Suns want to play ‘to the limit’ defensively. ‘You can’t call 90 fouls’
Phoenix Suns players discuss their new identity and how it impacts their mentality as the 2025-26 season begins.
This is new for Phoenix Suns’ big men Mark Williams and Nick Richards.
The two 7-footers are part of a roster that has four big men, with rookie Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro being the other two.
“It’s not a usual roster for sure,” Richards said. “You’ve got to make the best with what you got. We’ve been an aggressive team, a team that’s known for putting our hard hat on and getting out there and getting to the grind and doing our best.”
The Suns also have four rookies in Rasheer Fleming, Maluach and two-way players Koby Brea and CJ Huntley. The oldest player is Royce O’Neale, at age 32, one of three Suns who are at least 30 years old, with Grayson Allen and Nigel Hayes-Davis being the other two.
Phoenix has eight players who are 23 or younger: Ryan Dunn, Jalen Green, Oso Ighodaro, Brea, Fleming, Huntley, Williams and Maluach, who is the youngest at 19.
“It’s a little different for sure, but I think we all bring something different at the same time,” Williams said. “I think we’re just all young, super energetic, want to prove ourselves whenever on the court. I think it’s also a good thing.”
The Suns continue a stretch of nine games in 17 days with a Nov. 2 home matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
They follow that with a road test on Nov. 4 against the Golden State Warriors. Phoenix then plays the Los Angeles Clippers in consecutive games on Nov. 6 at home and Nov. 8 in Inglewood, Calif.
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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