• Slug: Sports–Suns Midseason Update. 820 words.
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By Brevan Branscum
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns’ season has been nothing short of eventful.

After hiring coach Mike Budenholzer to improve on Frank Vogel’s one-year tenure with the team, the Suns were expected to compete for a Western Conference title. Those around the team believed a year of continuity and the introduction of Budenholzer’s offensive-minded system elevated the Suns’ chances at a NBA Finals bid.

However, as All-Star Weekend has come and gone, the Suns sit at 26-29 and 11th in the conference. The team limped into the break, losing seven of its last eight games, and started the second half of the season with a 120-109 loss Thursday to a San Antonio Spurs team without star Victor Wembanyama.

“I think we’ve got a good team, we’ve got good players,” Budenholzer said. “But we got to get it done. We got to win games and we have work to do coming out of the break.

Even though the Suns opted for a more offensive-minded approach to take advantage of its talent, the team’s offensive statistics are down across the board. The Suns’ offensive rating of 113.8 is down from 116.8 this season despite the team switching from Vogel’s defensive coaching style. The defensive rating ranks 25th in the league compared to 13th last season and the overall net rating is at -1.9.

Streaky has defined the Suns’ season. After winning nine of its first 11 games, the Suns went 5-15 to end 2024, before starting the year 11-5 before losing seven of eight. The team has struggled to put together a consistent stretch of games since the fast start, but there have been bright spots from two stars, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

On Feb. 3, Booker became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, and eight days later, Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points. Booker’s accomplishment helped stamp his reputation as a Valley legend, one that his rookie teammate Ryan Dunn noticed the day he arrived in Phoenix.

“This is his city, I’ve seen it since I got here on day one,” Dunn said days before Booker reached the milestone. “He’s a great guy and I’m very happy for him. I feel like he’s a big part of Phoenix.”

Adding to his all-time legacy, Durant was also named to his 15th All-Star Game as a West starter. However, prominent trade rumors surrounding Durant soured the excitement about the star’s accomplishments. The Suns were in talks about a trade that nearly sent Durant to the Golden State Warriors before he stepped in to prevent it, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

While Durant admits he was caught off guard by the swirling trade rumors, he understands that “nobody is above the business.”

“That’s part of being in high demand,” Durant said. “My body language, how I speak after the games, how I’m looking on the bench, that stuff will be magnified. Which sucks, but that’s part of the business I have to deal with and accept.”

The rumors surrounding the 36-year-old Durant will likely persist into the summer if the Suns can’t figure out a way to turn around their season, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Durant said the best way to change the narrative is to start winning.

“I wanted to stay here and figure this thing out,” said Durant, who has changed teams three times in his career. “It’s on us the players to change the minds of people making those decisions.”

Durant wasn’t the only Suns player engulfed in trade rumors. Three-time All-Star Bradley Beal was also a subject of rumors and was benched after averaging his lowest points since 2014-15, while center Jusuf Nurkic was removed from the lineup in January after on-court struggles and a suspension for an altercation with Dallas Mavericks players.

Nurkic was traded to the Hornets for forward Cody Martin, guard Vasilije Micić and a second-round pick. Martin averages 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while Micić is averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 assists, and both will likely play small roles off the bench for the team in need of a spark.

“I always appreciated Cody’s intensity and Vasa’s skill for the game even though he’s only been in the league for a couple years,” Durant said. “Just try to make the game as easy as we can for them and make that transition easy.”

While lineups might continue to change, the Suns are past the trade rumors and roster turmoil and are only 3.5 games out of the No. 8 seed. In the eyes of Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant, Phoenix isn’t far behind the rest of the West.

“The west is tough, you have teams like the Suns in the 11th seed. Definitely not an 11th seed, definitely not a team most would think is a cakewalk if you see them in the playoffs,” said Morant after a win over the Suns. “I feel like once they settle in, find out what guys they want out there … they will be fine.”

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