How the Suns are defying expectations after a disastrous Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal era

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott earned his first moment in the Valley in the team’s first win since parting ways with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. That followed a 116-113 overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Suns’ head coaching debut, offering a glimmer of hope after a disappointing clean-sheet era for a team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals.

After the win, Suns All-Star Devin Booker says the team celebrated with the coach Ott in the dressing room, trans

“We gave him a water bath there,” Booker explained after the game. “They put together a nice little video of his family and friends to congratulate him. It’s a big moment.

“It’s a welcome moment in the valley. He’s got the first one under his belt, and we’re all coming together.”

Devin Booker said as Jordan Ott walked into the locker room and the team celebrated its first win.

“It’s a big moment. It’s his ‘Welcome to the Valley’ moment.” pic.twitter.com/8SPiV0KsuOO

— Hayden Cilley (@HaidenCilley) October 23, 2025

Since their first regular-season win, the Suns have won eight more — 9-6 — for the seventh-best mark in the Western Conference. Not too shabby for a team that was written off as another lottery-bound season amid another underachievement left behind by the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

Dillon Brooks is off to a career-best offensive start, averaging 22.0 points on 45.9% shooting. The same can be said for Grayson Allen, who scored 18.5 points on 46.8% shooting, including 44.7% from deep, per game. The Suns also have the fifth-highest offensive rating (119.3), narrowly trailing the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (119.7).

Meanwhile, Booker is off to his typical start to another All-Star campaign, averaging 28.4 points on 49.5% shooting, 7.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. His 19 points led six Suns to score in double figures in a 127-110 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix’s sixth win in seven tries.

Devin Booker recalls Suns’ record-breaking streak in Portland

After Devin Booker broke the Suns’ all-time record game against the Trail Blazers last season, he still felt the crowd’s love. Booker recalled hearing cheers on the road.

After Monday’s win, his first time at the Moda Center since breaking the franchise record, Booker recalled last year’s career milestoneACentral’s Duane Rankin.

(Blazers fans) gave me a standing ovation, Booker said. “I definitely shouldn’t have been a roadie, but there’s usually a lot of Suns fans here.”

Devin Booker on returning to Portland where he became the Suns’ all-time leading scorer last season, which was resolved after Sunday’s 22-point loss to the Hawks in the fourth quarter and now playing with Dillon Brooks, who went to college in Oregon.

On the historic game: “(The Blazers… pic.twitter.com/RtK21KFPvk

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 18, 2025

Booker now has 16,869 career points with the Suns.