Jordan Goodwin has gone from roster-filler to one of the Suns’ most valuable tone-setters, and the leap is impossible to ignore.
Just 14 months ago, he was a waiver claim trying to secure a 14th roster spot. By June 2026, he had agreed to a three-year, $19 million deal to remain in Phoenix after winning a training camp battle that Shams reported would keep the 6-foot-3 combo guard on the 2025-26 roster.
Jared Butler was believed to be the main competition for that final spot, and some Suns fans questioned the call after Butler had a huge preseason. A year later, Goodwin was still there - and still making the decision look smart.
What he brings shows up fast. His energy, effort and attitude have become part of the Suns’ identity, and plenty of fans point to him when they talk about what has changed in the building.
Dillon Brooks gets most of the credit, and that makes sense. But Goodwin’s impact belongs in the same conversation.
The defense is where he really separates himself. In Detroit, Goodwin finished with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, six rebounds and three steals in just 11 minutes.
Two nights later in Chicago, he had five points, six steals, three rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes off the bench. That adds up to nine steals and nine rebounds in 27 total minutes.
Nine Steals and Nine Rebounds in 27 minutes.
That wasn’t some preseason hot streak, either. Suns fans know this is who he is.
Goodwin led the team with 106 steals last season and averaged 2.4 steals per 36 minutes, almost the most on the roster. He should already be in the All-Defensive conversation, and he should have been there last year.
He also plays bigger than his frame. At times, he looks like an extra forward out there.
Goodwin was second on the team with 136 offensive rebounds and was one of five guards in the league averaging more than two offensive boards per game. Against the Pistons, three of his six rebounds came on the offensive glass.
For a 6-3 guard, he might be the best rebounder at his position in the NBA.
The rest of his game has caught up, too. Crashing the glass, stealing passes, diving on loose balls, hounding ball-handlers - he does all of it.
And now the shot is falling, which changes everything. He is no longer just a defensive specialist.
Teams have to respect him when they leave him open, and he can still handle the ball and make plays for others when asked.
He was missed badly against the Thunder in the playoffs, and that point doesn’t go away.
Calling him a glue guy sells him short. Goodwin deserves as much credit as Dillon Brooks for helping shift the culture in Phoenix, and the Suns got a bargain when they brought him back, along with Collin Gillespie, at those prices before they reached the open market.
Jordan Goodwin is still criminally underrated. Just not by anyone who has been paying attention.
In Other News...
Suns Face One Huge Early Question Around Jalen Green And Booker
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The more intriguing wrinkle is how that plan fits with Jalen Green, the teams second-highest-paid player, and whether his presence can help create cleaner looks for Booker. Phoenix needs the pairing to work in a way that makes the offense easier to navigate, not more crowded, and that puts a spotlight on how the guards share responsibility. Booker wants to shoot more and enjoy the game, but the Suns still have to figure out how the rest of the offense supports that vision. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Should Avoid This Veteran Guard Gamble At Any Cost
The idea of Houston chasing Jrue Holiday has the kind of surface appeal that always pops up when a team starts climbing the standings. Holiday still brings the defensive edge, playoff seasoning and steadying presence that contenders covet, and a roster with young talent can make a veteran guard look even more attractive on paper. But the fit gets murkier once the deal is broken down, especially for a Rockets team trying to keep its books clean and its core on an upward track.
A package built around Jabari Smith Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic and a future first-round pick would be a steep price for a player in Holidays stage of his career, and it would come with the kind of cap complications that can linger well beyond one season. It also would mean Houston sacrificing part of its current development curve for a short-term upgrade, all for a move that, at least for now, has no reported traction between the teams. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Need A Cleaner Showing As Booker Tries To Break Out
The Suns are back at Mortgage Matchup Center for another preseason test against the Spurs, and the early focus is less on the record than on the details that have been slipping. Phoenix is 0-2 in the preseason and trying to clean up a few things before the games start to count, with Devin Bookers perimeter shooting among the main areas to watch as the team looks for a more polished showing.
Mikal Bridges rolled his ankle in a recent game and is considered possibly available, though the coach may choose to be cautious and sit him anyway. For a Suns team still sorting out its rhythm, every preseason minute matters, and this one offers a chance to look sharper while keeping an eye on the health of an important rotation piece. [Read more 🡒]