Valley Heat Check: The Preseason Calendar Finally Has Dates

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Friday, September 25

The Suns enter the week still at 0-0 with no news breaking the last day, so the calendar becomes the story: four preseason games from October 5 to October 14 before the October 21 opener at Portland. Camp opens with Mark Williams out after shoulder surgery and Duop Reath's reported deal still unofficial.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Quiet Day, Real Calendar. Nothing new broke in the last day. What did land is a preseason schedule: Phoenix opens at the Pistons on October 5, visits Chicago on October 7, hosts San Antonio on October 10 on ESPN2, then closes camp games at the Spurs on October 14.

Regular Season Circled. The opener is set for October 21 at Portland. Everything between now and then is roster evaluation, with a real result finally replacing last season's 45-37 mark once games start counting.

Williams Still Out. Mark Williams remains out after the shoulder surgery Shams Charania reported on September 11, with his return still estimated for February. Maluach and Ighodaro are the centers actually on the floor for camp until then.

Reath Deal Unofficial. A report placed Duop Reath's signing with Phoenix on September 17, but he still does not appear on the twenty-man roster list. Until that changes, the center depth behind Maluach and Ighodaro stays a name on paper.

Ball Speculation Surfaces. Valley of the Suns floated Lonzo Ball as worth Phoenix's consideration once Williams returns from injury. That is one outlet's idea, not a move in progress; nothing ties Ball to the Suns beyond that suggestion.

Six Starters, Really?. Bright Side of the Sun raised the question of whether Phoenix actually has six starters. It's a fair read of a camp roster with Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges and more all competing for a five-man group.

The Number: $216.2M. Phoenix's payroll sits at $216.2 million, clear of the $200.4 million tax line and into apron territory. That number, not any camp battle, sets the ceiling on what the front office can still add.

On deck Preseason opens October 5 at Detroit, with the ESPN2 game against San Antonio on October 10 the first home look at this roster. The regular-season opener follows October 21 at Portland.

When do the Phoenix Suns play their first preseason game in 2026-27?

October 5 at the Detroit Pistons, the first of four preseason games before the October 21 regular-season opener at Portland.

Is Mark Williams playing for the Suns to start the season?

No. Williams is out after shoulder surgery reported September 11, with his return estimated for February 2027.