Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team.
Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Steve Nash is returning to the Suns as a “Senior Advisor”. That title is vague in terms of his duties but what would you prefer his role involves?
Ashton: As far as optics, I think this is a great move from the Suns’ organization. Heck, he may get more autograph requests than anyone else on the team.
But I tried to find what exactly a “senior advisor” is on the Sun’s career website. There were no open positions, but if I punch in “senior,” you get an accountant or talent acquisition specialist. I do not recommend that you figure out a “senior advisor” role on the internet. They can be quite powerful in some circumstances.
Well, Steve Nash is not an accountant, but he might be a talent acquisition person? I mean, come on, head coach for the Nets from 2020-2022. He will find his way into the locker room or into the stands. I would have loved to hear from him on Suns’ Media Day.
Now, how much is he getting paid for his consultant role?
I have no issue with welcoming Steve Nash back to the Phoenix Suns.
Rod: The easy thing to say here would be working with the guys playing point but Steve’s got a lot of advice to share with everyone, including Ott and Ishiba. There’s a lot of talk about playing fast this year and Steve is one guy you want to listen to when it comes to that style of play. I’m sure he could give helpful advice to everyone on the team on their ball handling skills and help fine tune the Suns’ offense in general.
Just having him back with the Suns in any capacity is a boost for the fans though, even if he’s ultimately just a franchise figurehead.
Voita: One of the obstacles facing the organization at the start of this season was the sheer volume of inexperience. A general manager navigating his first campaign in that seat. A head coach doing the same from the first chair. Into that vacuum steps Steve Nash, whose presence alone carries weight.
His experience will not dictate when to burn a timeout or when to throw the proverbial challenge flag. It will not directly shape the evaluation of draft talent or the execution of long-term strategy. What it does provide is ballast for the culture Mat Ishbia has preached since last spring. Nash remains, in many eyes, the greatest Sun to ever wear the jersey, and his return represents a reminder of what the franchise has been and what it aspires to be again.
Already, he is embedded in practice, part of the daily rhythm. His influence on culture will be felt before it is seen on the scoreboard.
Rod is right to imagine how much his guidance could mean for a young guard like Collin Gillespie, who now has the chance to learn at the elbow of one of the most cerebral point guards the game has ever known. For a player trying to carve out his place in this league, the opportunity to absorb wisdom from Nash is invaluable.
Q2: What stood out the most to you from what you heard from the Suns’ players/coaches/etc. on Media Day? (and why)
Ashton: Such a fun question.
Mat Ishbia talks too fast.
Literally everyone else from the Front Office was rehearsed in corporate speech. And nailed it down.
Devin Booker is a good speaker (chillin – imho), but if the last two years were bad for his leadership, then what does he think he can change this time? I mean, common, I like honesty, but you wanted the team that you created, well, own it.
Book has dropped a point in overall early player rankings. He has a lot to prove.
Rod: I heard lots of good stuff, but what got my attention the most was how players have spent most of the summer in Phoenix working out and getting to know each other. Whether they start out the season with good on-court chemistry or not, it looks like they’re at least bonding and building good team chemistry. I’ve also read that Mark Williams has been there since July 1, working on his lower body strength and conditioning to lower his chances of another injury.
I’ve also heard a number of good reviews of Ott and his approach. If everyone buys in to his vision things could turn out better than many expect this season.
Voita: What stood out most was the level of transparency, or at least as much transparency as you’ll ever see in these kinds of settings.
This organization is under no illusions about who they are or what this season represents. You could feel it in the cadence of every person who stepped to the podium. They know their purpose. They know expectations are low. They also know opportunity is everywhere. That awareness carried through the day like background music.
And then there was Devin Booker, face set like stone. Through every photo op, every Q&A, every carefully worded answer, I don’t think I saw him smile once.
Q3: Dillon Brooks said, “I feel like when I was watching this team last year, they weren’t having no fun,” and he wants to bring fun back to the team. What do you think about his statement?
Ashton: I have to start with his statement that he was picked on as a city boy moving to the country in Nova Scotia. This is a paraphrase, but I had to laugh.
Nova Scotia? Funny enough, I knew their largest city was Halifax (I am a nerd), but Nova Scotia is 42 square miles with a million inhabitants. What country boys? It is the second smallest province in Canada. So if Dillion Brooks went against “New Scotland” country boys, good for him.
I watched Suns Media Day and to be honest, I would not want to laugh in his face. He had a serious comport and was nobody’s comedian.
So, to truly answer this question, I doubt Brooks is going to bring fun to this team. Probably, more of an edge that could cut him if he is not careful. And I really do wonder how Book and Brooks’ relationship will evolve. Apparently, they are good. But we have seen this movie before between KD and Book.
Some other stuff that was not asked because it is not NBA-related. To Zac Gallen and the Diamondbacks, thanks for making it fun after the teardown. So close…
By the time this is published, I would expect Mercury against the Aces. Thank you for making it fun over the summer.
Rod: I agree completely with his statement about the Suns not looking like a team having fun last year. They actually haven’t looked like they were having fun since the KD trade. As much as I hate saying it, this team isn’t going to win lot of games this year which is going to make their collective enjoyment of just playing it even more important.
Is Brooks the guy who’s going to “bring fun back to the team”? That I don’t know but I have seen more smiles, laughter and kidding around with each other from the players in recent videos from training camp so someone seems to be bringing fun back to this squad.
Voita: Dillon Brooks nailed it. This team wasn’t having fun last year. Neither was the fan base. It was the worst of times, and then somehow it was worse. Basketball in Phoenix felt like a burden instead of a joy, every game weighed down by expectations and disappointment.
That’s why his words matter. Fun matters. Because fun is contagious. It seeps into the way possessions flow, the way teammates look at each other, the way energy spreads across the court. Fun creates connection, and connection creates team. Last year’s group had none of it. Hell, it’s been gone since Mikal Bridges was shipped to Brooklyn for some over-priced mercenary who could hit a jumper but had the personality of a vending machine.
That’s the yearning this season. Not titles, not illusions, but the hope that basketball here feels alive again.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
“In order to play fast, you need to have multiple ball handlers. The other part of the offense is we’re going to play fast and play in concepts, so we have to have solutions on whatever coverage is being played against us. Some nights and how they’re going to play Jalen (Green and Devin Booker), it may entail someone else to creating that first domino, first advantage.” – Jordan Ott
“He (Khaman Maluach) talks nonstop on the court. Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking. For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy to come into a gym and do that first day of training camp is impressive. He’s already ready in that aspect.” – Grayson Allen
“Anyone that’s played basketball at a high level understands there’s always that one person that’s a pest or gonna aggravate opponents. And that’s Dillon Brooks. He’ll pick up full court. He’s gonna talk, play hard and bring that dog mentality.” – Jalen Green
“We gotta enjoy watching this team again… what we’ve done the last couple of years hasn’t been good enough.” – Mat Ishbia
SACRAMENTO, CA – 1991: Xavier McDaniel #35 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a foul shot against the Sacramento Kings circa 1991 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
On October 1, 1991, the Suns traded Xavier McDaniel to the New York Knicks for Jerrod Mustaf, Trent Tucker, a 1992 2nd round draft pick, and a 1994 2nd round draft pick. McDaniel had been acquired by Phoenix the previous season from the Seattle SuperSonics for Eddie Johnson, a 1991 1st round draft pick, and a 1994 1st round draft pick.
On October 1, 1997, as part of a 3-team trade, the Phoenix Suns traded a 1998 1st round draft pick (Tyronn Lue), a 1999 1st round draft pick (James Posey), a 2000 2nd round draft pick (Dan McClintock), a 2001 1st round draft pick (Joseph Forte) and a 2002 2nd round draft pick (Rod Grizzard) to the Denver Nuggets; the Suns traded Tony Dumas and Wesley Person to the Cleveland Cavaliers; the Cleveland Cavaliers traded a 2005 1st round draft pick (Sean May) to the Phoenix Suns; and the Denver Nuggets traded Antonio McDyess to the Phoenix Suns.
Last Week’s Poll Results
Last week’s question was, “With a starting backcourt of Booker and Green, which one do you prefer playing point guard?”
Oct. 3 – Preseason game vs LA Lakers @ Palm Desert, CA
Oct. 10 – Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)
Oct. 12 – Preseason game vs Brooklyn Nets (China)
Oct. 14 – Preseason game vs LA Lakers @ Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 20 – Rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
Oct. 21 – Regular Season Begins
Oct. 25 – 2025 NBA G League Draft (1 p.m. ET)
Oct. 27 – Nov. 6 – NBA G League Training Camps open
Nov. 6 – Rosters set for NBA G League Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
Nov. 7 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins
Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed
Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season
Feb. 5 – Trade deadline (3:00 pm ET)
Feb. 13-15 – 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA