Defying low win totals and injury setbacks, a deep roster led by Jalen Green and rising coach Jordan Ott threatens to shatter expectations and crash the West’s top six.
Expectations for the Phoenix Suns in the upcoming season aren't exactly promising.
This is according to the outside world, at least.
Phoenix is attributed as either firmly in the play-in, or as a team that won't even scrape by 40 wins in the season ahead, with Vegas expecting a win total between 38.5 and 40.5.
This is a reasonable premise at the surface, especially following the gut-wrenching news that Mark Williams is out of commission for an extended period of time. The addition of former lottery pick Miles Bridges is a funky fit that has a high probability of not working out in conjunction with this train of thought.
Then comes the narrative around the remainder of the Western Conference. The "glass half empty" crowd will say that Phoenix was a beneficiary of many more teams allegedly "tanking" last season. The thought is that opponents such as the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, and others won't be as simple to scrape victories from in the upcoming campaign.
All this does is set Phoenix up to be the surprise of the NBA again, just months after defying odds to return to the playoffs after a nightmare 2024-25 season.
This Suns' team is greater than the sum of their parts. Jordan Ott is already one of the rising stars in the world of head coaches. He is accompanied by a diverse, competent coaching staff that seems to position players into the right spots to succeed.
Losses - such as Williams - have a chance to sting in the short-term. However, the Suns are once again greater than the sum of its parts. Phoenix is one of the deepest teams in the NBA on paper, with two-way players such as CJ Huntley and Pat Spencer providing means to contribute towards winning in a pinch.
Perhaps the most crucial factor in pushing the Suns towards being a surprise are Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. The centerpieces of the trade sending Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets are seemingly overlooked heading into the season. The former provides a solid floor and intangibles that contribute to a successful team, while the latter has an opportunity to put his elite talent completely together in year six of his NBA career.
Discount the Suns at your own peril. The team isn't only seeking a return to the playoffs, but have a chance to break into the top six in the West standings.
