2025–26 Phoenix Suns season
Suns rebuild on the fly, exceed expectations despite losing Durant and Beal.
The 2025–26 Phoenix Suns, in their 58th NBA season and 33rd at Mortgage Matchup Center, traded Kevin Durant and bought out Bradley Beal. Despite low expectations, they exceeded their previous win total, made the NBA Cup as a wildcard, and finished 45–37. Late-season injuries forced them into the Play-In Tournament.
Quick Facts
- Team
- Phoenix Suns
- End year
- 2026
- Wins
- 45
- Losses
- 37
- Division
- Pacific
- Division place
- 2
- Coach
- Jordan Ott
- Owner
- Mat Ishbia & Justin Ishbia
Facts from the source article.
Offseason
One day after the season ended, head coach Mike Budenholzer was fired on April 14, 2025, with four years and roughly $40 million left on his contract, mirroring the dismissal of his predecessor Frank Vogel. The Suns conducted a deliberate coaching search, considering up to 20 candidates, and on June 6 hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to a four-year contract. Devin Booker and Steve Nash endorsed Ott. On June 11, DeMarre Carroll became Ott's first assistant and later coached the Summer League team. On July 8, Brian Randle returned as an assistant after serving under Monty Williams from 2020 to 2023. Chaisson Allen remained on staff. Brent Barry and James Posey departed; Barry joined Amazon Prime Video's NBA broadcast team, and Posey became a Portland Trail Blazers assistant. The Suns hired Jesse Mermuys as offensive coordinator, Mateen Cleaves as player development coach, Valley Suns head coach John Little as an assistant on July 19, Mike Muscala as an assistant on August 9, and Steve Clifford as a coaching advisor on August 13. On May 1, Brian Gregory was promoted to general manager, with James Jones transitioning to senior advisor before becoming NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations on July 9. On July 6, a seven-team trade sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and brought Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, and future second-round picks. On July 16, Bradley Beal agreed to a contract buyout with the stretch provision applied to his remaining $90 million guaranteed salary.
Game log
The Suns played two preseason games at the Venetian Arena in Macau against the Brooklyn Nets, marking the NBA's return to the Chinese mainland area since 2019. Their first preseason game was at Acrisure Arena against the Lakers on October 3, and the final preseason game was at the Mortgage Matchup Center on October 14, also against the Lakers. The regular season opened at home on October 22 against the Sacramento Kings. In the first six regular-season games, Devin Booker scored 31, 31, 34, 32, and 36 points in various contests. The Suns started 1–0 with a 120–116 comeback win over the Kings, then lost to the Clippers, Nuggets, Jazz, and Grizzlies before beating the Jazz on October 31. Key contributors included Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Ryan Dunn, Royce O'Neale, and Collin Gillespie. The Suns' 129–114 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 10 exceeded the previous season's win total, and a 131–105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on March 30 gave the team an above-average season for the fourth time in five years. Despite a 45–37 record, injury issues from February onward forced the Suns into the Play-In Tournament.
Awards, honors, and records
Devin Booker became the fourth player in franchise history to stay with the Suns for at least eleven years, joining Walter Davis, Kevin Johnson, and Alvan Adams. He made his regular season debut on October 22, 2025, scoring 31 points in a 120–116 win over the Sacramento Kings. On February 2, 2026, Dillon Brooks earned his first Player of the Week Award for the week of January 25–February 1, averaging 28.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists with a 54.5% three-point percentage and 53.5% field goal percentage, leading the Suns to a 3–1 record while Devin Booker was injured. Also on February 2, rookie head coach Jordan Ott won his first Coach of the Month honors for an 11–5 January, including a 7–1 home record, tying for the most wins in January. Ott became the eighth Suns head coach to win the award and joined Paul Westphal and Jeff Hornacek as the only ones to do so in their inaugural season. On February 1, Devin Booker was selected to his fifth All-Star Team as a reserve for the Stars team in the U.S.A. vs. World format, joining Walter Davis, Steve Nash, and Amar'e Stoudemire as Suns with at least five All-Star selections with the franchise.
More in 2025–26 NBA Season by Team
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