3 takeaways from Phoenix Suns 2023-24 media day

The 2023-24 NBA season unofficially got underway yesterday, with a whole host of media days taking place throughout the league. The Phoenix Suns were one such organization, with every player (except the injured Damion Lee) in attendance at Footprint Center.

The big players from the front office, as well as new head coach Frank Vogel, were also present for media availability, and the whole aura around the group was — strong. It is clear this franchise is in win-or-bust mode, and everybody carried themselves as such.

There was a lot more than that to dissect from a busy and entertaining day though, with the “Big 3” of the Suns officially together under the one roof.

That Devin Booker saw fit to wear Chuck Taylors for the group shots of the three only added to his already legendary status in The Valley. Media day was about much more than Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal however, with coach Vogel providing plenty of interesting insight into how he is going to coach this team.

It is clear this is going to be a long season, and the late moves out East (which the Suns ironically helped to facilitate) have only made the race to the Larry O’Brien trophy more competitive. But each of the role players here also said the right things, right up to Ish Wainright, who wanted everybody to know he is done playing around in the league.

3. Did Deandre Ayton request a trade?

Media day was missing one player many assumed would be there as recently as last week, with the departed Deandre Ayton present at the Portland Trail Blazers facility instead. It is not that Ayton was missed – in reality it felt like everybody had already moved on – but it was weird to see a situation that had rumbled on for so long, appear to be resolved so seamlessly.

Ayton dropped a hidden bombshell while doing his own press duties, alluding to the fact that he had formally asked for a trade away from the Suns. If this is the case – and we currently only have his word to go on – then would it make the package they received which was centered around big man Jusuf Nurkic make more sense?

https://twitter.com/BurnsAndGambo/status/1708986972994458076

Whatever your thoughts on the haul the Suns got back in the Ayton deal, if he had expressed a strong desire to leave, then the front office was absolutely correct to do this before media day. It led to a much more harmonious event for all involved, with the shadow of Ayton not looming over proceedings in any way.

2. The front office is all in on Jusuf Nurkic

On the other side of the Ayton coin, it felt like everybody when asked about Nurkic was beyond enthusiastic to have him on this team. The worrying thing here is that at times it felt like it might be too much of a sell by whoever was speaking about his recent arrival.

There is no doubt that on paper, Nurkic is a better fit than Ayton for this group. Offensively he is a better screener, passer and more willing cutter, and knows his place in the pecking order. He will be feeding off scraps, but thankfully has a polished enough offensive game to be able to make do with what little shots he gets.

Defensively it is another story, and although the big Bosnian certainly puts himself about, an elite big like Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid will cook him often. Most worryingly of all is Nurkic’s injury history, with the 29-year-old having been hobbled in some form since before the NBA’s Bubble. General Manager James Jones had this to say about the player at media day;

"His skill-set compliments our best guys, and he is ready to win."

While coach Vogel cited his defensive rebounding abilities, as well as his passing, as key factors in how he is going to help the Suns win. Perhaps most importantly of all, Nurkic himself said all of the right things about where he now finds himself, adding;

"He (Vogel) loves to put his bigs in great situations. I’m most excited about the defensive system… I will definitely do whatever he and the coaching staff ask of me (on that end)."

1. Devin Booker is him

If you were in the building for media day, then you would have felt it. Without question, Devin Booker is him. It wasn’t just the aforementioned Chuck Taylors, it was the way he carried himself no matter where he went in the building. Booker has the aura of a superstar, and everybody around him acts as such.

Booker with a microphone in front of him is a PR person’s dream. He constantly says the right thing and gives credit and positive words to anybody who is mentioned. When pressed on the Ayton situation, he handled it with dignity and class, and thanked his former teammate for everything he helped to bring to The Valley.

The front office also made a point when asked of reiterating that this is Booker’s team. Durant might be the best player on any given night, but when all is said and done, they go as Booker goes. To be given that backing publicly while playing with Durant and Beal, has clearly done wonders for Booker.

Durant himself also willingly and gladly ceded that this was Booker’s show as well, another huge boost for the player. You can say what you want about the roster than owner Mat Ishbia has created, but there will be no in-fighting here. Everybody is on the same page about roles and expectations.

At a time when James Harden failed to report for media day so as to try and leave the Philadelphia 76ers, the air of calm and poise that Booker brought to the day was fantastic. Entering his ninth season, the goal is clear and the roster is set. All Booker has to worry about is playing basketball, and he is already one of the best in the world at that.