3 Reasons Phoenix Suns Fans Should Feel Better After NBA Summer League

The Phoenix Suns' 2026 Summer League run officially ended with an 86-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

While Phoenix didn't compete for the Summer League crown, the last week-plus run can absolutely be categorized as both a short and long-term victory - explore three major takeaways below.

1. "Big Three" Core Stands Out

The most existential question surrounding Phoenix's offseason endeavors was based in questions on how the under-25 core on the roster would look during the team's time in Las Vegas. 

The "core" of the roster in Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat was especially magnified - with all three passing the test when called upon.

Maluach showed more comfortability in situational ball on both ends, brought a smooth three-point jumper into the fold, and secured four double-doubles in four games played. Fleming started out slow but came along over the course of the week - eventually putting together a 20-point performance in game four.

Fleming's athleticism, knack to play disruptive defense inside the lane, and functional jumper all point to the second-year wing being a long-term fixture in Phoenix.

Peat is the prospect who perhaps faced the most scrutiny, but the Arizona product averaged nearly 17 points per contest on efficient marks from the field. Beyond this, Peat's biggest strengths translated relatively seamlessly to the court, while his weaknesses were harder to expose being surrounded with pro-level infrastructure and a system that is more optimal for his skills.

2. Coaching Staff in Strong Hands

Chaisson Allen led the summer Suns over this stretch in the midst of entering his second season as an assistant coach on Jordan Ott's staff. 

Allen leaned into Ott's relatively simple, yet effective, offensive system, while also putting the aforementioned stars in position for each to shine. Nothing groundbreaking was done during the last five games, but the staff that Ott has selected is well-versed to handle different situations, effective in player development, and is very connected moving into another campaign together.

3. Phoenix Culture Continues to be Reinforced 

The Suns' culture has been clear ever since Dillon Brooks was acquired last July - they very much mirror a team such as the "grit and grind" Memphis Grizzlies at this juncture. 

This was no different in Las Vegas, as the 3-2 record was marked with competitive contests each time they took the floor. Every player that saw ample playing time put in a great deal of effort on both sides of the ball, while Maluach and the other stars showed just how translatable their games can be in regular season play in the 2026-27 season.

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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.