If we’re going to call the Phoenix Suns a super team, it’s more a matter of roster construction than expectations.
Expectations are not really super high.
Still, Phoenix wouldn’t surprise anyone if it finished the 2024-25 season in the top 10 or even top 5 thanks to its three stars. It also wouldn’t surprise us if it stumbled and stumbled like it did last time. The low floor and high ceiling reared its ugly head again when ESPN put together an NBA panel that was asked about the annual awards for the 2024-25 season And more.
Most of the talk about the Suns starts with Kevin Durant. He had just one point and ranked 10th in the rankings of players most likely to win the MVP award.
But Durant is also among the players listed as most likely to request a trade, behind New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Chicago’s Zach LaVine and Atlanta’s Trae Young. Durant is tied with Miami’s Jimmy Butler by two points in the voting.
It’s hard to shake that reputation.
Another crazy comparison: The Suns received the fourth-most votes among teams that made a leap forward from last season, behind the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Memphis (Ja Morant is back) and San Antonio (Victor Wembanyama’s improvement) make sense, as long as there’s still faith that Golden State can figure things out in the post-Klay Thompson era.
If you believe in Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, then it makes sense to believe in Phoenix. He received at least one vote as a candidate for coach of the year.
But the Suns were also tied for eighth in points when ESPN’s panel was asked which teams are expected to experience the most trouble.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers top the list of teams expected to have a tough time. Next up are the Hawks, Bulls, Nuggets, Bucks, Heat and Warriors. Again, all of these teams have star players and high expectations.
Here’s the list of categories ESPN panelists mentioned the Suns in:
Who will win the NBA MVP title?
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
9. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
10. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Who will win NBA Coach of the Year?
1. Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks
2. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
4. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
5. Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers
7. Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
8. Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
9. Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets
10. Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic
Others receive votes: Ty Lue, Los Angeles Clippers, Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix Suns, Mike Brown, Sacramento Kings, Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves, Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors, Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
Which teams will take a big step forward?
1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Golden State Warriors
4. The Phoenix Suns
T5. Milwaukee Bucks
T5. Philadelphia 76ers
