Ranking Biggest Winners From Suns Preseason

With the Phoenix Suns starting their 2025-26 season against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, it is time to take a look back at their preseason.

Playing four games, they first beat the Los Angeles Lakers, playing without Luka Doncic and LeBron James, 103-81 on October 3rd. From there, they went to Macao, China, splitting a two-game series against the Brooklyn Nets. Both games came down to the final minutes, with the Suns taking the first game 132-127 in overtime. After returning to the Valley, the Purple and Orange picked up their second victory against the Lakers, 113-104.

Suns head coach Jordan Ott kept track of his players’ minutes throughout October. Starters received around 25 minutes per game, which allowed the reserves to shine in late-game moments. He rested many stars in the preseason finale, opting for a nine-man rotation.

Here are some of the biggest winners from the Suns’ preseason.

Ranking Biggest Winners From Suns Preseason

5. Devin Booker

The Suns’ perennial star over the past decade, Devin Booker must take on an elevated role for his team to succeed this season. This includes moving out of his typical shooting guard position and into more ball-handling situations.

Booker demonstrated those qualities, having at least five assists in each preseason appearance. Specifically, he set up transition opportunities toward the forwards that can help with momentum. He also scored at least 18 points in each game, which included registering a +22 in a 24-point showing against the Lakers on October 3rd.

With Phoenix unlikely to make a blockbuster move soon, the four-time All-Star is ready for the heightened expectations.

4. Dillon Brooks

One of the Suns’ returns for sending Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, Dillon Brooks came to the Valley to provide some  presence on both sides of the ball. Although known for his defensive prowess and physicality, his attacking mindset caught attention with Jalen Green sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Averaging double figures in every appearance, Brooks peaked in this year’s NBA China Games, scoring 18 points, while notching two rebounds and three assists in the October 10th matchup against the Nets. He also attempted 10 three-point shots in that game, a feat that only happened six times last regular season.

However, Brooks’s most significant impact may be in training camp, where he has pushed a defensive mindset across the team. So much so that he earned the nickname of team villain, with Collin Gillespie being named his apprentice: “Villain Junior.”  Perhaps it’s a promising sign for a team looking to play spoiler in the Western Conference.

3. Khaman Maluach

Known as “Man Man” by his teammates, Khaman Maluach has shown early glimpses of being the man for the Suns.

Drafted 10th overall by the Houston Rockets this year before being traded to Phoenix, Maluach entered games with less than five minutes to go in the second quarter. Oftentimes, he made an impact as a rim attacker and protector, showing promising signs at center with Mark Williams not playing in the preseason.

Maluach started the final preseason game, playing 31 minutes while facing Doncic and Austin Reaves. The former Duke Blue Devil posted 17 points and two assists, while leading the team with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks, showing his endurance and physicality in an optimal situation.

With Williams expected to be available for the regular season opener against the Kings, it is uncertain whether Maluach will receive starting minutes soon. But the early performances show that he fits well in Ott’s system.

2. Jared Butler

Although the Suns waived him on October 17th, Jared Butler excelled in his preseason performances, putting himself in a good position to find another opportunity in the NBA.

One of the fourth-quarter stalwarts, Butler dictated games late, hitting clutch free-throws against the Nets while commanding the backcourt. He unveiled his biggest talents in the Suns’ preseason finale, leading the team with 35 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Butler went 3/7 from the three-point line and made three pull-up jumpers and driving layups, thus showing his versatility across the court.

While the Lakers fielded a larger rotation than the Suns that night, Butler still proved that he can compete against anybody in the league and be a valuable asset off the bench.

1. Jordan Goodwin

Earning the Suns’ 14th roster spot, Jordan Goodwin also brings energy to the backcourt. Posting a +14 in the second Lakers bout, he followed Butler in scoring with 24 points, while logging six assists and four rebounds. He also dazzled in China, with 19 points in the first game against the Nets, hitting the eventual game-winning triple in overtime.

Goodwin has seized opportunities across the league, averaging 10 points per game during a 17-game stint with the Memphis Grizzlies two seasons ago. He parlayed that into a bench role with the Lakers, which included seeing playing time in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The journeyman returns to the Valley (he played 40 games for the Suns in the 2023-24 season) looking for consistency. He will receive that if he hones his craft at a point guard, creating depth for Booker, Green and others.