Phoenix Suns draw attention across NBA, including top leaders

ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst recently spoke on The Hoop Collective Podcast about comments made by a general manager regarding the Suns and what has changed. Like many around the basketball world, that executive didn’t have much faith in Phoenix entering the season.

“‘We had a few games with the Suns early in the season and we thought those would be easy games,'” Windhorst said, recounting the conversation. “‘And we’re like, those were not easy games.’ So, Mat Ishbia, let it be known.”

For a team that has undergone a rebuild, from players to leadership, gaining attention from around the NBA is a clear sign that what they’re doing is working. Even the highest officials in the league are taking notice of the product Phoenix is putting on the floor and it can no longer be ignored.

Through consistency and grit, the Suns have become difficult to overpower. Rather than relying solely on talent, the team has learned how to control the tempo and use its defense to swing games in the blink of an eye. Phoenix is no longer treated as just another opponent, but as a team that demands preparation and respect.

The Suns currently sit at 18-13, seventh in the Western Conference, and are still missing one member of their Big Three. Despite injuries and occasional underperformances, Phoenix has learned to adapt and rise to the occasion when it matters most.

Positive attention is hard to earn in professional sports, but the Suns are doing just that by making teams uncomfortable and refusing to be underestimated.