Both Mark Williams and Jalen Green look to play the largest roles of their careers, and forward Ryan Dunn looks to play consistent starter minutes, something he didn’t do last season. A lot has been made of the chemistry that the Kevin Durant led Phoenix Suns had, if the Suns can establish a strong team identity early on, it could potentially help their new younger players get settled faster.

Additionally, after a few seasons playing both point guard and shooting guard, Devin Booker’s role is clear this season: he will be the team’s starting point guard. With the addition of Mark Williams, a strong interior scoring presence, and the ball in his hands more with Durant out of town, Booker could take a leap and be the most comfortable he’s ever been playing point guard.

While outside of Green, Booker and Williams, Phoenix does not have many reliable scorers, their defense could be improved from a season ago. Starting both Dillon Brooks and Dunn could give the Suns an opportunity for the team to mitigate opponents wing players.

There are a lot of ifs surrounded the team this season, not as many guarantees as you’d like to be confident in a team’s ability to compete in the Western Conference. If the Suns are going to reach their win ceiling this season, their young players are going to need to thrive in their new roles and reach their ceilings too.

All the Suns need to do is win 37 games this season to be better than last year, something that 2/3rds of the league did a season ago, but that can’t be guarantee with a young roster.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-analysis/89820/sbn-reacts-the-suns-ceiling-is-40-59-wins

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The community has spoken and the final SunsRank is here for all to debate

Training camp is here, Media Day quotes have drifted down like confetti, and with them comes the moment of truth: our final preseason SunsRank. Votes were tallied, debates waged, egos bruised, and somewhere in the chaos, we arrived at a list that feels like both lines in the sand and guesswork.

That’s the charm of it, isn’t it? Every season sneaks up with a twist we didn’t see coming. Someone rises, someone falls, and by April we’re all pointing back at these rankings with a mix of laughter and disbelief. That unpredictability is the lifeblood of sport, the thing that keeps us coming back for more.

So here it is, the roster in its full unfiltered glory, as ranked by our community. This is how you see them, how the collective hive mind stacks the Suns heading into the grind. I’ve put these alongside the consensus rankings for our Bright Side writing team.

Cue the graphic, let’s see where the chips fell.

The biggest discrepancy between our SunsRank and the community’s? Nick Richards. The Bright Side crew has him pegged as a clear rotation piece, sitting 9th overall, while the broader hive mind slots him way down at 14.

Flip it around with Rasheer Fleming, and you see the opposite. Our writers are cautious, planting him at 14, but the community shows a surprising swell of belief, lifting him all the way to 11. These are the fractures that make SunsRank fascinating. It’s not the top names that stir the pot; it’s the margins, the gray area where potential and skepticism collide.

Where do our individual writers have players ranked? Once again, roll the graphic.

I asked them to open up, to explain why they planted their flags where they did. It’s messy, it’s passionate, it’s subjective basketball in its purest form.

Luke, you have Mark Williams ranked as the 2nd-best Sun, ahead of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Why?​

Luke Dacre Tynan: He is likely to be the only guy that could average a double-double here….top 6 center in the West here we come!!

Holden, you have Oso Ighodaro ranked as the 12th-best Sun, the lowest ranking of any Bright Side writer. What caused you to rank him so low?​

Holden Sherman: Oso had ample opportunities to prove himself and he couldn’t do so on a consistent basis. Additionally, he’s a tweener (not a perfect 4 or 5) and isn’t a threat from deep. I expect his role to be minimal this season with the Valley bringing in Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach.

Kevin, you have NHD ranked the highest among Bright Side writers. Why do you see in him that has him ranked as the 9th-best Sun?​

Kevin Humphreys: The Phoenix Suns lack proven wing players above 6’5” who can shoot the ball effectively and are reliable scorers. Nigel Hayes Davis has proven himself to be an efficient scorer and shooter in Europe, having won the Euroleague MVP award. While Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming will look to improve in that department, the Suns will need players immediately to come in and be comfortable in scoring, especially when Devin Booker is off the floor. Hayes-Davis will be a key contributor off the bench this season because of his size, ability to score, and veteran experience.

Bruce, you ranked Jared Butler as the 13th-best Sun, higher than any other Bright Sider. What stood out to you that made him land so high on your list?​

Bruce Veliz: Butler has shown me on multiple teams that he can be a rotational piece if given the playing time, and I think Phoenix has one of the best opportunities for him this year. We also saw someone in Collin Gillespie similarly thrive in this role last year as a tertiary guard, and I feel Butler is that for this team.

Matthew, you have Collin Gillespie as the 6th-best Sun. Why do you have him so high?​

Matthew Lissy: He has to be the 6th man on this team if they want to have any success. I think that is his ceiling.

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What did we nail, and where did we completely whiff? Which of our writers do you find yourself nodding along with, and which ones make you want to throw your phone across the room? Drop your thoughts in the comments, because this is the kind of conversation that makes SunsRank more than a list. It’s a living, breathing snapshot of how we see this team before reality comes crashing in.

And we will be back to hold ourselves accountable. Come April, when the regular season ends, we’ll dig these rankings back up and see what aged like wine and what curdled in the sun. Maybe later if, by some miracle, this squad claws its way into the postseason. Either way, the receipts are here. Let’s see how the story unfolds.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...kings-community-vs-writers-booker-jalen-green

 

[Phoenix Suns]

FINALS BOUND! Mercury win series over Lynx, 3-1

For the first time since 2021, the Phoenix Mercury are back with a chance to play for a championship. In a series where they were not expected to prevail, facing the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, the Mercury defied the odds with an 86–81 win to close out the matchup 3–1.

What made it remarkable was not the victory itself but the way it unfolded. Entering the fourth quarter down 13 to the league’s best, the Mercury responded with a 31–13 surge, an avalanche of momentum that turned doubt into inevitability. The result is a trip to the WNBA Finals, the sixth in franchise history, with the pursuit of a first title since 2014 still alive.

This Mercury team is built on resiliency, and on Sunday night, that identity was on full display. They became the first team in WNBA playoff history to erase 14-point deficits in multiple games and emerge victorious, fueled by yet another furious fourth-quarter push.

“Big Shot” DeWanna Bonner lived up to the name, drilling all three of her attempts from deep and pouring in 11 points in the final frame, nearly matching Minnesota’s entire output of 13.

Alyssa Thomas finds DeWanna Bonner to extend the Mercury's lead late in the fourth

MIN-PHX | ESPN | WNBA Playoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/9os6ha4TZK

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 29, 2025

The Lynx felt the absence of Phee Collier, sidelined by an ankle injury after a controversial foul in Game 4, and her presence was missed as Minnesota faltered in closing time. Kayla McBride did everything in her power, erupting for 31 points, but it wasn’t enough.

The sellout crowd of 16,919 rose to its feet, turning the arena into an echo chamber of momentum that made every Lynx possession feel heavier. Alyssa Thomas powered her way to 23 points and 10 assists, Satou Sabally added 21 and 6, and Bonner capped it with 11 of her 13 in the pivotal fourth.

THE PHOENIX MERCURY ARE FINALS BOUND!!! pic.twitter.com/laUjSy6rYr

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 29, 2025

Now the Mercury wait. The Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever battle in a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday, with the winner meeting Phoenix in the Finals on Friday. If Indiana advances, the series begins in the Valley. If Las Vegas survives, the Mercury take their resiliency on the road.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...025-comeback-vs-minnesota-lynx-dewanna-bonner

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Phoenix Suns gambled on stars, Mercury gambled on culture

Results have not matched ambition since Mat Ishbia took over the Phoenix Suns. His first move was to flood the payroll with cash, a strategy that might have worked in another era, one before luxury-tax shackles and newly drawn apron lines made overspending a dead end. A decade earlier, the city might have been drenched in confetti. Instead, the Durant-and-Beal gamble carried short-term hope but little long-term sustainability.

On the other side of his basketball empire, Ishbia took a different path.

The Phoenix Mercury, buried by a 9–31 record and in need of a total teardown, became the canvas. In October of 2023, he and CEO Josh Bartelstein hired Nate Tibbetts as head coach, brought in Nick U’Ren from the Golden State Warriors’ front office to be general manager, and together they sketched out a new vision. Two years later, that vision has crystallized. The Mercury are headed to the WNBA Finals after toppling the Minnesota Lynx.

And so the contrast is sharp. The Mercury, reimagined and resilient, stand on the doorstep of a title. The Suns, burdened with bloated contracts and tempered expectations, are preparing for a season where “retool” feels more like reality than rebirth. For one franchise, the Finals are here. For the other, they remain a dream.

The debate surrounding Mat Ishbia’s strategy with the Suns has been relentless, and deservedly so. In a results-driven league, results have been absent. The approach of hiring mercenaries to chase a title rarely works, because true success requires a foundation. Without it, everything else eventually crumbles.

That’s where the Mercury provide a counterpoint. And perhaps a measure of hope.

Their run to the Finals isn’t a sign that the Suns will suddenly follow them to the NBA’s grand stage, but it does prove that a foundation can be rebuilt under Ishbia’s direction. For Suns fans, faith has been shaken since the Ishbia Era began. The rhetoric has flowed freely all offseason, but there are early indications of a philosophical reset, a process that takes time, patience, and vision to coalesce into a nucleus worth building around.

The Mercury have shown it can be done in two years. The Suns, however, operate in a far less forgiving ecosystem. Ishbia’s first gamble — a spend-heavy strategy that mortgaged the future — has left the franchise weighed down by stripped draft capital and $23 million in dead money stretching across five seasons. Those decisions created an anchor, one that could drag on the franchise long after the short-term hope faded.

So the contrast is clear. The Mercury’s rebuild, swift and purposeful, has already borne fruit. The Suns’ rebuild, delayed by the residue of reckless spending, may take far longer to materialize. One path has revealed possibility. The other, inevitability.

Still, with Ishbia locked in as the owner for the coming decades, there’s value in pausing (and maybe even smiling) at the evidence that strategy can be learned, adjusted, and redeployed.

The knee-jerk reactions on social media may cast his era as chaos, a hype machine of overreactions, but the truth is more nuanced. Mat Ishbia’s acquisition of the Suns has been, and continues to be, a good thing. Early results have disappointed, yes. The results rank alongside some of the franchise’s greatest letdowns. But those disappointments were born out of expectations. And to Ishbia’s credit, he created those expectations by swinging big.

What has never been in question is his willingness to spend; on the roster, on the fan experience, on the chance to build something lasting. The hope now is that he has absorbed the lessons of the modern NBA. If a culture can be established, even within the fractured structure of the current Suns roster, Ishbia will push to make it happen. That has always been the defining trait with him: he tries. He cares. He won’t sit idle and let the league dictate his reality. He wants to be the one shaping it.

Some owners view their teams strictly as investments, unwilling to risk their bottom line. Ishbia risks. On the Suns’ side, those risks have yet to bear fruit. On the Mercury’s side, they’ve produced a Finals berth. So take it as you will: a cautionary tale, or a glimpse of hope for the future.

The paradox of Mat Ishbia’s empire is that both truths can exist at once. The Suns, saddled with the weight of impatient ambition, show how fragile a franchise becomes when shortcuts replace structure. The Mercury, revitalized through patience and planning, prove that vision and alignment can still yield something sustainable. Together, they form a mirror of what Ishbia is as an owner: bold enough to risk, willing enough to spend, and human enough to learn from the outcomes.

Maybe that is the lesson for Phoenix fans staring down the uneven road ahead. The Suns’ gamble has already been paid for, in cash, picks, and patience, and the return has not yet arrived. The Mercury’s ascent reminds us that foundations can be rebuilt, that expectations can be earned rather than bought. For Ishbia, the question is not whether he will continue to try — he will — but whether his next attempt can merge the best of both approaches: the audacity to chase greatness and the discipline to build it.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ategy-wnba-finals-rebuild-nba-future-analysis

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Durant and Beal used Media Day to close the book on their Phoenix chapter

The Phoenix Suns had their media day last Wednesday, out of sync, ahead of schedule, and maybe a little symbolic of where the franchise sits in the NBA pecking order. Because while most of the league was parading its fresh faces and recycled soundbites today, Phoenix was already checked off the list, luggage packed for a two-game trip to China after their October 3 preseason opener against the Lakers. Business first, narrative later.

And as the rest of the NBA finally caught up, it was hard not to feel that familiar sting of bitterness. For the past few years, Suns media day mattered. It was loud, it was hopeful, it was the kind of day you convinced yourself you’d see banners in the rafters before long. Now? The franchise has drifted into the background hum of NBA chatter. Still there, still relevant, but not exactly the headliner.

I support the path they’re on, I do. Retooling, resetting, reshaping. It makes sense. But I’m still rubbernecking at the other media days, scanning for soundbites from the ghosts of our high-rolling gamble.

Kevin Durant, the man who was supposed to drag this team across the finish line. Bradley Beal, the auxiliary star who was meant to make it all click. Both were bought with over $100 million worth of faith last season, and both spent their new-media podium time talking about futures elsewhere while the echoes of their time in Phoenix lingered like a hangover that refuses to clear.

“I wasn’t expecting to leave Phoenix that quickly,” Durant said while donning his Rockets red new threads.

"I wasn't expecting to leave Phoenix that quickly." – Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/ZkBfakTlsB

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) September 29, 2025

Not much was said about Phoenix, and truthfully, why would there be? The Suns are a ship already sailed for the U.S.S. Kevin Durant, drifting somewhere in his rearview mirror like all the others before it.

What he did offer was a line worth chewing on: “Every place that I’ve been, from the outside looking in, it may have been a tough breakup from each team that I’ve gone to.”

Then there was Bradley Beal, walking away from Phoenix with a $96.9 million buyout. Gulp. He tossed $13.9 million back into the pot on his way out the door (what a gentleman, right?) and the Suns promptly stretched that number across five years like some financial yoga pose nobody wanted to do in the first place. The parting gift? Beal signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, because of course he did.

“It’s a business, it’s no different than any other year. I’m in trade talks every year,” Beal said. “It’s very opinionated; that’s the landscape of the business. Phoenix made a decision…I can’t do nothing but respect it.”

He added that he had inflammation in his right knee that he tried to play through in Phoenix. He will be limited to start the season.

Bradley Beal: "I know who I am and what I am capable of." pic.twitter.com/XnBnVjdSta

— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) September 29, 2025

There are some other former Suns out there adjusting to life post-Phoenix. Tyus Jones, who came to Phoenix with the hope that he would stabilize the playmaking duties, is now in Orlando. They are a team of young, defensive-minded players who have their sights on taking advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference.

“We’re all on the same page with what we’re trying to do, and that’s what drew me to here is the chance to compete for a championship,” Jones told the media on Monday.

New #Magic guard Tyus Jones said he and his family have “done the Disney World thing” since he’s signed with Orlando.

As it relates to hoops, “We’re all on the same page with what we’re trying to do, and that’s what drew me to here is the chance to compete for a championship.” pic.twitter.com/Uv3RsX17xs

— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) September 29, 2025

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There’s a line in Zach Bryan’s East Side of Sorrow that says, “Let it be, then let it go.” Forrest Gump, in his slow-drawl wisdom, echoed the same sentiment: “My Mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” Different poets, same lesson. And that’s where we’re at.

Acknowledgement first. The painful nod to what could have been. Then the turn, steering the ship toward something new.

Sure, emotions will bubble up when the Suns see the Clippers three times in their first ten games, ghosts of what never materialized staring from across the hardwood. November 24, when Houston rolls into town for an NBC showcase, you’ll catch yourself drifting into the old loop of what-ifs. That’s natural. But hypotheticals are useless here, because the experiment already ran its course. We lived through it, and we know the answer.

It didn’t work.

So as the players tethered to one of the most spectacular clusterfucks in the history of the Suns’ organization scatter into new jerseys and new cities, the fans will do the same in spirit. Move on, recalibrate, and maybe even laugh at the absurdity of it all. Because if the Durant-Beal era was the punchline to the Suns’ biggest gamble, the only thing left now is to find the next story worth telling.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...tyus-jones-media-day-reaction-phoenix-fallout

 

[Phoenix Suns]

A new Suns season means a new Bright Side recap

We’re almost there. The season’s shadow is stretching across the desert floor, and I can feel the heat of it in my bones.

For me, it doesn’t begin with tip-off or Media Day quotes. It starts when I sit down and carve out my calendar, when I look at the schedule and mark which games I’ll be covering, which previews I’ll craft, which podcasts I’ll steer into the storm. That’s when it becomes real: the graphics, the Bright Side Baller polls, the machine of content revving back to life like a V8 engine idling before the green light.

Part of that engine, maybe my favorite gear, has always been the weekly recap. A chance not to summarize but to pin down the fleeting chaos of a season into mile markers, the little road signs telling us where we’ve been and maybe where we’re headed.

Last year, that sign read ‘Tracking 40’. I was obsessed with the Suns’ flirtation with the three-ball, the promise of Mike Budenholzer’s system, and whether Phoenix could transform from a midrange monastery into a three-point cathedral.

So week by week, we checked the numbers. Could they hoist 40 threes a night? Could they keep the percentage north of 40%? Would that alchemy equal wins? By spring, the math was in: 38 attempts per game, 12th in the league. Nearly 38% accuracy, third-best in the NBA. And yet, no playoffs. The lesson, if there was one, rang like a cracked bell: the super shot alone doesn’t save you. It takes more. Defense, cohesion, communication, coaching. It takes a soul, not just a stat.

But this year is a different animal. I keep circling back to the same question: what should this column be? What thread do we pull, week after week, to stitch together the bigger story of the Suns’ season?

Part of me wants to go all-in on the youth. A Rookie Watch, a Youth Movement Meter, something that treats this season like a growth chart on the wall. We’ve got four rookies, maybe even rope Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro into the mix, and the temptation is to track their minutes, their points-rebounds-assists, their crawl toward becoming real NBA players. I want the graphs, the lines climbing (or dipping) across the page, the visual proof of progress or struggle.

Another part of me wonders if the cleanest way is to zoom out, to track the Suns as a team organism. Offensive rating, defensive rating, week-to-week rank compared to the rest of the NBA. It wouldn’t be about one player or one trend, but a rolling MRI of the franchise itself. Where are the strengths, where are the weaknesses, and how do they shift as the grind wears on?

And then there’s Jalen Green. He’s the wild card, the litmus test, the kid carrying the ghost of the Durant trade on his back. His season is both a short-term referendum and a long-term key. If he thrives, the Suns’ options expand. If he fizzles, the questions multiply. Tracking him would be fascinating, but dangerous. Too narrow, maybe, and if an injury hits, the whole experiment collapses. Still, the gravitational pull is strong.

So here I am, staring at the fork in the road. Do we chart the rookies, measure the machine, or lock in on the lightning rod? That’s where you, the Bright Side community, come in. Because the point of this column has never been just my obsession. It’s been our pulse-check on this team.

So, what would you like to see tracked this year in the weekly update (that used to be Center of the Sun, one upon a time…)? I’m interested to hear what suggestions you have.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...side-rookie-tracker-jalen-green-team-analysis