No, there’s no polished graphic to share here. What there is, however, is the unmistakable sense that basketball is nearly back in full force across the Valley. And it’s not only the Phoenix Suns preparing for the grind ahead. Their G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, has unveiled its schedule for the upcoming season.
This will be just the second year of following the Valley Suns, which means fans are still getting used to the rhythm and quirks of the G League calendar. Unlike the NBA’s straightforward
slate, the G League season is split into two distinct phases. It begins with a 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, where every team across the league competes for the chance to hoist the NBA G League Winter Showcase trophy. For the Valley Suns, that journey tips off November 8 against the South Bay Lakers and runs through late December.
Once that tournament concludes, the G League resets for the true grind: a 36-game regular season. This is the stretch where the wins and losses matter most, with playoff seeding on the line. It’s a unique setup, one that mirrors the developmental spirit of the league while offering fans two distinct storylines to follow.
So as the Suns prepare for their own climb back to contention, their younger counterpart is gearing up for a season that’s every bit as compelling in its own way.
In a statement from the team:
The Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, today announced its Tip-Off Tournament and regular season schedule for the 2025-26 season, which will begin on the road with back-to-back games against the South Bay Lakers on November 8 and 9. The Valley Suns will begin their 24-game home schedule against the Rip City Remix on November 14 at 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena
The Valley Suns longest homestand of the season will run between November 27 and December 13, hosting the Salt Lake City Stars and South Bay Lakers twice, and the Stockton Kings and Warriors once each. The schedule features eight back-to-backs throughout the season, including five at Mullett Arena.
Last year offered a promising glimpse of what the Valley Suns could become.
They closed out the Tip-Off Tournament with a 10–6 mark before rolling to a 20–14 record in the regular season. Their postseason push included a first-round victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors, only to end at the hands of the eventual champion Stockton Kings.
As this new season approaches, there are still some unknowns. Final roster decisions have yet to be announced, and the intrigue grows around how much time any of the big club’s new rookies might spend with the affiliate. Developmental minutes in the G League can be a proving ground and a chance for young talent to sharpen skills, adjust to the professional pace, and make a case for bigger roles in Phoenix.
