Title: Rebirth in the Valley: A Starless Suns Core Stares Down Darkness with Grit and Youth
PHOENIX, AZ — Training Camp, September 2025
The locker room felt different. No more KD jerseys draped over seats. No longer hidden behind book stacks of All-Star hype. Coach Jordan Ott stood before his team, a freshly minted leader signaling a new dawn for a franchise in transition.
“This is our moment,” Ott declared. “Not because of names, but because of hard work. We’re winning together.”
Projected Starting Five
PG – Collin Gillespie: The unassuming point guard who earned his spot with precision passing and elite assist-to-turnover ratio. Booker hands him the ball, and he makes the game smoother.
SG – Devin Booker: Still the heart of the team, Booker enters Year 10 hungry—not a lone star, but a provider and emotional leader.
SF – Jalen Green: Acquired in the blockbuster KD trade, his explosive scoring and athleticism bring a new edge to the wing. A rising star Phoenix hopes can blossom.
PF – Dillon Brooks: A defensive bulldog and fierce competitor, Brooks adds ruggedness and toughness alongside Dunn and O’Neale in the stretch four mix.
C – Mark Williams: The newly acquired Hornets center leads the Suns’ frontcourt—rim protection, pick-and-roll efficiency, and numbers (15.3 pts, 10.2 reb) to back it up.
Bench & Rotation
Depth is now the double-edged sword. Behind starters, the Suns stock up with Nick Richards—a bulky former center with a strong debut season for Phoenix—and the lanky upside of rookie Khaman Maluach, the No. 10 pick expected to grow into a rotational stretch-big. Overhead looms high-school phenom Rasheer Fleming, a second-round pick known for defensive instincts and energy. Together, this makes a frontcourt trio built for hustle minutes.
On the wings and guard spots, veterans like Cody Martin, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Collin Gillespie, Monte Morris, and TyTy Washington Jr. vie for sub rotations. Koby Brea, the sharpshooter from Kentucky, brings shooting off the bench—giving hope to a consistent perimeter threat.
Just gone? Bradley Beal, whose buyout and move to LA cleared space and brought clarity. The team is lighter, younger, and aligned.
Coaching & Identity
Under Ott’s leadership, this Suns squad isn’t chasing star-power, but culture. The focus: harassing defense, team rebounding, unselfish ball movement, and sheer effort. Gone are the iso possessions and clashing shot clock eras. Each player knows their role: do your job. Hustle plays matter.
Hope & Challenges
They are deeply over the cap—luxury penalties lingering—but with assets and future first-rounders, flexibility remains. Devin Booker is in contract talks for a $150 million extension, signaling the franchise’s recommitment to their core.
It’s a new Suns era. No KD, no Beal. But a group bristling with youth, mentorship, and a hunger to prove doubters wrong. One victory, one hustle, one game at a time.
In 2025–26, the Suns aren’t just reinventing — they’re re-emerging.
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