The Suns’ opening week delivered a sharp split in style and result, and that alone says plenty about where this team is right now. Phoenix opened the season with a historic beatdown at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, then steadied itself three days later with a home-opening win over a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors team. That left the Suns at 1-1, which is exactly how the record reads even after a 41-point loss to start the year.
What stands out first is the way the newcomers have already started to shape the rotation. Luke Kennard and Miles Bridges both got into the mix early, and each made a visible impact in Phoenix’s first win of the season.
Kennard sat out the opener, then came back to knock down three three-pointers, including a few late. Bridges, meanwhile, followed his eight-point, 3-of-11 shooting night in the opener with a more well-rounded showing against the Warriors, using his inside-out game to score in the paint and connect on a few triples.
The bigger question around the roster, though, sits in the backcourt. The Jalen Green and Devin Booker starting combination has not gotten off to a smooth start.
Phoenix was already behind 21-0 in the opener before things unraveled, and in 13 minutes against Golden State, the starting lineup posted a -21.6 net rating. By comparison, when Collin Gillespie was replaced by Green, the rest of the starting group finished with a +85.7 net rating.
Two games is hardly enough time to rewrite the script, and the Suns’ first game was rough across the board, but the fit next to Booker is already a storyline worth watching.
There’s also the matter of Khaman Maluach, the new starting center. Through two games, the Duke product has been quiet offensively, taking just five shots and six free throws in 44 minutes.
He’s averaging 5.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two assists per game. The Suns are still operating without a traditional point guard in the starting group, which means Maluach may need more time to settle into his offensive role.
His 136.4 defensive rating has not helped matters on that end, but Phoenix has been much stronger on the glass with him on the floor.
This much was expected: Maluach was never going to look fully formed this early. The early returns simply give a better read on how much patience the Suns may need. The question now is whether those first two games have changed that outlook at all.
The week ahead brings another two-game stretch, starting on the road and finishing at home against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix plays the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 5 PM AZ time in a rematch of the first round of the 2026 Western Conference Playoffs, a series the Suns lost in four games.
Then on Friday, they’ll host the Denver Nuggets at 7 PM AZ time in their first NBA Cup game. Oklahoma City and Denver finished as the West’s first and third seeds a year ago and again project to be among the conference’s top teams.
In Other News...
Suns Could Already Have A Trade Opportunity Fans Didn't See Coming
The Suns may already have a little roster-business wrinkle on their hands as Orlando weighs an answer to Jalen Suggs injury. Phoenix has both Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea available, and either name could draw attention from a Magic team looking to stabilize its backcourt without overcommitting resources. For the Suns, it is the kind of opportunity that can appear quickly in the margins, especially when they are sorting out a roster built around veterans and asset management.
Goodwin stands out as the more valuable piece after recently signing a three-year contract, while Bouyea looks like the more affordable route if Orlando wants a lower-cost addition. Phoenix has other veterans on the roster who could also attract interest as teams around the league start searching for solutions, and this is the sort of situation where a small transaction can turn into a meaningful one. The question now is whether the Suns see a chance to keep one of those guards or use the market to add more future value. [Read more 🡒]
Shawn Marion Just Reopened A Hall Of Fame Debate In Phoenix
Shawn Marions return to the Suns building before the home opener against the Golden State Warriors served as a reminder of how much his career still resonates in Phoenix. Honored in front of the home crowd, Marion looked back on the defensive identity that made him such a unique force in the NBA, while also reflecting on how different eras shape the way players are remembered. He spoke with clear appreciation for the franchises history and the former Suns who helped define it.
Marion also touched on the Hall of Fame conversation that continues to follow him, and he didnt shy away from the idea that league politics can shape that process. For a player whose value was never always captured by the usual stat-line conversation, the timing of his comments only sharpened the debate around his place in basketball history. In Phoenix, where he remains one of the most memorable figures of that era, the conversation is hardly going away. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Starters Have An Early Problem The Bench Isn't Showing
The early returns have left Phoenix with an unusual twist: the starting group is still trying to sort out its chemistry, even as the season gets going. New pieces have changed the mix, and the Suns have already felt the effects on both ends of the floor, where communication and coordination are still works in progress. It is the kind of issue that can take time to smooth out, especially when roles are still being defined.
Devin Booker pointed to the second unit as the steadier group right now, with the bench showing a better grasp of responsibilities and a clearer sense of how to play together. For the Suns, that creates an interesting imbalance. The unit that most teams count on to set the tone is still searching for its rhythm, while the group behind it looks more settled, and the fix may simply come down to more practice and more time together. [Read more 🡒]