At Suns Media Day, the big theme wasn’t mystery. It was alignment.
You could feel it in the way Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory and Jordan Ott handled their turns with the media. Different personalities, different rhythms, same message.
Ishbia came in forcefully and without much decoration. Gregory leaned into detail.
Ott looked more at ease than he did a year ago, and he made it clear the group is still keeping plenty under wraps as camp approaches.
Ishbia did not dance around the obvious question. “Am I still going to pay the luxury tax? Yes,” said Ishbia, who stated that he has purchased an additional 14% of the team and now owns ~80% of the franchise.
He also doubled down on the franchise’s public-facing identity. “Are we still going to do crazy things for the fans?
Yes, yes, yes. I always say this, I don’t own the team, it’s the city’s team.”
Gregory’s version of the message came through in more measured terms, including a notable update on Khaman Maluach. He said Maluach’s body has changed over the past year, adding that he is stronger and moves differently than he did as a rookie.
Gregory credited him for putting in the work every day, sometimes twice a day. He used the word continuity too.
Ott, meanwhile, was more comfortable and more conversational with the room. He spoke about how much he likes Phoenix and said how lucky we are to live here.
When asked about the center battle, he kept it vague: “Camp is three weeks. We’re gonna mix around with some lineups.”
That answer fit the day. Plenty of hints, not many reveals.
The loudest name throughout the day was Maluach’s. He kept popping up from every corner of the organization, and not once by accident.
Luke Kennard called him “one of the hardest workers” he’s been around in his career. Pat Spencer praised his energy.
Devin Booker said he’s been pleased with his development and willingness to work.
That kind of repetition says a lot. Maluach clearly made an impression on the front office, the coaching staff and the veterans around him. The next step is turning that into production when the games count.
Booker had a strong day of his own. He said he “loves the game more than he ever has” right now, and he also offered a line that should get Suns fans’ attention: “Sometimes I fall into passing too much and this year, hopefully, I fall into shooting too much.”
That’s the kind of aggressive mindset Phoenix wants from him. Not reckless, just assertive. Booker is at his best when he’s attacking, and he sounded ready to lean into that more this season.
He also spent time working with Maluach this summer, and he had nothing but praise for the rookie’s approach.
“He’s asking a lot of questions, but you can tell he’s asking them when he already knows the answer and knows what to do. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow.”
Kennard’s message was a little different, but just as interesting. He said that on a call with Coach Ott, it was “great” that he led the NBA in 3PT%, but that may not be the case this year, because “we want to see you take tougher shots”.
That’s a clear sign the Suns want more from him than spot-up volume. Kennard said he’s excited for the opportunity in Phoenix and feels like there is a ton of confidence in him and his game, which makes his job easier.
Still, the track record suggests a little caution. LeBron and JJ Redick were in his ear last season telling him to shoot more, and it didn’t really move the needle. Phoenix may be trying to get him back into the 6-plus attempt range he reached at points earlier in his career in Memphis, Los Angeles (Clippers) and Detroit.
And then there was Spencer, who sounds like exactly the kind of player this group wants around. He looks like a natural fit from a culture and mindset standpoint, and he’s going to bring edge every time he’s on the floor.
He also joined the chorus on Maluach, saying the big man has the “best energy” he’s ever seen in the NBA. Between Spencer, Kennard, Booker and the rest of the group, the rookie was the clearest winner of the day.
All aboard the Khaman train, full steam ahead.
In Other News...
Dillon Brooks Is Already Bringing Something The Suns Need
Phoenixs training camp opened with Dillon Brooks already leaning into one of the quieter parts of his new job: helping set the tone for a roster that still has some young voices finding their place. Brooks singled out rookie Koa Peat as a player he plans to mentor this season, a notable detail for a veteran whose edge is usually the first thing people notice. In this case, the Suns are getting more than physicality and scoring punch from him. They are also getting a player willing to take an active role in shaping the locker room.
Brooks described Peat as shy and wants to help him grow into a more vocal, confident presence around the team. For Phoenix, that matters as much as anything he does on the floor, because building chemistry with younger players has to be part of the work from the start of camp. The early signs suggest Brooks understands that, and the Suns will be watching to see how that mentor relationship develops as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Miles Bridges Could Unlock A Suns Lineup They Desperately Need
Miles Bridges has already given the Suns something worth thinking about beyond the usual rotation chatter. His interest in teaming with Dillon Brooks on the defensive end, and even handling some small-ball center duty, opens the door to lineup ideas that could give Phoenix a different kind of edge. For a team looking for more versatility, that kind of two-way flexibility is the sort of wrinkle that can change how a roster fits together.
Bridges defensive growth may be the real swing factor here, because the Suns do not just need another scorer, they need combinations that can hold up when the game tightens. If he can take another step on that side of the floor, Phoenix could have more options for pairing him with Brooks and exploring smaller, more aggressive looks. The intrigue is less about one player alone and more about whether his defense can help unlock a lineup the Suns have been trying to find. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Green Is Suddenly Squeezing One Suns Roster Hope
The Suns brought Kennedy Chandler into camp on a training camp deal, giving themselves another look at a crowded backcourt battle, but the picture has changed quickly thanks to Jalen Green's rise. Green has looked more comfortable handling the ball and running the offense, which matters in Phoenix because the team wants a reliable partner next to Devin Booker and is sorting through a group that also includes Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea and Pat Spencer.
For Chandler, the path has gotten steeper because the Suns are not just evaluating guards in a vacuum, they are also trying to map out how the rotation fits around Khaman Maluach, who is expected to have a meaningful role. The added wrinkle is whether any reserve guard can carve out a niche beyond simply surviving camp, and right now Green's growth is making that a tougher sell for everyone else in the room. [Read more 🡒]