Phoenix Suns insider gives prediction for 2025-26 season
Arizona Republic writer Duane Rankin gives his prediction for the Phoenix Suns’ 2025-26 season, including win-loss record and playoff chances.
The Phoenix Suns see this 2025-26 season as a reset, not a rebuild.
They dismantled their Big 3 by trading away Kevin Durant, buying out Bradley Beal and trying to build a younger team around the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker.
Phoenix isn’t even projected to make the play-in tournament, let alone the playoffs, but it sees this season as a foundation in building up to once again contending for an NBA title.
“You’re going to start to see a team that looks really connected with a vision, with an identity that really stands out to you and to everyone else that watches saying, ‘that’s Phoenix Suns basketball,’” team owner Mat Ishbia said last month at Suns media day.
“‘That’s the Suns way. I get what they’re about now.’ … Does that mean we’re hanging a banner next year or the year after? It’s all coming. … I made a mistake the first 2½ years by not setting it, but we have set it now.”
Here’s a season preview of the 2025-26 Suns, which will open the season Oct. 22, against the Sacramento Kings at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Overall outlook
This is Booker’s team after falling way short of championship expectations, playing with Durant and Beal. The Suns missed the playoffs last season with a 36-46 record.
Signing a record two-year, $145-million extension in the summer, Booker is being called upon to provide leadership and handle a lion’s share of the scoring and playmaker duties.
The Suns are younger, more athletic and look to establish an identity of playing aggressive, physical defense and with ball movement, player movement and pace on offense.
Dillon Brooks brings intensity, passion and defense. Jalen Green is a proven 20-point scorer and Grayson Allen is back to provide 3-point shooting as is Royce O’Neale.
The Suns also have four big men, a rarity in the NBA, and a first-year head coach in 40-year-old Jordan Ott, who was an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.
National predictions
NBC Sports has Phoenix as a “hopeful play-in” team, but next to last in the Western Conference, only ahead of the Utah Jazz.
NBA.com and ESPN predict the Suns will finish 13th in the West.
The Athletic has Phoenix going 35-47 and finishing 12th in the conference.
USA TODAY predicts the Suns will win just 30 games.
Bleacher Report forecasts the Suns going 26-56.
Arizona Republic prediction
Record. 38-44.
The Suns will win some games they should lose based on playing harder than their opponent, but they will find it challenging to consistently succeed due to lacking the overall talent to matchup with more than half the teams in the league.
Finish in the West. 12th.
X-Factor. Mark Williams. If the 7-footer can stay healthy for 55 to 65 games, this season could really be interesting. He’s only played in 106 games in his three NBA seasons.
Major offseason moves
- Elevated Brian Gregory from vice president of player programming to general manager in replacing James Jones, who shifted to senior adviser and now works for the NBA.
- Fired Mike Budenholzer after one season and hired Ott, who had never been a head coach on the college or pro level. He has Michigan State ties with Ishbia and Gregory.
- Traded Durant to Houston Rockets for Green, Brooks and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, 7-footer Khaman Maluach out of Duke.
- Bought out Beal, who joined the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns are now under the first and second league tax apron, giving them more roster flexibility.
- Traded guard Vasa Micic and two first-round picks to Charlotte for Williams and a second-round selection.
First five games
Oct. 22 vs. Sacramento Kings. Suns will be without Green, who has a hamstring injury.
Oct. 24 at Los Angeles Clippers. First matchup against Beal, who has received criticism and much blame from fans for how Phoenix underachieved in his two seasons there.
Oct. 25 at Denver Nuggets. The NBA schedule makers really love the Suns. Phoenix is playing the second of its first back-to-back of the season in the Mile High altitude.
Oct. 27 at Utah Jazz. The Suns end a three-game road trip against a team that’s predicted to finish worse than them.
Oct. 29 vs. Memphis Grizzlies. Brooks faces his first former team.
Five must-see matchups before New Year’s Day
Nov. 6 vs. Clippers. Beal returns to Phoenix. This will get wild.
Nov. 23 vs. San Antonio Spurs. Victor Wembanyama. Enough said.
Nov. 24 vs. Rockets. Durant returns to Phoenix. Pure mayhem.
Dec. 23 vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Anytime Lakers come to town, it’s must-see, especially now with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton.
New Year’s Eve at Cavs. Ott back in Cleveland to end a four-game road trip.
Western Conference predictions
- Oklahoma City. Best team in the league led by reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
2. Denver Nuggets. Have NBA’s top player in three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
3. Houston Rockets. Added Durant. Have All-Star big Alperen Sengun. Lost Fred VanVleet to season-ending knee injury, but Amen Thompson a future NBA star.
4. Golden State Warriors. Will be even better with a full year of Jimmy Butler sharing the court with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Keeping Jonathan Kuminga is huge.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves. Will dip a little after reaching the conference finals the past two years. Time for Anthony Edwards to take his game to MVP level.
6. Los Angeles Clippers. This must be the oldest NBA’s oldest team, but the Clippers are built for the playoffs. They’re hoping to stay healthy enough to make a deep postseason run.
7. Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic is in shape and already in midseason form, but LeBron James having a nerve injury that’s sidelining him to begin his record 23rd season isn’t good.
8. Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant needs to remind the league how special a talent he is.
9. Dallas Mavericks. Every game the Mavs are above .500 without Kyrie Irving is a blessing for them. Anthony Davis will be a focal point, but Cooper Flagg will be must-see TV.
10. San Antonio Spurs. The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama is beyond special, but Spurs may still be one more year away from really contending.
11. Sacramento Kings. Talented team, but roster fit is in question.
12. Phoenix Suns. Restarting, or rebuilding, after crashing and burning last season.
13. Portland Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard returns, but he’ll miss season with Achilles injury.
14. New Orleans Pelicans. If a slimmer Zion Williamson can stay healthy, look out for the Pels.
15. Utah Jazz. Long way from even thinking about the postseason.
Suns head coach and coaching staff
Head coach: Jordan Ott (0-0, First year).
Coaching staff: Jesse Mermuys, DeMarre Carroll, Brian Randle, Chaisson Allen, John Little, Mike Muscala and Sean Dwyer.
Player development: Mateen Cleaves.
Senior adviser: Steve Nash.
Coaching adviser: Steve Clifford.
Front office adviser: Ed Stefanski.
Suns roster
Standard (14): Grayson Allen, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming (R), Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jalen Green, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach (R), Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards and Mark Williams.
Two-way (3). Koby Brea (R), CJ Huntley (R) and Isaiah Livers.
Projected starters
Devin Booker. Franchise’s all-time leading scorer. Bucket getter. Needs to lead.
Jalen Green. Freak athlete. Fashion statements. New start after helping Houston rise.
Dillon Brooks. The Villian. Does more than just trash talk. Defends and hits 3s.
Ryan Dunn. Year 2. Standout defender. Working on 3-point shot, overall game.
Mark Williams. Double-double when healthy. X-factor. Contract year.
Next five
Grayson Allen. Slimmer and trimmer. One of the NBA’s top 3-point shooters.
Collin Gillespie. Villian Jr. Earned standard deal after joining Suns on a two-way last year.
Royce O’Neale. Veteran 3-point shooter. Oldest player on team at 32.
Nick Richards. Joined Suns last season before trade deadline. Valuable backup.
Nigel Hayes-Davis. Balled out in Europe. Second chance in NBA.
Remaining 7
Oso Ighodaro. Smaller five with a special skill set. Offense still resides inside the paint.
Jordan Goodwin. Bulldog mentality. Improved 3-point shooter.
Khaman Maluach. Turned 19 years old in September. Lob threat. Live body. Communicator.
Rasheer Fleming. Long. Athletic. Draft steal if he hits 3, defends and offensive rebounds.
Koby Brea. In conversation for team’s best shooter already.
Isaiah Livers. Missed all last season after a hip reshaping procedure.
CJ Huntley. Will spend considerable time in G League with Valley Suns.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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