This season has been one of the most frustrating in the history of the Phoenix Suns—arguably worse than the years of mediocrity because this team was expected to compete. That’s what happens when you have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on your roster.
While neither has had an outstanding season—which is part of the issue—they have still largely fulfilled their roles. Durant, in particular, remains a dominant offensive force, though defensively, too much continues to be asked of him.
Meanwhile, several role players have failed to step up.
Bradley Beal isn’t even in this discussion—though the Suns would likely be open to moving on from him, that’s more about financial reasons than performance. He now comes off the bench, and while his salary is exorbitant for a bench player, his play has been serviceable.
The Suns continue sinking further below .500, and with the toughest remaining schedule in the league, a turnaround seems unlikely. The performances of these three players have played a significant role in how the season has unraveled.
3. Mason Plumlee
Including backup center Mason Plumlee on this list may seem harsh, as he has delivered exactly what was expected of him. He is also an improvement over last season’s reserve big, Drew Eubanks—though that wasn’t a high bar to clear.
However, Plumlee’s situation became more complicated after Jusuf Nurkić was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. Prior to that, Nurkić was receiving DNPs, leaving Plumlee to shoulder much of the responsibility. At 34, he has performed as expected, but the expectations shifted without his input.
Nick Richards, acquired before the deadline, has also struggled in limited action, but by the time he arrived, the damage was already done for Plumlee. When a team relies heavily on a player like him, it raises the question: how good can they realistically be? Bol Bol knows this all too well.
Statistically, Plumlee hasn’t been bad—averaging 4.2 points and six rebounds, which is about what you’d expect from him alongside two stars. He has always been a solid ball-handler for a big man. But the Suns suddenly needed more from him, and rather than rising to the occasion, the team drifted further out of playoff contention.
2. Tyus Jones
How did things end up here?
Earlier in the season, point guard Tyus Jones was seen as one of the Suns’ best acquisitions. He was even named MVP of the season’s second quarter. Phoenix desperately needed a reliable floor general, and landing Jones on a minimum deal was viewed as a major steal.
While he has been effective in minimizing turnovers and setting up teammates, his weaknesses became more apparent as the season progressed. Fans initially welcomed Bradley Beal’s move to the bench, as it ensured Jones remained in the starting lineup, but defensively, this decision has been disastrous.
“Tyus is a great player. I think we’ve been putting him in tough situations the last couple of months.”
— Devin Booker on Tyus Jones, after he recorded 15 points (5-of-6 from three) and 12 assists with zero turnovers in the Suns’ loss to the Pelicans.
The Suns rank a dismal 27th in defensive rating and recently surrendered 151 points in an overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. A defeat to the struggling New Orleans Pelicans followed, and while Jones isn’t solely to blame, this roster isn’t structured to compensate for his defensive shortcomings. The issue existed when Nurkić was in the lineup and persists now that Bol is getting more minutes.
Perhaps there’s a reason Jones has spent much of his career as a backup. He is one of the best in that role, and signing him was a smart move. However, as the Suns’ season spiraled downward and even the play-in tournament became a long shot, it became clear that Jones couldn’t prevent the team from falling into the same traps as last season. Maybe expecting him to was wishful thinking.
1. Grayson Allen
The most obvious name on this list, Grayson Allen, is experiencing a common NBA story—having a career year, earning a new contract, and then regressing. What was unexpected, however, was just how mediocre his three-point shooting would become.
His lack of impact this season hasn’t even been a major talking point among fans, largely because many have forgotten about him altogether. Royce O’Neale has stepped into a similar role and is arguably a better defender, which has only made Allen’s decline more apparent. Last season, Allen was a clear starter; this year, that hasn’t been the case.
Grayson Allen in 16 minutes tonight:
0 PTS
0-7 FG
0-6 3P
-22
Suns trail the Pelicans 111-108 with 4 minutes left…
To his credit, Allen willingly gave up his starting spot so that Jones could remain with the first unit. Last season, he also thrived in a complementary role when Beal was frequently sidelined. But this year, falling behind Jones, Beal, and O’Neale in the rotation has made him a disappointment.
Failing to make an impact from three-point range—his most valuable skill—was particularly costly for a Suns team with numerous other problems. The silver lining? Allen’s contract still makes him a tradeable asset, possibly as soon as this summer. However, his inability to maintain his level of play from last season hurt Phoenix far more than anticipated.
