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Unlikely Double-Double Against Spurs Showcases Suns’ Culture

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Mihir Sinhasan | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Both the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs faced injuries ahead of their Sunday night contest.

The Spurs were without their star player and potential MVP candidate, Victor Wembanyama, who was nursing a left calf strain. Meanwhile, the Suns are still without Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, and Ryan Dunn.

With Dunn out, Jordan Goodwin started his first game of the 2025-26 season, fitting in perfectly with Jordan Ott’s offense. Goodwin produced his fifth-career double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. He helped the Suns move to 11-6 with a 111-102 win over the Spurs.

“His juice is always at a 100 percent, no surprise there,” Ott told reporters after the game. “Doesn’t matter when, first, second, third (or) fourth (quarter), he always has the juice. 33 minutes, (and a) starting matchup with De’Aaron Fox. Pretty good night.”

Unlikely double-double Against Spurs Showcases Suns’ Culture

A Search For Stability

Before Sunday night, all of Goodwin’s double-doubles happened over a two-week span. Specifically, it was after the Suns (ironically) sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies in February 2024. While getting quality minutes on the bench, he recorded his first two double-doubles on March 30th against the Orlando Magic and April 3rd against the Milwaukee Bucks. That led to him getting a starting spot, where he notched two more double-doubles. This included a career-high 19 rebounds against the Spurs.

Joining the Los Angeles Lakers thereafter, his momentum faded. Missing most of the 2024-25 season, he only started five of 29 games, and never reached double-double territory despite reaching double figures six times. It was as good, if not better than, his first two seasons in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, but not enough to replicate the magic in West Tennessee.

Goodwin joined the Suns in a similar position: a bench player known for providing a spark. During preseason, he would often star as one of the key players in the fourth quarter, which helped him earn the 14th roster spot.

However, with multiple injuries and his team in the midst of a back-to-back, No. 14 looked more like a top-five option.

“Just going out there, playing hard and being myself,” Goodwin said on the Suns TV postgame interview about stepping into the starting lineup. “My job is to bring energy.”

How Goodwin Fits The Suns’ Mentality

Nov 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) takes a shot against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) in the second half of the game at Mortgage Match Up Center. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

While Goodwin was being interviewed postgame by the Suns’ TV broadcast, Dillon Brooks walked up to him and started barking. Perhaps an uncanny move, even for Brooks, but it has been a staple for the Purple and Orange this season.

With the help of Brooks, Jordan Ott’s side has established a “dawg” identity. There might be some altercations and animosity shown towards the opponent that can affect a team’s camaraderie, according to Devin Booker. For the Suns, it has helped them become closer, creating a fun and physical style of basketball.

On Sunday night, that style of basketball reached its peak in the second half. Trailing 56-49 at halftime, Phoenix responded with a 37-point third quarter. This included improved production from Brooks, Booker, and multiple other players. But it would not have been in this position without the early help from Goodwin and others coming off the bench.

“They’re locked in, they can’t wait to play, they understand the coverages and they work every single day in the gym,” Brooks said in his own postgame interview with the Suns’ TV broadcast. “We have trust in everybody from one to 17, and we count on those guys when we got those slow starts.”

Last Word On Jordan Goodwin

Yes, Goodwin’s performance was surprising, knowing that Dunn and Oso Ighodaro have a combined one double-double in 15 starts. However, it is unknown whether performances like these will continue.

The Suns, despite their 11-6 start, are winning games that are designed for the season’s doldrums. In particular, bench players are playing like stars and showing grit in crucial, yet overlooked victories. Perhaps Dunn will return for Monday’s clash against the Houston Rockets, who will be without Kevin Durant. Or, Ighodaro, who has started four games this season, will get the nod.

Nonetheless, Ott’s side continues to bring joy to the Valley in a season with tempered expectations with the departure of Durant and Bradley Beal. No matter the lead, deficit, or players on the court, this team will fight.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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