Phoenix Suns fans share their thoughts on new-look roster
The Phoenix Suns made many changes to their roster in the offseason. Here’s what fans had to say about the new-look team ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The Phoenix Suns completed their weeklong visit to China with a 111-109 loss to the Brooklyn Nets before a sellout crowd of 11,729 on Oct. 12 at Venetian Arena in Macao.
The Suns led by as many as 15 points in the first half before falling to the Nets to split two in the China Games.
Tyrese Martin hit 2-of-3 free throws with 2.8 seconds left to put Brooklyn ahead after David Duke Jr. fouled him on a 3-point shot.
Jared Butler tied the game for Phoenix on a 3 with 17.9 seconds remaining.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 18 points on 4-of-12 shooting (3-of-5 from 3), five rebounds, five assists and four turnovers. Dillon Brooks and Oso Ighodaro added 12 points each, while Nick Richards chipped in 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Cam Thomas scored a team-high 16 points for the Nets.
Here are takeaways from Oct. 12. The Suns conclude preseason action on Oct. 14 against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center.
This will be Phoenix’s only preseason home game. The Suns open the regular season Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings at home.
Still no Jalen Green, Mark Williams
Suns coach Jordan Ott said pregame that Jalen Green wasn’t going to play on Oct. 12.
“His goal is still the same,” Ott said. “Just to be ready for opening night.”
Green is still getting in pregame work and practicing, but experienced a strain in his left hamstring during training camp. Chalk it up as the Suns taking a precaution with their second-best player.
The Suns appear to have Mark Williams on the same program, as he also has yet to play in the preseason.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said during pregame availability Jalen Green (hamstring) won’t play tonight against the Nets in China.
“His goal is still the same. Just to be ready for opening night.”
Green has yet to play in the preseason.
Looks like he got in a pregame workout based… pic.twitter.com/SLYtfVEo1H
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2025
The 7-footer has been on an intentional plan to gear up for the season. Injury-prone, Williams has played a total of 106 games in three NBA seasons.
The Suns will likely enter the regular season having not played two of their top five players in the preseason.
They do have a week between their final preseason game and Oct. 22 season opener, giving them time to play live 5-on-5 with Green and Williams seeing action with the first unit.
Grayson Allen slimmer, more active
Grayson Allen has a different look coming into this season.
A year ago, he was bulkier at 230 pounds, stronger, but not nearly as quick or fast.
This season, he’s thinner (listed at 218 pounds on the training camp roster), in better condition, and that may lead to playing better defense.
In the Oct. 12 game, Allen had three blocks in the first half, with one coming against Thomas, one of the league’s best at getting a bucket.
Green’s career high for blocks in a game is three, as he managed that last season against Portland.
Don’t expect him to become Dikembe Mutombo anytime soon, but Allen played solid position defense in the preseason game on Oct. 12.
The more consistently he can do the latter, the less teams will look to target him as they did last season.
Allen forced a turnover up top, guarding Nolan Traore, and then forced the rookie into an offensive foul on Brooklyn’s next offensive trip early in the second half.
Allen moved his feet with quickness and positioning. The bulkier version gave the effort in that area last season, but he still gave up his share of buckets.
The slimmer version may be more capable of the lateral movement to stay in front and force tougher shots.
His shooting isn’t in question. Allen is a career 41.4% shooter from 3. He led the league in 3-point shooting in his first year in Phoenix in 2023-24 at 46.1% and connected on 42.6% of his deep hoists last season.
Allen has ball-handling duties this season to go along with knocking down shots, but how he defends will play an equally big role in helping the Suns compete.
Suns coach Jordan Ott when asked what rookie Koby Brea’s status for tonight’s game against the Nets: “Koby is in a great place. He’s a young player we have high hopes and high expectations for. He’s had a great couple of months since summer league and into training camp. He’s… pic.twitter.com/svuiXSY2iH
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 12, 2025Koby Brea’s first preseason action
Ott said there’s a plan in place for Koby Brea, like everyone else.
“Koby is in a great place,” Ott said before the Oct. 12 game. “He’s a young player we have high hopes and high expectations for. He’s had a great couple of months since summer league and into training camp. He’s going to get his time, and it’ll be in the near future, but we have a plan for him. He’s right on path and every day, whether he plays in the game or not, or whether it’s in practice, he plays at a high level.”
The second-round pick saw his first preseason action late in the fourth quarter.
Playing five minutes, Brea missed his two shot attempts, both from 3, as the second one, an open corner one in transition, would’ve tied it with 45.6 seconds left in the fourth.
It was surprising the second one didn’t fall, considering he was one of the best from 3 in college and has shot it well during NBA Summer League and training camp.
Brea’s ability to knock down 3s makes him valuable, but he’s on a two-way deal.
That alone gives an indication that he’s not part of Phoenix’s plan as far as playing early in the season. He can only play a certain number of games as a two-way player.
Brea will likely get minutes with the G League team, the Valley Suns.
Brea may not play as much as Suns fans want this season, but as Ott said, his opportunities will come this season.
Who will or won’t play?
Booker probably won’t play against the Lakers.
Truth is, he probably shouldn’t. He’s ready to go and is more than proven.
Brooks and Allen could sit out as well. They’re veteran players and played considerable minutes during the preseason.
All signs point to Green and Williams sitting out.
Everyone else should be fair game to play, even if it’s just a quarter.
No LeBron, either
The Suns won’t face LeBron James for a second time during the preseason.
The Lakers superstar will be out at least three weeks with sciatica nerve pain on his right side, the team announced on Oct. 9.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is entering his 23rd NBA season. At age 40, James is in the final year of his contract with the Lakers, which is set to pay him $52.6 million after he opted into his player option.
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.
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