The tumultuous, drawn-out end to his time with the Phoenix Suns wasn’t what Jae Crowder or the team envisioned. After becoming a fan favorite during two seasons in the Valley, which included a run to the 2021 NBA Finals and a franchise-record 64-win campaign, Crowder’s slow-burning departure was a messy divorce that blindsided almost everyone involved. Tuesday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks — with Crowder now suiting up for the very team that bested Phoenix in the Finals two years ago — made it abundantly clear there were still some lingering feelings about whatever spawned the “mutual” decision to hold him out of training camp until Phoenix could facilitate a trade. Crowder, coach Monty Williams and general manager James…

What should have been a memorable Wednesday night for the Phoenix Suns and their fanbase quickly became unforgettable for the worst possible reason. Coming off his Suns debut on the team’s recent road trip, Kevin Durant was excited to make his home debut at the Footprint Center. So of course one of the flukiest, freakiest, most Arizona sports injuries of all time struck during his pregame workout routine. Driving baseline for a run-of-the-mill dunk, Durant rolled his left ankle. He stayed down for a few seconds, got back up, and finished the last 10 or so minutes or his routine. And just 18 minutes before the game’s scheduled start time, he was ruled out against the Oklahoma City Thunder due…

After what feels like forever (but was really only 18 days), Kevin Durant is set to make his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut. He hasn’t played since Jan. 8 due to a right knee MCL sprain, but KD will finally suit up for his new team against the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night. With an all-time scorer like Durant in tow, the Suns have a guy who fits right in with their 0.5 offense but can also operate outside the confines of the system as one of the greatest midrange and isolation scorers the game has ever seen. When a superstar like that joins a team that already has Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, it’s only natural to focus…

Kevin Durant, one of the purest scorers of all time, has joined forces with a Phoenix Suns team that’s been one of the NBA’s top-seven offenses over the last two years. This season’s injury woes have prompted a drop in that category, but there’s no ignoring it: One of the 15 greatest players of all time will not only fit in with Phoenix’s high-powered offense, but enhance it in a variety of ways. Durant has yet to take the court for his first Suns game, but as his potential debut looms on Wednesday, it’s worth taking a look at how Durant fits in with Phoenix’s 0.5 offense, where he’ll expand upon it, and what adjustments need to be made in…

Friday was a normal game day for the Phoenix Suns. Coming off the All-Star break and the media circus that followed Kevin Durant’s arrival, a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder represented a return to the norm. For Ish Wainright, however, it was a turbulent, emotionally charged day. Wainright, who was still playing on a two-way contract, officially ran out of eligibility with the Suns right before the break. Unless Phoenix converted his deal to the team’s 15th and final roster spot, he would no longer be able to suit up for any more regular-season games, and he’d automatically be ineligible for the playoffs too. Aside from the anxiety of waiting to see whether the Suns would give him a…

Look across the myriad of Phoenix Suns all-time leaderboards, and the name “Dario Saric” won’t be found on any of them. Despite arriving back in 2019, he only suited up for the Suns in 153 regular-season games. He only scored 20-plus points seven times in Phoenix, five of which came in his first season in the Valley, and he only recorded 10 double-doubles, with nine of those coming in his first Suns season. In the wake of the Kevin Durant blockbuster trade that saw beloved fan favorites like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson leave, Saric’s departure in a subsequent deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder received little attention by comparison. On paper, that tracks for a guy who averaged 8.9…

In a league increasingly driven by analytics and shot-tracking data, the NBA’s best shot profiles usually feature a higher concentration of shots at the rim and beyond the 3-point line. The Phoenix Suns, however, have been defying that prototypical contour for a few years now. One of the common misconceptions about “analytics” is that they stress layups, dunks and 3s...

The Phoenix Suns are in a unique position: They’re quite possibly the only NBA title contender that doesn’t have its starting five set in stone yet. Everyone knows that as soon as he’s healthy, Kevin Durant will assume his rightful place in the Suns’ starting lineup alongside Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. But who will claim that fifth starting spot now that Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are officially out the door? Following a roller coaster trade deadline and buyout market, the Suns have several options to fill that last remaining slot. Torrey Craig has filled in for an injured Johnson and an absent Jae Crowder for most of the season. Josh Okogie has come on strong recently,…

As of Wednesday morning, Terrence Ross is officially the newest addition to the Phoenix Suns. The team had to wait for Ross to clear waivers from his buyout with the Orlando Magic, but as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski initially reported on Saturday, the 32-year-old wing planned to sign with the Suns. The Dallas Mavericks had emerged as an early frontrunner for his services, but after new owner Mat Ishbia and coach Monty Williams joined the pursuit, the prospect of playing with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant reportedly won him over. Williams said he talked to Ross about his time under coach Steve Clifford as a reference point for some of the things Phoenix does on defense, in addition to where he…