Seventy-five days separate today's schedule release and the first game of the season. In that time, Suns players will participate in informal workouts, training camp and six exhibition games.
Here's the thing: not everyone wants to wait that long. A lot of fans want the season to tip off already. They want to see Year Two of Devin Booker, the return of Eric Bledsoe and T.J. Warren, and the debuts of Phoenix rookies Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis.
For those fans -- and anyone else who comes across this piece -- here's a way-too-early Three-Point Preview of the first game of the 2016-17 campaign, which takes place against Sacramento on Oct. 26 at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
1. They're Back
The last time Suns fans saw Eric Bledsoe in a game, it was still 2015, when he went down with a torn meniscus in his left knee. T.J. Warren played a month longer before suffering a broken foot. Those injuries forced two of Phoenix's top-three scorers to sit the rest of the season, and the team never fully recovered.
Both have tackled their respective rehabilitations with an almost manic energy after seeing potentially career years cut short. Bledsoe in particular (20.4 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 spg) was on pace for an All-Star-caliber season, while Warren had emerged as the team's best off-ball cutter. Having them on the floor alongside an improved Devin Booker, Brandon Knight and Alex Len should excite Suns fans as much as anything heading into the season.
2. Derailing DeMarcus
Out of the four games between Phoenix and Sacramento last season, only one saw Cousins, Alex Len and Tyson Chandler all healthy and available. Phoenix needs its own center duo, as Cousins' career average of 23.1 points per game against the Suns is the third-highest versus any opponent.
Len will have the benefit of a second training camp learning from Chandler, a 15-year veteran who, like Cousins, played for Team USA. The young Ukrainian has added muscle to his 7-1 frame in each offseason, and he'll need every ounce of it to help Chandler contain Sacramento's lone All-Star.
3. Watson's Debut
Though he was the head coach on an interim basis last season, Oct. 26 will mark Earl Watson's official debut as the lead man on the coaching staff. Since accepting the job, the 14-year veteran point guard has sought to instill values that extend far off the court, including love and accountability. This will be the first real-game test of his efforts.
The contest should also provide a glimpse of Watson's influence on the Suns' style of play. This year's team is young, but its has given glowing endorsements of Watson both as a coach and as a person. Execution may not be pristine in Game 1 of an 82-game season, but the players' effort will be an early indication of a season that could go multiple directions.