2023–24 Phoenix Suns season
The 2023–24 Phoenix Suns season is their 56th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 31st season at the Footprint Center.[2] It is also the first full season under the ownership group led by Mat Ishbia and Justin Ishbia after the brothers purchased the team the previous season on February 8, 2023. It also became the first season since the 1971–72 season without Al McCoy broadcasting games at all, with him announcing his retirement after the end of the 2023 NBA playoffs.[3] Not only that, but it also was the first season where the Suns moved their broadcasting services from Bally Sports Arizona (previously named FSN Arizona and Fox Sports Arizona) back in 2003 to multiple Arizona-based TV networks simultaneously broadcasting games through Gray Television owned local networks KTVK, KPHO-TV, KPHE-LD, and KOLD-TV (in the Tucson region only) alongside an over-the-top subscription service created by Kiswe.[4] This also became the first season since the 2018–19 season without head coach Monty Williams coaching the team after a second straight disappointing second round exit for them, as he was fired on May 13, 2023, despite having the team's first winning record as head coach in a season since Jeff Hornacek, first winning overall record and first coach to make the playoffs since Alvin Gentry, being their first NBA Coach of the Year Award winner since Mike D'Antoni, and being their first head coach since Paul Westphal (and third overall alongside John MacLeod) to coach in the NBA Finals while also having one more season left on his original deal.[5]
2023–24 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Frank Vogel |
General manager | James Jones |
Owners | Mat Ishbia |
Arena | Footprint Center |
Results | |
Record | 1–0 (1.000) |
Place | Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KTVK KPHO-TV KPHE-LD KAZF[1] KAZS[1] KOLD-TV Kiswe |
Radio | KTAR |
On June 6, the Suns decided to hire Frank Vogel (a previous championship winning head coach back in the 2020 NBA Bubble Finals[6]) over finalists Doc Rivers (who previously won the NBA Finals back in 2008) and associate coach Kevin Young (who kept his job with a new pay raise in mind),[7] with his new coaching staff being made official on June 21.[8] On June 24, the Suns traded with the Washington Wizards to acquire 3-time All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal (alongside Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd) in exchange for star point guard Chris Paul, shooting guard Landry Shamet, six second rounders, four first round pick swaps, and cash considerations,[9][10] though the deal was later considered a part of a three-way deal including the Indiana Pacers as well.[11] This became the team's second trade for a star-quality player in four months after previously trading for Kevin Durant during the previous season in February. On September 27, before training camp began, the Suns traded center Deandre Ayton and rookie Toumani Camara to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-way deal that sent 7-time All-Star Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Portland center Jusuf Nurkić, guards Nassir Little and Keon Johnson, and Milwaukee shooting guard Grayson Allen.[12]
Draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position(s) | Nationality | College / Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 52 | Toumani Camara | Power Forward | Belgium | Dayton |
The Suns entered this draft with only a second round pick after trading their first round pick to acquire Kevin Durant during the previous season.[13] With the 52nd pick, the Suns selected Belgian power forward Toumani Camara, who originally played for the University of Georgia before transferring to the University of Dayton after his sophomore season ended. During his time in Dayton, Camara was a part of the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team in his junior year before entering both the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team in his senior year. Camara signed a four-year, partially-guaranteed rookie-scaled deal on July 3, with years after his first season being guaranteed later on via his production with the team.[14] On September 27, Camara was traded alongside Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-way deal that also saw Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard being sent to the Milwaukee Bucks.[15]
Roster
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Standings
Division
Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix Suns | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 |
Sacramento Kings | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 |
Golden State Warriors | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1 |
Conference
Western Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | Denver Nuggets * | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 1 |
2 | Phoenix Suns * | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 1 |
3 | Dallas Mavericks * | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
4 | Houston Rockets | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
5 | Los Angeles Clippers | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
6 | Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
8 | New Orleans Pelicans | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
9 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
10 | Portland Trail Blazers | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
11 | Sacramento Kings | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
12 | San Antonio Spurs | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
13 | Utah Jazz | 0 | 0 | – | 0.5 | 0 |
14 | Golden State Warriors | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.0 | 1 |
15 | Los Angeles Lakers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.0 | 1 |
Game log
Preseason
2023 preseason game log Total:4–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason: 4–1 (home: 1–1; road: 3–0)
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2023–24 preseason schedule |
Regular season
2023–24 game log Total: 1–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0)
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November
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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December
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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January
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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February
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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March
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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April
: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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2023–24 season schedule |
In-Season Tournament
This will be the first regular season where all the NBA teams will compete in a mid-season tournament setting due to the implementation of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.[16][17] During the in-season tournament period, the Suns will compete in Group A of the Western Conference, which will include the Memphis Grizzlies, the long-time rivaling Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trail Blazers.
West Group A
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | Phoenix Suns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage based on ranking |
3 | Los Angeles Lakers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | Utah Jazz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | Portland Trail Blazers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Games |
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Awards and records
- On August 9, 2023, the Phoenix Suns announced that both Shawn Marion's #31 and Amar'e Stoudemire's #32 will be inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor during this season.[18] Marion's number will be retired on December 15, 2023 against the New York Knicks,[19] while Stoudemire's #32 will be retired on March 2, 2024 against the Houston Rockets.[20]
Injuries/Personal missed games
Player | Duration | Reason(s) for missed time | Games missed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Start | End | |||
Damion Lee | October 1, 2023 | Unknown | Injured right meniscus during training camp. | ?? |
Bradley Beal | October 23, 2023 | Unknown | Tight lower back | ? |
Transactions
Trades
June 24, 2023[9][10][11] | Three–team trade | |
To Phoenix Suns
|
To Indiana Pacers
| |
To Washington Wizards
| ||
July 11, 2023[21] | To Phoenix Suns
|
To Memphis Grizzlies
|
July 17, 2023[22] | To Phoenix Suns |
To Orlando Magic Right to swap 2026 first round pick with Phoenix[II] |
July 17, 2023[23][24] | To Phoenix Suns
|
To San Antonio Spurs
|
September 27, 2023[25] | Three–team trade | |
To Phoenix Suns
|
To Portland Trail Blazers
| |
To Milwaukee Bucks
| ||
^ I: Initially, the Phoenix Suns would acquire the least valuable pick between themselves and from either the Washington Wizards or the New York Knicks in 2024 due to a previous trade the Wizards and the Knicks did that allowed the Knicks the option to acquire the Wizards' first round pick in 2024 if it was outside of the Top 12 that year. However, with their later trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in July, the Suns would now acquire the least valuable pick between themselves, the Wizards (or Knicks), and the Grizzlies, while the Grizzlies acquired the middle pick of the available options at hand instead.
^ II: Originally, the Phoenix Suns would just acquire the least valuable pick between themselves and the Washington Wizards in 2026 due to their Bradley Beal trade in June (although if the Wizards' 2025 first round pick goes to the Knicks instead, the Suns would have automatically kept their pick by default due to the Ted Stepien rule). However, due to their July trade with the Orlando Magic, the Suns would now acquire the least valuable pick between themselves, the Wizards (presuming they keep their pick for 2026) and the Magic, with Orlando having unprotected swap rights in the process.
^ III: The Phoenix Suns will acquire the least valuable of the first round picks in 2028 between themselves, the Washington Wizards, and either the Brooklyn Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers due to the combination of the Suns' trade for Kevin Durant the previous season and a trade the Nets did with the 76ers that allows them the option to acquire Philadelphia's first round pick in 2028 if it's between picks 9 and 30.
^ IV: The Phoenix Suns initially held the rights to only the least valuable first round pick between themselves and the Washington Wizards in 2030 due to the Bradley Beal trade in June. However, with their later trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in July, the Suns now would hold the least valuable first round selection between themselves, the Grizzlies, and the Wizards, with Memphis holding the middle pick of the available options at hand.
^ V: Due to previous trades the Orlando Magic had with both the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns will acquire the least valuable second round option between the Magic, Pistons, and Bucks in 2026.
^ VI: The San Antonio Spurs' 2024 second round pick being traded from the Cameron Payne deal in July allowed for the Phoenix Suns to acquire San Antonio's pick only if that selection is around picks #50-54. If the Spurs stay at around picks #31-49 during the second round in 2024, they'll keep their second round pick. However, if San Antonio's pick goes to around picks #55-59 for 2024 (there would be no 60th pick in that year's draft due to tampering violations relating to the Philadelphia 76ers), that pick will go to the Boston Celtics instead due to a prior trade the Spurs did with the Celtics in the previous season.
Re-signed
Player | Signed | Date |
---|---|---|
Damion Lee[26] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $5,373,575 | July 7, 2023 |
Josh Okogie[27] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $5,772,671 | July 11, 2023 |
Saben Lee[28] | Signed two-way contract worth $559,782 | July 13, 2023 |
Additions
Player | Signed | Former team(s) |
---|---|---|
Keita Bates-Diop[29] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $5,001,258 | San Antonio Spurs |
Drew Eubanks[29] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $5,001,258 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Chimezie Metu[29] | Signed 1-year deal worth $2,346,614 | Sacramento Kings |
Yuta Watanabe[29] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $5,001,258 | Brooklyn Nets |
Eric Gordon[30] | Signed 2-year partially guaranteed deal worth $6,552,719 | Los Angeles Clippers |
Bol Bol[31] | Signed 1-year deal worth $2,019,706 | Orlando Magic |
Udoka Azubuike[32][33] | Signed two-way contract worth $559,782 | Utah Jazz |
Subtractions
Player | Reason left | New team(s) |
---|---|---|
Chris Paul | Traded | Washington Wizards / Golden State Warriors |
Landry Shamet | Washington Wizards | |
Jock Landale[34] | Unrestricted free agent | Houston Rockets |
Isaiah Todd | Traded | Memphis Grizzlies |
Torrey Craig[35] | Unrestricted free agent | Chicago Bulls |
Darius Bazley[36] | Brooklyn Nets | |
Cameron Payne | Traded | San Antonio Spurs / Milwaukee Bucks |
Deandre Ayton | Portland Trail Blazers | |
Toumani Camara | ||
Bismack Biyombo | Unrestricted free agent | |
Terrence Ross | ||
T. J. Warren | ||
Ish Wainright | Waived | Portland Trail Blazers |
Keon Johnson |
References
- "How to Watch Phoenix Suns Local Broadcasts". NBA.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- "2023-24 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- https://www.fox10phoenix.com/video/1198883
- Novak, Chris (July 14, 2023). "Phoenix Suns strike deal with Gray Television". Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- "Phoenix Suns dismiss head coach Monty Williams". NBA.com. May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- "SUNS NAME FRANK VOGEL AS HEAD COACH". NBA.com. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37790058/sources-suns-make-kevin-young-highest-paid-assistant-coach
- "SUNS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF". NBA.com. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-acquire-beal-goodwin-todd
- https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/wizards-agree-to-trade-beal-to-phoenix-acquire-paul-shamet-and-draft-picks
- "Pacers Complete Three-Team Trade With Phoenix and Washington". NBA.com. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- "Blazers trade Damian Lillard to Bucks in blockbuster 3-team swap". NBA.com. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- "Ties broken for order of selection in 2023 NBA Draft presented by State Farm". NBA.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- Suns [@Suns] (July 3, 2023). "That first NBA contract ✍️" (Tweet). Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Twitter.
- Shams Charania [@ShamsCharania] (September 27, 2023). "Full trade, per sources: - Bucks: Damian Lillard - Blazers: Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, 2029 first-round Bucks pick and Bucks pick swap - Suns: Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, Grayson Allen" (Tweet). Retrieved September 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
- "NBA officially unveils format, groups for new in-season tournament". ESPN. July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- "In-Season Tournament 101: Rules, format and how it works". National Basketball Association. July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- https://www.nba.com/suns/news/phoenix-suns-to-induct-shawn-marion-and-amare-stoudemire-into-ring-of-honor
- https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2023/10/18/23922661/phoenix-suns-to-induct-shawn-marion-into-ring-of-honor-on-december-15-new-york-knicks-ishbia
- https://arizonasports.com/story/3536416/dates-for-suns-marion-stoudemire-ring-of-honor-inductions
- "Grizzlies acquire rights to two future first-round pick swaps and Isaiah Todd from Suns". NBA.com. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- https://twitter.com/Magic_PR/status/1681001470118731778
- https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1681056557453422595
- https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/san-antonio-completes-trade-with-phoenix
- "Blazers trade Damian Lillard to Bucks in blockbuster 3-team swap". NBA.com. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- "SUNS RE-SIGN DAMION LEE". NBA.com. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- "SUNS RE-SIGN JOSH OKOGIE". NBA.com. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- "SUNS RE-SIGN SABEN LEE". NBA.com. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- "SUNS SIGN KEITA BATES-DIOP, DREW EUBANKS, CHIMEZIE METU AND YUTA WATANABE". NBA.com. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- "SUNS SIGN ERIC GORDON". NBA.com. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- "SUNS SIGN BOL BOL". NBA.com. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- "OFFICIAL: #Suns sign Udoka Azubuike to two-way". Twitter.com. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-sign-udoka-azubuike
- "Rockets Sign Free Agent Jock Landale". NBA.com. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- "Bulls sign Torrey Craig". NBA.com. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- "Brooklyn Nets Sign Darius Bazley". NBA.com. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.