The Phoenix Suns are building towards a top-six finish in the Western Conference this season, aiming to bypass the play-in tournament entirely. This goal comes after a 2025-26 campaign where they finished as the sixth seed with 49 wins, mirroring the records of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the two prior seasons. The team's preseason slate, including a 116-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on October 16, offers early glimpses of their potential and areas for growth as they prepare for the regular season grind.
Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic laid out several hot takes for Phoenix. The central belief is the Suns will fall short of 50 wins for a fifth straight year but will be a better team securing a top-six seed. Last season's 45-win team showed flashes but struggled in key areas. To hit 50 victories, they need a winning record in close games after going 13-17 in contests decided by six points or less. Improving their 20-21 road record and shoring up defensive rebounding, where they ranked 29th, are also essential.
While Devin Booker remains the team's best player, the addition of Miles Bridges could be major. His ball-handling, especially in transition, provides a new playmaking dimension. This ability should create more easy baskets at the rim and open catch-and-shoot threes for teammates. Bridges is a lefty who can finish with either hand, adding versatility to the half-court offense. Perhaps most importantly, he's motivated to prove he can guard multiple positions effectively, which would allow Phoenix to switch more defensively without a major liability.
With All-Star weekend in Phoenix this year, there's a strong chance a Suns player gets a hometown invite to the 3-point contest. Luke Kennard is a prime candidate. He has experience in the event, finishing second in 2022 while with the Los Angeles Clippers. If selected, he could become the third Suns player to win it, joining Quentin Richardson (2005) and Devin Booker (2018). Kennard's elite shooting makes him a legitimate threat to take home the trophy in front of the home crowd.
The Suns have been active in the preseason, testing combinations and building chemistry. Their recent results include a 123-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on October 14 and a 102-98 win over those same Spurs on October 10. Earlier games saw narrow defeats to the Chicago Bulls (124-117) and Detroit Pistons (109-107). This mix of outcomes is typical for October, focusing on process over results. The team is also expected to be active around the trade deadline, as they have been in recent years, to fine-tune the roster for a playoff push. Fans can track the evolving lineup on our roster page.
The immediate focus is the final preseason tune-up, an away game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 21. After that, the real work begins. Avoiding the play-in, which required two tense victories last spring, is a tangible target. Success will hinge on health, defensive consistency, and the integration of new pieces like Bridges. The path forward is difficult in a loaded Western Conference, but the Suns have the star power and, now, the depth to compete.
