RSS Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns ran into the NBA’s version of Murphy’s Law

Some nights it feels like the universe has a sense of humor, and you are the punchline. Murphy’s Law night. That was Monday in Houston for the Suns.

The travel was a mess from the jump following their win over OKC, mechanical issues kept them grounded the night before, wheels up not happening until 10 AM on game day. Then they get there and the clock decides it wants to be part of the story. Long stoppages, half the first half spent waiting around while stopwatches on the PA became the solution.

And yet, Phoenix still showed up. They competed. They carried a lead into halftime. They made a late push that put the game within reach. Then reality hit. Tired legs. Gassed bodies. A few possessions on both ends that slipped away. That is all it takes.

And of course, because the basketball gods have a script, Kevin Durant hits the buzzer beater. Narrative secured. Every KD stan on the internet celebrates, second three on 12 attempts, dagger against his former team, because why would it end any other way?

KEVIN DURANT HITS THE CLUTCH 3 TO WIN IT FOR HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/1lC1qjT0Ok

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2026

Some days are like that. You wake up and nothing is aligned. Trust me, I feel it. I tried moving furniture like I was still in my 30s and now I am walking around like the letter C with a heating pad glued to my back. Same vibe. Write it down, fold it up, throw it away, and move on.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings​

Goody owned the night against OKC. Career high in three-balls. Career high in points. And to think, the Lakers opted to keep Bronny James on their team rather than retain him. Good! Win!

Bright Side Baller Nominees​

Game 36 against the Rockets. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
27 points (9-of-20, 2-of-5 3PT), 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 0 rebounds, 0 +/-

Royce O’Neale
15 points (5-of-12, 5-of-12 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, +2 +/-

Dillon Brooks
15 points (7-of-15, 1-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -5 +/-

Collin Gillespie
11 points (4-of-11, 3-of-9 3PT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 turnovers, -1 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
11 points (4-of-7, 3-of-4 3PT), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, +3 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
9 points (4-of-5), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -3 +/-

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Who gets it?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-law-kevin-durant-buzzer-beater-travel-issues

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: Should Devin Booker be an All-Star?

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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When Kevin Durant is a member of your team’s franchise, as long as he plays enough games, your squad will have at least one all-star. As we saw last year, Devin Booker isn’t a shoo-in. He’s the most likely Sun to be named an All-Star this year.

With a new round of NBA All-Star fan voting coming in, it looks like if Booker will get back to the All-Star Game after missing it last season, he will have to do so as a reserve selection. He’s got the 17th-most votes among all Western Conference players. 50% of the fan vote accounts for who the All-Star Starters will be.

Second returns of the 2025-26 NBA All-Star game fan voting: pic.twitter.com/Z3An1c0ShH

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2026

The NBA All-Star format is once again different this year. As always, 24 players will be selected, but the composition of the selections will be different than years past. There will be 16 American players selected and eight international players. If the numbers don’t add up to that amount, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will add members to the group that hasn’t met the requirements.

Booker, 29, is averaging at least 25 points per game for his eighth straight season. Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only active players who have done that for longer. He remains one of the league’s top scorers, but his efficiency is down. His 29.8% shooting percentage from three is the lowest of his career by nearly three percentage points, and his 46.3% shooting from the field is his second-lowest shooting percentage since the 2017-2018 season.

Playing in all but three games this year, Booker has been durable and is leading the Suns in points, assists, and free throws per game. Coming into the year, it was expected that Booker was likely to have a heavy minute load, but instead, he’s averaging the fewest minutes per game since the 2020-2021 campaign, a testament to the team being less dependent on him than anticipated.

Last year, while Booker had the counting numbers to be an All-Star, the Phoenix Suns were disappointing the masses. This season, Phoenix has surprised many. They currently sit six games above .500 and are firmly in the seventh spot in the Western Conference. As of right now, the Suns have minus odds to make the playoffs on FanDuel, something they didn’t have to start the year.

Should Booker be an All-Star this season? Why or why not? If yes, should he be a starter or a reserve?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-phoenix-suns-western-conference-reserve-case

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Kevin Durant was never the Suns’ scapegoat

Losing is never fun. Losing pulls the curtain back. Losing creates drama, it invites noise, it turns quiet thoughts into loud conversations.

The Suns found themselves on the wrong end of that reality this week, dropping a gut punch on a last-second shot from a familiar face. Five seconds left, ball in the hands of Kevin Durant, one hard move to his right, rise up over Royce O’Neale, splash. Rockets win, 100-97.

KEVIN DURANT HITS THE CLUTCH 3 TO WIN IT FOR HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/1lC1qjT0Ok

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2026

It landed heavy. Not because it was shocking, but because it was recognizable. Phoenix has lived on the other side of that moment. Those same shots once brought joy when Durant wore purple and orange, when he closed games in the Valley and made the impossible feel routine. This time, it flipped the emotion. The celebration belonged to someone else.

And when games end like that, they do not stay contained to the final buzzer. They spill into locker rooms. They spill into quotes. They open doors. This one did exactly that, giving Durant the floor afterward and giving the rest of us something to chew on.

“I don’t mean to sound too dramatic, but I will,” Durant said in the post-game presser following beating his former team. “To be kicked out of a place and I felt like I’d been scapegoated for the issues we had as a team last year, yeah, it felt good to beat them and hit a game-winning shot.”

KD talks making the game winner and if it meant more making that game winner against the Suns. He said he didn't want to leave and felt scapegoated.

“ I don't want to sound to dramatic but to be kicked out of a place.”

Went on to say of course you play with a chip on your… pic.twitter.com/jD3Q4jvCgS

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) January 6, 2026

It is interesting. And I am not here to tell a grown man how he should feel. But I am here to tell you how it felt from this side.

For everything that happened during Kevin Durant’s time in Phoenix, I am not sure “scapegoat” is the right word. Frustration, sure. Criticism, absolutely. Accountability, without question. When one player takes up 36.4% of the cap at $51.2 million, accountability comes with the territory. That is not cruelty, that is math. And while fans groaned about isolation possessions and teammates standing around watching greatness happen in real time, scapegoating never really fit the relationship between Durant, the organization, or the fan base.

There were too many fingerprints on the mess for that.

Durant was not innocent. His hands were not clean. The numbers looked pristine, efficient, clinical. The results did not. What Phoenix lived through was a locker room without identity, without connective tissue, without a shared edge. That does not land on one player alone. Everybody had a role in producing an underwhelming version of the Suns.

Management deserves its share. Opportunities to properly build around Devin Booker and Durant were burned chasing a broken version of Bradley Beal, complete with a no-trade clause that now sits like an anchor on the books for the next four-and-a-half years. That decision does not fade quietly. It lingers for years, with dead money and limited flexibility as the receipt.

And then there was the coach. The lack of accountability, the absence of a clear structure, and the nightly question of whether effort would show up all pointed back to leadership. From a head coaching perspective, what Phoenix got under Mike Budenholzer was baffling. Schemes felt loose. Standards felt optional. The day-to-day hunger to compete never fully arrived.

So no, “scapegoat” does not quite capture it. This was a shared failure. A group effort in the worst sense. Durant was part of it. So was everyone else.

Did the organization try to move Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors before the deadline last season without looping him in? Every rumor worth listening to points to yes. That is life in the NBA. Cold. Transactional. Relentless. And maybe what stung Durant most was not the business itself, but the realization that the franchise was scrambling to clean up its own mess.

Some people want to frame Durant as the mistake. That is lazy. The real problem was Bradley Beal. But Beal had the no-trade clause. Durant did not. One guy was immovable. The other was not. So Phoenix shopped the piece they could move, and that reality probably fed the feeling of being pushed out.

Should they have told him? 100%. That part matters. That was poor form, and it should stick as a learning moment for a young owner.

The only version of reality where Durant truly becomes a scapegoat lives online. Specifically, on Twitter. That is where Durant discourse lived at maximum volume during his entire run in Phoenix. Not because it reflected the real pulse of the fan base, but because social media rewards the loudest, angriest, and most reaction-hungry voices in the room. What you get there are the extremists. The professional outrage merchants. The Stans charging into comment sections like Link, Master Sword raised, ready to battle Calamity Ganon in the name of their chosen hero, KD.

That noise feels personal when you are inside it. It feels like reality when you stare at it long enough. But it is not the whole story. It never is.

There is no doubt that Kevin Durant lives in that space. He has talked about it openly, even referenced it on Starting 5. I have talked with him on the platform myself. He is plugged into that corner of fandom, the replies, the quotes, the noise. He sees it. He feels it. He engages with it. But that slice of the fan base is tiny. Loud, absolutely. Powerful in volume, sure. But small.

There is a quote from Drew Michael on an HBO special that I keep coming back to because it nails this thing perfectly.

“Who’s on Twitter? It’s only people who think it’s a good idea to be on Twitter. It’s not everybody. Most people aren’t on it. 80% of the public doesn’t use it. Everyone on Twitter is somebody on Twitter. There’s an inherent insanity in the medium.”

“Who’s on Twitter? It’s only people who think it’s a good idea to be on Twitter. It’s not everybody. Most people aren’t on it. 80% of the public doesn’t use it.

Everyone on Twitter is somebody on Twitter. There’s an inherent insanity in the medium.” – Drew Michael

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 10, 2025

That line sticks because it is dead on. Everyone on Twitter is somebody on Twitter. It feels massive when you are inside it, but it is not reality. If you drop 17,000 people into Footprint Center on a random Suns night, maybe 20% of them are active on Twitter. And even that might be generous. My point? KD heard the loudest, most obnoxious part of the fan base and lived in that reality.

So yes, Durant believes his narrative. He is allowed to. He lived it. He felt the heat. The fan base had frustrations, no question. Isolation late. Flow breaking. The team not becoming what anyone hoped it would. But there is no version of reality where he was the lone villain, the singular problem, the guy everyone pointed at and blamed for everything that went wrong.

At the end of the day, that chapter is behind us. Kevin Durant hitting the game-winner opened the door one more time, gave him a moment to look back at Phoenix, and gave the fan base a reminder of who he was here. As time moves on, that story will shift. It always does.

For me, the narrative is already settled.

We experienced Durant in Phoenix. He is an all-world talent, a scorer pulled from some other basketball dimension. But it was the intangibles that went missing. When he is on the floor, the offense can drift into isolation and ball watching. Teammates pause. The flow stalls. Movement dries up. The rhythm clogs everything they are trying to become.

Yes, he makes shots that feel illegal. Shots that bend logic. Shots that rip the air out of a building. But the cost shows up around him. Cuts disappear. Energy dips. The offense turns into spectatorship.

I would rather live with this version of Suns basketball. One built on movement. One powered by defensive intensity. One where the ball finds everyone and everyone matters. No star watching. No personality swallowing the room. Five guys moving in the same direction, playing with purpose, making the game feel alive again. Five guys…and no one who thinks they’re a scapegoat.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...nt-scapegoat-debate-identity-offense-movement

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Phoenix’s three-point barrage downs short-handed Grizzlies team, 117-98

The Phoenix Suns wrapped up their quick two-game road trip in Memphis, catching a severely depleted Grizzlies squad and treating it exactly how a serious team should. The final told the truth. Phoenix walked out with a comfortable 117–98 win and never let the night drift into anything dramatic.

It turned into a reunion of sorts. Former Grizzlies Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, and Jordan Goodwin combined for 51 points, each taking turns twisting the knife. But the real story lived beyond individual performances. This was a three-point avalanche. The Suns drilled a season high 22 threes on a season high 56 attempts, stretching the floor until Memphis simply ran out of answers.

Devin Booker finished with 13 points, all of them coming in the first half, and that was plenty. He watched the group carry it the rest of the way. Phoenix played connected, defended with purpose, and never gave the Grizzlies oxygen.

The win moves the Suns to 22–15 on the season and an even 10–10 on the road, a clean, businesslike close to a road trip done right.

Game Flow​

First Half​

Memphis came into this one short-handed, and that is putting it mildly. No Ja Morant. No Zach Edey. But both teams looked rusty to start. Memphis was on the second night of a back-to-back after playing San Antonio, while Phoenix had been sitting for two nights.

The result was a choppy opening stretch. The Suns shot 42.3% in the first quarter. The Grizzlies checked in at 34.6%.

Smothering defense on one end
Sharing the ball on the other

Suns basketball in highlight pic.twitter.com/bqsdEifJp3

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 8, 2026

Dillon Brooks set the early tone against his former team, scoring 7 of Phoenix’s first 10 points. It took 8 shots to get there. Still, he carried the Suns offensively early and finished the quarter with 9 points.

Memphis won the battle on the glass in the opening frame, outworking Phoenix 18-13 overall and 8-3 on the offensive boards. Jaren Jackson Jr. was an issue immediately, pouring in 11 points in his 9 minutes in the first and forcing Phoenix to account for him every trip.

The Suns stayed afloat, and then some, by letting it fly from deep. They went 6-of-14 from three in the first, stretched the lead to as many as 9, and walked into the second quarter up 30-23.

The offense found a better rhythm to open the second quarter. Memphis struck first with 4 quick points, then Phoenix answered. A pair of threes flipped the momentum right back and pushed the lead out a bit.

GRAYSON ALL3N

Two quick threes for G, tonight. pic.twitter.com/R1tIJ3lGNG

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 8, 2026

Rasheer Fleming opened the second quarter with a group that featured Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro. He missed his first look from deep, but he made his presence felt moments later, rising up through traffic for a dunk that cut through the trees.

First, the action.

DHO Veer with Gillespie-Ighodaro (!) in the emptied side — Gillespie with a great pocket pass.

Jackson Jr. leaves Fleming & as that happens, Fleming times the cut perfectly & you see the athleticism & length all combine here. https://t.co/z2y5xqDXc4 pic.twitter.com/S8z7UYEIpB

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner (@StephenPG3) January 8, 2026

Jordan Goodwin was an absolute force again to open the game. Coming off the bench, he set the tone early with 8 points and 5 rebounds in the first half, two of them on the offensive glass, flying around and making his presence felt on every possession.

Santi Aldama picked up a technical, arguing with the officials as Memphis fell behind 50 to 40, the frustration starting to show.

The three-ball continued to be a weapon for Phoenix, and Grayson Allen looked far more comfortable than he did in his return against Houston. He scored 9 points in the first half, moving with confidence and letting it fly. That shooting helped spark a 13-4 run, capped by Dillon Brooks drilling threes on consecutive possessions to stretch the lead.

The Suns had 12 made three’s in the first half. That’s more than they’ve made in 7 games this season

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 8, 2026

The Suns closed the half with authority, knocking down 12-of-29 from beyond the arc. Dillon Brooks led the way with 18 points, Devin Booker added 13, and Phoenix walked into the locker room up 65–47.

Second Half​

Mark Williams was mostly quiet in the first half, then came out of the locker room ready to leave fingerprints on the game. He attacked the glass, finished at the rim, and imposed his will right away to open the third.

Memphis made a few small pushes in the middle of the quarter, little runs that hinted at life. Phoenix answered every one of them. The lead remained steady, staying within the 14 to 20 point range.

Then Grayson Allen knocked down another long ball, capping an 11-3 Suns run and stretching the margin to 24 with three minutes left in the quarter.

It's very good for the Suns to have this kind of shooting back. Grayson Allen is returning to form pic.twitter.com/smBRX98HjD

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) January 8, 2026

Head coach Jordan Ott went to the replay when Ryan Dunn was whistled for a foul on Santi Aldama, and the challenge came back clean. Successful. It was notable because by that point, Memphis had already burned through both of their challenges, and they won those, too. Three challenges. Three reversals. Which really means three moments where the officials flat missed it.

Grayson Allen set the scoring pace in the quarter with 8 points as Phoenix leaned into the launch-it mentality. The Suns went 5-of-15 from deep, kept the pressure on, and outscored Memphis 26-21 in the frame.

After three, Phoenix was in full control, up 91-68.

Memphis did not go quietly, opening the fourth with sharper execution and trimming the margin with an 11-7 burst. It got the building’s attention for a moment. Stabilization came quickly after that, and Phoenix regained its footing before anything could spiral.

Goodwin with a steal and threads the needle with an amazing pass to Grayson for the layup pic.twitter.com/eBxOHEgmzI

— Cage (@ridiculouscage) January 8, 2026

With 3:57 left, Booker and Brooks checked out for the night, their work complete. From there, things got a little experimental. We saw a double big look with rookie Khaman Maluach and Nick Richards sharing the floor.

At that point, there was only one box left to chase. A season high in made threes. Phoenix had hit 20 twice already this year. With two minutes left, Rasheer Fleming obliged, sending number 21 through the net and putting a clean bow on the night.

The Suns now have made a season high 21 three-pointers tonight

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 8, 2026

Rasheer finished with 8 points on the night. And the Suns easily dispatched Memphis with a 117-98 win.

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Up Next​

Phoenix returns home to play the Knicks on Friday. Should be a good one. We’ll see you then!

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...rizzlies-road-win-22-threes-season-high-22-15

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns turned a road game into target practice

Do you know what you do when the team across from you has nearly $81 million in payroll sitting on the sideline? You sweep the leg. Full Cobra Kai energy. No mercy. No breathing room. That is exactly how Wednesday night played out as the Suns downed the Grizzlies, 117-98.

Phoenix strangled this thing early and never loosened the grip. 23 points allowed in the first. 24 in the second. 21 in the third. Memphis never found oxygen and never cracked 100, the fifth time this season the Suns have pulled that trick. When a team shows up wounded, you do not help them limp. You finish the job.

And how do you sweep the leg in the modern NBA? You rain threes until the floor caves in. Five from Dillon Brooks. Five from Grayson Allen. Four from Royce O’Neale. Three from Jordan Goodwin. Two from Collin Gillespie. Two more from rookie Rasheer Fleming. Even Devin Booker grabbed one for good measure.

That is 22 made threes. A season high. Tied for the fourth-most in franchise history. The kind of night where the ball keeps snapping the net and the other team starts checking the scoreboard instead of the clock.

Phoenix made 22 threes tonight, tying its 4th-highest single-game total ever. They’ve now reached that mark nine times in franchise history pic.twitter.com/3pmifhZXWt

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 8, 2026

Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night. Not a bad way to sweep the leg.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings​

Well, well. We have a new name on the board. Sure, Devin Booker led all Suns in scoring against the Rockets, but it was the fireballing effort of Royce O’Neale who won the community vote for the BSB. Welcome to the standings, Rolls Royce.

Bright Side Baller Nominees​

Game 37 against the Grizzlies. Here are your nominees:

Dillon Brooks
21 points (8-of-22, 5-of-12 3PT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +13 +/-

Grayson Allen
19 points (7-of-13, 5-of-10 3PT), 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 block, +10 +/-

Mark Williams
12 points (5-of-6), 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +13 +/-

Devin Booker
13 points (6-of-15, 1-of-5 3PT), 1 rebound, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +16 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
11 points (4-of-12, 3-of-8 3PT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, +8 +/-

Royce O’Neale
12 points (4-of-9, 4-of-9 3PT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, +9 +/-

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And the winner is…

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...his-grizzlies-win-22-threes-road-victory-2025

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns were wise to stay away from Trae

The Washington Wizards got an incredible deal. Last night, they traded an expiring contract in CJ McCollum and a role player in Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks for a 27-year-old four-time all-star who is still at the peak of his powers. It is the type of deal that people should be calling a swindle.

So, the question should be asked: if the price was so low on Trae Young and the Phoenix Suns didn’t come into this season with a starting point guard, why didn’t Brian Gregory outbid the Wizards?

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The Contracts Required​

Trae Young is going to make $46.4 million this season. In order for the Phoenix Suns to have made a deal, they would have been required to trade one of Jalen Green or Dillon Brooks. Unless, of course, they wanted to completely gut the roster and trade all of Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Mark Williams, Khaman Maluach, and Nick Richards.

Coincidentally, we got news yesterday on the trade availability of Jalen Green. It seems the Suns are currently unwilling to move him. The organization has not soured on what was thought to be the biggest long-term piece returned in the Kevin Durant trade, just because he has spent the season injured. On January 4th, Jordan Ott said that Green is making steady progress on his return to the court following his November hamstring reaggravation.

Suns guard Jalen Green is among the many players the Bucks have recently discussed as a potental trade option, league sources told @ClutchPoints.

However, the Suns have made it clear Green is not available.

More on the Bucks and this year's trade deadline: https://t.co/MOKd85Nxaa

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) January 7, 2026

When it comes to Dillon Brooks, the Suns are as uninterested in moving him as they are in moving Green. Mat Ishbia himself, quote-tweeting a video of DeMarcus Cousins stating that the Lakers could use Dillon Brooks, stated that The Villain is staying put in the Valley.

Don't bother calling… Suns aren't interested. Dillon's not going anywhere https://t.co/Jqg6Nxx1D3

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) January 5, 2026

Without moving one of Brooks or Green, there was never a path to a Trae Young trade. Phoenix’s unwillingness to move these two should be a good sign for Suns fans. Without moving one or the other, a trade for someone like Domantas Sabonis or other big-name, big-money players is unlikely.

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The Point Guard Rotation​

It is true that most people did not come into the season believing that Phoenix had a starting point guard. Many believed that the only playable point guard on the roster was Collin Gillespie, and he was slated to be in a backup role.

Since the start of the season, however, the Suns have found not one, not two, but three rotational point guards. Gillespie is having a career season, establishing himself as a starting point guard in the NBA. Jamaree Bouyea went from being cut by the Bucks to begin the year to a guy who will earn himself a real NBA contract. Finally, Jordan Goodwin, after having to fight for a roster spot and his NBA career during preseason, has finally had his contract guaranteed.

These three point guards, who have all been cut by teams in the past, have created a point guard rotation to be respected. While none of them will be all-stars this year, they have cumulatively played well enough that the Suns front office could confidently look at a four-time all-star in Trae Young and say, “We’ll pass, he isn’t worth what we’d have to give up.”

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The Poor Fit​

As Kevin Pelton broke down in his ESPN trade grade article, the Hawks have been a much better defensive team with Trae Young on the bench. While he is an offensive engine unto himself and has certainly won playoff games for the Hawks with that offensive output, his defensive liabilities have always put a cap on Atlanta’s ceiling.

Defense is hard to capture and quantify in statistics, but that does not mean it is incapable of telling a story. That story is clear with Trae Young. Last year, he had the sixteenth-worst defensive rating in the NBA. Devin Booker was tied for the second-worst.

I am not willing to call Devin Booker the second-worst defender in the NBA. Defensive statistics have a hard time accounting for what is going on around any given player, and last season was a disaster for the Suns. However, it is clear that a Devin Booker-Trae Young backcourt would be a defensive disaster.

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The Chosen Path​

For a team trying to build an identity around a strong defensive presence and a roster full of grit, staying away from Trae was the right move. Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory have chosen a direction, and it seems they are sticking to it. Only time will tell if that direction is the right one.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...green-dillon-brooks-point-guard-rotation-2026

 

[Phoenix Suns]

A Tale of Two Perspectives: The Jamaree Bouyea Story

If you were to ask any Phoenix Suns fan at the beginning of the year who Jamaree Bouyea was, they would tell you they had no idea. Well, that sentiment has quickly changed, as the two-way guard has impressed in stepping up for this Suns team while dealing with injuries this year.

Similar to a situation that happened last year with Collin Gillespie, Bouyea is making the most of this opportunity and getting the most out of it. For the Suns this year, he is having his best year: in just 15 minutes across 19 games, he has 7.6 points, two rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on (56/41/69) shooting splits.

This has impressed many of the fans and even the city as well, with him being represented on the banner outside the stadium after being a mid-season add.

Jamaree Bouyea has been added to the banner outside of Mortgage Matchup Center pic.twitter.com/7TVtykBgHj

— Erik Ruby (@ErikRuby) January 3, 2026

Since he has performed so well, he deserves an article detailing his play.

So I reached out to someone who I thought would know him best, a good friend, Finn Keuhl. See Finn writes for BrewHoop, the Bucks SBNation site, and also has a site called Two-Way Talents. As we all know, Bouyea came from the Bucks after he was waived by them this season and is also a two-way player for this team. So I knew my guy Finn would be the perfect one to ask and get some insight for all of us on how Bouyea has played in the past and how that has translated into his outstanding play so far here in the Valley.

To do that, I asked him seven questions and aim to show you two different perspectives on a great story that is developing for Bouyea and his career. So, with a huge thank you to Finn for providing his excellent knowledge, let’s dive in!

1. What was your initial reaction to Jamaree Bouyea being waived for Alex Antetokounmpo?​

Finn’s Answer: I didn’t like it from an on-court basketball standpoint at all. Over the summer, I felt like Bouyea really locked up his two-way spot with the way he played in Summer League, knowing this team was/is thin on on-ball scoring. I don’t think Alex Antetokounmpo is an NBA player to any capacity. But, the move wasn’t made with on-court stuff as the main consideration at all, so with keeping Giannis happy in mind I understood and accepted the move.

This tweet is a beat late cause I had to wrap up the recap article but JAMAREE BOUYEA WHAT A SHOT, WHAT A MOMENT!

I woke my mom up celebrating that shot lol

— Finn Kuehl (@finleykuehl) July 11, 2025

My Reaction to his answer: That would make sense, as I personally only saw it as a stint to keep Giannis happy as well when it happened. Sadly, with how the Bucks’ season has been going, it does not look like it really helped, and a player like Bouyea could have been another spark like Ryan Rollins for this team, who needs wins to keep them afloat.

2. Did you think this was the right move after seeing him play for the Wisconsin Herd?​

Finn’s Answer: Simply put, no! Again, Antetokounmpo isn’t an NBA-caliber player, and Bouyea was impressive at all lower levels.

The Bucks have waived three-star two-way prospect Jamaree Bouyea in favor of one-star prospect Alex Antetokounmpo. Obviously, this move goes beyond on-court stuff, but Milwaukee's two-way room is now weaker. Someone else should sign Bouyea.

Profiles from https://t.co/qjQDNMFcWu pic.twitter.com/OZq9ZF57mP

— Finn Kuehl (@finleykuehl) October 13, 2025

My reaction to his answer: Understandably, I agree as well. Looking at Bouyea’s previous years, he bounced around G-League teams and won some awards there as well in 2023. This would prove that he could be a spark for this Herd team and a bright piece for a franchise that has struggled to draft in recent years as well. Seems like a missed opportunity, especially when the player they signed is not living up to that for them now.

3. When the Suns signed Bouyea, what was one thing from his Bucks tenure that you knew would translate?​

Finn’s Answer: Definitely the ball handling. Bouyea’s crafty and smart, I believed he could be a reliable point guard off the bench and that’s exactly what he’s been for Phoenix.

My Reaction to his Answer: Again, Finn is on the money here. Bouyea has been smart and a solid creator for this team off the bench. His minutes with guards like Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen have shown he can work with both on and off the ball for this team, which is nice for his growth in this system, too.

4. What has been one aspect of Jamaree Bouyea’s game that he has improved on since joining the Suns?​

Finn’s Answer: Three-point shooting! The dude’s killing it from beyond the arc in the Valley, and that hadn’t been one of his major strengths at all in the pros before this season.

My reaction to his answer: This is true, as Bouyea struggled in that department early on. Looking at his last year with the Bucks, even though it’s only five games and limited playing time, he shot 20% from three-point range. This year, he is doubling that, shooting 41% from three on 2.1 attempts a game. In both his career-high games this year, with 18 points, he had multiple threes. If he can continue to thrive in his three-point shooting and work off the ball as well to get more comfortable, he could be an even bigger steal.

.@suns Two-Way Jamaree Bouyea came off the bench and scored an NBA career-high 18 PTS in just 15 MIN! #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/uqLQcLmLAt

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 1, 2026

5. He has clearly shown to be the best Suns two-way player. Would that still be the case if he were on the Bucks?​

Finn’s Answer: Well, Bouyea has joined the five-star club on Two-Way Talents, and Milwaukee’s highest-ranked guy is currently Pete Nance with four stars, so from that angle, yes. But, before the season, Bouyea was a three-star prospect while Nance still had four, and Doc Rivers doesn’t seem to enjoy playing his two-way guys so I don’t think Bouyea would have had the chance to prove he’s this good if he was still in Milwaukee.

Check out Finn’s Rating on TwoWayTalents here https://twowaytalents.com/player/jamaree-bouyea

My reaction to his answer: I am glad that he has risen to that five-star club; he has definitely deserved it. I have not watched many Bucks games, but Bouyea is making a bigger impact than their two-way guys, even with the Bucks’ rollercoaster of a season going on. I especially like what you say at the end, Doc does not play two-way guys. So Bouyea’s opportunity to rise in this system, even if the circumstances were worse, seems like they would have been harder to overcome to compete for a spot.

6. Do you think he has shown off enough to get a guaranteed roster spot for Phoenix?​

Finn’s Answer: Absolutely.

Bouyea needs a standard deal at the end of the year especially if this is going to be a playoff team

With how many injuries this team has suffered already at the guard position the insurance would be nice and he’s deserved it this season

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) December 28, 2025

My reaction to his answer: Thank god we agree, and on the most important one too. I have been advocating that he deserves a spot, especially since the Suns have one roster spot open. In his short time with the team, he has provided valuable offense, and if injuries continue to linger, they will need him as an extra guard in the playoffs. If he is on a two-way, then he cannot be playoff-eligible, and to me, that would be disrespectful to him, as he has given it his all this year to make an impact and find a home.

7. Do you think the Milwaukee Bucks regret letting him go for nothing?​

Finn’s Answer: Probably not, because again, two-way players haven’t been an emphasis for the Bucks at all this season (which is lame because we’ve had success with them, developing AJ Green and Ryan Rollins). I do think his presence would have been helpful for this team though, especially with how Cole Anthony has underperformed.

My reaction to his answer: That is sad to hear, as I feel like he could have been a fun young guard for this team to believe in. Since they have not hit on their latest draft picks, they could develop some prospects through the G League. If that is not a priority, that may show the push to get all in on Giannis staying happy is working double overtime right now. As Finn states, they can develop these pieces with two guys who are mainstays in their rotation, so this should become a priority even if you are trying to win with Giannis.

Final Thoughts​

A huge thank you to my guy Finn, who provided these great answers to try to show you Suns fans what Bouyea was and how he ended up here in Phoenix. Please check out Finn’s work as he does a fantastic job covering the Bucks over on BrewHoop, but works especially hard on his NBA coverage.

Earlier, I mentioned his site’s way talents, which is linked here. On this site, he provides an analysis for every two-way player in the NBA and updates it whenever a transaction occurs. He also has his own player grades and reviews for everyone on there, giving you more insight into guys who may get deals converted, like Bouyea might in Phoenix. Here it is for all of you to enjoy as I do, and let me know your thoughts down below! https://twowaytalents.com.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-of-two-perspectives-the-jamaree-bouyea-story

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Inside the Suns: Oso Ighodaro, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Dillon Brooks

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: What are your thoughts on Oso Ighodaro’s progress this season?​

GuarGuar: I’ve been really impressed with how Oso has progressed offensively this season. He was so rough on both ends to start the year, but now he’s become a very serviceable backup center who gives us a different look offensively than Mark.

I love his new aggressiveness and his ability to finish at the rim more effectively. He’s not shying away from making a basketball play anymore, and that’s big. Defensively, I love his hustle and effort, but we still need to work on limiting the dumb fouls. But his progression from game 1 this season is very noteworthy.

Ashton: Before this season began, I was seriously thinking about pulling Rod out of retirement (chortle) to play bass for a band called “Book and the Scrubs”. It would save us both from having to watch horrible Suns’ basketball. My role would be band manager and making sure we had a drivable van to play the gigs.

What happened? Well, I never asked, and the Suns totally exceeded expectations. We would have had to upgrade to an RV with a satellite connection while booking gigs at Whisky a Go Go.

The point here is that Oso is overlooked, but literally anyone who was not on the preseason radar has stepped up during certain games. Oso has won one Bright Side Baller award among a plethora of other players and one coach. And the comment section is not calling for him to be traded or limit his minutes.

OldAz: I was one of his critics to start the year based on his size and lack of shooting. However, Ott certainly believes in him and has given him every opportunity to contribute and continue developing. Oso has taken full advantage of this by cementing himself as the backup center.

He did this by playing strong, aggressive, switchable defense and being a connector on offense. It’s hard for defenses to double the man bringing the ball up when that player is big on the floor because the other center is usually not as mobile, and this leaves wide-open lanes for Oso to use his excellent passing to create a mismatch out of the double.

Recently, Oso has also added a good amount of aggression to his offensive game, attacking the basket for dunks or drawing fouls. His free throw is still not pretty, but it is getting better and is going in enough to keep going with him.

Great point here.

Oso in his first 22 games of the year? 9-of-23
Oso in his last 12? 9-of-14 https://t.co/JOmukMDQfY

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 3, 2026

Ultimately, he has provided more value than having a big body that just takes up space as the backup center. It has made the reserve unit that much more effective, and he is a key reason that unit often turns the game around for the Suns. It may be just a matter of time before Khaman Maluach takes over the job, but Oso is making that very unlikely to happen this year, and it will only push Malauch to get better.

Rod: He had a rough start this season but has looked much better lately. While he’s still not much of an offensive threat, he’s better than he was simply because he seems much more comfortable attacking the basket and dunking the ball whenever possible. He just seems more confident and assertive now than ever before.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Oso has a very good future in the NBA as a backup center. I don’t think he has the size, athleticism, or offensive tools to ever be a successful starter in the league, but eventually, he could turn himself into one of the best backups in it.

Q2: There have been fan discussions over whether the Suns should — for the time being — start Royce O’Neale or Ryan Dunn at power forward. What’s your opinion on this issue?​

GuarGuar: I like what we are currently doing, starting Royce and bringing Dunn off the bench with a change of energy. Yes, Royce leaves a lot to be desired as an individual defender and rebounder, but the respect he garnishes as a floor spacer really helps our offense. I know he can be frustrating at times, but I’m ok with it until Jalen gets back. Then I’d slide Brooks down to the 4.

Ashton: There is plenty of comment chatter about the need for a power forward, but the money just does not work. I like reading the trade for Lauri comments, but it is simply not doable, and Ainge loves him some picks.

I am going with recency bias on this one and taking RO. I thought he did a good enough job on butt-hurt KD (can I say that on the Table?) to deserve the starting PF role. However, if anyone wants to argue that Oso should get more playing time while teaming up with Mark Williams, I am all ears.

OldAz: I don’t really care who starts. It matters more to me who plays more minutes and who finishes. This should be based on effectiveness on the floor and how well they are fitting within the team concepts at the time.

I will admit, there are a lot of times when I wish Coach Ott had a quicker hook for Royce when he is not playing well on defense. Personally, I would give the longer leash to the player who plays better defense and has more developmental upside, which is Dunn. However, it is hard to argue with the results Ott is getting at the end of the day.

Rod: For the moment, I still believe Royce is the better choice. Athletically, Dunn wins hands down, but O’Neale’s experience and understanding of the NBA game make up for what he lacks physically. Add in his three-point shooting and his passing skills, and that seals the deal for me.

Dunn isn’t that far behind, though. I think he tends to play a little out of control at times, mostly on offense, but I think that’s something he will eventually get under control with a little more experience. And then there’s the difference between Royce’s 3-point percentage (41.3%) and Ryan’s (30.8%).

The reality is that neither of them should really be starting at power forward, but, at the moment, they are the two best options that the Suns have at that position, and overall, Royce is the better of the two playing at that position.

Q3: It has been suggested that Dillon Brooks’ reputation gets him extra scrutiny and/or quicker whistles from NBA referees. Do you agree with this?​

GuarGuar: Dillon 100% gets more calls because of his reputation. There is no doubt. It’s part of who he is and how he plays, and you just have to take the good with the bad. His energy and toughness have had such an overall great impact on this team so far. The refs will be out to T him up and you just have to accept it at this point.

Ashton: Yes. And while many posters and Isibia love his game and the toughness he brings to team identity, I am taking the contrarian route. It will eventually cost the Suns close wins due to free throws given up to the opposing team. I believe Brooks currently has 11 technicals and two ejections.

That is the second leading scorer on this team sitting it out and handing over free throws. John Voita recently put up an article based on Murphy’s Law on KD’s three-point shot win for Houston, but I would posit the “Law of Averages”. It will bite the Suns in the behind when it comes to seeding (they will make it).

Which is why I do not get why Brooks can’t play with a little more self-control.

When I was watching the classic Oregon vs. University of Arizona games, I did not see someone who was in your head. What I saw was “Dillion the Assassin”. Cool, calm, collected, and making threes while beating my hometown team. Enough so that I made a pitch on this Suns board to draft him in 2017. I am still shaking my head because he went number 45 (Houston) while the Suns could have taken him with number 32. They took Devon Reed, if you all remember him. What a horrible draft that was. I don’t even want to get into who the Suns took with the fourth pick. Let’s just say he had a worse attitude than Brooks.

So, let’s see less of “Dillon the Villain” and more of “Dillion the Assassin”.

OldAz: Of course it does. It shouldn’t, but it does. I believe sometimes they give him a quick T early in a game just so he will calm down his antics the rest of the way. This is really unfair when he has not earned a T, but it is indicative of all the officiating issues in the NBA. The inconsistency in officiating, both in on-court foul calls, what gets ignored, continuations, and how much leash certain players are given to argue, etc., all go into their biggest problem the NBA has.

I realize professional basketball is probably the hardest to officiate, but it would be nice if the officials were solely focused on the action and enforcing the rules consistently, rather than on which players are involved in any given play. Unfortunately, world peace is probably more realistic. As for Brooks, he has to play his game, as it is a big reason the Suns’ culture has changed so much (for the better). The team is simply going to have to live with the inevitable suspensions that are coming based on the number of technicals called and continue to petition the league when those T’s are given early and unfairly.

Rod: I don’t think it would be easy to argue that the refs aren’t blowing quicker whistles on Dillon than most and that they aren’t quicker to hand out techs to him than others. I hate it, but there it is. Even though Brooks has seemed to tone it down a bit lately, that rep is following him around and will likely continue to for a while.

His attitude is what helps make him what he is, though, and that attitude has played a big part in developing this team’s never say die mentality, so I am willing to live with the consequences.

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

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Quotes of the Week​

“There’s still some people who don’t get in the game that can knock down those shots that I trust so in the NBA, we have a super talented group and a super confident group.” – Devin Booker

“We’ve challenged Oso to not just switch. Don’t just switch. That’s like checking the box. You’ve got to switch and impact. Switch and take it from them if you can. Switch and make it uncomfortable for them.” – Jordan Ott

“It (the delayed flight to Houston) put us in a bind for sure. Our legs were a little stiff but stuff is going to happen in games. Happy how we fought. Wish it could’ve been in a W but we have another chance in a couple of days.” – Dillon Brooks

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Suns Trivia/History​

Devin Booker’s game-winning shot against OKC was his 8th-career game-winner in the final 5 seconds of a game. That ties him with Jayson Tatum for 2nd-most since Book entered the league, behind only Kawhi Leonard with 9.

Best halfcourt defensive ratings in the NBA as we approach the halfway mark:

1. Thunder – 90.6
2. Pistons – 91.3
3. Heat – 93.5
4. Rockets – 94.0
5. Warriors – 95.2
6. Wolves – 95.6
7. Suns – 96.0
T8. Celtics – 96.7
T8. Raptors – 96.7
T10. Cavs – 97.0
T10. Sixers – 97.0

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) January 6, 2026

Teams Who Have Given Up The Fewest Points Per Possession Guarding ISOs In The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season :

1. Phoenix Suns — 0.76
1. Washington Wizards — 0.76
3. New York Knicks — 0.83
4. Miami Heat — 0.85
5. Toronto Raptors — 0.87
6. Detroit Pistons — 0.89
7.… https://t.co/yb6LkXE99t pic.twitter.com/edUtc5E1D5

— Stat Defender (@statdefender) January 5, 2026

On January 9, 1972, the NBA’s 2,000,000th point occurred in either the Baltimore-Phoenix or Detroit-Buffalo game. At the time, NBA records were not detailed enough to determine in which game the 2 million point mark was reached or which player scored those points.

On January 11, 1997, Robert Horry, recently suspended for throwing a towel in the face of Suns head coach Danny Ainge while also screaming obscenities at him, was traded along with Joe Kleine to the Los Angeles Lakers for former Sun Cedric Ceballos and Rumeal Robinson.

On January 12, 1979, the Suns traded fan favorite Ron Lee (who led the NBA in steals the previous season with 2.7 per game), Marty Byrnes, a 1979 1st round draft pick, and a 1980 1st round draft pick to the New Orleans Jazz for Truck Robinson, a 1978 NBA All-Star power forward. Truck would return to the All-Star game in 1981 as a Sun.

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This Week’s Game Schedule​

Friday, Jan 9 – Suns vs New York Knicks (7:00 pm)
Sunday, Jan 11 – Suns vs Washington Wizards (7:00 pm)
Tuesday, Jan 13 – Suns @ Miami Heat (5:30 pm)

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This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule​

Tuesday, Jan 13 – Valley Suns vs Oklahoma City Blue (7:00 pm) ESPN+

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Important Future Dates​

Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Jan. 14 – 3-for-1 All-Star Voting Day (All-Star Voting concludes @ 11:59 pm ET)
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/...ryan-dunn-starting-dillon-brooks-referees-nba

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Suns outworked the Knicks when it mattered most

With New York in town on Friday night, you knew it was going to be a real test. Yes, the Knicks have scuffled at times lately, but they still bring the things that have historically made life miserable for Phoenix. Three-point shooting. Rebounding. Long, annoying defenders who live in your jersey. For a moment, it felt like the night might tilt that way again.

Instead, the Suns dug in. They built a 12-point lead in the third quarter, absorbed the push, and held on to send the Knicks home frustrated. And who finished it? Grayson Allen. Hustle plays. Nerves of steel at the line. The whole deal.

Jalen Brunson had the ball with a chance to tie it. Phoenix defended. Brunson panicked. The ball got deflected and started drifting out of bounds. And then came the play. Allen sprinted past Mikal Bridges and fired the ball off him before it went out. Possession Suns. Game over.

That was a grown-man win. Suns took the Knicks’ punch, held firm, and finished with effort and execution

Grayson Allen sprinting past Mikal Bridges to save the game? That’s who this team is

pic.twitter.com/AGfuc41zh6

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 10, 2026

That moment summed up the night. It summed up the season. This team does not stop. They do not concede plays. They keep coming. They force pressure. They turn effort into points and mistakes into wins. That was a quality win. Another one.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings​

Grayson Allen, the hero on Friday night, also had a helluva game on Wednesday as well, earning his second BSB of the year!

Bright Side Baller Nominees​

Game 38 against the Knicks. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
31 points (10-of-23, 4-of-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +11 +/-

Dillon Brooks
27 points (8-of-15, 5-of-9 3PT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, +13 +/-

Royce O’Neale
12 points (4-of-6, 4-of-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 0 turnovers, +5 +/-

Mark Williams
10 points (5-of-6), 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +9 +/-

Grayson Allen
10 points (2-of-10, 0-of-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +8 +/-

Ryan Dunn
7 points (3-of-3, 1-of-1 3PT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -6 +/-

And the winner is…

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...in-grayson-allen-hustle-defense-clutch-effort

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Why doing nothing may be the smartest move the Suns make

Twenty-six days. That is what separates us from the NBA trade deadline, which hits on February 5 at 1:00pm Arizona time. Twenty-six days for rumors to simmer, frustrations to leak, and trade machines to get a full workout. This is one of the final checkpoints of the season when it comes to roster construction, with the buyout market waiting on the other side before postseason rosters are set.

I will start here. Already? This season has flown by. They always do, but this one feels especially fast. We are creeping toward mid-January, and October feels like it was sitting here five minutes ago. Maybe that is age. Maybe time really does slide off the counter faster now.

So what should the Phoenix Suns do? That is the question everyone keeps asking. It is easy to live in the day-to-day, because that is how the calendar moves, one game, one night, one reaction at a time. Trades do not work that way. Roster decisions demand a wider lens. You have to zoom out and look at the whole picture.

As Monty Williams used to say, you cannot be happy on the farm because things look good in the moment. Playing well right now does not remove the responsibility of thinking long-term. When you start talking about shaking up a roster, the big picture always has to come first.

So here is where I land on what the Phoenix Suns should do.

I will start by acknowledging the obvious. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are the two names that show up in the trade machine the most, and that makes sense. They have transferable skills. Every team in the league can use shooting. The Suns happen to have two players who provide it at a high level. Their contracts are also clean. You can move them on their own or bundle them with other pieces to match salary and target a specific positional need, or create short-term relief depending on what comes back.

That said, I am not in a hurry to trade either one.

Are they perfect players? No. Royce can struggle defensively in certain matchups. Grayson goes through cold stretches. That is the league. No one is flawless. When you talk about price for value paid, both of these guys deliver exactly what you want. Grayson is shooting 37.5% from deep on eight attempts per night. Royce is at 42% on 6.9 attempts (giggity) and has knocked down the 11th most threes in the NBA.

Royce O'Neale:

110 3PM (11th in the NBA)
42 3PT% (6th, min 200 attempts)
6.9 3PA pic.twitter.com/Og0gQwxKb3

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 10, 2026

Royce has started 33 of 38 games, more out of necessity than design, given the current roster construction. Is that the ideal long-term vision? Probably not. That is fine. Within the system, it works. There will be nights where he is overmatched. There will also be nights where his shooting bends the floor and wrecks defensive game plans. That matters.

Both players fit. Both contribute. And both are giving the Suns real value right now. When that is the case, I am not rushing to pull the plug.

You could argue that, based on how the Suns are playing right now, Grayson and Royce are sitting at peak trade value. That might be true in a vacuum. I look at it differently. I think their value grows this summer, once teams are knocked out of the postseason and start staring at their rosters, realizing they cannot shoot well enough to survive playoff basketball.

When it comes to the trade deadline, I think where the Suns need to live mentally is to understand what this season actually is. This was always a transitional season built around development. Instead, they have blown past expectations and landed in a best-case scenario. The chemistry is real. The basketball is connected. They play for each other, and that matters more than chasing a move for the sake of movement.

There is no reason to flip an asset like Grayson or Royce right now when there is a strong chance their value rises in the offseason. Sometimes the smartest move is staying put. Stick with the cards you have. Check at the table. Let the hand play out.

The only chip I am even willing to think about cashing in right now is Nick Richards. And even then, I hesitate. The only real reason to move him, given that he makes $5 million, would be cap-related. There is no player on the market at that salary who is coming in and changing anything in a meaningful way.

What Richards does give you is center depth. Mark Williams has been productive when available, but availability has never been a given. If Williams were to go down and Richards were already gone, that depth would get tested immediately. You could say you want to see more Khaman Maluach, and an injury might force that door open, but he may not be ready for that responsibility. I actually like that the Suns have not rushed him. A 19-year-old center learning the league, building habits, and soaking things in from quality players is a good thing. That patience will matter later.

So yeah, it is a strange place to land, but my conclusion is that the Suns should do nothing.

W3 DON’T N33D TO TRAD3 ROYC3

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) January 10, 2026

That is not short-sighted optimism because the team is playing well. It is alignment with the plan. This season was always about transition and development. That is why I did not spend the offseason chasing dreams like Jonathan Kuminga. I understood what this year was supposed to be.

If the Suns were losing, maybe you would rush a Royce or Grayson deal to squeeze value. That may have always been an option. But they are contributing to winning basketball, and they will still have two years left on their contracts when this season ends. Same strategy. Different timeline. Best case scenario.

It feels odd to say stand fast. January is usually when I live inside the trade machine. I do not see a clean path this year. I would love to give you targets. I cannot. I do not think the Suns should be trading anyone. And even if I tried to manufacture a deal, it would require draft capital to get the better player back. The Suns do not have enough of that to play that game.

And if you have that nervous itch that tells you the Suns need to add someone, that they are one piece away, look right at the roster. There is a $33.3 million player who has given them five quarters so far this season. Jalen Green is close. Everything the Suns have accomplished to this point has happened without the services of the player who represents the primary financial piece of the Kevin Durant trade.

So for me, this is a stand fast year. No panic. No forced creativity. Let it breathe. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...tegy-grayson-allen-royce-oneale-nick-richards

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The complexities behind converting Jamaree Bouyea’s two-way contract

Back on November 17, it was announced that the Suns had waived two-way contract player CJ Huntley, and then they promptly signed another guard, Jamaree Bouyea, to fill that open two-way slot.

The first question that came to many fans’ minds was, “Who?”

Well, it wasn’t long before Jamaree introduced himself and schooled everyone on why that change was made.

To put it plainly, he’s good…really good. In fact, he’s so good and valuable to the team that it’s quite likely that his two-way contract will eventually be converted to a standard NBA contract.

Many have clamored for the Suns to go ahead and do it right now, but that really wouldn’t make much financial sense for the Suns because the sooner they do it, the more dollar signs it adds to their luxury tax bill. Financially, it just makes more sense to wait, but there is a limit to just how long they can wait.

Two-way contract players are limited to playing in only 50 games with the parent team per season and are generally assigned to their G League squads for most of it. It’s been the opposite for Jamaree as he’s played only one game with the Valley Suns and 19 with the parent team. Normally, that gives him 31 more games of eligibility, but as he wasn’t signed until after the Suns were already 14 games into the new season, his game eligibility was prorated to just 42 instead of 50, so he has just 23 more games left to play on his two-way contract.

That means his eligibility could run out as soon as the end of February, and I believe that is the most likely time for his contract conversion to occur…if it actually happens.

I’m a big fan of Jamaree and of converting his two-way to a standard contract, but when you consider the timing of his signing, keeping him may not be a part of the Suns’ long-term plans. He was signed 9 days after Jalen Green pulled his hamstring and 4 days after Grayson Allen’s quad injury. The Suns were down to just three healthy guards on the roster (Book, Gillespie, and Goodwin). Sure, some of their SFs/wings could — and did — fill in during that time, but the team needed another true guard for at least insurance purposes in case of more injuries. Jamaree was that guy, but he has done way more than just provide insurance.

But, if the plan was for him to just be “insurance”, has his performance on the court been enough to warrant his two-way contract being converted to a standard NBA contract? I believe most fans would reply with a definitive, “YES!” I don’t believe that the Suns’ front office would actually disagree, but with Allen back and Green soon to return, will there be a real need for another guard — even one as good as Bouyea — on this roster?

That last question is the one that Brian Gregory and his front office staff will eventually have to make a decision on.

An additional thing that will likely factor into that decision is what happens before the trade deadline. It’s possible that, after a trade or trades, the Suns won’t even have an open roster spot after the deadline for Bouyea to convert his contract…or they might wind up with two open roster spots, one of which would have to be filled within two weeks to get the team back up to the minimum of 14 players on standard contracts. If either of those scenarios plays out, Bouyea could either not be converted at all or quickly converted to get the roster back up to the league minimum.

While Jamaree has proven that he deserves a roster spot, the Suns’ biggest need this season has been at power forward, so would they give what might turn out to be their only open roster spot to Bouyea instead of Isaiah Livers, another two-way contract player who has also proven to be productive at their position of most need? I won’t try to debate which of the two could be the most valuable to the team here but by the end of February, the Suns’ injury situation could be very different, and they might determine that they need depth at power forward more than guard depth.

And then there’s the buyout market to consider.

At the moment, I have little knowledge of who might be buyout candidates this season, but now that the Suns are below both tax aprons, they are no longer restricted to signing only bought-out players whose contracts were less than the non-taxpayer MLE ($14.1 million). If the Suns haven’t solved their power forward problem before the buyouts begin, might there be someone available then that they would value more than either Bouyea or Livers?

By that time, the playoffs will be edging nearer and nearer, and the decision on what to do could be influenced by what the team’s playoff hopes are. If those hopes fall apart for some reason, that could play into their decision on whether to convert anyone, even if they still have that roster spot open just to keep their luxury tax bill as low as possible. Both Jamaree and Livers will be restricted free agents if they’re contracts aren’t converted, so the danger of losing either would be low in that case.

Considering all of the questions/variables I mentioned above, I can understand why the Suns have held off on converting Jamaree’s two-way contract, and why they will likely continue to keep that decision on hold at least until after the trade deadline.

If the Suns ultimately do decide they want to convert Jamaree’s two-way to a standard NBA contract, there are basically three paths forward.

1. At any time, they can convert his present contract from a two-way to a standard vet minimum rest of the year NBA contract. That is completely up to them as to whether to do it or not.
2. They can convert his two-way to a 2-year standard NBA deal at the vet minimum IF Jamaree agrees to tacking on the extra year. They cannot add the extra year without his permission.
3. They can convert his two-way to a 2-year standard NBA deal and use the taxpayer MLE to pay him up to $5.7 million in the 1st year IF he agrees to it. Again, the Suns cannot add the extra year unless he agrees to it.

At some point, production stops being theoretical and starts demanding a decision, and Jamaree Bouyea is rapidly approaching that line. Whether it comes at the deadline, in late February, or not at all, the Suns are going to have to decide if what he has become outweighs what they thought he was meant to be.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...two-way-contract-conversion-deadline-decision

 

[Phoenix Suns]

How will it work for the Phoenix Suns when everyone is healthy?

With the return of Jalen Green imminent, how will Jordan Ott and his staff allocate minutes to everyone on the team? What exactly will everyone’s minutes look like and whose minutes are up for grabs?

There are 48 minutes in an NBA game, with five players, so that gives us 240 total minutes to play around with.

Lets start by getting the easy minutes out of the way:

Devin Booker will play 36 minutes every game. The combination of Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, and spot Nick Richards minutes will eat up 48 minutes at center. Now we are left with 156 minutes to divvy up.

Without a true power forward on the roster, those minutes are going to Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Royce O’Neale. Each guy has their own strengths and weaknesses and Brooks’ minutes are not going to be cut, nor should Dunn’s minutes. Brooks will remain around 30 minutes a game, and Dunn will stay around 18 minutes. 132 minutes down, 108 minutes to go.

This is where it starts to get hard because Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea, and O’Neale have all played extremely well this season. When Green is fully healthy, he will play roughly 28 minutes a game. Now we are down to 80 minutes. Gillespie’s playmaking and shooting have earned him at least 24 minutes a game, and he probably deserves more. However, Ott has elected to go with Allen over Gillespie late in games so far this season, and did so against the Knicks most recently; therefore, we’ll keep his minutes as is. That leaves us with 56 minutes left for Allen, O’Neale, Goodwin, and Bouyea.

Allen’s ability to shoot the ball and create his own shot this season has earned him 24-28 minutes. Since returning from injury, he has been a menace at getting loose balls and forcing deflections, in addition to his elite 3-point shooting abilities. We’ll go with 26 to keep the math easy in my brain. Next up, O’Neale is too good a shooter and connector to play less than 20 minutes a game. He is averaging 2.9 3-point makes per game on 42% shooting from long range. O’Neale should continue to play 20 minutes a night, and even that feels too few.

So where does that leave us?

16 minutes left with two players who have more than earned minutes, Goodwin and Bouyea. I am even leaving out Isaiah Livers, who has played spot minutes all season long. Not only that, Rasheer Fleming has just barely cracked the rotation in the last couple of weeks.

But for now, the minutes should go to Goodwin, who is one of the best rebounders and loose-ball magnets in the NBA. He embodies what this Suns team is at its core. Bouyea has played efficient, exceptional basketball and will be the first guy Ott turns to when other players get injured. As Rod Argent pointed out in an article on Bouyea, extending his two-way contract for as long as possible is helpful towards keeping the Suns under the luxury tax this season.

This is a great problem the Suns have. A team that many thought had the bleakest future in the NBA has assembled a roster where every player 1-to-15 deserves minutes. Ott has more than earned the benefit of the doubt so far this season, so how he ultimately decides to deploy lineups and rotations, I trust him implicitly. Ott has already shown this season that he is not afraid to be fluid with the rotations, and so far everyone has accepted their role happily, whether it be on or off the court. But there are also certain lineups and combinations I am very excited to see, including:

Jalen Green and Mark Williams are the two newcomers who can help each other the most. Green’s ability to get to the rim should create more opportunities for Williams to get easy putback dunks and lobs. Green’s speed in transition will also be a weapon, and the Suns’ leading rebounder needs to find Green for early outlet passes to get into transition.

Assuming Booker’s usual rotation of playing the first 10 minutes of the first and third quarters of basketball, Green will likely be staggered to finish those quarters. Will the Suns go ultra athletic with Ighodaro-Dunn-Green-Goodwin-Gillespie five-man group? Throw Brooks into that mix, and it would be one of the most athletic lineups in basketball.

Last but not least, will Green and Gillespie mesh? Gillespie’s ability to run the offense and set Green will work if Green allows it to happen. If Green is always on the floor with Booker or Gillespie, he will never have the responsibility of being the lead ball handler and decision maker on the floor. His role will be simple: defend at a high level and get buckets on offense. To become a superstar, Green will have to develop his playmaking, but this season, his role will be to not mess up what this 23-15 Suns team has going right now.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-minutes-jalen-green-return-jordan-ott-depth

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Seven Days of Sun, Week 12: Suns are sitting 6th in the West and it suddenly feels very real

The Phoenix Suns are sitting in the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Mid January. Say that out loud a couple of times and let it breathe. Those are words I did not expect to type outside of October this season. This team is not exceeding expectations; they are running them over and checking the rearview mirror. And they are doing it while playing some of the cleanest, most connected basketball in the league right now.

The Phoenix Suns have the best record in the NBA since Christmas. pic.twitter.com/onj0gHojyZ

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 12, 2026

Week 12 flirted with perfection. Had it not been for a Kevin Durant buzzer-beater, this thing goes 4-0. Even so, as the week wraps, Durant’s current team is staring up at the Suns in the standings. That sentence would have sounded like bad fan fiction back last summer. Yet here we are, living in it.

What did we learn this week? That it is really good to have Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale on your team. Because they took turns having nights that mattered. Not loud nights. Not headline nights. Margin nights. The kind that quietly tilt games in your favor.

Devin Booker did not have to drop 30 every time out. He scored 13 against Memphis. He scored 17 against Washington. Both were comfortable wins. That tells you everything. This team is locked in on the margins right now. The loose balls. The extra pass. The timely three. The hustle that never shows up cleanly in the box score. That is winning basketball, and the Suns are living there at the moment.

Now comes the real question. Does it hold? Can this sustain as the Suns pack their bags and head out on the road? That is the test. But if you are wondering what Week 12 actually looked like in real time, here it is.

---

Week 12 Record: 3-1​

@ Houston Rockets, L, 100-7​

• Possession Differential: -3.0
• Turnover Differential: -4
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -4

Monday in Houston was pure Murphy’s Law for the Suns, a night where the universe kept tripping them on the way to the rim. Travel chaos, a delayed takeoff, clock malfunctions, and endless stoppages set the tone.

Still, Phoenix fought through it, led at halftime, and made one last push before tired legs betrayed them. Then, because basketball loves irony, Kevin Durant buried the buzzer-beater. Second made three on 12 tries. Script written.

@ Memphis Grizzlies, W, 117-98​

• Possession Differential: +3.4
• Turnover Differential: +1
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: 0

Wednesday night was pure Cobra Kai basketball. Memphis showed up with nearly $81 million in street clothes, and the Suns showed no mercy in a win that never felt competitive.

Phoenix suffocated the Grizzlies early, holding them under 25 points in every quarter and under 100 for the fifth time this season. Then came the avalanche. 22 made threes, a season high, raining in from everyone.

When a team limps in, you sweep the leg. Phoenix did exactly that.

vs. New York Knicks, W, 112-107​

• Possession Differential: +2.9
• Turnover Differential: -8
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -7

Phoenix felt the wobble against the Knicks, but refused to fall. A 12-point third-quarter cushion gave them air, and when New York came swinging, the Suns answered with grit.

Grayson Allen turned into a menace, cashing free throws and making the play, sprinting past Mikal Bridges to fire the ball off him and seal it. Brunson blinked. Phoenix didn’t. Another win built on effort, pressure, and zero interest in backing down.

vs. Washington Wizards, W, 112-93​

• Possession Differential: -1.6
• Turnover Differential: –
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: +3

This was supposed to be a trap game. It looked like one on paper, felt like one in the schedule, and smelled like one with bags half packed for the East Coast.

The Suns never flinched.

Phoenix came out sharp, connected, and borderline rude, piling up 32 assists on 40 made shots and letting the bench crack it open in the second quarter. Pressure everywhere. Hands everywhere. Washington unraveled because Phoenix made them. Run straight through the trap, take the win, and wake up as the sixth seed in the West. Clean work.

Inside the Possession Game​

• Weekly Possession Differential: +1.7
• Weekly Turnover Differential: -19
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -8
• Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +9

It was the Suns’ best week of the season when it comes to turnover differential, and even though they lost the battle on the glass, they still walked away 9 games over .500 for the first time all year. Translation: the way they are living off extra possessions right now is by taking care of the ball, and ball security continues to turn into wins.

Dig a little deeper, and the week gets even louder. Phoenix finished at plus 40, tied for second best in the NBA. Their defensive rating checked in at 101.8, third best in the league for Week 12. Net rating. Plus 10.8, also third. They ranked seventh in assist percentage, fourth in fast break points, and tied for second in fewest fast break points allowed. Add in a league-best 52.8% shooting in clutch situations, and it is clear. This team can beat you in a lot of different ways.

---

Week 13 Preview​

Week 13. Lucky 13, if you are into that sort of thing. How lucky will the Suns be this week? And how much luck will they need to hold on to the sixth seed?

It kicks off with the longest road trip of the season, a six-game journey that sends the Suns straight into an East Coast grind. This is the trip. The next time Phoenix plays at home will not be until Sunday, January 25.

It starts Tuesday night in South Beach against the Miami Heat. Then it is up to Detroit on Thursday. After that, New York on Saturday. Every one of those teams sits above .500 and is firmly in the playoff picture out East.

The back half of the trip softens a bit, but this front end is a real test. A test of focus. A test of legs. A test of whether this Suns group can carry its identity across time zones and hostile buildings. This is where you find out what travels.

---

Votin’ time! How will the Suns do next week?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ference-week-12-analysis-connected-basketball

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Guard Rotation Outlook: What to do with all this depth

The Phoenix Suns have a “problem” that every head coach dreams of. They have… too many guards?

And Jalen Green is on the brink of a return after his prolonged absence due to reaggravating his hamstring. He is expected to return at some point during Phoenix’s upcoming road trip.

"That's the plan."

Jordan Ott on Jalen Green potentially making his return during the Suns upcoming road trip pic.twitter.com/VJVp6kZjH8

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) January 12, 2026

Let’s be real. There is no such thing as too much guard depth. The Suns would argue this after a series of injuries to their backcourt throughout the season. At the same time, those injuries opened opportunities that wouldn’t have existed for the Jamaree Bouyeas and Jordan Goodwins of the world. Even Collin Gillespie, to an extent.

Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen were all locks for significant minutes entering the year. Their absences have provided unexpected opportunities that have been taken advantage of and then some.

This “stat me” line below is in honor of Dave King for his famous “stat me” bit throughout his podcasting career.

Stat Me: Devin Booker has now played less than 35 minutes in 7 of the last 11 games. He only played 25 minutes in the win against the Wizards last night.

Guard depth is good. Winning games convincingly helps.

Blessing in Disguise?​

Jalen Green went down. Devin Booker missed time. Grayson Allen was banged up for a while. Maybe it was for the best all along? This team’s depth is battle-tested.

Those injuries opened the door for Jordan Ott to build extended trust in Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Jamaree Bouyea. The playoffs are all about being ready for any situation that gets thrown your way. It’s a nice feeling as a coach to have a pair of guys who may receive DNP’s or single-digit minutes at full strength who are ready to step up at any moment should there be foul trouble, an injury, a suspension, etc. Those reps are important.

This is what we can expect the Suns’ rotation to look like upon Jalen Green’s return. We can only hope the rest of the squad stays healthy so we can get a glimpse of what they look like at full strength.

With Jalen Green's return any day now, here's what you can expect the Suns' rotation to look like:

Devin Booker
Jalen Green
Dillon Brooks
Royce O'Neale
Mark Williams
—
Collin Gillespie
Grayson Allen
Jordan Goodwin
Ryan Dunn
Oso Ighodaro
—
Jamaree Bouyea
Rasheer Fleming

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) January 12, 2026

Jamaree Bouyea will be buried as the “sixth” guard on the depth chart, but based on what he’s shown us, he is fully capable of providing impactful minutes. Jordan Goodwin is a dog. He must continue to play, and I believe Ott will play him at the three and possibly even the four in smaller lineups to accommodate him.

Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen off the bench is arguably the best bench backcourt in the entire NBA.

Dillon Brooks was asked about Jalen Green’s return and what it means for the Suns, and brought up a great point about leading the second unit in scoring out of the first rotation of subs. Translation: Phoenix will be better equipped to handle moments where both Booker and Brooks are on the bench for extended stretches.

Dillon Brooks on what he believes Jalen Green will bring right away to Suns in his return from a right hamstring strain despite having last played Nov. 8: "Scoring on that 2nd unit when you're the first sub coming out and going right back in. He's going to give a lot of scoring… pic.twitter.com/Lljtt2SxUy

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 12, 2026

The Suns are surging and have moved up to 5th overall in NBA.com’s Power Rankings. With Jalen Green’s return, that should only boost them to finish the final chunk of the season strong as they look to secure a playoff spot, and possibly… home-court advantage in the 1st Round if they go on a run.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...pdate-guard-depth-rotation-nba-power-rankings

 

[JJ]

OH MAN where do I even start with this Suns situation?? Look, as a Bills fan I know ALL about watching your team exceed expectations and then wondering when the other shoe is gonna drop. But honestly? I'm with the article here - STAND PAT.

These Suns remind me of what we've built in Buffalo. You got guys who PLAY HARD, who actually LIKE each other, and who don't need to be the main guy every night. That's rare in the NBA these days where everyone wants their stats and their shots.

The Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale point is spot on. Why would you trade guys shooting 37.5% and 42% from three just to "do something"?? That's the kind of move that makes GMs feel smart but actually makes teams worse. Trust me, I've watched enough bad Bills front offices over the years to know when you've got something good, you DON'T MESS WITH IT.

And the Jamaree Bouyea situation is fascinating. Dude came in as insurance and now he's forcing a real conversation about roster construction. That's how you build depth - you give guys opportunities and the cream rises to the top.

The only thing I'd push back on is being TOO passive at the deadline. If a legitimate power forward falls into your lap for the right price, you gotta pull the trigger. But panic trading Royce or Grayson for some mid package? NAH.

Jalen Green coming back healthy is basically like making a trade anyway. $33 million player who hasn't contributed yet? That's your deadline acquisition right there!

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Wonders, Week 12: Suns stay hot

It was another strong week for the Phoenix Suns. The team went 3-1 on the week and improved their record to 5-1 in 2026. After losing to the Houston Rockets to start the week, Phoenix picked up three consecutive wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards respectively.

Here are the main questions for Week 12 that we want your thoughts on:

---

Protecting home court​

After the Suns dominated the Grizzlies on Wednesday, the team went home and beat the Knicks in a close one and defeated the Wizards with ease, no Sun played more than 29 minutes in the game. While they were underdogs against New York, Phoenix was favored against both Washington and Memphis and won both by 19. The team has the third-most home wins of any team in the Western Conference and still hasn’t lost a game against a team not in the play-in or playoffs since October.

Winners of nine of their last 11, are the Suns playing their best basketball of the season?

Kevin Durant with some words about his former team​

The Suns’ loss to the Rockets last Monday was their only loss of the week. It was a tough game that went down to the final moments, when Kevin Durant hit a game-winning three. After the game Durant talked about the win and what it was like to get a victory over his former team that he felt he was “scapegoated,” for all the problems that the team had last year going 36-46 and missing the playoffs and play-in completely despite high expectations.

Kevin Durant post game on hitting a game winner over Phoenix:

“A place I didn’t want to leave and my first time being, I don’t want to sound to dramatic but I will, kicked out of a place.

It felt like I been scapegoated for the issues we had as a team last year, so yeah it… pic.twitter.com/Pi5xkz74ID

— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 6, 2026

Do you think Durant was scapegoated for the Suns’ issues last year? Do you think the team would have the amount of success they’ve had this year if he was still on the team?

On the road for nearly two weeks​

Phoenix won’t play at the Mortgage Matchup center again until January 25th. The team has six-straight road games against the Eastern Conference, including their first looks this year against the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns are 4-2 on the year against the East and picked up two wins this week against them this past week against the Knicks and Wizards.

The six-game road trip is tied for the Suns’ longest of the year and its first of the season. What do you expect the Suns record to be during the road trip? If Jalen Green returns during the road trip, what are your expectations for him?

---

For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.

Suns beat Knicks 112-107. It was a back and forth at the end but Devin Booker and Grayson Allen made huge plays to seal it for Phoenix down the stretch. @BrightSideSun

1/

— Holden Sherman (@HoldenSherman1) January 10, 2026

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...469/bright-side-wonders-week-12-suns-stay-hot

 

[JJ]

Look, I gotta weigh in on this Durant scapegoat thing because it's been bugging me.

Was KD scapegoated? PARTIALLY. But here's the thing - when you're making $47 million and you're supposed to be THE GUY, you're gonna catch heat when things go sideways. That's just how it works. Ask Josh Allen about the scrutiny he got before we started winning in Buffalo. The difference is Allen took that criticism and used it as fuel. Durant... well, he's always been a little sensitive about this stuff.

BUT - and this is a big but - the Suns brass absolutely used him as a convenient excuse for their own roster construction failures. You can't build a team with no depth, no playmaking, and then act shocked when it doesn't work. That's on the front office, not KD.

Now here's the REAL question everyone's dancing around: Would the Suns be 23-15 with Durant still on the roster? ABSOLUTELY NOT. And I don't think that's controversial at all. This team's identity is built on defense, hustle, and depth. Durant doesn't fit that mold. He's a bucket getter, not a grinder. The Suns needed to become a TEAM, not a collection of stars waiting for someone to bail them out.

As for the road trip - I'm calling it 4-2. Miami's gonna be tough, Knicks already got handled, and Philly's a mess. Detroit's sneaky good though. If Green comes back healthy and buys into what they're doing instead of trying to be the hero? This team could make some SERIOUS noise.

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: Redefining success for the surprising Suns

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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Expectations are changing. Narratives are sliding sideways. The Phoenix Suns are outperforming what most of us thought they would be at the start of the season, myself very much included. I had them pegged at 35–47. They are already 71% of the way to that number while only 48% of the schedule is gone. Was I wrong? Absolutely. And thank God for that.

I did not see a sustainable offense beyond Devin Booker. I did not trust the second unit. I questioned Collin Gillespie’s growth, Mark Williams’ availability, and whether Dillon Brooks could give you anything reliable offensively. I had no idea if a rookie head coach could herd this group into something functional, let alone successful. Three months in, the returns have been loud and positive. Fifth seed in the West. Climbing. While other teams wobble, the Suns have an identity, consistency, and actual team basketball.

I was not alone. Prior to the season commencing, 33% of the community had Phoenix finishing fourth in the Pacific.

They are tied for first, although the Lakers lead by a percentage point or two. But both are 8.5 games back of OKC.

So now the question changes. How do you define disappointment? What result leaves you staring at the floor with that familiar gut punch? Last season was heartbreak and disappointment rolled into one. This year feels different. Is making the postseason enough? Or have expectations jumped to the point where anything short of a title stings?

That is this week’s Suns Reacts. Cast your vote and tell me where you land.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ba-standings-pacific-division-jordan-ott-2026

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Jalen Green is nearing a return, and expectations need recalibration

We are right on the edge of seeing Jalen Green back in the lineup. Finally. It has been more than two months since the Suns last had the young, electric former number two overall pick on the floor. He announced himself with a 29-point debut, then pulled his hamstring early in the first quarter the very next game. Since then, it has been a long wait, filled with anticipation, patience, and a whole lot of checking injury reports.

We do know this much. He will not play on Thursday against Detroit. Still, head coach Jordan Ott made it clear the return is close, saying, “He is there.”

Per Coach Ott on Jalen Green- He is there. He's been playing with the players and coaches. We just need to keep him moving in the right direction. He is taking steps every day. We will continue to assess, but he is moving in the right direction.
He will not play in the next game…

— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) January 13, 2026

The injury status of Devin Booker remains up in the air after he twisted his ankle on a selfless defensive play while trying to block a shot against Miami on Tuesday. We still do not know if we are going to see Booker and Green on the floor together when Green makes his return. How Suns is that, eh?

When Green comes back, there is going to be an adjustment period. I expect it. It matters to keep the long view in focus, not the nightly returns or the early results once Jalen starts playing again. His presence is going to shift things. It should. He is a player who demands a certain shot diet, and that is going to cut into others. Those others have played well this season, often stepping outside their original roles and excelling.

When Green returns, and hopefully with Booker alongside him, those roles are going to settle back into what they were always meant to be before the season started. The real question is whether that version of the team adds up to something that actually works.

While we are all excited to see Green play in Phoenix, it is worth grounding ourselves in who he is as a player. He is not overly efficient. He is not a great three-point shooter. He can rush his shot at times, especially from deep, and that can spiral into a few possessions that make you bury your face in your hands.

If the Suns drop a couple of games along the way, I can already picture the pitchforks and torches coming out. This is where I am asking for a pause. Myself included, because I know the frustrations are coming for me too.

The long-term goal entering the season, as it relates to Green, was to give him a real runway. To see what he actually has as a player. To see whether a change of scenery can help him grow. To see if maturity can take root. To see if being surrounded by a group built on selflessness and camaraderie, something Green has already touched on in postgame interviews, allows him to take a step forward.

If that happens, the Suns may have found something real in the Kevin Durant trade that brought him to Phoenix. If it does not, then the organization has some difficult questions to answer about what comes next. That is why this season for Jalen Green has always been about evaluation.

The hamstring injury complicates that. The evaluation was paused. In his absence, the team has excelled. Expectations have shifted. Ideas about what this group can be and what it can realistically achieve are changing in real time.

If losses start to stack up and his play dips, there needs to be a moment of centering. A reminder of what the expectations were at the start of the season. A willingness to allow him the space to reinsert himself into the lineup and find his footing.

That is really the point of all this. A reminder, to myself as much as anyone, that patience matters here. That does not mean avoiding criticism. Being critical is part of being a fan. You watch. You react. You want better. But that criticism has to come with context, understanding, and a clear view of the end goal.

So as Green inches closer, this becomes less about the next game and more about the next stretch. About resisting the urge to overreact to every miss, every clunky possession, every night where the fit feels awkward. This was always an evaluation season for him, even if the injury delayed the clock.

Patience does not mean blind optimism, and criticism does not have to mean panic. It means remembering why this experiment started in the first place, giving it the space to breathe, and judging it honestly when there is enough runway to do so.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-suns-evaluation-patience-lineup-expectations

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Injury Update: Devin Booker questionable for Detroit after Miami injury scare

Devin Booker showed a brand of toughness on Tuesday against Miami that sticks with you. The kind that shows up in a split-second decision. A chase down block. Full sprint. He went airborne, climbed so high he nearly clipped his head on the backboard, all in the name of a defensive stand.

damn, Booker limping after this amazing block pic.twitter.com/jpZ7ULEuYQ

— Cage (@ridiculouscage) January 14, 2026

Then gravity did its thing. He came down awkwardly on his left ankle in the third quarter, crumpled, and had to make his way to the locker room.

But like Lieutenant Speirs, he came back.

That is not only toughness, at least in my view, it is leadership. Devin Booker rarely gets his flowers in that department, and I think we know why. He is quiet. He is not out there barking orders or making a show of it, not hunting cameras or moments. Some people mistake that silence for a lack of leadership. In Booker’s case, it has always been the opposite. He leads by example, and Tuesday night was another entry in that long-running file.

You never want a player putting himself in harm’s way, especially one this important. Booker believed he was good enough to go. He taped it up, came back out in the fourth quarter, and tried to will something into existence even as the night slipped away and the Suns took the loss.

Now the bill comes due. The injury report for Detroit is out. Booker’s name is on it. His designation? Questionable.

Devin Booker is questionable for tomorrow night‘s game against the Detroit Pistons pic.twitter.com/yqud6GD0G8

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) January 14, 2026

This is good news. Booker loves playing in Detroit. He is a Michigan guy, and that building has always brought something extra out of him. The timing still stings, with Madison Square Garden up next, another stage he seems to relish, but a questionable tag matters. That is not out. That is not doubtful. There is still daylight here.

Even if he sits, the designation tells a story. The injury might not be as severe as it first appeared. When you consider how high he was on that block attempt, the way he came crashing back down and landed on that ankle, it easily could have gone sideways in a much bigger way. He returned to the game. He tested it. That alone suggests this may look worse on replay than it actually is.

We’ll continue to monitor his progress as the Suns continue their six-game road trip over the next 10 days.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...e-status-detroit-pistons-leadership-toughness