Suns Look Back at Two Eras of Backcourt Scoring

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Monday, October 19

Phoenix has always built around scoring guards, from Nash and Paul to Devin Booker, and the 2026-27 roster follows the same blueprint. The question this October is whether the supporting cast around Booker can carry the load the way past casts did.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

The family business. Walter Davis anchored the 1980s, Steve Nash ran the show under Mike D'Antoni, and Chris Paul paired with Booker on the way to the 2021 Finals. Booker scored 26.1 a night last season in 64 games. The guard-first model is the franchise's habit.

Green's first full chapter. Jalen Green arrived in the Durant trade and put up 17.8 points in 32 games last season. He made the preseason's offense tick, scoring 18 against Utah. At $36.3M, he is the second-biggest salary and the clearest test of the new build.

Brooks carries the wing. Dillon Brooks scored 20.2 a game last season over 56 appearances and added 18 against the Jazz on October 16. He turns 30 with nine years of experience. Phoenix needs his scoring to hold when the schedule gets real.

The 1988 lesson. Phoenix turned itself around in 1988 with the Kevin Johnson trade, then made thirteen straight playoff trips. That is the model of a supporting cast clicking around guards. Today's version leans on Ighodaro, whom ESPN reported agreed to a three-year, $29M extension.

Barkley's arrival, then Durant's exit. In 1992 Charles Barkley came from Philadelphia and won MVP with 62 wins. Kevin Durant came in 2023 and left to Houston in July 2025. Valley of the Suns wrote today that the Suns-Rockets rivalry is one to watch.

Roster churn on the eve. Hoops Rumors reported Phoenix waived Koby Brea and CJ Huntley and is converting Duop Reath to a two-way deal. Haywood Highsmith left October 18. The roster is down to the rotation pieces Jordan Ott will actually use.

Last year's 45-37 baseline. The Suns won 45 games last season with the 17th-ranked offense and 9th-ranked defense, a net rating of 1.4. Payroll now sits at $216.2M, above the first apron. That is a lot of money for a middle-of-the-pack team.

On deck Phoenix opens the regular season Wednesday, October 21 at the Trail Blazers, then hosts the Warriors on October 24. Oso Ighodaro and Luke Kennard are both listed with an estimated return of October 21.

When do the Suns open the 2026-27 season?

The Suns open Wednesday, October 21 at the Trail Blazers. Their home opener against the Warriors is October 24.

Who is the Suns' head coach?

Jordan Ott is the head coach, entering his first season after the Suns promoted him from a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant job.

By the Suns Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.