Star power takes center stage in Phoenix, pushing point guards to the side

The Suns are managing the rotations just fine without major impact from the point guards.

The Phoenix Suns are off to a terrific start and currently sit at the top of the standings in the Western Conference with a strong 8-1 record heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings. However, a question remains: where have the Suns’ point guards gone?

The Suns now have reliable point guards who can provide stability, manage possessions, and prevent turnovers. This has alleviated some of Kevin Durant’s playmaking responsibilities; last season proved that leaning heavily on him in that role often led to double-digit deficits throughout the year. Additionally, with Devin Booker no longer shouldering the full responsibility of ball distribution, everyone can now focus on playing their natural roles.

However, we haven’t seen much possession time from the Suns’ new point guards so far this season, and Monte Morris remains notably absent from the rotation. With the Suns holding a solid record through the first nine games, this absence hasn’t yet posed an issue, but it’s an interesting development to watch as the season progresses.

Last season, the Suns leaned heavily on Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal, but the approach had its downsides. Coming into this season, fans expected more traditional point guard play from Monte and Tyus. Surprisingly, what didn’t work last year with Durant has now found a rhythm. Durant is proving to be the ideal player to initiate plays at the top of the key in critical moments, whether in clutch time or during other high-stakes possessions.

Like this play against the Dallas Mavericks Friday night, when Tyus gives Durant the ball and just lets him go to work. Leaning on the stars even more this year is the way the Suns are currently headed, and it is working.

Tyus Jones is averaging a career-high 31.5 minutes per game with the Suns this season, yet his scoring and assists have declined compared to his numbers with the Washington Wizards last year, where he averaged 12 points and 7.3 assists. This season, he’s down to 8.9 points and 6.8 assists. After signing a one-year deal as a “prove-it” season to boost his market value, Jones was betting on making a larger impact as a facilitator.

If he aspires to land a leadership role and primary playmaker responsibility with a new team next year, his current stats may raise questions. However, the Suns’ winning record could mitigate concerns about his production drop. When a team is succeeding, the need for high individual numbers often becomes secondary to contributing effectively to a winning system. In Jones’s case, his ability to play a supporting role while handling consistent minutes on a contending team could appeal to future suitors, showing that he can adapt to various team needs.

Jones’s future market value may hinge on how he balances his statistical output with his contributions to the Suns’ success. If he continues to play significant minutes and supports a winning team, he may still position himself as a viable leader and facilitator for franchises looking to add experienced, team-oriented guards next season.

This Suns team is playing as a team and players are doing more on the court than I expected, like like the play below, where Jones sets a screen and still gets the assist.

The Suns are winning, but it’s a star-driven show, with Durant leading the charge while the rest of the team steps up in supportive roles, picking their moments to shine around his dominance.

Monte Morris, averaging just 3.5 points and 1.5 assists per game this season, has seen a surprising dip in both stats and minutes, even sitting out three consecutive games. Now, he finds himself on the outside looking in on a solid Suns eight-man rotation that includes Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, and Mason Plumlee off the bench.

With plenty of season left, the Suns’ approach seems to focus on letting their stars drive the action while role players support around them. For now, this “star-driven” strategy is delivering wins. But could this reliance on top talent pose concerns down the line? Do you think they might need to eventually broaden the rotation or will sticking with the stars keep Phoenix on top?