Western Conference Watch: Suns Await Reinforcements, Nuggets Find Value, Spurs Feel the Miles
As the NBA season charges into the heart of January, three Western Conference teams are navigating very different challenges - and opportunities. The Suns are eyeing reinforcements, the Nuggets are thriving on a savvy veteran pickup, and the Spurs are simply trying to survive the schedule.
Suns: Jalen Green Nearing Return at Crucial Time
Help might be just around the corner in Phoenix.
Jalen Green, limited to just two games this season due to a nagging right hamstring strain, appears to be inching closer to a return. The 21-year-old guard dropped a subtle hint this week, replying “we right there” to a post from teammate Devin Booker on Instagram - a low-key but encouraging signal that he’s nearing game readiness.
The Suns have already been one of the season’s more pleasant surprises. At 24-15, they’ve outpaced preseason expectations that had them pegged with a modest 31.5 win total. That early success has come without Green’s dynamic scoring and athleticism, which makes his potential return all the more intriguing.
With the Western Conference standings tightly packed, Phoenix could use every bit of firepower it can get. Adding Green back into the rotation gives the Suns another capable backcourt option, a player who can create off the dribble, push the pace, and take some of the load off Booker and Bradley Beal.
The Suns have been winning, but their margin for error remains thin. Green’s return could be a timely boost for a team looking to solidify its spot among the West’s elite.
Nuggets: Tim Hardaway Jr. Making the Most of His Shot
Quietly, Tim Hardaway Jr. is putting together one of the most efficient stretches of his career - and doing it on a veteran’s minimum contract.
Hardaway is averaging 13.8 points per game while shooting a career-best 46.3% from the field and 41.4% from beyond the arc. That kind of production is valuable in any context, but especially so for a Nuggets team that has needed scoring depth behind its stars.
A big part of Hardaway’s success? Nikola Jokic, of course.
The league’s assists leader has assisted on nearly 19% of Hardaway’s made baskets - a testament to Jokic’s ability to elevate the players around him. But it’s not all Jokic magic.
Since the two-time MVP went down with a knee injury, Hardaway has stepped up in a big way, averaging 16.7 points while continuing to shoot over 42% from three.
That’s the kind of lift Denver needed to stay competitive without its centerpiece. Hardaway’s ability to space the floor, knock down shots, and play within the flow of the offense has made him a seamless fit - and one of the league’s better value signings this season.
Spurs: Road-Weary Roster Feeling the Toll
No team has logged more miles lately than the San Antonio Spurs, and it’s starting to show.
Guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper have all hit rough patches in recent outings, and it’s hard to blame them. By Christmas Day - when the Spurs managed to knock off Oklahoma City - the team had already traveled over 13,000 miles and spent 26 of the previous 34 days on the road.
That’s a brutal stretch for any roster, let alone one that’s leaning heavily on young guards and a rookie still adjusting to the NBA grind. January hasn’t been much kinder, opening with three straight back-to-backs that have tested the team’s endurance and depth.
Fatigue is a real factor here. The Spurs are trying to build something long-term, but in the short term, they’re dealing with one of the league’s toughest travel slates - and it’s taking a toll on their rhythm and performance.
The good news? The worst of the schedule may be behind them.
If they can weather this storm, there’s still room for growth as the season unfolds.
Final Word
Whether it’s a key player returning, an under-the-radar signing paying dividends, or a young team battling through adversity, the Western Conference continues to deliver compelling storylines. The Suns, Nuggets, and Spurs are each facing their own version of the midseason grind - and how they respond could shape their trajectories in the weeks to come.