The buzz is back in Phoenix, and this time the Suns are walking into preseason with a lot more stability than they had a year ago.
Monday’s opener kicks off the 2026-27 preseason, and Phoenix is coming off a surprising postseason run while keeping most of its core intact. The roster also got more frontcourt help with Miles Bridges and Koa Peat among the additions, giving the Suns a different look as they try to build on what they did last season.
Still, the outside view hasn’t matched the momentum inside the building. Even with continuity and another year together, the win projections and expectations around the Suns have actually slipped. That hasn’t gone unnoticed in Phoenix.
General manager Brian Gregory made it clear he sees that as a message his team can use.
"I think it motivates our guys in terms of maybe not the respect [they deserve] and all those different things. For us, we proved last year none of that stuff matters," Gregory said.
He pointed back to the habits that carried the Suns last season and said the focus has to stay on the day-to-day work, not preseason chatter.
"What matters is what we do on a daily basis, our daily habits, our daily work ethic, the connections that we make on a daily basis. Because the more connected we are as a team, the more successful we're going to be as a team.
We focus on that, and then when the ball's tipped up on game night, we focus on playing Phoenix Suns basketball. Doing things the Suns way, which is critical.
"If we do those things, then whatever's said in the preseason doesn't really matter. I think there was times last year where they talked about the Phoenix Suns being the best story in the NBA and so forth.
So we might as well do it again. We might as well do it again and I think our guys understand exactly where we're at and what we need to get done to take that next step."
Owner Mat Ishbia is looking at the same group and seeing a team that can keep climbing.
"I don't think we're that far away. And so, I think we're on our path towards it.
So, how do we do a little bit more? How do we get in the playoffs without the play-in?
How do we maybe win a playoff series or more? How do we continue to compete?
And hopefully, most importantly, how do our fans feel?" he said.
"Do you feel that we are a team you can be proud of? Do we compete at the highest level every night?
Do you think that we live by what we say and continue to compete at that level? I'm hoping that you feel all those things."
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Now he has been pulled into a bigger public debate after NBA on Prime rolled out a new commercial for its upcoming coverage. The promo puts Dunn in a defensive role against elite scorers, a reminder of why the Suns still see reason to keep betting on him, but also of how sharply fans tend to split when a players upside is tied to one skill and his future depends on another. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Bookers New Suns-Themed Sneaker Has A Discount Fans Will Notice
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The release has already created some buzz because the Friends & Family pair disappeared quickly, but the version most fans can actually buy is the general-release Sedona colorway. For Suns supporters and sneaker collectors alike, it is the kind of crossover release that ties Booker back to the state in a very visible way, with one price point now standing out for anyone looking to grab a pair before the next wave of attention hits. [Read more 🡒]