The Phoenix Suns were one of seven teams to receive an ‘A’ grade in ESPN writer Tim Bontemps’ 2025-26 NBA regular season grades.
After ESPN’s summer forecast in August predicted a finish of 30-52 (sixth-worst in the league), the Suns surpassed all expectations to reach a 45-37 record and the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference prior to the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Suns were seen as a team more likely to finish last in the league than to make the playoffs. And yet, they flirted with a top-six seed in the West all season, ultimately finishing seventh, and now will have to win Friday to make the playoffs.
Head coach Jordan Ott, in the first year of his head coaching career, inherited a team that traded away star forward Kevin Durant and bought out guard Bradley Beal before the season began.
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Under his watch, Phoenix developed a strong backcourt identity by improving from the league’s fourth-worst defensive rating in 2024-25 (117.7) to the ninth-best (112.9) in 2025-26. The team is also currently fourth in steals per game (9.5).
On the other side of the court, star guard Devin Booker averaged 26.1 points (45.6% shooting), six assists and 3.9 rebounds per game to receive the fifth All-Star nod of his career.
He received support from forward Dillon Brooks, who reached a career-high mark of 20.2 points per game, and guard Collin Gillespie, who is currently tied for the seventh-most three pointers made in the league.
Even in the face of injuries to Booker, Brooks and guard Jalen Green, Ott still managed to guide the Suns to a berth into the play-in.
Phoenix hired an excellent young coach in Jordan Ott, who has created an impressive hard-working, hard-playing culture in his first season.
Following a 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Suns will take on either the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Clippers at Mortgage Matchup Center at 7 p.m. MST on Friday.
The winner will advance into the NBA postseason and enter a seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round as the No. 8 seed.
The six other teams to receive an A- or higher were the Boston Celtics (A), Charlotte Hornets (A), Detroit Pistons (A), San Antonio Spurs (A), Los Angeles Lakers (A-) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (A-).
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