The revamped Phoenix Suns placed their faith in new coach Jordan Ott and their money on veteran guard Devin Booker as they attempt to move past a rocky two seasons of unfulfilled expectations.
The Suns host the Sacramento Kings in the season opener Wednesday.
Booker is the only returning starter on a team that has not won a playoff game since 2023 despite owner Mat Ishbia’s big-money commitments to All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, who left Phoenix in the summer. Ott is the Suns’ fourth coach in four seasons.
“It was tough not getting to where we wanted with Kevin and Brad, two guys that I have a high respect for and always will,” said Booker, who signed a two-year, $133-million extension good through the 2029-30 season.
“It will always be a disappointment to me not to do what we all sought out to do. I have unfinished business here.”
The Suns are expected to open with newcomer Jalen Green accompanying Booker in the backcourt, although neither is a true point guard. Forwards Dillon Brooks and Ryan Dunn will join center Mark Williams. Brooks and Green arrived in the offseason trade that sent Durant to Houston, and Williams was acquired in a separate deal.
“The game has changed,” said Ott, an assistant in Cleveland last season after earlier stops with Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers. “What the traditional point guard looked like five years ago is drastically different than what it is today. The size of the initiator is different.
“You are kind of constantly moving, trying to figure out what the best solution is on a night-to-night basis.”
The Kings, whose only postseason appearance since 2006 came in a first-round series loss to Golden State in 2022-23, have been in flux since the middle of the last season.
Coach Mike Brown was fired and replaced by Doug Christie, before shooting guard Zach LaVine was acquired in a three-team trade that sent point guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.
The Kings’ adjustments will continue into the regular season because of injuries to key starters Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray and the recent addition of well-traveled point guard Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract last week after averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in his one season with Denver.
“My job is to be able to come here and find ways to help the team any way I can,” Westbrook said. “I know what I am capable of when given the opportunity. I’m going to do what I’ve always done, go out and compete.
“Some people are going to hate it. Some people are going to love it. I didn’t make 18 years (in the NBA) on accident. The chip has always been on my shoulder. It won’t go anywhere until I’m done playing.”
Center Sabonis was ruled out of the first two games after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in a preseason loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last week. He averaged 19.1 points and a league-leading 13.9 rebounds per game last season, his sixth straight year averaging a double-double.
Power forward Murray, who signed a five-year, $140 million extension last week, is expected to miss about a month after suffering a torn UCL in his left thumb against Portland on Oct. 10.
Veteran acquisitions Dario Saric and Drew Eubanks and second-year center Isaac Jones are possible frontcourt stand-ins.
–Field Level Media
