The Phoenix Suns' media day ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the books, and there were plenty of talking points coming away from an interesting and entertaining day at the Footprint Center. Everybody had their chance to speak with the media, and some were more forthcoming than others.
Devin Booker was his usual savvy self, while Bradley Beal spoke about getting back to the player we all know he can be ahead of his second campaign in The Valley. Then there was Grayson Allen - who rather than being annoyed about now coming off the bench after a career year last time out - fully embraced his new role while sporting a much bulkier figure.
General Manager James Jones though, well he kept it real.
If there is one area this organization deserves a lot of credit, it is in how their owner and front office have handled criticism and interacted with the media through difficult moments. Owner Mat Ishbia - since buying this franchise - has been open and honest about doing whatever it takes to try and win a championship.
After the trade deadline last season, he spoke about having every intention of bringing back Allen and Royce O'Neale on new contracts, despite what that would mean for their luxury tax bill. But Ishbia put his money where his mouth is and backed up that talk, and this roster is now legitimately nine guys deep.
"I want to win. I want to contend for a championship."
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 1, 2024
🗣️ Tyus Jones on choosing Phoenix in free agency pic.twitter.com/hQsSgGlLUd
GM Jones has been upfront in a different kind of way, and media day was no different. His opening remarks including that "there were too many moments were we didn't really enjoy the grind of competing for a championship (last season), so the changes we made this summer allowed us to continue with that momentum that we built".
If you really break that quote down, it's actually quite remarkable. It is a not so subtle dig at Booker, Beal and Kevin Durant - who Ishbia also had an update on his potential contract extension - as they are the ones who are supposed to lead this franchise to the promised land. As Ishbia himself remarked at the end of last season, a lot of teams would love to be in their situation.
That is still true, but for a GM to come out and effectively have a go at the team's three star players in this way is actually a great sign for the organization. There's no fear of not saying what they feel - plus Jones is correct - last season was a disaster relative to what they set out to achieve. Winning 49 games is great and everything. Being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves? Less so.
There are plenty of rivals out there who have to avoid difficult conversations and hide things from the media for fear their star player demands to be traded. Yet despite having one of the best in the game in Booker - plus a guy in Durant who has his own history with moving franchises - Jones is not afraid to say it like it is. This will stand to them in 2024-25.