With the 2024-25 NBA season set to kick off, many eyes around the NBA will be on the Phoenix Suns as they enter their first year under head coach Mike Budenholzer. With training camp set to open at the end of the month, we’ll be making our bold predictions on the Suns, including a big prediction on Kevin Durant.
The Suns had a rough start last season under Frank Vogel as head coach. They finally managed to show some consistency and finished sixth in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in.
But they were completely humiliated in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading to Vogel’s firing after just one season.
But with Budenholzer at the helm, there’s a new sense of optimism in Suns country. Now, let’s get to our bold Suns predictions for the 2024-25 season.
Kevin Durant will be the best scorer in the NBA and the Suns

Last season, Durant finished sixth in the league in scoring with 27.1 points, tied with Suns teammate Devin Booker. The soon-to-be 36-year-old remains among the most prolific scorers in the world. He proved that by helping Team USA win a gold medal at the Olympics.
Durant is one of those players who makes everything look easy when it comes to scoring. Playing for a coach like Budenholzer, who has been a good offensive coach in the NBA, could help Durant increase his points per game. Budenholzer has done a good job of that throughout his career maximize the offensive production of its players according to Kevin Hicks of Sports Illustrated.
The Suns have plenty of offensive options, but Durant is the best of them. Last season, Luka Doncic led the NBA in scoring with 33.9 points. This Suns prediction has Durant scoring between 33 and 35 points per game, and that will be good enough for the best in the league.
Tyus Jones to start in Suns lineup by end of season

The Suns’ biggest offseason acquisition, aside from Budenholzer, was the signing of free agent Tyus Jones. Jones has long been one of the NBA’s most underrated and productive point guards.
Looking at the Suns’ current depth chart, the projected starting five is Durant, Booker, Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, and Grayson Allen. Booker has been playing point guard for the Suns and has done so at a solid level.
But since that core was formed, the team hasn’t had a true leader like Jones. Jones is averaging 4.3 assists in his career, but had a career-high 7.3 assists in 66 games with the Washington Wizards last season. Jones is going to be a difference-maker for the Suns next season, and his playmaking and efficiency leading the offense will be too good to keep on the bench.
That means Grayson Allen will likely move to the bench. A significant change considering the contract extension he recently signed. But it will happen for the good of the team.
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The Suns will finish with a top-four record in the West this season

In his last stint as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Budenholzer finished in the top four of the Eastern Conference for five seasons. With the Atlanta Hawks, he finished in the top five in three of his five seasons at the helm.
Budenholzer is a proven coach with championship experience. Vogel also had championship experience, but Budenholzer always seemed to be held in higher regard. And again, he’s been a solid offensive coach in the NBA. He has tons of options at his disposal. He’s a more creative offensive coach than Vogel.
Expect a Suns offense that is firing on all cylinders with the above predictions of Durant leading the league in scoring and Jones running the offense. That will be enough for a top-four finish in the West for this team.