The Suns joined the NBA in 1968 and have reached three Finals without a title, a run that still frames Devin Booker's era. The 2025 trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston brought back the center and wing pieces Phoenix is now waiting on in camp.
1968 expansion. Phoenix entered the NBA in 1968 alongside Milwaukee, the first major pro franchise in Arizona, with 28-year-old Jerry Colangelo as general manager and a 16-66 debut season. Jordan Ott now runs the bench, hired this offseason after the front office replaced GM James Jones with Brian Gregory.
Three Finals, no title. The 1976 Finals ended on Garfield Heard's triple-overtime buzzer-beater in a loss to Boston. Charles Barkley's 1992-93 MVP season produced a franchise-record 62 wins but another Finals loss, to Chicago. Devin Booker and Chris Paul's 2021 run lost to Milwaukee in six. Phoenix still holds no championship.
Booker, the last link. Booker is the only player left from that 2021 Finals roster, now signed through 2029-30 on a two-year, $145 million max extension, the richest annual salary in league history. Last season he averaged 26.1 points over 64 games as the Suns went 45-37.
The Durant trade's bill. The July 6, 2025 trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston brought back Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea and a 2026 second-round pick. It also emptied the draft cupboard: Phoenix's own first-round picks now run through Houston or swap through 2030.
A center swapped in. Mark Williams arrived from Charlotte in a separate 2025 deal that sent out Vasa Micic, the draft rights to Liam McNeeley and a 2029 first-round pick. He has yet to play a game for Phoenix; he underwent shoulder surgery on September 11, and Maluach and Oso Ighodaro hold the center spot in his absence.
New ownership, same market. Mat Ishbia and his brother Justin bought the Suns and the Mercury for a record $4 billion in a sale finalized February 7, 2023, making Mat Ishbia, at 43, the league's second-youngest owner. The team still plays in the arena that opened in 1992 as America West Arena, renovated in 2021.
The voice through it all. Al McCoy, hired in 1972, called all three Finals runs and remains the longest-tenured broadcaster in NBA history. He has now called games through the Barkley, Nash, Paul-Booker and Durant eras alike, with a Booker-led roster carrying a $216.2 million payroll into a season that has not tipped off.
Has Mark Williams played for the Suns yet?
No. He was traded from Charlotte in 2025, underwent shoulder surgery on September 11, and has not appeared in a Suns game.
When does the Suns' 2026-27 season start?
Preseason opens October 5 at the Pistons, and the regular-season opener is October 21 at the Trail Blazers.
