Phoenix Suns

Valley of the Sun: Where fast breaks and flash define the game.

The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference Pacific Division. In the NBA 2K video game series, the Suns are a playable franchise featured in NBA 2K23, a 2022 basketball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. The game was released on September 9, 2022, for multiple platforms including Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The Suns' shooting guard Devin Booker appears as the cover athlete for the standard and digital deluxe editions of NBA 2K23.

Lore & Background

In NBA 2K23, the Phoenix Suns are represented with their real-world roster and team identity. The game's MyNBA mode allows players to start a career during the 1983–84, 1991–92, or 2002–03 NBA seasons, or the current 2022–23 season in the 'modern era' selection. This mode includes automatic team relocations such as the Kansas City Kings moving to Sacramento, the Vancouver Grizzlies moving to Memphis, and the Seattle SuperSonics relocating to Oklahoma City, though the user can veto these moves.

The eras mode features fully rendered arenas, logos, and jerseys from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, complete with historic rosters and draft classes previously available in earlier NBA 2K games. Television filters and broadcast packages emulate appropriate TV broadcast styles for each era, with the 1980s package similar to NBA on CBS, the 1990s package similar to NBA on NBC, and the 2000s package similar to ESPN broadcasts. Historical rule changes can be added or changed during the off-season of the simulation.

Reader's Guide

When managing the Phoenix Suns in MyLeague or Franchise mode, players should prioritize rosters built around versatile wings and elite shooters to maximize their offensive rating. These matchups often feature higher intensity settings and more unpredictable outcomes due to the star power involved on both sides. The Suns' unique team mechanics in 2K often lean towards a 'Pace & Space' bonus, rewarding teams that maintain high turnover rates and three-point volume. For long-term success, focus on drafting players with high speed and acceleration attributes to fit the team's identity. Avoid loading up on traditional, slow-footed centers unless they possess elite rim protection, as the Suns' system thrives on spacing. Utilizing the 'Small Ball' lineup strategy can unlock hidden chemistry bonuses in later game versions.

Did You Know?

The online servers for NBA 2K23 were scheduled to shut down on December 31, 2024.
NBA 2K23 received a 78/100 on PS5 and 80/100 on Xbox according to Metacritic.
During the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated NBA 2K23 for 'Sports Game of the Year'.