PHOENIX – A year ago, the Phoenix Suns were one of the biggest “what ifs” in the NBA.
Now, they’ve become a case study on what happened. The star-studded experiment featuring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal promised a Western Conference powerhouse but crumbled under injuries, chemistry issues and inconsistency, culminating in a 36-46 finish and a missed postseason.
Over the summer, the team attempted to reinvent itself, trading individual star power for a collective identity built on structure and cohesion. The rebuild will be put to the test when the Suns open the regular season against the Sacramento Kings at Mortgage Match Center.
The Suns’ transformation didn’t take root at home; it began halfway across the world in Macao, China.
The NBA return to China after being away for six years was not only a business transaction, it was a milestone. In 2019, the political crisis following a tweet by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in support of anti-Chinese government protests in semi-autonomous Honk Kong, halted the NBA in China.
League broadcasts were canceled. Sponsorships were stopped. Fans there were deprived of live games.
Last week in Macao, the NBA attempted to interact with fans beyond the playing venue. The NBA House, a 150,000 square foot fan compound, featured hoops practice, video displays, shopping and appearances by superstars such as former Rockets center Yao Ming, former Suns, Nets and Knicks guard Stephon Marbury and actor Jackie Chan.
For the Suns, however, the visit was more than an opportunity to market themselves internationally. It was the first genuine test of their new identity.
Reflecting on the experience afterward, Suns star Devin Booker spoke about how important it was to compete in China.
“It was totally different,” Booker said, comparing the trip to his 2017 Nike Rise Academy experience in China. “They love basketball over there, so it was our duty to respect the fans. It’s been six years since the NBA has gone there, so it was important for the league and for them.”
On the floor, Suns faced overseas hoops dilemmas head-on. The Venetian Arena, better known for its casinos than its court games, was packed with lively fans. Phoenix played two preseason games against the Brooklyn Nets. In the first they overcame an 18-point deficit to win 132-127 in overtime, with seven Suns scoring in double digits. The other, a two-point defeat on the road and the only preseason loss for Phoenix, came on an off night offensively from some of the team’s top guns and with new addition Jalen Green, who averaged 21 points per game last season in Houston, rehabbing a hamstring injury he reportedly aggravated on the trip.
Perhaps what was most impressive was not the score but how the Suns responded to adversity.
As owner Mat Ishbia explained on Suns Media Day, in a time of change, success cannot solely be measured by wins and losses, and there were certainly other lessons that were gleaned.
New coach Jordan Ott is already seeing encouraging signs. The Suns forced an average of 19 turnovers in four preseason games, a massive improvement from last season’s 12.2 per contest when they ranked near the bottom of the league, although this is only preseason.
“We’ve been looking at those numbers, and forcing turnovers has been even better than expected,” Ott said, adding that rebounding is another area of emphasis. “It’s hard to know exactly where it lands early in the season, but we’ll keep preaching defensive rebounding. The Western Conference is big, so taking care of the glass remains a focus.”
The trip also fast-tracked team chemistry. Hours spent traveling, practicing and sharing meals gave players a front-row view of how their new teammates approached preparation and competition. And, on a journey so long, they learned who might secretly be a contender in high-stakes card game battles during flights.
Rookies like Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea went through NBA routines and rotations for the first time, whereas recent trade pickups Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams used the opportunity to see what would be expected of them as they adjusted to their new team and city.
Just 48 hours off a grueling 14-hour flight from Macao, the Suns returned home to host the Lakers, resting much of their regular rotation, including Booker and Green. Even without them, Phoenix captured a 113–104 victory, led by Jordan Goodwin’s 24 points, four rebounds, and six assists.
Jared Butler scored a season-high 35 points with nine assists, while first-round pick Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 center from Duke, added 17 points, eight rebounds, and two shot blocks, showing the depth and resiliency of the team in a close game against a Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves dominated Lakers team.
The bench’s defensive and scoring pressure explained much of the fourth-quarter spread, with Goodwin’s work serving as a testament to the effort and energy Ott stressed all summer. It was a hopeful omen for a group that ranked in the bottom three in defensive efficiency last season with a 1.156 mark.
“The whole motive is to pressure the ball, force turnovers, and get extra shots,” Goodwin said. “That’s my game, making it uncomfortable for whoever I’m guarding. Luckily, I have about 14 guys behind me doing the same thing.”
Adaptability was a discourse that became a unifying thread throughout the time in China.
The time-zone adjustment, unpredictable practice schedules and game pressures allowed younger players like Maluach and Oso Ighodaro, who started both Brooklyn games and scored 12 points on consecutive nights, the chance to prove maturity on both ends of the floor.
Preseason rarely takes a team halfway around the world, but for the Suns, jet lag, hotel routines and shared challenges became the backdrop for building trust, first impressions, and bonds that can’t always be forged on a home court.
“It’s been amazing,” Brea said. “First time hitting the road playing for an NBA team; being in a different country together has brought us closer. Whether it’s bus rides, plane rides, or practice, it’s great doing it together.”
Back in Phoenix, the Suns are putting the resilience they hoped to establish in China to the test. Ott’s early practices highlight “situational basketball,” stressing ball movement, rotations, and quick decision-making under pressure.
Coupled with veteran guidance and lessons from China on fatigue, unpredictable conditions and problem-solving, the team is forging an identity built to face any challenge.
“We’ve learned a lot over these three games about how to find solutions on a game-by-game basis,” Ott said.
It is early, but to observe a team built on depth and unity is a breath of fresh air after the disappointment of last season.
While Ishbia’s sole guarantee is that the team will improve, there is a positive bias inherent in a roster constructed on underdog mindsets and multi-dimensional depth – and players capable of turning games around single-handedly.
It will take a while for Ott’s systems to all take hold, but if he can impart a stout defensive identity to complement young stars such as Maluach and the ever-reliable Brooks, the Suns may possess a ceiling higher than people expect.
A trip to China might have been the perfect scenario for this new look crew to come together, learn how to weather adversity collectively and stockpile positives entering a season of new and hopeful possibilities.
As the Suns prepare for the opener against the Kings, Booker said he’s looking forward to the role he’ll play on a retooled team that he believes is making strides.
“I have a big leadership role now that I’m ready to take on, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said. “We had an early camp because we were coming out here, and we’ve had one preseason game versus the Lakers before we came. Everything is hitting on all cylinders right now. We just have to continue to grow. Continue to get better day by day.”
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