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'Pretty Bad' Suns' Season Nears Top of 'Misery Index'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Mar 14, 2025 2:06 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns, despite losing in the first round of last year's playoffs, were expected to at least be back in the postseason picture this season. Instead, despite boasting Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, Phoenix is two-and-a-half games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the last spot in the Play-In Tournament.

At best, the Suns can hope for a first-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, although a quick and merciful end to the season might be preferable.

According to The Athletic's (subscription required) Zach Harper's 'Misery Index,' the Suns are having the second-worst season in the league, behind only the Dallas Mavericks.

According to Harper, the "pretty bad" team is managed poorly all the way up the flagpole.

"This does seem to go all the way to ownership with Mat Ishbia treating this like it’s a video game," he wrote of the baffling roster decisions in recent years.

The Suns, much like a 2k MyCareer playthrough, have totally decimated any semblance of a supporting cast and put all their eggs in one (three?) baskets, and the results have been poor.

The Suns are chained to Beal for as long as he would like, and it's hard to imagine him passing up his $57 million player option in 2026-27. Booker could be traded for a massive haul, but that would signify a true teardown and rebuild.

The most likely course involves trading Durant, but there is no faith that the Suns would get anything close to the five draft picks and key role players they traded away in a deal this offseason.

For Arizona fans, it might be best to look ahead to baseball season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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