PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are projected to have a better season compared to last year’s but fall short of success, according to an ESPN simulation released Tuesday morning.
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Feb 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is introduced during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Suns are projected to hover around .500 for most of the season, ultimately landing the No. 9 seed with a 42-40 record before being eliminated by the No. 10 Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.
The projections come before Phoenix’s first full year without All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, who left the team in the offseason. With a roster shakeup and under the new leadership of head coach Jordan Ott, the team’s year is unpredictable.
Sep 24, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
However, with Devin Booker remaining a constant for the team and expected to take on a larger leadership role, the Suns’ strategy is likely to lean on younger talent and depth rather than star power.
ESPN creates its projections based on individual player metrics and depth. With Phoenix projected to finish just two games above .500, this suggests the team will experience growing pains as it continues its rebuild and works toward becoming a more complete product. Forty-two wins would be an improvement over last season’s 36-46 record, but still fall short of the team’s records in the four seasons prior.
This puts the team in a peculiar position as it isn’t viewed as a contender, but not expected to fully drop off in the middle of a rebuild. For Phoenix, it marks a crossroads as it decides which direction to lean on.
Jun 10, 2025; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott during an introductory press conference at the Verizon 5g Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Fans mostly agree with where ESPN projects the team, with some already thinking a similar outcome in their own predictions.
Am i crazy or is that actually a very fair assesment for the suns lmao
— JustMyFandom (@JustMyFandom1) October 14, 2025
That feels pretty accurate (Watch #Suns now win 27 or 53 games after we post this 😅)
— ThePhoenixSuns.Com (Not The NBA Team) (@ThePhoenixSuns2) October 14, 2025
A lot of this makes sense, but we’re not losing to Sac. They suck. How did they simulate it, and why is the final record so different from predictions? FTR, I’ve been saying 43 wins, so it makes perfect sense to me.
— Sunderous Dunks (@SunderousDunks) October 14, 2025
While these are only projections, it does paint a preview of what may be to come for this new Suns. No longer a superteam, Phoenix now looks for its own identity after an era trying to recreate the magic that led the team to the Finals in 2021.
It’ll be up to the players and staff to decide how they want to approach this year: By living up to the projections or proving them wrong.
Mar 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns will host the Sacramento Kings for their first game of the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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