NBA G League
The G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, based in Tempe, Arizona.
The Valley Suns are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League and the affiliate of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Based in Tempe, Arizona, and officially created on February 14, 2024, the team played their home games during the 2024–25 season at Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University.
Quick Facts
- Sport
- Basketball
- Formerly
- NBA D-League
- Founded
- 2001
- First
- 2001–02
- Teams
- 31
- Countries
- United States (29 teams)
- Canada (1 team)
- Mexico (1 team)
- Continents
- North America
- President
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On April 12, 2016, the Phoenix Suns announced that they had purchased the Bakersfield Jam and would be relocating the team to Prescott Valley, Arizona, rebranding the team to the Northern Arizona Suns. On July 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit Pistons announced that they had purchased the franchise from the Phoenix Suns (who were owned by Robert Sarver at the time) and that following the Northern Arizona team skipping out on the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season entirely, the Pistons would move that team to Detroit to play as the Motor City Cruise. With the creation of the Rip City Remix, the affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the 2023–24 season, the Suns were left as the only team without a G League affiliate. However, months after the NBA approved of Mat Ishbia's primary ownership of the Phoenix Suns after they had previously suspended Sarver for the entire 2022–23 NBA season, Ishbia noted that bringing in a new G League team for the Suns as early as the 2024–25 season would be a top priority for him. On February 14, 2024, the Phoenix Suns announced that they acquired the right to own and operate their new G League affiliate in Phoenix, marking the first time all 30 NBA teams had G League affiliates. The team revealed their name, logo, and arena on May 22. An expansion draft was held on June 13, where the Suns selected 14 unprotected returning players, with two of them including former NBA champion Quinndary Weatherspoon and former Phoenix Suns player Théo Maledon. On September 3, the G League announced the Valley Suns' inaugural schedule, with their opening game being on the road on November 8 against the Santa Cruz Warriors and their home debut being three days later against the Stockton Kings as a part of the newly minted Tip-Off Tournament. A day after that, the Valley Suns made their first ever trade by trading a 2025 first-round pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft to the defending champion Oklahoma City Blue in exchange for guard Jaden Shackelford. The Valley Suns would then make three more trades during the month of September and two more trades in the month of October, with two of their moves involving the Austin Spurs and two more moves also involving the Indiana Mad Ants, including one that featured a six-team trade.
Reader's Guide
The Valley Suns are the G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns. Based in Tempe, Arizona, they played their home games during the 2024–25 season at Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. The team was officially created on February 14, 2024, when the Phoenix Suns announced they acquired the right to own and operate their new G League affiliate in Phoenix, marking the first time all 30 NBA teams had G League affiliates. The team revealed their name, logo, and arena on May 22, 2024. An expansion draft was held on June 13, 2024, where the Suns selected 14 unprotected returning players. Their inaugural season began on November 8, 2024, on the road against the Santa Cruz Warriors, with their home debut on November 11, 2024, against the Stockton Kings as part of the Tip-Off Tournament. The Valley Suns finished their first regular season with a 20–14 record, made the playoffs as the #5 seed, won their first playoff match 131–127 over the Santa Cruz Warriors, and lost in the conference semifinals 122–114 to the Stockton Kings. For their second season, Paul Jesperson was named head coach on August 18, 2025, replacing John Little who had been hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns on July 19, 2025.
Competitive Landscape and Tournament Play
For the 2026 NBA Cup, the Suns were placed back into West Group A, facing a challenging slate of opponents within their division. The group structure pits Phoenix against familiar rivals such as the Utah Jazz, alongside the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets. This grouping tests the team's depth and resilience early in the season against Western Conference powerhouses. The competitive intensity is further heightened by the team's internal goals to not only reach the playoffs but to advance past their first hurdle since 2023. With a roster rebuilt through strategic trades and free agency signings, the Suns enter this tournament phase with a mix of veteran stability and emerging young talent like Koa Peat. The upcoming season serves as both a continuation of their recent playoff consistency and a critical test of whether their new core can overcome previous postseason stagnation to achieve deeper success in the league.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA G League?
This organization operates as the primary developmental circuit for professional basketball across North America under NBA oversight. Athletes utilize this competitive environment to sharpen their abilities before seeking opportunities with major league teams.
Which team represents the Phoenix Suns in this league?
The Northern Arizona Suns act as the designated affiliate and development squad for the Phoenix organization within the G League structure. They compete against other minor league teams to showcase talent ready for the NBA stage.
Is the NBA G League still active today?
Yes, the league remains fully operational and continues to facilitate growth between collegiate athletes and professional basketball systems. It maintains an active schedule that supports player development across all affiliated franchises.
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