The Phoenix Suns' 2025-26 season ended with a 122-131 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28, but the team is already being written off for the next campaign. Yet this familiar underdog status is exactly what propelled Phoenix to a 45-37 record and a playoff berth last year. Coach Jordan Ott's system and a deep roster featuring Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks give them a real chance to beat the odds once more.
Public perception is bleak. The loss of starting center Mark Williams for an extended period creates an immediate hole in the paint. Analysts also question how Miles Bridges fits alongside existing pieces like Green and Brooks. Some argue the Suns benefited from other Western Conference teams underperforming last season. They point to opponents like the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans being tougher in 2026-27. This thinking has solidified the Suns as a play-in team at best in many preseason models.
Coach Jordan Ott is a major reason. He's quickly become one of the NBA's most respected young coaches, and his staff excels at putting players in positions to succeed. The team's depth is a real asset. Two-way contributors like CJ Huntley and Pat Spencer can step up when called upon. But the biggest factors are Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Acquired in the Kevin Durant trade, they are often overlooked. Brooks brings defensive toughness and a winning mentality. Green, entering his sixth year, has a clear opportunity to blend his elite scoring talent with consistent winning play.
The final stretch was a brutal test. The 122-131 result on April 28 was the final nail, but it capped a season where they dramatically exceeded external forecasts. That experience of overcoming low expectations is invaluable.
The goal isn't just to make the playoffs. It's to avoid the play-in tournament entirely by cracking the top six in the Western Conference standings. Replacing Williams' interior presence is the immediate challenge. Integrating Bridges and Luke Kennard after trading Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale will define their offensive chemistry. This group, greater than the sum of its parts, believes it can. Discounting them has proven to be a mistake before.
