Early injuries are cooling off the Suns’ hot start

Suns early-season injuries are already annoying

After an impressive 8-1 start, the Phoenix Suns are now dealing with injuries and integrating new players to maintain their place among the Western Conference’s elite. Following a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 99-83 on Friday night, the Suns are now 9-4, dropping to third in the West after briefly holding the top spot.

The Suns were once again without Kevin Durant (calf), Bradley Beal (calf), and Grayson Allen (hamstring) for the second consecutive game. Keeping things steady and competitive in Phoenix feels like a tall order under these circumstances. I don’t want to frame this stretch as simply a matter of “getting through the injuries” while banking on our bench depth and accepting it as good enough. This might just be who we are this season—whether due to age or plain bad luck in Phoenix.

Okay, maybe I’m kidding about the bad luck narrative, but I don’t want to settle for the mindset of, “We know how good we are with Durant and Beal in the lineup.” The reality is, we’re already 13 games into the season, and it’s flying by. Before we know it, the All-Star break will be here.

I do like what we have with this team, but to truly believe in our potential, there needs to be consistency—and that starts with having our core players on the court.

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Devin Booker has been designated as the leader of the Suns, and fans are hopeful that he can guide the team through unconventional and mismatched lineups. These lineups will need to depend on players like Ryan Dunn to hit wide-open threes to stay competitive, especially when Grayson Allen and Bradley Beal are unavailable.

The frustration is already evident, especially from Booker, who struggled Friday night against the Thunder. Going scoreless in the first half and finishing with only 12 points, his frustration was palpable, clearly visible through the screen.

We need to rely on our leaders to guide us through this injury mess, but facing the league’s top defense, with a 101.9 rating, frustration is understandable. However, when shots aren’t falling, we have to look elsewhere on the roster to stay competitive.

Options are limited, though—unless we’re ready to count on Dunn and Josh Okogie to step up.

Loving the way Dunn started the season, shooting nearly 40% from three through the first eight games, it was exciting to see the young player establishing himself as a potential steal of the draft. However, as injuries piled up over the last four games, the added pressure of filling multiple roles while trying to maintain that shooting percentage has taken its toll. Shooting just barely over 30% in those games, Dunn is now feeling the same pressures as many of his teammates. However, such expectations can be overwhelming for a rookie this early in his career.

Dunn made an early impression on the NBA with plays like this, showcasing his potential and versatility. The question now is whether he can continue to contribute at a high level without the support of key players who were instrumental in the team’s 8-1 start. His ability to adapt and step up in their absence will be crucial for the Suns moving forward.

There’s definitely pressure on this team—or maybe there isn’t? The NBA has been incredibly competitive this season, at least in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference, on the other hand, has been a different story. Let’s be honest—it’s been pretty underwhelming. The disparity between the two conferences is hard to ignore, and it makes the competition in the West feel even more intense by comparison.

It might be okay for now since it’s still early in the season, but the real concern is the possibility that these injuries aren’t just a fluke. If they become a recurring issue, that’s when it shifts from a temporary setback to a long-term problem—and that’s something no team can afford to overlook.

Are you worried?