Phoenix Suns insider breaks down Bradley Beal contract buyout
The Suns bought out guard Bradley Beal’s contract, ending his time in Phoenix. The Republic’s Duane Rankin explains what it means for the team.
The Phoenix Suns went into last season with 19 scheduled games on either ESPN (10), TNT (7) or ABC (2).
That’s certainly not the case this season.
After winning just 36 games, trading away Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal, Phoenix is no longer a title contender. At best, the Suns are pivoting, but realistically, they’re rebuilding.
The interest isn’t the same as evidenced by the number of nationally televised games for Phoenix this season.
The Suns have nine total nationally televised games on either ESPN (1), NBC/Peacock (8) or ABC. NBC is part of the NBA’s 11-year, $76-billion media rights deal.
Phoenix Suns entered the 2024-25 NBA regular season with 19 nationally televised games on either ESPN, ABC or TNT.
ESPN (10) TNT (7) ABC (2).
How many games do you think the Suns will have on ESPN, ABC and now NBC total going into the 2025-26 season? #Suns
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) August 11, 2025
The Nov. 24 game is Kevin Durant’s return to Phoenix as the Suns dealt him to the Rockets in a historic seven-team trade before the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Arizona Republic ran a prediction poll on how many games the Suns will have on national television this 2025-26 season. Generating more than 1,000 votes, 46.5% voted between one and five nationally televised games for Phoenix and 43.7% voted between five and 10 games on national television.
The television deal that includes Amazon Prime Video and Disney (ABC/ESPN) runs through the 2035-36 season. The Suns don’t have any games on Amazon Prime, according to their schedule.
Most Suns games again will be televised locally on Arizona’s Family (3TV) in the Phoenix area.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.