Who will be the Phoenix Suns' 2025-26 X-factor?

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00:00Welcome, and thank you for joining us today. The offseason for the Phoenix Suns revolved

00:06around significant changes. Jordan Ott has been appointed as the new head coach,

00:10working alongside general manager Brian Gregory, as they embark on their inaugural journey managing

00:15an NBA team. Devin Booker returns, but the team lacks the star power that characterize previous

00:21rosters. The Suns are optimistic about their competitiveness by assembling a tough,

00:26defense-oriented squad around the all-star player. The current roster consists of individuals eager

00:32to prove themselves, including Booker. This situation raises numerous questions about the

00:38team's potential. To address the most pressing inquiries, we reached out to hosts and writers

00:43from Arizona Sports to identify the X-factor that could influence the Suns' season positively or

00:50negatively. Aside from Booker, who do you consider the X-factor for this season and why?

00:56Vince Morota, co-host of Bickley & Morata, suggests that while Mark Williams could be a

01:01strong candidate, his availability is a significant uncertainty. Personally, he believes Jalen Green

01:07is the key player to watch. Green's previous struggles in the first round against Golden

01:11State last season are well-known, and his performance will be crucial moving forward.

01:16The situation with the Rockets was nothing short of disastrous for Green, it was truly a nightmare.

01:21This poor performance has led to his exclusion from numerous media rankings of the top 100 players

01:27in the league. In fact, on some lists, he was even placed lower than Jordan Poole of New Orleans,

01:32who has been the subject of jokes for quite a while. However, at just 23 years old, Green now has a fresh

01:38start in Phoenix. He possesses immense talent, and if he can build on his natural development,

01:44aided by his comfort and experience in the league, while also channeling the motivation from his playoff

01:49disappointments and the trade from the team that selected him second overall, he could significantly

01:54contribute to the Suns' progress. Mitch Vareldzis, the host of Here Come the Suns, and co-host of

02:00Arizona Sports at Night, expressed his thoughts on the matter. He indicated that he would choose Green

02:07as the likely answer for who will be the second-leading scorer on the team. Green is a key asset acquired

02:12in the Kevin Durant trade, and Vareldzis hopes that this new environment will foster his growth,

02:17as there is a lot of potential for him to develop. There is significant investment in Matt Ishbia and

02:23his team to demonstrate their capability in constructing a competitive basketball team,

02:27which brings considerable pressure on them to succeed. Kellen Olsen, a reporter for the Suns

02:31and co-host of the Empire of the Suns podcast, as well as Arizona Sports at Night, identifies two key

02:37players, Green and Williams. Green resembles a shooting guard from the 1990s and 2000s, a time when

02:44players in his position were not expected to be adept playmakers, but rather focused on scoring.

02:50His ability to create plays is still developing, and the Suns are attempting to enhance this aspect

02:55without a conventional point guard, instead relying on Booker to take on this responsibility,

03:01alongside his other duties. As for Williams, his primary challenge is to maintain his health.

03:07Discussions about his defensive skills can take place once he has sufficient time on the court.

03:12In addition to those two, my other selections are Ryan Dunn and Rashear Fleming.

03:19Dunn deserves significant recognition for his remarkable progress as an offensive player,

03:24from his final season at Virginia to his initial season in the NBA. The NBA landscape is evolving,

03:31and there is significant potential for improvement in defensive capabilities,

03:35despite existing reputations. Fleming represents a player that the Phoenix Suns have long been in need of.

03:41He possesses exceptional athleticism, combined with notable strength. His versatility allows him to

03:47play both on the wing and even as a center. The combination of him and another key player

03:52could create an ideal partnership on the wing, complementing Booker throughout the prime of his

03:57career. If this synergy develops quickly, possibly even this season, the Suns could exceed expectations.

04:04Luke Lipinski, co-host of Wolf & Luke, notes that there are numerous angles to consider

04:08regarding this season's performance. He leans towards Green, just slightly ahead of Dylan Brooks.

04:14With Brooks on the court, opposing teams will find it challenging to dominate the Suns.

04:18He brings a much-needed attitude and toughness that the team requires as they work to establish

04:23a new identity. Can he stir things up? Absolutely. He does not shy away from the villain persona that

04:29many associate with him. However, there won't be any, there are no instances where the players of the

04:34Suns can afford to give anything less than their best effort. With teammates like Brooks and Booker,

04:39coasting through games is simply not an option. In response to the main question, I would still

04:44choose Green due to his potential for long-term impact. The Suns are in dire need of him to develop

04:49into a reliable scoring option alongside Booker. While he demonstrated his scoring ability last

04:54season by leading the Rockets in points, the key concerns are whether he can do so efficiently,

04:59improve his defensive skills, and how well he can integrate with Booker on the court.

05:03These issues must be addressed because the harsh truth is that the Suns have limited avenues to

05:08acquire and nurture potential stars in the near future. They do not possess a significant number

05:13of first-round draft picks, and many of the picks they do have have been traded away. However,

05:19Green shows promise and at just 23 years old, he has the potential to evolve into a player who could

05:24be a reliable second option on a playoff-caliber team. In the future, the Suns may experience a rise in

05:30success much earlier than anticipated. John Gambadoro, who co-hosts the show Burns & Gambo,

05:37identifies Brian Gregory as a crucial factor in this potential success. He emphasizes that the

05:43general manager, GM, must take on a leadership role within the organization. Gregory has conducted a

05:50thorough search for coaching talent, made strategic decisions during the draft, and played a significant

05:56role in redefining the team's direction. His responsibilities include managing relationships

06:01among players and coaches, ensuring that everyone within the organization is aligned and working

06:07towards common goals. It is common for coaches and players to have conflicts, and it is the GM's duty

06:13to foster unity among all parties involved. Gregory must focus on the reality of the situation,

06:19rather than public opinion. The dynamics of the team are not a game. Most coaches are not dismissed due to a

06:25lack of coaching ability, but rather because of interpersonal issues. Gregory's role is pivotal

06:30in maintaining harmony, making wise trades, acquiring valuable draft picks and planning for

06:35the team's future. Dan Bickley, co-host of Bickley & Morata, points to Williams as another key factor

06:42in this equation. Despite the ongoing challenges faced by the Valley due to injuries to previously

06:47dependable players like Corbin Burns and Jalen Green, there is hope that Williams might enter his

06:52contract year in peak health. This scenario could signify a significant turnaround in the team's

06:57fortunes and potentially propel the Suns into the play-in tournament. Dave Burns, who co-hosts the

07:03Burns & Gambo show, identifies Williams as the most straightforward solution. He believes that if

07:08Williams can maintain his health, the team's progress could exceed expectations. However, given that

07:13Williams has only been available for 43% of games during his first three seasons, predicting his impact

07:20remains uncertain. In addition to Williams' health, the potential of Fleming is also noteworthy. He is

07:26unique on the team due to his combination of size, length, and athleticism. If he can address his

07:31weaknesses and secure consistent playing time, he has the potential to significantly influence many

07:37games this season. Kevin Zimmerman, co-host of the Empire of the Suns podcast and digital content manager

07:44expresses a sense of optimism regarding Williams' recovery. Will he play over 60 games this season?

07:49The team has depth at the center position, which will be important whether he exceeds that number or

07:54not. Is it strange that I believe Green will perform well alongside Booker, potentially averaging 20

08:01points per game as a reliable second scorer? He will need to contribute defensively and facilitate plays

08:07as well. A crucial factor will be Dunn's ability to improve after a fluctuating rookie season. Suns fans may not

08:14want to hear this, but he has been prematurely labeled as a key component of the team's future.

08:19Dunn needs to have a season where his shooting is consistent enough to keep him on the court during

08:23critical playoff moments. While he has demonstrated the capability to challenge some top-wing players

08:28defensively, a significant aspect of being an elite defender in the NBA is the ability to disrupt

08:34players across all positions from one to four. If Dunn can relieve Booker and Green from the

08:39responsibility of defending elite players like Shea Gilgius Alexander and Stephen Curry, it would

08:45significantly alter the dynamics of this team. He has much to prove in this regard. If his three-point

08:50shooting remains consistent, it will be a game-changer. If Dunn can maintain shooting percentages in the mid

08:55to low 30s and dedicate up to 10 minutes per game to defending top-tier guards, he certainly merits

09:01recognition as a fundamental component of the team's foundation. What are your thoughts on the Suns' potential this season?

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