NBA exec on the Suns: ‘They look like they can’t stand being around each other’

One Western Conference executive didn’t mince words when talking about the Phoenix Suns and their players this season.

“Phoenix, which is wild to say,” a West exec told ESPN. “They look like they can’t stand being around each other.”

The Suns have struggled in the 2024-25 season, and they currently hold just the No. 11 spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix has lost eight of its last 10 games and is three games under .500 in the 2024-25 campaign.

Despite having a star trio of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, the Suns are struggling just to compete for a play-in tournament spot. They are 1.5 games back of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 10 seed (the final play-in spot) in the West.

“I’ve never been high on Phoenix,” a West executive told ESPN. “But there’s also no way they are this bad.”

One of the biggest issues for the Suns this season has been their defense. Phoenix currently ranks 26th in the NBA in defensive rating, and it’s allowing 115.3 points per game, which ranks 20th in the league.

Even though Durant, Beal and Booker are all elite offensive players, the Suns clearly haven’t been able to mask their defensive deficiencies this season.

Last season, the Suns avoided the play-in tournament and earned the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. However, they were promptly swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eventually went on to make the Western Conference Finals.

The Suns made some moves in the offseason, adding point guard Tyus Jones and drafting rookie wing Ryan Dunn, but it hasn’t translated to more wins this season. Phoenix has also switched up its center rotation during the 2024-25 season by trading for Nick Richards and trading away Jusuf Nurkic.

Ultimately, the Suns need to make a run in the final weeks of the 2024-25 regular season if they want to make the playoffs. Even if Phoenix sneaks into the play-in tournament, it may have to win two games just to earn the No. 8 seed if it finishes in the No. 9 or No. 10 spot at the end of the regular season.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Suns end up blowing up their roster in the offseason if they can’t turn things around this season.