The Phoenix Suns are currently 13-11, which has them firmly in the thick of the play-in tournament picture as of this moment. Not that there is need to worry just yet - even if the NBA itself is throwing shade their way - there's still plenty of time to get this right.
It was fantastic to see Kevin Durant back out there in the most recent win over the Utah Jazz, and he picked up right where he had left off. His 30 points and eight assists - second only to point guard Tyus Jones - helping lead the way as the team got back to winning ways.
Royce O'Neale deserves some love for his season so far too.
Last year it was Grayson Allen who landed in The Valley in the Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic deal, and promptly went about having a career year. He led the league in 3-point shooting at 46.1 percent, and was a fine replacement with Bradley Beal limited to only 53 regular season games through injury.
He also put up career highs in points, rebounds and assists, and signed a new deal prior to the playoffs getting underway. His second season in Phoenix hasn't gone in the same direction, but that is partly because he willingly gave up his starting spot to Jones in order for the starting group to have a floor general who could organize them and clean up their turnover-prone performances.
Kevin Durant after Royce O'Neale's dagger 😂pic.twitter.com/WsgtbWOTrL
— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) December 14, 2024
In the absence of Allen continuing to build - and with Beal again missing time in 2024-25 - it has been O'Neale who has stepped up and delivered. He's been used as a sixth man when the group is healthy, beating out Allen for that spot, and the 45.6 percent he is shooting from deep is a career high for the 31-year-old.
That's the same age as Beal, and yet O'Neale has been a whole lot more dependable since landing with the Suns from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline last season. His 5.7 attempts from deep each night and 11.1 points are also career highs to this point, and they have been needed as the Suns have battled injuries and inconsistencies.
We already crowned Jones the first-quarter MVP - but if we're talking about who was the most consistent player each night in their role - then O'Neale is surely the selection. On top of that, he's started six of games he's played so far, and is yet to miss any games either.
When the Suns have needed him to prop up their bench, O'Neale has done just that. But when they also require a role player to outperform what they're doing and jump into the starting lineup, O'Neale has emerged as that guy too. Rookie Ryan Dunn has given this a go a few times already this season, to mixed results.
He's very willing and looks a great long-term prospect, but O'Neale's play gives the Suns a better chance to win now. Which they really need if they're to keep pace out West. Coming at this from another angle, and O'Neale has quickly become probably the most valuable trade asset this organization has outside of their "Big 3", not that they want him to go anywhere right now.
All of which is to say, Royce O'Neale is having a career year. He's even giving this team something on the defensive end as well, although really his shooting from deep and willingness to do whatever it takes to win are the main skills he is bringing on a nightly basis. To follow up Allen's season from last time out seemed unlikely on this roster, yet O'Neale is doing just that.