Media Day is tomorrow. The first real introduction to your 2025–26 Phoenix Suns. It’s our first chance to see the newly acquired players donning the purple and orange, to put faces to names, and to start shaping expectations for the season ahead. For the past month, our Bright Side writing team has been pounding the […]
Media Day is tomorrow. The first real introduction to your 2025–26 Phoenix Suns. It’s our first chance to see the newly acquired players donning the purple and orange, to put faces to names, and to start shaping expectations for the season ahead.
For the past month, our Bright Side writing team has been pounding the keyboards, breaking down every player on the roster. We’ve looked at where they’ve been, where they might fit now, and where this season could take them. I don’t say it enough, but thank you to our team for the work they’ve put in. It shows, and it matters.
So here it is: the Suns roster, gift-wrapped. As you’re watching Media Day tomorrow, if a player pops on the screen and you find yourself wondering, “Who’s that guy?”, we’ve got you covered. Below are our predictions for each member of the team.
How accurate will we be? Time, as always, will tell.
Devin Booker
Per Holden Sherman:
I think Booker will have a strong season, averaging around what he usually does, having a slight uptick in scoring, but his impact will go beyond the scoreboard. His influence on rookies Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea, and Rasheer Fleming will be what makes it a great year for him, not how many 40-point double-doubles he has.
In a time of retooling and realignment for the Valley, Booker needs to spearhead the way, and will do so for the 2025-26 season, and in the process break Tom Chambers’ single-season record for points per game in a season he set at 27.2.
Stat Prediction: 73 games played, 28.4 PPG, 7.0 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG on 48/37/87 shooting splits
Jalen Green
Per Brandon Duenas:
I think Green will have a strong season. Stronger than the skeptics believe, and he fits better next to Booker than you’d think on the surface. That being said, I’m still not sold on the defense and ability to build a title contender with those two are your primary options. That leaves the Suns with a decision to make, especially with that much money committed to the guard duo.
Let’s roll with him playing in all 82 games again, because why put anything else into the universe?
Stat Prediction: 82 games played, 23.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/36/79 shooting splits.
Dillon Brooks
Per John Voita:
Ah yes, predictions. Trying to forecast Dillon Brooks feels slippery, because so much of his game lives outside the box score.
His value isn’t tethered to averages or percentages, it’s rooted in energy, effort, and attitude. Those are the things you feel more than you measure, and they are the things that tilt games. Still, if we’re going to attach numbers to his impact, I’ll play along.
Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 14.3 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG on 42/38/80 shooting splits
Mark Williams
Per John Voita:
Mark Williams is one of the hardest players on this roster to project because everything hinges on that one variable: health. And if I’m being honest, I think it’s going to hold him back again this season.
The Suns know this, though. That’s why Nick Richards and Khaman Maluach are here. They’re like Geico geckos. Insurance policies in human form. Their presence means Phoenix can be patient, can give Williams the extra time he needs to get right without grinding him into dust. It’s all baked into the acquisition, part of the plan.
I don’t see him playing more than half the games. But in the ones he does play? He’ll matter. He’ll control the glass, tilt possessions, and give Phoenix the physical interior presence they’ve lacked. And for a team trying to rediscover its identity, that’s exactly where they need to start. By owning the boards.
Stat Prediction: 49 games played, 12.8 PPG, 2.1 APG, 10.8 RPG
Grayson Allen
Per Holden Sherman:
If he’s on the team throughout the year, Allen has a defined role as the roster’s marksmen and will help both the team’s guards and bigs operate with more space. If he’s having a strong season, I think it’s more likely that he’s dealt because the Suns can clear more time for younger players and continue to recuperate all the assets that they’ve lost over the past few seasons.
If Jalen Green or Dillon Brooks are ever out of the lineup, expect Allen to take their spot and play alongside Devin Booker in the starting lineup, something he did two seasons ago. I expect a slightly better year from Allen compared to last year, with a more defined role.
Stat Prediction: 71 games played, 12.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.6 SPG on 46/43/86 shooting splits
Ryan Dunn
Per Bruce Veliz:
With Dunn getting a bigger role within this group, I do see him taking the leap that is going to be needed for Phoenix this upcoming year. Since he is one of the best defenders on the squad, I see him prioritizing defense more than offense throughout the year. Even though that is the case, I do expect him to hvae some crazy dunks as we saw last year with Dunn soaring through the air to attack the rim. With Brooks being alongside him, I do see him being used less as a three-point scorer, but I do think in instances, he will be able to hit them when needed.
Dunn should expect the most development out of the young guys, and this will be shown with his playing time.
Stat Prediction: 78 games played, 8.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG on 45/34/53 shooting splits
Collin Gillespie
Per Brandon Duenas:
Gillespie becomes a breath of fresh air for Suns fans clamoring about the point guard issues. I anticipate a strong season from him.
Stat Prediction: 75 games played, 8.0 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.9 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 44/39/85 shooting splits.
Royce O’Neale
Per Matthew Lissy:
I don’t see Royce finishing the season with the Suns. It really comes down to how competitive this team can be in securing a top-four seed out West, a goal that feels close to impossible right now. O’Neale will be a better fit on another roster, and the Suns are likely to look for draft capital in return.
According to trade machine scenarios, the Suns could potentially land a first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks. That would be an intriguing move, as Dallas could use O’Neale’s shooting and defensive versatility to fortify their playoff push. For the Suns, recouping a first-rounder would provide a much-needed asset to balance the books and plan for the future.
Stat Prediction: 32 games played with Suns before trade, 7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 42.3% from three
Oso Ighodaro
Per Bruce Veliz:
The last time we saw Oso Ighodaro out there on the court was the Summer League, and he impressed every Suns fan. The forward looked to be a different beast versus some weaker competition, where he could shine as one of the stars on the court. The Suns had Ighodaro playing power forward and center for this team, but were also letting him run some point forward for this team. Now this is something I don’t expect to translate into the season as much as we saw it, but it could be another facet of Ighodaro’s game that could see him get playing time. He looked more aggressive on the boards and looked more comfortable on the court with his poise on both sides of the floor. The big man can be disruptive in the paint with his long reach, and clearly was a difference for the Suns in that aspect.
Stat Prediction: 73 Games Played, 6.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, on 67/18/70 shooting splits
Nigel Hayes-Davis
Per John Voita:
For Hayes-Davis, it’s about being an energy player every night, an intangible addition whose hustle and presence ripple beyond the box score. Every team needs that player, the one who, when called upon, gives everything they have. If he can embody that role, he’ll find success not only in his own eyes, but in the hearts of the fan base as well.
Stat Prediction: 51 Games Played, 5.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG, on 48/35/72 shooting splits
Nick Richards
Per Matthew Lissy:
Richards will have more highlights and his stats will improve by a smidge, but that small improvement is exactly what Richards needs to gain a little more traction ot respcect in the league.
At the end of this 2025-26 season, the Suns will likely be in the hunt for a play-in seed and I think Richards will be a big part of it. Not the guy to make the winning play at the end of the game, but just enough durring the game to keep the Suns close and maning the boards like the Suns need him to.
Stat Prediction: 72 games played, 10.2 PPG and 10.6 RPG
Khaman Maluach
Per John Voita:
I’ll predict we see more of him than originally planned, simply because Mark Williams will miss time. That’s the cost of doing business with him on your roster. Circumstance will force Maluach into the spotlight sooner than expected, but I still believe the Suns will manage his minutes with development in mind.
That word, development, keeps circling back for a reason. It was one of the key phrases Brian Gregory leaned on in his introductory press conference, and it aligns with his reputation for scouting and growth. Everything about his track record suggests a deliberate approach, one built on patience and measured opportunity. Which means Maluach will play, and he should play, but within a framework designed to nurture rather than rush.
Stat Prediction: 38 games played, 7.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.8 BLK
Rasheer Fleming
Per Holden Sherman:
Just like his college career, I see Fleming improving as time goes on. His size and ability to space the floor, tied into the youth movement the Suns appear to be taking apart in, I see him carving a solid role for himself on the team, especially if Royce O’Neale is traded. There will definitely be some bumps, but his skill set should carry him to some solid stretches.
Stat Prediction: 70 games played, 8.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG on 42/33/74 shooting splits
Isaiah Livers
Per Luke Dacre Tynan:
The two-way contract ensures that Phoenix will start him with the Valley Suns to harden the legs and re-train the reads. Let’s call it prepping for match-fitness.
The call-ups follow if the shot is there and the positioning holds. In NBA minutes, think clean, low-usage production: corner threes, second-side drives, a rebound that ends a possession at the right time. Something like 12–15 minutes a night once he’s in, low turnovers, a threes-made ledger that keeps growing. Not splashy. Sustainable.
POTENTIAL 2025/26 SEASON STAT LINE CEILING:
33 NBA games played (and remaining healthy all season!), 16.8 Minutes Per Game (perhaps getting “decent minute” call-ups during injury windows or trade scenarios involving other wing players), 5.4 PPG (on good efficiency), 3.1 RPG, 1.1 APG
Jordan Goodwin
Per Brandon Duenas:
Goodwin comes in and is exactly what you expect him to be. A hard-nosed guard that provides gritty play and hustles every second he’s on the court.
Stat Prediction: 65 games played, 6.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 42/33/78 shooting splits.
Jared Butler
Per Bruce Veliz:
Ultimately, I am unsure if Butler will be on this roster, as he is on an Exhibit 9 deal and is reportedly in contention with Jordan Goodwin. That being said, even if he is here, his role will not be that expansive on this Suns team, unless the injuries come flowing like previous seasons. Therefore, if he stays, he will be that third ball handler in this rotation.
Stat Prediction: 51 Games Played 7.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, on 47/33/85 shooting splits
Koby Brea
Per Bruce Veliz:
With Brea being on the two-way contract I am going to take that into my evaluation of his stats. If he were to get more time or a standard deal by the end of the season, his numbers could defintely be higher.
Stat Prediction: 42 Games 4.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.3 BPG, 0.5 SPG on 44/41/87 shooting splits
CJ Huntley
Per John Voita:
If you make your way down to Tempe, step through the doors of Mullett Arena, and catch a Valley Suns game or two, I’ll make you a prediction: CJ Huntley will pop. That’s the stage tailor-made for him. The G League runs like it’s plugged into a different voltage. It’s faster, looser, more chaotic, with every possession a chance to prove you belong. It’s basketball stripped of politics and rotations, a place where raw tools and effort show up immediately.
And that’s where Huntley will thrive. The athleticism, the hands, the late-bloomer confidence; those things translate in a hurry when the pace quickens and defenses aren’t fully formed. You’ll see the dunks, the blocks, the flashes of a stretch-four jumper, and for a moment you’ll let yourself wonder.
But the NBA isn’t built on flashes. Huntley’s contract makes him a two-way, and sure, that means up to 50 games with the Suns if the stars align. More likely, he’ll get a couple of call-ups here and there. Maybe when injuries pile up, maybe when the season drifts toward its finish line and experimentation sets in. Nothing more than that, at least not yet.
Stat Prediction: 5 games played, 2.1 PPG, 0.2 APG, 1.9 RPG
The predictions are in, and now comes the hard part: the journey back toward relevance. How will this Phoenix Suns team stack up in 2025–26? Soon enough, we’ll be rolling out our full slate of predictions. How the roster will perform, what the final record might look like, and where this group could realistically land in the Western Conference.
But that’s for later. For now, it’s simple. Media Day. The first step. The first glimpse. The start of whatever this season is going to become.
Let’s get excited.
Category: General Sports
