30 years from now…one former NBA player sits huddled into the dark corner of a bar, murmuring stories about how he used to play for “that great Phoenix Suns team,” which terrorized its opponents for the entire 2021-22 season. Few take him seriously though, failing to remember his minimal contributions to the team.
Down the road sits another former player, at a much finer establishment, surrounded by fans and followers. Everyone knows who he is, and how much he added to Phoenix’s winning efforts during that same year.
Back to the now though, the Suns currently find themselves just starting out this highly anticipated season, bringing 15 players into training camp this week. Awarded the sixth highest odds to win the NBA Finals, the Suns looks ready to make the league shake.
We know that players like Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and essentially the entire starting five plan to commit heavily to the team this year, and eventually become like that celebrated player in the future. However, the same cannot be said for everyone else.
A few question marks still exits across Phoenix’s rotation. Due to this, they all feel somewhat less attached to the Suns and their future as a franchise.
Whether being players trying to come back from injury, secure large contracts, or just stay in the NBA, they all have a lot on the line this season as they try and prove themselves as worthy Suns. Here are the those that most definitely need to step things up if they want to avoid becoming the ex-Sun at the bar who no one remembers.