3 studs and 3 duds from the Phoenix Suns' early preseason games

The Phoenix Suns' opening two preseason games gave fans a preview of what to expect from the 2024–25 NBA season. The Suns aim to meet all the requirements since they have a lot of expectations for themselves. With a slightly healthy squad, Phoenix has its eyes on the prize.

Their first preseason game was against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team they failed to beat in their regular season series last year. They won against the Lakers, which is always a satisfying watch for Suns fans. Following their 118-114 win against the Purple & Gold, they took on the Detroit Pistons.

Again, it was a similar result for the Suns, winning against the Pistons, 105-97.

Without much ado, let's look at the three studs for The Valley.

The Studs

#1 Ryan Dunn

The Suns have rookies for the first time since they drafted Jalen Smith in 2020. Among the rookies, Ryan Dunn stood out and showed the fans that he's NBA ready. Against the Lakers, he had a decent performance and finished the game with nine points and three rebounds.

Dunn stood out as he also had a moment where he guarded LeBron James. Although it's the preseason, the rookie still showcased that he can contribute to the Suns. Following the game, veteran forward Royce O'Neale complimented him for stepping up to the challenge this preseason.

"He's been taking the challenge all preseason. Especially in practice. Giving him the opportunity to get early runs, having time to guard LeBron. It's making him learn and just help him out however we can."

- Royce O'Neale

In the second game, Dunn was even better. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a steal. The rookie forward was switched to Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and didn't back down. Instead, he manned up, got his lone steal of the night and made a transition 3-pointer.

After two games of action, Dunn has captured the attention of fans and even his teammates. As long as he keeps it up, he could take a spot in the rotation this season. His energy off the bench has helped the Suns get into a tempo this offseason.

#2 Tyus Jones

The acquisition of Tyus Jones was one of the most underrated moves during the offseason. With Jones, the Suns finally have their starting point guard, a spot in their rotation that didn't have consistency last season. The seasoned guard has also demonstrated why the team valued his signing following the opening two preseason contests.

With Jones on the floor, he's displayed his court vision well. In his first game, he finished with six assists. In the following contest, the former Washington Wizards guard had seven assists. He's been an effective force on the team's offense, pushing the pace with his passing.

The Suns have also benefitted from his shooting. He shot 3-3 from beyond the arc against the Lakers and built on the momentum of their game against Detroit. Jones shot 60% from the field.

Defensively, he's an active participant as he's had at least one steal in the past two games. Although I won't expect him to be at the top of his game defensively the entire season, it's still assuring to see him be assertive on that end of the floor.

#3 Bradley Beal

Generally speaking, preseason games shouldn't be used to evaluate elite players, but Bradley Beal has demonstrated that he may be returning to his typical self. Like the other two stars, Beal had a limited playing time. But he still showed what fans wanted to see before the regular season starts.

Because of the minute's restriction, he didn't have outstanding games. After all, it's the preseason, the games are played for teams to get into a rhythm for the actual season. The three-time All-Star has played with more aggressiveness on the offensive end. This was similar to how he played back when he was with the Wizards.

Last season, I wasn't a big believer in Beal being the third option because of his inconsistencies. I've said before that Grayson Allen looked more like part of the Suns' Big 3. But things are different now. The All-Star guard looks healthy and comfortable moving on the court.

With Beal's return to the court, the team's Big 3 is complete. They're also ready to play better than how they looked last season.

Now, let's look at the three duds of the preseason.

The Duds

#1 Damion Lee

I know, Damion Lee is just coming back from a year-long rehab to fix his meniscus injury. That's why he hasn't performed well in the past two preseason games. But that's the purpose of the preseason, for teams to build chemistry and for recovering players to find their footing.

Against the Lakers, he had a decent performance. Lee played 10 minutes off the bench and finished with 10 points on 2-3 shooting from the 3-point range. But it looked like he wasn't ready to be on the court in their second preseason game.

Lee suited up and was on the court for ten minutes before he got hurt. It was later reported that the guard returned to the locker room after taking a shot at the groin/leg.

Maybe he needs more time to get his body ready for action. But the Suns can't take a chance at playing Lee when he's not 100% ready. We'll have to wait until the regular season starts to see how head coach Mike Budenholzer will incorporate him into the system.

#2 Bol Bol

A new season, a new chance for Bol Bol to prove himself. After two preseason games, however, Bol looked like he struggled to fit in with the team. He's had over 28 minutes of action over the past two games and he's only had two points in four attempts.

The Suns center hasn't been aggressive in demanding the ball. He is expected to start as the team's third center in the rotation. With his height and talent, he could play a significant part in the team's system.

Unfortunately, it looks like he'll be riding the bench this season. Phoenix's 40th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Oso Ighodaro has been a more assertive player than Bol. Ighodaro has played with greater vigor since the start of the preseason, eager to help the squad in any way he can.

With the way things look, the rookie center might secure a spot in the rotation before Bol.

#3 Devin Booker

Devin Booker has played both preseason games but it looks like he needs to to adjust. Booker has attempted 25 shots from the field during their games against the Lakers and Pistons. However, he's only made eight shots from his attempted shots.

His extremely busy summer is one reason for his poor performance in the preseason games. After the 2023–24 season, Booker represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, playing for Team USA. His time with the national team was unlike that of Boston Celtics player Jayson Tatum, as he made a big contribution.

Booker is important to the team's goal this season as he's one of the primary scorers. The Suns expect the star guard to have a similar -- if not, better -- season than before.

The former Kentucky guard can be excused for now since the beginning of October is filled with exhibition games. Once the regular season starts, though, fans expect Booker to perform his best.