This NBA season feels like a fresh start for the Phoenix Suns. A lot has changed since last year. Some big names like Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant have left, and new players, like Collin Gillespie, have emerged. The coaching staff has also undergone a major change, with Mike Budenholzer being fired and Jordan Ott stepping up as head coach.
The Suns have been relying heavily on Devin Booker as their star player over the years, but recently, some young players, such as Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie, have taken some weight off Booker’s shoulders and helped the Suns win some games.
As of December 11, the Suns sit at 14-11 and are seventh in the Western Conference. If the playoffs started today, the Suns would be in them.
There are still some big questions. The team lost a superstar when Kevin Durant was traded, and that kind of scoring power does not come back overnight. Can the young guys make up for the loss of Durant?
Are the Suns real contenders this year? I would say probably. They have young talent, a star player in Devin Booker and a defense that is significantly better than last year’s. They have started the year off strong and are currently in the playoff picture. The young guys will only develop more and the team will only get more cohesive.