The Phoenix Suns are rightly exiting this season on a high having secured an unexpected playoff berth, but there is no guarantee they will be able to keep the good times rolling.
Suns can’t possibly surpass expectations again with current roster
The element of surprise has well and truly been taken from this group, so sneaking into the playoffs again next season in the loaded Western Conference is far from guaranteed.
Really though it is the natural shift of expectations that is going to be the undoing of this group next season, and there is nothing they can do about it.
Assuming the Suns return essentially the same group, then fans will expect Devin Booker to be as elite as ever. Arguably more so after a quiet season by his standards. Dillon Brooks? Surely on the way to being an All-Star.
Jalen Green will be healthier and so a more regular contributor offensively, while Oso Ighodaro finished the playoffs in a good spot. Collin Gillespie is the backup floor general and Mark Williams (if brought back) and Khaman Maluach are a talented duo that is only improving.Â
Only that’s not how it’s going to go and we know that already. Green might get traded. Williams could struggle with injuries once again. Brooks has worn out his stay at his two previous stops and there's already whispers. Gillespie is no longer a surprise to opponents and can only do so much.
So if even one or two of their most important players don’t improve once more, which is essentially guaranteed to happen as it does ever year, then combined with what fans expect the vibes are going to start trending in the wrong direction again.Â
It won’t get Kevin Durant bad (nothing possibly could), but all of a sudden Booker is going to be 30-years-old and owner Mat Ishbia might reach for the panic button.
The best place for a franchise to be is exciting on the rise because it is easy to blow by expectations. The Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers are two other examples of organizations who are going to find it much tougher to reach the same point next season.
But it is taking the next step to becoming playoff regulars that causes issues, and the Suns look ripe to falter some in 2026-27. They will need the same support they received this season when that happens. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
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