The wait is over. The season begins tonight. The transactions are done, the preseason games are behind us, and now it’s time for the Phoenix Suns to take the floor and start their journey through the 2025–26 campaign.
Everyone has their thoughts and predictions, their expectations and hunches. Now it’s our turn. The Bright Side writing crew, the team that will be here all season covering every high and low, is ready to put it in writing. Maybe not carved in stone, but etched in digital ink for all to see.
The final question in our series?
What record do you predict the Suns will finish with, and where will that land them in the Western Conference standings?
Brandon: I predict the Suns win exactly 36 games, which places them in the 10th seed, barely sneaking into the play-in tournament. The West is going to be a brutal conference, and the records will not indicate how good certain teams are towards the bottom, due to everyone beating up on each other. That 36-win prediction is about three wins higher than I was on them about a month ago. They’re growing on me…a little.
Holden: I think the Suns will be the 12th seed and win around 33-38 games. While their 36 wins a season ago was a disappointment, this year won’t be measured by wins and losses and more about how the team has developed.
Bruce: My prediction for the Phoenix Suns’ record will be 38-44, and that will place them 10th in the Western Conference. This will ultimately be two games better than last year and one spot higher as well.
This makes sense to me, as even though the roster looks worse on paper, the team does mesh better. They appear to be more engaged on the defensive end and will not bow out early, unlike last year. This year, it’s honestly not about the record; if they look like a better product than last year, it’s a win for the fans.
Kevin: The Suns will win at least 36 games this season because I do not think we will see them give up on the season like most of the team did last season. The Suns lost star power but upgraded in competitive spirit and athleticism. They do not have a draft pick this upcoming season to try and tank for, so no one in the organization will be motivated to sabotage this season.
The Phoenix Suns will finish a modest 40-42 (barring injuries to Booker/Green) but will show they are taking positive steps forward even after mortgaging the future, and make the Play-In tournament.
Luke: 39-43. It’ll be a packed bottom half of the Western Conference, and the Suns will get into the Play-In. Mark Williams will be healthy all year and overachieve like nobody’s business. Realistically? There will be injuries, there will be losses, and the season record may be closer to 31-32 wins, but this year will feel better for Suns fans than the results from last season ever could.
Pano: I want to be optimistic and aim for 40 wins, which is better than last year in terms of numbers. I mainly expect an evolution in the game and in attitude. We will fight for the Play-In, but it won’t be enough to settle there, the Suns will remain at its doors, in 11th place in the Western Conference.
Miah: 40–42, 11th in the West. This group reminds me of the 2013–14 Jeff Hornacek-coached squad that overachieved through hustle, heart, and relentless effort, but came up just shy of the playoffs. I think this Suns team has a lot more upside, but it just won’t be realized this year.
Expect a scrappy, fun, and surprisingly pesky team that plays hard every night. They might stumble early in the season, but I can see them turning it around and finishing strong. Either way, it’s going to be a much more entertaining ride than the last couple years.
Voita: 35-47. I’ve gone back and forth on this one. There are plenty of hurdles ahead for Phoenix. The West is deeper, the coaching staff is young, and the roster still feels like a puzzle waiting to be solved. But I think this group will be scrappy, the kind of team that refuses to go quietly. Pesky teams steal games they shouldn’t, and I believe this one will too.
Their over-under is 31.5. I’m betting this team will find ways to steal a few wins and finish above that number. Not by a lot. I don’t see them having enough to reach the Play-In, though I’d love to be proven wrong.
So there you have it. Our predictions are in. But you know how this goes. It doesn’t feel official until there’s a graphic to go with it. So here it is, the 2025–26 preseason Bright Side Predicts lineup from the writing staff.
Now it’s your turn. Where do you think this team will land? Cast your vote in the poll below, and tell us why you made your pick.
