The Phoenix Suns wrapped up their season with a 117–98 win over the San Antonio Spurs—a result that meant little in the standings and capped off a year that fell well short of expectations. Despite a strong NBA performance from Bradley Beal, the absence of Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and Suns star Kevin Durant underscored just how little was at stake.
For a team that entered the season with championship aspirations, headlined by the star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Beal, the campaign ended in disappointment. Beal didn’t shy away from acknowledging that frustration while also offering perspective on the team’s internal dynamics and what may lie ahead.
“It doesn’t bother me. Everybody’s going to have opinions about something, and you’re entitled to them,” Beal told the Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin. “But nobody knows what happened internally. Nobody knows what we deal with, how we handle things, and how we go about our jobs and careers. We take pride in it. It’s disheartening. It’s unfortunate. Nobody’s probably more pissed off than we are as a team. But we know Mat [Ishbia] is going to demand some changes. So we just have to be ready for what he wants to do.”
Asked about his own belief in the roster, Beal remained optimistic. “Me? I’m always confident in what we have. I’m probably the most naive person you’ll ever meet in the world. I believe in what we’ve got here. Things happened, man. We didn’t have a good year. We couldn’t put it together like we wanted. But nobody hates each other. No one dislikes anybody else. I love it here. I love being here. Hopefully, I can continue to be here. But I know Mat—he’s probably going to make some changes. Still, I enjoyed this group.”
He added: “It was a fun group to be a part of. The locker room was awesome. The camaraderie was great. We loved each other. We uplifted each other. That’s what hurts the most: we were a connected team. We were together. We just couldn’t put it together on the floor.”
What’s next for Phoenix?
With an expensive, top-heavy roster and little postseason success to show for it, the Suns head into a pivotal offseason. Owner Mat Ishbia is expected to make significant changes, and the question now is whether those changes will involve breaking up the team’s Big Three.
The Suns are financially locked into Beal, Durant, and Booker—three max-level players whose contracts limit the team’s flexibility in building depth. As such, league insiders have speculated that Kevin Durant could be the first domino to fall. Despite still playing at an elite level, Durant’s age and injury history make him a more likely trade candidate if the front office looks to retool around its younger stars.
Booker on Phoenix season
However, Devin Booker, widely seen as the face of the franchise, recently offered a public show of support for Durant—casting doubt on any rift between the two. “I mean, we still play together, but it’s just been a joy,” Booker told The Athletic’s John Hollinger. “From my favorite player to teammate, I don’t take it lightly—our relationship on and off the court… We’re right here.”
Booker’s comments suggest Phoenix’s locker room remains intact emotionally, even if the results haven’t matched the roster’s potential. If Durant stays, the Suns might instead consider moving Beal—though his no-trade clause complicates any potential NBA deal—or look for ways to reshape the supporting cast around the core three.