Suns basketball is right around the corner. Who is going to be the most impactful on opening night?
With a new season on the horizon, Suns fans are finally feeling the anticipation for the season’s start. Due to all the changes that have occurred in the Valley this past offseason, the importance of starting on the right foot is more crucial than ever. The Suns have an opportunity to showcase that these past changes were necessary to get the team back on track and finally have a light at the end of the tunnel.
To get on that head start, though, the Suns will have to impress in their season opener vs the Sacramento Kings. Both teams enter this game with players missing their season debuts due to injuries, prompting me to ask who to watch out for in the season opener.
What does a Devin Booker-led team look like again?
The most integral piece to the Phoenix Suns’ cohesion and how they will ultimately function is Devin Booker. The Suns’ star, the team has tried to put a championship contender around, is the only remaining key piece from those championship-driven teams. Now, in this reset of a season, with Booker back as the central focus point of the offense, how can that help the Suns compared to their all-offense approach in the past?
I think Book will excel within this lineup and be that actual all-out offensive threat we have seen in the past. We got a little taste of this when Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were out for the end of last season. When reviewing the statistics from the previous month, you can see his efficient play, and once again, he is demonstrating that he can be one of the best shooting guards when in control.
With the Suns being without Jalen Green for the start of the season as well, this signals Booker will once again be the offensive engine for this team. Expect him to get to a hot start tomorrow with Sacramento’s lack of on-ball defenders. I can see Booker going off for a 25-30 point performance in the opener.
How ready is Mark Williams for his Suns Debut?
The Suns center looks to make his first appearance for the Suns in their season opener after missing the preseason. He was not injured, but they wanted to ensure he could keep up with the team and be at his best for the start of the season.
This is a positive development for the big man, who has struggled to stay healthy in his career so far. His highest game total in a season is 44, and the Suns would dearly like to have that increase this season. They have struggled in the front court in the past, and Williams can be the rebounder and shot blocker the team values if he plays at his peak. Even though they drafted Khaman Maluach at pick 10 in the 2025 draft, he is a raw talent and still needs help in this front court from other pieces to make an impact, with Williams being the one they hope will take the lead.
Due to his injuries, the big man did not receive a rookie-scale extension and will be a restricted free agent this offseason. This is something to keep an eye on, as depending on Williams’ play and value, this could impact his future in Phoenix.
In their matchup against the Kings, the big man will have an easier night than anticipated as the Kings’ star center, Domantas Sabonis, will be out of the contest with a hamstring injury.
This leaves the Kings with the option of using two former Suns in Drew Eubanks and Dario Saric, or going with their youth movement in Isaac Jones and Maxime Raynaud. Since it is the Kings and they want to win, I’d predict that it’s the two former faces who get the run, and for Mark Williams, that should be an easy contest.
Ryan Dunn’s sophomore leap incoming?
The young wing made some significant strides in his rookie year, despite being played spectacularly. With him now rising into the starting lineup and being one of the leaders on the defense end, this is the year for him to showcase that he can be a staple for this team’s future. On the defensive end, his role as the dominant point of attack defender and utilizing his length should be the primary points of emphasis he focuses on. With Jordan Ott utilizing this faster pace as well, this should also benefit his strengths in transition.
Then, on the offensive end, there is the question of whether he can be a legitimate threat there. We have seen his three-point shot fluctuate as he adjusts to his role for the team. As we all know, upon graduating from college, he was not well-known for it, but as he grew, he became more comfortable figuring it out. This season, finding that the three-point shot is going to be key for him to develop into a 3&D wing that this team can have as a core building block.
Going into the matchup against the Kings, I expect him to use his speed to attack the wings of DeMar DeRozan and Nique Clifford downhill and try to score at the basket. While also being disruptive on the defensive end, forcing DeRozan and Zach LaVine into some turnovers by making some bad decisions.
