This Phoenix Suns stat puts them on pace to shatter a franchise record

The Phoenix Suns’ offense through the early stages of the 2025-26 season places them in the middle of the pack.

By raw points per game, Phoenix ranks 17th in the NBA by scoring 116.8 points on average. The Suns’ offensive rating of 115.5 places them tied with the Detroit Pistons for 15th in the league — both through games played Nov. 10.

The offense has been ticking up lately for Phoenix as new head coach Jordan Ott and new personnel get acclimated to one another, but one stat in particular is sticking out for the Suns in the early going: 3-point shooting.

It’s no surprise the NBA as a whole has put an enormous emphasis on long-range attempts in recent years.

Math majors certainly aren’t surprised by that development, as it makes sense to attempt more of a field goal that’s worth more points — especially when most players out on the court in the modern NBA can shoot from long range with at least some degree of competency.

As a result of that trend, the mid-range game that’s been dominated by players like Devin Booker and former Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is an increasingly rare sight to see when attending an NBA game.

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Points in the paint and 3-point attempts. That’s what efficient NBA offenses are all about.

Shooting from deep has no doubt been an emphasis for Ott’s offense, as it was and is for the Cleveland Cavaliers where Ott was an assistant under Kenny Atkinson a season ago.

In fact, only the Cavs are cashing in more 3-point field goals per game (17) than the Suns are (16.5) at the time of writing.

In comparison to the Cavs, who are attempting the most 3-pointers of any NBA team (47.1), the Suns rank fourth in attempts per game (42.7).

What sets Phoenix apart in some respects is their efficiency from long range. The Suns are converting 38.5% of their 3-point attempts this season. That ranks them tied for sixth in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. By contrast, Cleveland’s 36.1% clip from long range puts them 15th.

The Suns’ emphasis on letting it fly from deep was apparent again during a Monday night dismantling of a banged up New Orleans Pelicans team.

As a team, the Suns finished 19-of-43 shooting from 3-point range in a 121-98 win. The shooting display was highlighted by the usual suspects.

Grayson Allen finished with a career high and Suns franchise record 10 3-pointers against New Orleans (10-of-15 shooting). Teammate Royce O’Neale was 4-of-5 from deep in the first half alone, but missed his three attempts in the second half to finish at an even 50% on 4-of-8 shooting.

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Phoenix Suns stats: Individual and team 3-point shooting is standing out

Allen and O’Neale entered Monday’s contest tied for third in all of basketball with 36 makes apiece. Allen’s 3-point explosion vaulted him to the top of the charts, as he now leads the league in 3-pointers made with 46.

O’Neale’s 40 made 3-point attempts slots him fourth league-wide behind only Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.

Collin Gillespie — an early Sixth Man of the Year candidate — is tied for 20th in the league with 28 makes from distance. Devin Booker is behind him at 25 makes from beyond the arc (tied for 30th in the league).

Overall, with 181 made 3-pointers through the team’s first 11 games, the Suns are on pace to make 1,349 3-pointers by season’s end.

The previous franchise record for the Suns (set last season) was 1,176 3-point hits.

That really puts into perspective the type of pace Phoenix is on right now. They’re set to shatter the franchise record for most made 3-pointers in a season even if they show some regression.

Yes, the league is evolving before our eyes. Yes, 3-point shooting is an emphasis for every team now.

But still, that Phoenix is pacing to not just beat but shatter a franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season is noteworthy.

Hilariously, those 181 makes from long distance through 11 games are more than 12 Suns teams in the 1980s and early 1990s converted over the course of full seasons.

The game is shifting, and Ott has certainly brought that “Let It Fly” attitude from Cleveland to the desert.