Phoenix Suns Emerge as Trendsetters in NBA’s Evolution Toward Pace and Versatility
PHOENIX - If you’ve been watching the Suns this season and thinking, “This feels different,” you’re not alone. Tyrese Haliburton sees it too - and he’s not just watching, he’s connecting the dots.
The Indiana Pacers All-Star guard recently appeared on the Mind the Game podcast with LeBron James, where he gave Phoenix a nod as one of the teams leaning into the NBA’s new wave: fast-paced, positionless basketball built on defensive pressure and lineup flexibility. And for Haliburton, that shift isn’t just a coincidence - it’s part of a broader league-wide trend that Indiana helped spark.
“I watch a team like Phoenix, who I love - I love watching Phoenix play,” Haliburton said. “Their coach [Jordan Ott] came from Cleveland, and that’s who we beat [in the 2025 playoffs]. I think he saw the way we played and tried to replicate that.”
That’s more than a compliment - it’s a recognition of how influence flows in today’s NBA. Success doesn’t stay in one place for long.
When something works, other teams take notice. And right now, the Suns are one of the teams turning heads.
A System Shift Under Ott
Since taking the reins in Phoenix, head coach Jordan Ott has wasted no time reshaping the team’s identity. Gone are the more traditional two-big lineups. In their place: smaller, quicker, more switchable units that can fly up and down the floor and throw full-court pressure at opponents.
This isn’t just about playing fast for the sake of it. It’s about dictating tempo, creating chaos on defense, and maximizing the versatility of players who can guard multiple positions and stretch the floor on offense. That shift has paid off - the Suns currently rank eighth in the NBA in defensive rating at 112.3, per NBA.com.
That’s a top-10 defense built not on size, but on speed, effort, and adaptability. And it’s not going unnoticed by other players around the league.
Booker’s Buy-In
Haliburton also recalled a moment from the preseason that stuck with him - watching Devin Booker during the Suns’ trip to China and hearing firsthand how Phoenix was preparing to embrace a new style.
“I remember I was watching Book [in China during preseason] and he said, ‘We’re going to try to play more uptempo and pick up full court. You see what Indiana is doing. I think the game is going that way,’” Haliburton said.
That’s a telling quote. Booker, now in his 11th season, has long been known for his scoring prowess and leadership.
But what stands out here is his willingness to evolve. In a league that’s constantly changing, staying relevant means staying adaptable - and Booker seems to understand that better than most.
He’s not just going along with the shift; he’s helping drive it. That kind of veteran buy-in is critical when a team is retooling its identity on the fly.
A League-Wide Movement
What’s happening in Phoenix isn’t happening in a vacuum. Across the NBA, teams are rethinking what it means to build a winning roster. The days of relying heavily on size and traditional roles are giving way to systems built around speed, spacing, and defensive versatility.
That means sacrificing some of the old-school structure in exchange for the ability to switch across positions, push the pace, and create mismatches. It’s not always pretty, but it’s effective - and it’s becoming the new normal.
The Suns are one of the teams at the forefront of that movement. And while they’ve faced their share of in-season adversity, their commitment to this new style has helped them stay competitive and relevant in a crowded Western Conference.
What’s Next
Phoenix will look to keep that momentum going when they return home to face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. It’s another opportunity to see this new-look Suns squad in action - and to watch how a team that’s embracing change continues to shape the future of the league.
The message is clear: the Suns aren’t just adapting to where the NBA is headed - they’re helping lead the way.