When the Phoenix Suns traded superstar forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets during the 2025 offseason, fans and pundits alike believed the franchise was destined for another long rebuild.
Many speculated that Devin Booker — a franchise cornerstone and Phoenix’s all-time leading scorer — would be the next superstar to force a trade to a championship contender.
But that wasn’t the case. Just days after Durant’s departure in July, Booker inked a 2-year, $145 million contract to stay in the Valley.
Powered by Booker, Dillon Brooks and a ragtag collection of veterans and young players — the Suns have vastly exceeded expectations in the season’s opening. They sit seventh in the Western Conference with an impressive 14-11 record.
Brooks, the obnoxious wing discarded by both Memphis and Houston, is now the beating heart of the Suns. He is averaging a career-high 22 points per game — second-most on the team — while anchoring the perimeter defense with his usual edge.
Aside from Brooks, the Suns’ hot start can be credited to guard Collin Gillespie’s third-year breakout and the addition of talented big man Mark Williams.
Gillespie — who signed with the Suns on a two-way contract in 2024 — averaged only six points per game last season. This year, he’s establishing himself as one of the best sixth men in basketball, averaging 13 points per game and shooting a blazing 42.6% from three of seven attempts a night.
Williams — a first-round pick of the Charlotte Hornets three seasons ago — was dealt to the Suns in the offseason after a failed physical prevented his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers last February.
Since arriving in the desert, Williams is averaging 13 points per game and leading the team in rebounds and blocks, providing the two-way production that made the Duke product one of the most sought-after players at last year’s trade deadline.
The Suns’ quick start to the season is even more surprising given their success without Jalen Green. The explosive shooting guard is the main asset Phoenix acquired in the Durant trade, but he has only played two games this season due to hamstring injuries.
However, the optimism surrounding the Suns’ hot start overshadows the potentially bleak future of the franchise.
In an attempt to return to the top of the West, the Suns traded nearly all their draft assets and young talent to acquire Durant in 2023 and former All-Star guard Bradley Beal months later.
The potential superteam disappointed due to team chemistry issues and a mountain of injuries. After ending the year with a 36-46 record, Durant forced a trade to Houston and Beal was unceremoniously bought out of his contract, signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Despite their hot start to the season, what remains is a team without a clear path to championship contention in the future. Booker is still in the prime of his career, yet he lacks the supporting cast around him to compete with the top teams in the West.
The Suns do not have the roster to compete with the league’s best teams, but they are too talented to commit to a full rebuild with the current roster.
Sure, Brooks and Gillespie have been great additions — but against teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets — they aren’t moving the needle in a long, physical playoff series.
Jalen Green could still reach the star potential that got him selected second in the 2021 draft, but it’s hard to see him thriving when both he and Booker are ball-dominant scorers.
Some of the team’s veteran contributors — like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale — may be moved at the trade deadline for the Suns to recoup draft capital. Young players like Gillespie and Williams have been promising, but it’s unclear whether they are just solid role players or can become contributors on playoff rosters.
Ultimately, this is the first year of a rebuild for the Suns and it may take several for this team to contend for a championship again.
But for now, the Suns’ early success is one of the best stories of the season. Through grit, hustle and Booker performing like one of the best shooting guards in the league, maybe the Suns can push for a play-in bid — and perhaps their path back to the contention is shorter than we think.