The Phoenix Suns were supposed to take a step back. 

Losing two All-Star caliber players in one offseason tends to lead to this conclusion. Phoenix traded away Kevin Durant to Houston and waived Bradley Beal following a disastrous season where they finished 11th in the West. 

Devin Booker remained as the Suns’ lone star which left the team surrounded by uncertainty and unanswered questions heading into this campaign.

However, thirty games into the season, Phoenix has done a spectacular job of proving everyone wrong as they sit seventh in the Western Conference with a surprising 17–13 record. They have been far from flashy, but what is working for this team is that they are coherent under first-year head coach Jordan Ott and this is what is driving their competitiveness. 

At the center of it all is Booker, who has quietly reclaimed his status as the Suns’ undisputed lead option. Curiously, his numbers look almost identical to last season. Booker is once again averaging 25.6 points per game, this time with 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists—nearly mirroring last year’s 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. The difference with him is clearly not statistical, but rather structural.

This version of Phoenix is no longer arguing about its internal hierarchy and shot distribution. Booker is the team’s engine and everything flows from this. Roles are clearly defined as there is no confusion about whose lead this team should follow.

Ott’s arrival has been a big help too. The first-year head coach is a longtime NBA assistant who knows the ins and outs of running a team. He has done an impressive job galvanizing this group, empowering everyone to star in their respective roles. 

Phoenix plays with consistent effort and in a league such as the NBA that has a long regular season, this can spell the difference between a surprise postseason run and a trip to the NBA Draft Lottery. They have an edge to them and this helps them overcome even the most blatant talent disparities.

One of the clearest tone-setters has been Dillon Brooks, who arrived as part of the Durant trade. Brooks is averaging 21.5 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting, both career highs and a significant jump from his 14.5-point career average. His reputation for physical, tenacious play has followed him to Phoenix and it has helped shape the Suns’ identity. They do not shy away from contact, and they do not back down.

Veterans Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale have also delivered steady two-way contributions after being overshadowed on last year’s team. 

The Suns have also uncovered value in unexpected places. Third-year point guard Collin Gillespie , undrafted in 2022, has been a crucial contributor, averaging 13 points, 3.9 rebounds, five assists, and 1.3 steals. He has essentially filled the role that they wanted Beal to play and has done a much better job than the three-time NBA All-Star.

What makes this run even more exciting is that Phoenix has been undermanned this season. Jalen Green, the main piece whom they acquired in the Durant trade, has only played two games this season due to injury. The high-scoring guard is set to return in early January which will only bolster these Suns. 

Phoenix may no longer carry the same star power that they had in previous years, but what they replaced it with–fit, clarity, and a collective purpose–have proven to be more powerful.