If you’re a Phoenix Suns fan, this season probably felt like a cocktail of hope, frustration, excitement, and a healthy dash of “What the hell just happened?” The 2024–2025 NBA season has been nothing short of wild for the Suns, a team loaded with star power and lofty expectations.
The trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal was supposed to dominate the Western Conference like a desert storm. But instead, the team gave us a season filled with flashes of brilliance and long stretches of confusion. The script didn’t go quite as planned—and yet, this team might still be on the brink of something special.
Let’s dive into the Suns’ rollercoaster season, break down what went wrong (and right), and talk about where they could go from here.
The Season Snapshot: A Tale of Two Halves
The Suns entered the season with one of the most talented starting fives in the league. New head coach Mike Budenholzer, fresh off a sabbatical after his Milwaukee Bucks tenure, was brought in to bring structure and defense to a team with offensive firepower for days.
The first half of the season? Rough. Chemistry issues, nagging injuries, and questionable rotations led to a disappointing start. The Suns hovered around the .500 mark through December, battling inconsistency on both ends of the floor. Fans and analysts alike started asking tough questions:
-
Could this trio actually work together?
-
Was Frank Vogel’s firing really the solution?
-
Was the bench deep enough to make a title run?
But something shifted after the All-Star break.
Whether it was Budenholzer’s system finally taking hold, the players building trust, or just everyone finally getting healthy at the same time—the Suns caught fire. They closed the regular season with a top-5 offense and a renewed sense of purpose. The team surged into the playoffs as a 4th seed, not quite the dominant force many expected, but certainly dangerous.
Kevin Durant: The Timeless Scorer
Can we talk about KD for a second?
He’s 36. He’s been in the league for 17 seasons. And he’s still dropping 28+ points a night on absurd efficiency.
This season proved that Durant is still very much that guy. He adapted beautifully to being more of an off-ball weapon, slicing defenses with deadly mid-range jumpers and stretching the floor. At times, he took over games with surgical precision.
But more importantly, KD showed leadership in a different way. He wasn’t trying to dominate every night. He picked his moments, letting Booker and Beal cook when needed. His defense? Still underrated. He anchored many lineups as a small-ball 5 and held his own.
The scary part? He’s got another playoff gear.
Devin Booker: The Reluctant Point Guard
Here’s where it gets interesting.
With no true point guard on the roster (seriously, why did the Suns let Cameron Payne walk and not replace CP3 properly?), Devin Booker was tasked with primary ball-handling duties most of the season.
And you know what? He wasn’t bad at it. In fact, there were stretches where he looked like a damn good floor general. Booker’s evolution into a playmaker was one of the season’s hidden gems. He averaged a career-high in assists and made fewer poor decisions with the ball.
That said—he’s not a point guard.
Book is at his best as a scorer, a killer from the mid-range, a punishing isolation player who can catch fire in the blink of an eye. When he’s worried about getting everyone involved instead of going into Mamba Mode, the Suns suffer.
To truly unleash Booker, the Suns need to find a better playmaking option. Period.
Bradley Beal: The Wild Card
Let’s be honest: Bradley Beal’s season was… frustrating.
Injuries sidelined him for long stretches, and when he was on the court, he often looked out of rhythm. Beal’s off-ball movement was underwhelming early in the season, and there were too many games where he disappeared entirely for long stretches.
But in the second half? Beal started to look like himself again.
He began attacking more, drawing fouls, and taking smarter shots. His chemistry with Booker improved, and his defense—long considered a liability—wasn’t nearly as bad as critics feared.
Still, there’s a lingering question: Can Beal be the third option on a championship team without clashing with the Suns’ offensive flow? Right now, the jury’s still out.
The Supporting Cast: Diamonds and Duds
A big reason the Suns couldn’t dominate early was the inconsistent performance of their supporting cast. Let’s break it down:
Grayson Allen: The Unexpected Hero
Traded from Milwaukee, Grayson Allen became one of the Suns’ most reliable shooters, hitting over 42% from deep and playing surprisingly decent defense. He became the kind of 3-and-D role player every contender needs.
Jusuf Nurkić: The Polarizing Big
The Ayton-Nurkić swap raised eyebrows, and rightfully so. While Nurk doesn’t have Ayton’s athleticism, he brought better passing and more consistent effort on the glass. Still, his pick-and-roll defense remained suspect all season.
Royce O’Neale and Eric Gordon: Veteran Presence
Both veterans had their moments—especially Gordon, who bailed the Suns out with clutch buckets multiple times. But age and inconsistency limited their overall impact.
Bol Bol: The Meme Turned Cult Favorite
Who knew Bol Bol would become a fan favorite? The 7-foot unicorn had flashes of brilliance, including games where he blocked everything and hit logo threes. But his role remained limited due to defensive lapses and rotations.
Coaching Shake-Up: Budenholzer’s Blueprint
Bringing in Mike Budenholzer after firing Frank Vogel mid-season was a bold move. And it kind of worked.
Budenholzer brought more structure to both ends of the floor. His emphasis on defense and half-court execution helped the Suns find an identity after months of confusion. His offensive sets finally created spacing for KD and Booker to operate.
But he also struggled with rotations. There were games where he overplayed veterans and left younger, more energetic players on the bench. That said, the team’s late-season surge suggests he’s starting to figure it out.
Playoff Outlook: Dangerously Underrated
No top seed in the West wants to see Phoenix in the playoffs.
This team, for all its flaws, has the most dangerous trio in the conference when they’re locked in. If Durant, Booker, and Beal can all stay healthy and buy into playing off each other, they could shock everyone.
The key? Ball movement and defense.
When the ball sticks, the Suns struggle. When they move it, they look like a juggernaut. On defense, they don’t need to be elite—just average. If they can manage that, they’ll give anyone hell in a 7-game series.
My Take: What This Season Really Means
Look, the 2024–2025 Suns season wasn’t perfect. In fact, it was messy, uneven, and at times disappointing. But you know what? That’s okay.
Superteams rarely work instantly. Miami’s Big 3 didn’t win it all in Year 1. The Suns are in year one of their true core, under a new coach, without a real point guard, and dealing with constant injuries—and they still managed to finish strong and look like contenders.
That tells me something. This team has heart.
Durant is still elite. Booker is ascending. Beal is finally finding his place. And Budenholzer has a system that’s starting to click. The future isn’t guaranteed—but it’s full of potential.
What Needs to Happen Next
To truly contend next season (or even this postseason if they’re lucky), the Suns need to address a few critical areas:
1. Find a Real Point Guard
They don’t need Prime CP3. But they need someone who can run the offense, relieve pressure from Booker, and get everyone involved.
2. Improve Bench Depth
They need more athletes, more defenders, and more guys who can step up when the stars rest. Think of a team like the Nuggets or Celtics—strong benches make deep runs.
3. Embrace Defensive Identity
They can’t outscore every opponent every night. Defense wins in May and June. It’s cliché, but true. The Suns need to commit fully to Bud’s defensive schemes.
4. Keep Building Chemistry
This season was about learning to play together. Now, the Suns have to grow that chemistry, fast. Time isn’t exactly on Durant’s side.
Conclusion: Still Rising
The Phoenix Suns didn’t dominate the league this season. They didn’t win 60 games. They didn’t silence every doubter.
But they survived. They adapted. And they finished the regular season playing their best basketball.
If you’re a Suns fan, don’t lose hope. This season was a foundation, not a failure. And if they keep building, keep grinding, and finally get a little lucky—this team can absolutely bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the desert.
It won’t be easy. But nothing worth chasing ever is.
The fire’s still burning in Phoenix.
And they’re just getting started. 🔥
