PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are on the brink of an extreme turnaround following the Kevin Durant trade, but that doesn’t mean that fans don’t have anything to look forward to.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In fact, Phoenix houses two of the NBA’s Top 100 players, according to Bleacher Report’s preseason NBA Top 100 — veteran guard Devin Booker and his backcourt mate, the newly acquired Jalen Green.
The guard duo projects to be one of the most dynamic scoring backcourts in the NBA, and Bleacher Report agrees.
Devin Booker Ranking: 16
Sep 24, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) poses for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Phoenix’s lead man comes in as the 16th-ranked player on the list, sitting in between Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams at 15 and Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler at 17.
Bleacher Report’s Analysis:
Here’s what Zach Buckley said about the 11-year veteran’s ranking:
“Messiness with the Suns overall hasn’t really dimmed Booker’s star yet. He’s been remarkably consistent throughout the organization’s many transformations, albeit with some bigger fluctuations in his three-point splash rate than his reputation as a net-shredder might suggest.
Oct 3, 2025; Palm Desert, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots past Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) at Acrisure Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
“Hopefully, this latest roster-reshuffling isn’t the one that dooms Booker. He’ll get all the shots and touches he cares to handle without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but Booker’s responsibility list will be burdensome, and the defensive attention he receives could be overwhelming.
“Overall, Booker seems content with the situation, and he’s clearly well compensated for it. But if Phoenix fades into obscurity, the hoops world will be without one of its better playoff performers in recent memory.”
Jalen Green Ranking: 81
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
The Suns acquired Green in the Kevin Durant trade, and he projects as one of the more interesting reclamation projects in the NBA. The 23-year-old guard reached heights of the 59th-ranked player on prior rankings.
Green ranks in between Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu at 80 and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard at 82.
Bleacher Report’s Analysis:
Here’s what Buckley had to say about Green’s placement at No. 81.
“While Green played a big part in Houston’s playoff breakthrough, it says a lot that the Rockets are taking their next step without him. Maybe his trade to Phoenix sent him into the kind of movie-montage training summers that unlock the key to consistency. Or, perhaps it just highlighted the flaws in his game.
May 4, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) walks off the court after game seven of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
“The eye test makes you want to believe. He’s a 99th percentile athlete with good form on his jumper, a ferocious first step and enough passing chops to handle secondary playmaking duties. The numbers are less convincing, though. His shooting rates perpetually leave you wanting more, and his on/off splits suggest Houston made the right call.
“Green will have ample opportunity to rewrite his story as the Suns’ second-in-command behind Devin Booker. But opportunity was never the thing holding him back.”
Fans are going to have to wait a little longer to see their new star duo, as Green is expected to miss their season opener against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 22 due to a lingering hamstring injury.
Suns’ Big Three debut delayed with Green out for home opener
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