Key updates on Suns' rivals ahead of Opening Week matchups

We did it everybody, we've made it back to meaningful Phoenix Suns basketball with the beginning of the 2024-25 regular season. Preseason went well for this group - although they didn't get to play their starting five as much as they would have liked - while the summer was just as productive.

If you're reading this then we assume you already know your Tyus Jones' from your Mason Plumlees, while you're no doubt giddy with excitement at the prospect of just how good rookie Ryan Dunn can be. Frank Kaminsky might have been cut, but the fact there's one open roster spot left heading into the season creates a nice level of flexibility.

But there's plenty to know about the Suns' Opening Week rivals.

The term Opening Week has been used as a marketing tool by the NBA to drum up interest in nationally televised games to begin the season, with the Suns set to appear twice. That will come in Los Angeles against the Clippers and Lakers - but for the benefit of this update - we're going to include the first game in the Footprint Center against the Dallas Mavericks as well.

L.A. Clippers (Wednesday October 23rd, ESPN)

The big news out of the Clippers' camp is that Kawhi Leonard won't be ready to go to begin the new campaign. Couple that with his revelation at media day recently that his knee will likely never be the same again - and the Clippers find themselves in a tough spot.

They might have moved into the swanky Intuit Dome - with the Suns the first competitive visitors - but they'll only have James Harden running the show to excite the fans. Paul George left town for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer and is also already injured, while 35-year-old Harden is surely relishing the opportunity to go back to his Houston Rockets style of play.

The other interesting subplot to keep an eye on ahead of the meeting of the two sides is that the Clippers don't seem likely to hand Bones Hyland an extension on his current deal. He'd be an interesting fit in The Valley, but we're a long way from that scenario becoming a reality. Now is a great time to be playing the Clippers, who are stumbling into the regular season.

Los Angeles Lakers (Friday October 25th, ESPN)

Hard as it might be to believe, there's relative calm coming from the Lakers' camp ahead of the new season. They have no major health issues, while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are once again back to lead the charge.

Really their main talking points come from a pair of rookies, which is not something you expect from a LeBron led group. That's because one of those two players is his own son Bronny, who closed preseason play out strongly and is likely going to play with his father soon into the season so they can get that sideshow over with.

It is the Lakers' first round pick though, who could make headlines early. Dalton Knecht has looked super comfortable in preseason play, and already looks like he has the range to be a threat for his new team right off the bat. It will be interesting to see how the Suns guard a youngster like that with plenty of drive to go with his height and shooting touch.

New head coach JJ Redick has also hit the ground running - and although it was a surprise to see him actually get the job - to this point he's saying all of the right things. He had his group playing intense basketball in preseason, and he's obviously media trained. If the Clippers look vulnerable, then the Lakers like the Suns could be about to surprise some people.

Dallas Mavericks (Saturday October 26th, Arizona's Family Sports)

The first game of the season in Phoenix promises to be a banger, with the Dallas Mavericks returning after a trip to the NBA Finals last time out. The big news out of their camp is that superstar Luka Doncic participated in full practice ahead of their own season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

Doncic missed three preseason games with a calf contusion, while Maxi Kleber and Kessler Edwards (both ankle) are also listed alongside Doncic as currently being day-to-day. It is likely all will be ready for the tilt againt the Suns, although Dante Exum (wrist surgery) is out indefinitely. A blow for him after a strong return to the league in a limited role last time out.

Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II are two players who give the Suns problems, and this meeting should be no different. Irving has the handles and scoring ability to be a nightmare for the Suns to handle on the defensive end, and the introduction of Jones in place of Grayson Allen in the starting lineup doesn't help either.

They may combat Lively II's bounce and generally menacing play inside by attempting to stick Dunn or Oso Ighodaro on him for some possessions throughout the game. Starting big Jusuf Nurkic is healthy himself after missing some preseason action with a small finger issue, but he alone can't contain the Suns' bigs. The toughest matchup of the three for this organization.