The Suns’ starting five on the sidelines in Austin

Comradery is growing with the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns.

Saturday was an action-packed day for the Phoenix Suns, offering fans a unique opportunity to engage with the team up close. It kicked off with an open practice, where fans not only watched the Suns’ Purple and Gray squads face off in a scrimmage but also got to experience a Q&A session hosted by Amanda Pflugrad with players and executives. This interaction allowed the community to hear directly from the team, offering insights into the upcoming season and fostering a deeper connection with the franchise.

The event was held at the new home of the G League affiliate Valley Suns, Mullett Arena in Tempe, giving fans their first glimpse of the venue decked out in purple and orange.

The scrimmage itself was a blend of fun and fierce competition, as players battled to showcase their readiness ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. It was an exciting day that reinforced the Suns’ commitment to engaging with their community while giving fans a preview of what to expect as the team aims for success in the highly competitive Western Conference.

When the open practice wrapped up at 1:30pm, the day was far from over. All five members of the Suns’ starting lineup boarded a plane and headed to Austin, Texas. Because who wouldn’t like to spend a night in Austin? The October air, the food, the music…it was certainly a fun ‘lil trip to the Live Music Capital of the World?

Oh, they weren’t there for the Sixth Street experience? Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic weren’t there to smash on Sam’s Bar-B-Que and chug on some Lone Stars?

No, the team was there to support Kevin Durant and his alma mater, the Texas Longhorns.

The top-ranked Texas Longhorns were hosting the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, in one of the biggest matchups of the season. It’s the kind of game that highlights why Texas’ move to the SEC has made college football a must-watch this year.

I’m going on a side tangent here, so feel free to read on. I love college football. I eat it up. #GoIrish. In the same breath, I can’t stand the NCAA. It’s a rudderless ship of discombobulation. Their approach to conferences has made zero sense. It’s corrupt by money and they don’t even try to hide it. All of that being said, these new conference realignments coupled with the 12-team College Football Playoff have provided week-to-week matchups that are sensational. Texas vs. Georgia was one of them.

Okay. Back to the Suns.

KD and his teammates made the 4:39pm Arizona time kickoff and coupled be seen on the sidelines enjoying the game.

It might be nothing, but then again, it might be something. Seeing the Suns’ starting five show up together at the Texas-Georgia game — one that Texas ended up losing 30-15 — says a lot about the camaraderie this squad is building. Sure, the Longhorns took an L, but the Suns? They’re scoring points off the court.

This team feels different from last year’s “business as usual” Suns. There’s a sense of connection forming beyond the hardwood, and who knows? What starts in Austin may just translate into some wins in Phoenix. Maybe teamwork really does make the dream work, even if it’s born over college football.