2025-26

Shane Young

The Suns Spotlight series takes a deeper dive into the Phoenix Suns' 2025-26 season, breaking down the player contributions that helped shape a fresh identity and playstyle. Next up is a Suns guard who brings electrifying athleticism to the court, along with the character every locker room needs.

It would be difficult to find a player who epitomized the resilience of this year’s Phoenix Suns more than Jalen Green.

Faced with adversity from the beginning of the season, Green met his obstacles head on, leaned on his Suns teammates, and stayed patient throughout the year. Every member of the organization noticed how he handled such a roller-coaster ride, as it illustrated Green's true character and passion for the game.

Green landed in Phoenix last summer after a trade from the Houston Rockets – a move that surprised him in the moment and motivated him to start fresh. Although his first year in a Suns uniform wasn’t smooth sailing from a health standpoint, being welcomed into a group that appreciates his presence on and off the floor has given him a new perspective.

“It was great,” Green said after the season. “From the moment I stepped foot in the gym, it was very welcoming from the organization and the players. I’ve been able to build relationships with everybody. Going to war with the same guys every night, you build those relationships. They’ve been great to me, and the fans have been amazing too. Supporting me through the injuries. Fresh off getting traded, you can’t ask for a better situation.”

It was only fitting that Green's persistence paid off in the biggest moment – helping deliver the most significant win of the season.

Understanding the stakes in the NBA’s play-in tournament and knowing his team was in a do-or-die situation, Green had one of the best performances of his career to lift Phoenix into the 2026 Playoffs. Scoring 36 points on 90% true shooting against the Warriors, he controlled the entire game against the Warriors and exorcised his playoff demons from the previous year:

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His impact on the Suns wasn't only tied to his biggest performances. You can usually tell a lot about a person by how they respond to random speedbumps that life brings. That's where it starts when evaluating Green's season.

Being a great teammate and fostering camaraderie

Green would be the first to tell you that his 2025-26 season was the most challenging journey as an athlete.

He fought back from a right hamstring injury in the first half of the schedule. After suffering the injury in training camp and aggravating it on November 8, Green missed two months of action to fully rehab. He returned to the court and played in 30 of the Suns’ final 39 games of the season.

But one thing about Jalen: He never lets obstacles affect how he carries himself and shows up for his team. Even when those injuries kept him sidelined, Green was the ultimate teammate with his unwavering positivity and spirit.

"He’s bringing great energy,” Oso Ighodaro said during Green’s absence. “He’s funny. He’s been great, just being active and involved even though he’s out. Talking and building relationships.”

His positivity would help carry the team through the rough patches. And when those ended, he would be the first person celebrating with his guys during the postgame interviews, hyping them up for their performances.

When he returned to full availability following the All-Star break, he easily fit into the Suns’ system while providing a unique spark offensively.

In his 32 total appearances, Green averaged 17.8 points in only 25.9 minutes per game. He shot a career-high 50.9% from two-point range, including an efficient 46.1% on mid-range jumpers. Not only was it the best production of his career from the mid-range, but it was 10 percentage points higher than his final year in Houston.

Green’s effectiveness from beyond the arc went through some peaks and valleys. It started out with a bang with one of the most impressive debuts in Suns history. He finished the season by shooting only 31.3% from deep, but baked into that was a career-best 43.8% on corner threes.

The strongest attribute in Green’s game, aside from the pure shotmaking ability, is the north-to-south burst he provides any offense.

Basketball can sometimes feel complicated, but at its core, the concepts are simple. Without players who can attack the basket and get into the paint, your offense will struggle to apply pressure. That’s what allows an opponent to get comfortable defensively.

Green has given the Suns more youth, speed, and energy in that regard. As the fastest player on the team (paired with elite shiftiness), his tendency to turn the corner on pick-and-rolls gave Phoenix more life. With shooters spotted up along the wings and dynamic screeners like Oso Ighodaro and Mark Williams helping clear a pathway for Green, the Suns were able to get a blueprint of how to play.

“It’s his speed,” Ott said. “It’s raw speed, it’s his gravity shooting off the dribble, making tough shots and his passing ability. We talk a lot about scoring, but we forget he can be an elite pick-and-roll passer too.”

He brings a nice complement to Devin Booker in the backcourt, giving the Suns another weapon to use on the second side. On many possessions that Booker would start as the lead ball-handler, Green would be ready to catch it against a scrambling defense, either shooting or attacking closeouts. While Phoenix had less than half a season worth of those two sharing the floor together, it was evident how much potential they could have when the chemistry has time to build.

The beauty in Green’s story is that it’s still being written. There are plenty of chapters ahead for the 24-year-old as he navigates the ups and downs of NBA stardom. Growth isn’t linear at the professional level, but he understands that. Each season gives you a blueprint of what to enhance or tweak for the next year.

For Green, who already has the lightning quick burst and tight handles, his next evolution will be the decision-making after getting past the first line of defense. Those are the possessions to clean up moving forward, which simply comes from trial and error through watching film.

His developmental arc is still in the early stages, as most players don’t hit their NBA prime until age 27. That’s one of the benefits of starting your career so young. He has over 300 games of NBA experience and two playoff series worth of reps.

One of his top personal priorities for this summer is building up his body and doing what he can to stay durable.

“Every summer, you double down on the work,” Green said. “What you could do better, watch the season back and look at how things played out, the areas you can improve in. But I think the weight room is going to be where I spend a lot of my time. Just due to injuries, getting my program together and try to come into next year without any injuries."

No game represented Green’s resilience more than Phoenix’s double overtime victory over the Orlando Magic.

Coming off the All-Star break in late February and having lost four of their last five games, the Suns were hunting for a victory.

What made this night special is the context and what Phoenix overcame. Collectively, it was an off night as the Suns were only shooting 33% heading into the final possession. Green was struggling to find any rhythm, making just five of his first 25 shots.

Even with the misses piling up, he always wanted the next opportunity. It was about sticking to it and trusting your work – which also applied to the coaching staff, who fully trusted Green with the ball in his hands.

With the game tied 110-110 with only 1.1 seconds remaining, head coach Jordan Ott drew up a play with multiple options. After the Magic defended it perfectly, Green used his speed to dart toward the ball and find an opening.

From there, it was a masterful display of shooting mechanics and concentration. Catch it on the move, turn your body, plant your feet, and stay laser focused:

Green’s momentum carried him to the floor, directly in front of Suns fans who captured the moment he’ll never forget. It was Green’s first career game-winner at any level, and the Phoenix crowd made sure he felt the love.

The mental toughness required to push through rough stretches, especially when it feels like everything is working against you, is something Green has always possessed. It showed that night, along with the encouragement from everyone who’s had his back since day one.

“My teammates and coaches were talking to me the whole night,” Green said. “Just keep shooting, keep being you. It doesn’t matter how the last shot went. As long as you make that next one.”

And he did. He came through when it mattered.

Follow the Suns Spotlight series by reading about each player so far:

Volume 1 – How Grayson Allen elevated his game

Volume 2 – Oso Ighodaro's defensive versatility and selfless impact

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Suns Spotlight: The speed, confidence, and resilience of Jalen Green

The Suns Spotlight series takes a deeper dive into the Phoenix Suns' 2025-26 season, breaking down the player contributions that helped the franchise shape a fresh identity and style of play. First up? One of the veterans and the team's second-longest tenured player.

Grayson Allen played a significant role for the Suns this season on both ends of the floor, helping foster the unselfish spirit and high-IQ brand of hoops they became known for.

Allen had a career year in many respects, most notably with his scoring and passing volume. It wasn’t his most efficient year in Phoenix, but averaging a career-high 16.5 points per game on 52% from two, 35% on threes, and 86% at the foul line is an impressive campaign for a player many viewed as a shooting specialist.

Injuries unfortunately interrupted his progress at various points this season. He appeared in 51 of 82 games while dealing with lower body injuries that you could almost certainly label as fluky. In what can be described as a year full of ups and downs for Allen individually, the one constant is how much his teammates value his positivity and unique perspective he brings to the locker room.

Once the season concluded, Allen expressed his gratitude for the Suns believing in him and giving him a place to call home. Three years is the longest Allen and his family have spent in one city since he was drafted in 2018, and the Phoenix community has embraced them from the very beginning.

Proving he’s more than a shooter offensively

Perhaps the best part of Allen’s career with Phoenix is how much growth he’s demonstrated with the ball in his hands. He was always more than just a spot-up sniper, even during his Duke days, but he’s now fully developed that reputation by thriving on the ball.

The Suns empowered him to make plays, knowing it would alleviate the pressure from their primary creators. If Devin Booker or Dillon Brooks were swarmed, Allen would be one of the main release valves on the second side. He proved to be one of the NBA’s best at attacking hard closeouts, but could also initiate his own pick-and-roll to draw help and set up his teammates. We saw that in the Suns’ clutch win over the Lakers in February:

Allen recorded a career-high 530 drives to the paint, over 200 more than last season despite playing 13 fewer games. It was the most prolific he’s ever been attacking downhill and forcing the defense to shift. Usually, sharpshooters of Allen’s caliber are the beneficiaries of rim pressure instead of the ones sparking it. But this year was dedicated to building more of those reps, which will only elevate his impact and the team’s long-term success.

He passed on 50.6% of his drives this season, equally balancing his own scoring attack with the playmaking reads to punish defenses when they collapse. His passing led to 517 assist points generated (10.1 per game), also a career-high and a top three mark on the team despite the injuries he dealt with.

Even with Allen’s three-point efficiency dropping seven percentage points this season (34.9%), his shooting still provided immense value because of how opponents treated him on the perimeter. Defenders will never sag off a player like Allen, so he inherently made life easier on his teammates by eliminating potential help.

You can never have too much shooting in the modern NBA. It becomes more dangerous when those shooters can also keep the chain moving offensively, a skill Allen has steadily improved.

At the core of Allen’s defensive value is the veteran IQ and willingness to make all the little plays. Part of what made the Suns a successful defensive team was having versatility up and down the roster and everyone shining in their role.

While other guards such as Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie took the brunt of the responsibility hounding ball-handlers and forcing turnovers, Allen found his niche with making excellent defensive plays on secondary actions – or using his elite feel for the game to blow up plays on the weakside.

He became a terrific option for Phoenix to use in smaller lineups because of his desire to make an impact defensively. His strength allows him to never get picked on, while his quick processing speed allows him to save possessions like this:

Head coach Jordan Ott appreciates Allen’s professionalism and selfless attitude more than anything. Having veterans on the roster to exemplify those traits is important for a first-year head coach, especially when it yields positive results.

“He’s another guy that just throws his body out there,” Ott said. “It seems like every night, there’s something that happens where he’s in the middle of it and in the right spot. He gets up every night. We’re asking him to do a lot – defend, then offensively, get into the paint, which he’s been able to do.”

As a gritty defender, Allen uses his anticipatory skills and tenacity to go the extra mile for Phoenix, which the fanbase has adored:

Suns fans already knew Allen was capable of explosive scoring nights, but his 42-point performance on November 10 against the Pelicans provided one of the loudest experiences of the season.

It was the highest-scoring game of his career as Allen broke the franchise record for most three-pointers in a game. He knocked down 10 of his 15 triples and led Phoenix to a decisive win:

Allen has already climbed to 10th on the Suns’ all-time leaderboard for three-pointers made. That’s in the span of three seasons (190 games).

Still in his athletic prime, if he continues adding new elements to his game and finds a little more injury luck moving forward, he could enter more historical territory with the franchise.

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Suns Spotlight: How Grayson Allen elevated his game

One year ago, the Phoenix Suns introduced Brian Gregory as the franchise’s new General Manager. As he spoke to reporters for the first time, he mapped out a vision and a detailed plan for how the Suns would redefine their identity.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia empowered Gregory to make the appropriate decisions and the right hires that would lay the groundwork for a competitive environment.

Last week, Ishbia reflected on the Suns’ progress after a successful regular season and hard-fought playoff series.

“It made me proud to see that we say things and then we’re able to execute it and then the fans could feel it,” Ishbia said. “I said at the beginning of the season, success is how do we create a team the fans could be proud of? I think almost everyone would say, with a resounding yes, we did that.”

Looking back at the key areas Gregory highlighted last year (bolded below), it’s evident he and the organization followed through on those promises.

May 6, 2025: “When I talk about the identity, one of the things that’s really important is … when our fans leave the arena, here’s what I want them saying: Man, that team plays hard!"

Suns fans across the world have felt the difference in year one. The energy inside Mortgage Matchup Center was electric from October to April, with fans always believing they had a chance in any game, no matter the opponent or circumstances. If there was time on the clock, they knew their team was battling.

Season-ticket members witnessed it throughout. They saw the cultural shift. Jose Rendon, who spoke with Suns.com ahead of the 200th consecutive sellout, couldn’t stop raving about the hustle and motor this team exhibited.

“All of our players have that mentality,” Rendon said. “We see it. You need to have players diving on the floor, high-fiving each other. That’s visible. You can see that. It triggers people to play harder once they see that. Your teammates notice that you’re playing hard.”

The contagious nature of this playing style is what drives winning. That’s why the front office elected to go this route and target hard-nosed players.

Rival head coaches quickly had to adjust their preparation. Simply getting their team dialed into the Xs and Os wasn’t enough. They had to get their guys ready for more intensity.

“If you don’t play hard against that team,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick warned, “you’re going to get exposed.”

Teams that didn’t hustle in transition or battle on the boards were automatically playing from behind when the Suns stepped on the court.

“Did you see the second and third effort that team made on the defensive end? Every loose ball, that team was on the floor.”

At the heart of his overarching goal was constructing a team that would fight tooth and nail on every possession.

They certainly crossed that off the list – because they were relentless.

The Suns finished with 503 more deflections this season compared to last, jumping from 28th to 5th in just one year. If there was a chance for Phoenix's guards to unleash their feistiness and disrupt opposing ball-handlers or wings to use their length and break up passes, they were taking it.

They also recovered 376 loose balls, jumping from 20th to 6th overall.

Obsessed about gaining extra possessions, the Suns earned a reputation for hustling everywhere on the floor. If you gave them an inch, they took a mile. Phoenix ended the season with 781 steals, the most any Suns team has posted in the last 45 years.

The rest of the NBA took notice, too. Opposing coaches and players were surprised by how quickly Phoenix rewrote the narrative.

“To me, the Suns are the hardest playing team in the league – bar none,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They play harder than anybody, that’s why they’re having a great season.”

Luka Doncic, who has played against every defensive coverage since he turned pro at 16 years old, put it very succinctly.

“It was a different defense than other teams,” he said.

The Suns can be proud of the fact they squeezed the most out of their defensive capabilities, showing the world just how far effort can take you.

“It’s very critical for us moving forward to find that head coach who is aligned. Finding that head coach who has the attributes that are important to us: unbelievable basketball IQ, tremendous communicator, shares our vision and understands what needs to be done; the toughness, physicality, the ability to hold players accountable, having a systematic approach offensively and defensively.”

It’s safe to say Phoenix found the perfect leader on the sidelines.

After an extensive coaching search, the Suns landed on head coach Jordan Ott. In addition to his coaching style and attention to detail, they believed he would formulate strong, trusting relationships with his players. That would be a key ingredient to building a tight culture, which could also make Phoenix a desirable destination down the road.

The record is one thing – winning 45 games in the loaded Western Conference is challenging. But in terms of Ott’s coaching, the Suns are proud of the way he kept the Suns organized from top to bottom.

Two common denominators you heard around the league when Ott’s name was mentioned? Discipline and organization.

Championship head coaches pointed it out numerous times, including Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault during the playoffs.

“The thing that is impressive to me is the level of foundation they’ve built this season on both ends of the floor,” Daigneault said. “Despite retooling the team, despite a new coach. On the offensive end, they are organized, they know what buttons to push, they play the right way every night. On the defensive end, they are competitive, they are physical, and they pressure. They are solid in their schemes and don’t make a lot of self-inflicted mistakes.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pointed out the Suns’ intentional approach to each possession.

“I think they’re just well organized,” Kerr said. “Jordan [Ott] is doing a great job. Their staff has them playing to their talent. Their style of play is very purposeful.”

Strategically, perhaps the biggest concept Ott brought to the table was an increased focus on offensive rebounding. Phoenix went from 26th in offensive rebound rate last season to sixth in Ott’s first year, which allowed them to dominate the possession game and keep them alive in practically every matchup.

“When we talk about thinking differently, changing things, and creating an identity, one of the key factors is player development. We have to be laser focused on what we’re doing and getting our players to improve. Not only in the offseason, but during the season as well.”

Player development wasn’t just a talking point. The Suns took it to the next level. They demonstrated how special internal progression can be for a team’s season. Everyone played with a chip on their shoulder all year and it led to breakout performances across the board.

Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin, and Royce O’Neale all played the best basketball of their careers. Goodwin and Gillespie, specifically, had the type of seasons that will cement themselves as reliable NBA rotation players for years to come.

When Gregory spoke last year, he mentioned players coming to Phoenix and evolving their skill-sets. That’s exactly what we’ve seen up and down the roster.

“They’ve done a great job with their player development,” Daigneault said. “What they’ve done with Goodwin, Gillespie, Ighodaro, and Fleming is impressive. I can’t say enough about my respect for Phoenix.”

It’s an ongoing process for the organization because of the symbiotic relationship Phoenix has with its G League affiliate, the Valley Suns.

Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea, and CJ Huntley all maximized their G League opportunities and became more polished basketball players along the way. The Suns are excited about how much each of them learned this past year and how they will carry that momentum into Summer League.

“That is the most unselfish team I’ve ever seen.”

While this year’s Phoenix Suns were a defensive-minded group, they became an exciting team to watch offensively because of how they shared the ball.

Devin Booker epitomized it more than anyone. He set the tone early during last summer’s workouts. Behind his leadership, every player understood it’s about sacrificing for the greater good.

By showing that he was content with a reduction in minutes, shots, and touches, Booker sent a strong message. The only way Phoenix was going to blow past expectations was everyone adopting the same mentality.

“It really starts with Jordan Ott, but really him and Book,” Doc Rivers said. “Both of them. You have to get your best player to buy into that, especially a guard. Bigs are easier, but the guards have to want to do that. I’ve watched them all year. There are teams you like to watch because they play right all the time, and that’s what makes them hard to play. And they’ve all bought into it.”

Booker ranked 13th in the league in assist opportunities among all qualified players and second in ‘hockey assists’, illustrating his willingness to get off the ball early and start the offensive blender for Phoenix without getting credit for the direct pass.

His approach trickled down to the role players and became one of Phoenix’s strengths.

“It’s fun to watch them play,” Rivers added. “They've had more talent in the past, and yet they are a better team now. They play like they like passing.”

“That team looks like they enjoy playing with each other. They play with joy.”

You can’t build a winner without chemistry and team camaraderie. The Suns understood that from the start, carving out time for team activities and off-court experiences before training camp.

It only grew stronger during their trip to Macao for the NBA China Games. Exploring new cities together and engaging with the community helped create a tight-knit group, and it shined all season:

Fans can easily see their chemistry and how much it matters. Matthew Sharma, a season-ticket holder for the last five years, can attest to how much passion and excitement the Suns share on the floor.

“We now have a new team and a competitive culture,” Sharma says. “I think we’re playing to have a good time and we’re exceeding expectations, which is why it’s amazing. We weren’t supposed to win this many games … and look at us now. People want to see this team play.”

“When we talk about the toughness you have to play with, the unselfishness you have to play with, the grit you have to play with, and the ability to keep working through things even when they get tough … and why do you do it? Because you love it. You actually love it.”

If toughness and grit were the primary calling cards, fighting through adversity and defying the odds became the Suns’ secondary identity.

Every time injuries threw a wrench into their hopes for lineup continuity, they refused to make excuses and kept pushing forward.

When in-game adversity struck, the Suns handled business there, too.

In late November against the Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game, Phoenix trailed by eight with 51.7 seconds left. Despite only having a 1.1% win probability, they collectively dug in, forced turnovers, and made gutsy plays to storm back. Gillespie sealed it with a game-winner.

Jeremy Powell, another season-ticket holder who has stuck beside the Suns through all of the ups and downs, explained how much that fight matters to him and the crowd.

“As a fanbase, we know we’re going to have a lull sometimes during a game, but we know we’re going to dig ourselves back out,” Powell said. “We work harder than most other teams. That really is something I appreciate.”

In a road game against the Lakers, Booker was sidelined in the first half with a groin injury. But that didn’t prevent the Suns from rallying together, forcing the Lakers into 22 turnovers, and shooting the bright Hollywood lights out.

Even during clutch moments and high-pressure situations, more often than not, they rose to the occasion. Four different players delivered game-winning buckets this season, tying a franchise record.

“We talk about urgency. We’re a ‘get it done today’ kind of team. That’s what we need to be. We’re not going to wait to be the best version of ourselves, we’re going to do it today.”

The Suns focused on the work. There were no wasted days. They started grinding earlier than most teams, going through mini-training camps together in August and September.

It led to Phoenix becoming the first NBA team this season to eclipse their preseason over/under win total, along with just about every projection model that exists.

They paved their way to a top 10 defense when nobody outside of Phoenix expected it.

They broke or approached franchise records that nobody had on the agenda this season.

“It’s really hard to do in a short time frame and I don’t think many people thought we could do it,” Ishbia said last week. “Although we’ve done that, we still have room to get better. Doing it consistently, doing it year in and year out, and doing it every single day.”

It was all put in motion last May when leadership set high standards – and never budged. Gregory listed every single value that he and Ishbia wanted the team to embody and how they were going to achieve it.

“When you talk about culture and identity, that’s who you are on a daily basis.”

True to his word, the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns walked the walk. And there’s still plenty more to come.

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Actions Over Words: How the Suns turned a vision into reality

During this week’s exit interviews, several Phoenix Suns players spoke on their successful 2025-26 season and why this was a beneficial year for the team despite the playoff result.

Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and Oso Ighodaro each gave their thoughts on this year’s group. Here’s a snapshot of the biggest takeaways.

Everyone is proud of this season and the rapid turnaround

One thing that's become clear with this Suns team is they view this season through a nuanced lens. At the end of the day, they are competitors. Nobody is happy with ending their journey in late April. But in the same breath, they all have acknowledged how successful and – most importantly – enjoyable this season was from beginning to end.

They battled all year. Regardless of the circumstances within a game or the unfortunate injuries, they entered every matchup with a collective belief: Play our style and we’ll be right there in the end.

It was their mindset and focus that helped Phoenix navigate through a difficult stretch of injuries. Five of the Suns’ primary contributors missed at least 18 games due to injury, including Green being sidelined for over half the season with early hamstring issues.

When you consider the quartet of Booker, Williams, Green, and Brooks only appeared in eight total games together and didn’t log any playoff minutes, winning 45 games should feel like a major accomplishment.

Brooks never had any doubts. Once he saw the makeup of the team, it was a given they would compete every night. Throw in the low projected win totals and the motivation was already high.

“From the jump, we knew that if we put the work in, we’d be good,” Brooks said. “We had the guys and the skeleton to have a great team, to battle through adversity. I think a lot of guys wanted to prove the naysayers wrong. That’s like my MO, to prove them wrong. And I feel like we did. Now, it’s get back to the drawing board. How can we replicate these games – that we played hard and got better each game against OKC – how can we now implement that throughout the whole year?”

As one of the Suns’ leaders, Brooks has quickly turned the page to offseason prep. After working out at the practice facility the morning after elimination, he was even showing his teammates a few clips from Game 4 and pointing out ways Phoenix can improve. The grind truly never stops for him.

Collin Gillespie, who also had a breakout season in many areas, offered nothing but gratitude for everyone that helped put him in this position. He snapped the Suns’ franchise record for most 3-pointers in a season and put his name on the national map with exciting clutch moments.

“Just extremely grateful and have a lot of gratitude for teammates, coaches, and the front office,” Gillespie said. “Having the opportunity to go out there and compete with those guys is a pretty special feeling. It was an extremely fun year and fun group to be around every day. I’m just looking to continue to grow and get a lot better during the offseason.”

Allen knew the Suns had something special from the beginning, but once Phoenix proved it after a couple months in, that’s when it became clear they could be a playoff contender.

“I think midway through the season, we realized what we had as a group,” Allen said. “We saw the talent and potential. We had some big wins throughout the year and our ability to get into close games with a lot of the top teams. I think we felt really good about what we had here on the team.”

As Gillespie put it, each day was an enjoyable experience because of how tight the team became in a relatively short period of time.

“There was a lot of energy in the building,” Gillespie said. “When it’s fun to come to work every day, it makes it really fun to just go out there, compete, and lay it on the line with the guys you’re doing it with.”

Coach Jordan Ott deserves immense credit for his leadership

Ott excelled in his first season as a head coach, leading Phoenix to 45 wins and ushering in a new era of Suns basketball. His decade of experience on the sidelines in an assistant role prepared him for the next challenge, bringing his relationship-building traits and detail-oriented mindset to the forefront.

Immediately after getting the job, Ott laid out exactly how he wanted his Suns to play. He wanted them to become one of the most aggressive defenses in the league, pressuring ball-handlers to bleed the shot clock and reducing the opponent’s efficiency any chance they could. He wanted them to stay hungry on the offensive glass, finding ways to create extra possessions. That quickly become the team’s reputation as he gained buy-in from all of his players.

“I thought we was great in framing what he wanted the identity of the team to be,” Allen said. “Then, early on in the year, getting us to come together and do that. And it worked. I think it was a playstyle everyone on the team enjoyed playing. A lot of guys on our team had career years, so it was a system that guys were able to have freedom and play really well in.”

What might go unnoticed, though, is the belief Ott instills in his guys. Every conversation behind the scenes, the words of encouragement, and the film sessions to pinpoint areas of growth are moments that build trust between coaches and players.

Brooks and Ighodaro both echoed how meaningful that connection has been to Coach Ott in year one.

For Brooks, his leap to a career scoring year doesn’t happen without the staff trusting him with more offensive responsibility. He mentioned how Ott never hesitated with allowing him that freedom, knowing those reps were necessary for Brooks to maximize his potential.

“I appreciate Coach Ott for giving me that opportunity and that leeway for me to explore on the basketball floor,” Brooks said. “Then, ultimately, just doubling down every time on a day off or a practice where I’m just working out the same shots, so that he knows I’m not taking this shot just to get a shot off. I’m taking this shot because I work on this every day. So I appreciate that and I appreciate the opportunity. I want to keep capitalizing on this.”

Ighodaro also raved about the coaching style Ott and his staff have brought to the Valley. It all goes back to emboldening your players and creating that environment where everyone knows from day one: Not only is your skill-set valuable, but it will be utilized and featured.

“It’s been great – I love JO,” Ighodaro says. “He expects so much out of me, which I love. I couldn’t ask for … I just love to be coached that way. I’m excited for this summer, to get a lot better and grow with him. I thought he did a great job stepping in for his first head coaching job. Just the way he poured belief into us is something that I really respected and appreciated.”

In his first year, Ott coached with the type of accountability and care that will make Phoenix a desirable location for players in the future.

“It’s one thing to have the vision of how he wanted us to play,” Allen says, “but it’s another to get us to do it and for us to execute it. I think it was a great first year for him and I really enjoy playing for him.”

While it’s true this season will stand as a positive step forward, the Suns will need to leverage this playoff experience into some improvement for next year.

They put up a highly respectable fight against the NBA’s most dangerous team. Three of the four games were single-digit battles in the fourth quarter until OKC pushed ahead.

In the eyes of many Suns players, there are several key components they learned from OKC that will apply to next season. Those include drilling down into the details on how to attack certain opponents, not allowing themselves to have defensive lapses on the brightest stage, and staying connected with their communication on both sides of the ball.

“They’re the baseline,” Gillespie said. “The highest level … but I think it was a great learning experience for all of us. Especially myself – that was my first playoff series. So I got to learn a lot about myself and what the playoffs are about. That’s the best baseline to have, playing against a team that won it last year. A complete group. Just the attention to detail and the attention to winning habits on every single possession.”

Gillespie was one of several Suns who made their playoff debut – a challenging task against a defense that potent. But he’s glad they went up against an elite opponent. The best lessons in life often come from rough moments.

“I think when you’re thrown into the fire, that’s the best way to learn,” Gillespie said. “You kind of learn a lot about yourself going through it. As a player, you start to figure it out and you get more comfortable being in those situations. I think that was a little bit of it. From Game 1 to 4, I learned a ton.”

“I think it was a good step forward for all of the young guys, just to see the preparation that goes into it,” Booker said. “You realize how every possession matters. Every moment matters. It’s something to build on going into next year. Make sure all of the young guys are still watching the playoffs, even though we’re not in it, and visualizing them being on the floor and in those spots. We have a lot to learn as a young team.”

Ighodaro spoke about the same concept as this four-game series will give them plenty of film on what to adjust next year.

“It’s just an experience that we can look back on and compare, knowing that’s the level we have to be ready to play at,” Ighodaro said. “That’s a team we have to be ready to beat in the playoffs. A good benchmark to learn from.”

In addition to landing on a winning formula this season, the Suns also found the perfect way to connect with the fanbase. It was almost like every game, the Phoenix crowd tried to set a new season-high for volume.

“The fanbase has been amazing,” Brooks said. “The fans are great. I think it was over 200 consecutive sellout crowds, and it’s only going to get better and better from here.”

Brooks has been revered by the fans since the first moment he took the floor. And rightfully so, as he brought a new edge to Suns basketball and elevated everyone on the roster.

Gillespie, who saw how passionate Suns fans were last year by selling out every game, watched the excitement reach a whole new level because of their toughness.

“We got the best fans in the league in my opinion,” Gillespie said. “They show up every night. With guys in and out of the lineup, it doesn’t matter who’s playing. They support us and we’re extremely appreciative of that support coming in every day. Back-to-backs, they always showed up and they were always loud. We really appreciate our fans.”

Allen spoke about Phoenix being the place he’s settled into, and how much the city has supported him since 2023.

“It’s been awesome and the fan support has been great,” Allen said. “I’ve had two camps here. The turnout there and support I felt has been awesome. Three years is the longest I’ve been in a city in my career. So I’m very grateful for that. Me and my family love being here.”

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Takeaways from Phoenix Suns Exit Interviews

Sam Harvey

Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation collaborated with Global Partnership Solutions to host young Suns fan Christian Lopez and his family for a branded content piece to promote our OneCourt devices for blind and low-vision fans. Christian and family enjoyed car service to the game and a courtside warmup experience.

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OneCourt

Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation, with a special appearance by Dillon Brooks, hosted a 3v3 tournament supporting community impact initiatives across the Valley!

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Dillon 3v3 Tournament

To commemorate the 2024 WNBA All-Star game, the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation (PSPMF), Phoenix Mercury and Valley of the Suns YMCA launched a first-of-its-kind all-girls youth basketball league. In 2026, PSPMF and the Mercury partnered with the YMCA of Southern Arizona to bring JMLL to the Tucson region. This extended commitment was made to commemorate the 2025 WNBA Finals run and elevates the Mercury’s status as the focal point of women’s basketball in Arizona.

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JMLL Tucson Launch

The Phoenix Suns' remarkable season concluded on Monday night, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of a physical first round series.

In a results-oriented business, proper reflection doesn't happen on the night of a loss. Sports are too competitive for that. But what this series undoubtedly proved is that Phoenix has a strong foundation that everyone in the organization believes in. They may have lost four straight games, but Phoenix will take this experience from battling against the NBA's best and roll into next year.

2025‑26