What happened?
Phoenix Suns secured Mark Williams' future on July 2026, re-signing the former Charlotte Hornets center to a three-year, $38 million contract. The deal keeps Williams in the desert after he appeared in a career-high 60 games last season, flashing with multiple 20-point performances. Phoenix's investment comes as the franchise hopes to climb from the eight seed, targeting a top six finish in the ever-changing Western Conference landscape.
Why it matters for Phoenix Suns
Williams' strong rebounding skills and high-flying play finishing provide a crucial cushion for Phoenix's operations. The 24-year-old center, who played just 50% of his possible career games through three seasons, now enters a critical development window alongside second-year Khaman Maluach and third-year Oso Ighodaro. Medical concerns and a lack of faith in his progression once pried interested teams away, but Phoenix ultimately showed faith in him as a future piece of the organization. His serviceable rim protection complements a roster aiming for playoff progression.
What comes next?
Williams remains steadfast in shooting to improve upon the Suns' standing of the eight seed a season ago. As for that goal, Williams is steadfast in shooting to improve upon the Suns' standing of the eight seed a season ago. There were numerous roadblocks that prevented the team from eclipsing 45 wins - including injuries - but the continuity, uptick in athleticism on the roster, and the hopes for a rejuvenated center rotation increase hopes that the Suns will sneak into the top six in the West. Williams will look to dominate every single night as he establishes himself as a name in the league, targeting the top six seed in an ever-changing conference landscape.
Last result: Phoenix Suns 122-131 Oklahoma City Thunder (2026-04-28). Recent form (last 5): 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first); lost the last 5.
[fixtures](/fixtures) ahead of a run of games you can check on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page.
