This year allows fans to have mindset in the present.
Dear Phoenix Suns Nation,
The day has dawned on us. The Phoenix Suns begin their season. Their 57th season, to be exact. The struggles of the team from a season ago still hover over the squad’s image from a season ago, but in reality, this squad isn’t last season’s, it can’t be.
With 9 players returning from last year, CONTINUITY is a thing in the Valley. That wasn’t on the board a season ago. There are point guards on the roster, legitimate ones, whose goal and specialty is distributing, setting Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant up for strong seasons. The team has a few intriguing rookies and Mike Budenholzer is head coach now, a defensive-minded coach with a love for three-point attempts.
One of the reasons last year was so disappointing was the expectations set before the year on the team. It felt like every media outlet and every Phoenix fan thought it was a title or bust season. After a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in four games in the first round of the playoffs last season, not many are expecting the Suns to hoist the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign.
A good thing about this year for the Suns is the expectations. People don’t know what exactly to expect it seems. Some have them in the top three, others in the play-in. The chance for the enjoyment of the day-by-day can be easier now.
It got forgotten last year, but Kevin Durant is STILL an elite basketball player. In his age 35 year, he averaged 27 a game and made All-NBA second team. Just because LeBron James and Steph Curry are playing at a high level still at older ages, doesn’t mean the Slim Reaper’s greatness should be taken for granted. After becoming the most decorated male team sport athlete in Team USA Olympic history this summer, he’s set to have another great year.
Devin Booker, coming off a summer where his leadership and sacrifice were on display for Team USA on his way to his second gold medal, will play in his tenth season for the Valley, his TENTH!!! When the face of the franchise steps on the court later tonight, he will be just one of two players to ever have donned a Suns jersey for at least ten seasons. Many teams have more titles, more playoff wins, and more consistency, but not many have a Devin Booker; someone who’s been there through the thick and the thin, the Finals runs and the tankathon runs, and the games playing next to G-League level talent and Kevin Durant.
With Mike Budenholzer’s love for threes, Bradley Beal’s scoring talent, Grayson Allen’s shooting, and the rest of the team’s skill sets, there will be fun times. With the roster’s lack of size and defensive chops, there will also be bad times.
If there’s one thing this season is set up to be this year though, it’s the urge for people watching and rooting for the Suns to stay in the present. If they make it far in the playoffs, it won’t be a surprise, just as it won’t be if they miss the playoffs entirely.
So through the good and the bad, the happy and the glad, the blown leads and comebacks, just enjoy Suns basketball for what it is this season, not what it should be.
Sincerely,
Holden Sherman