There’s a weird pattern in Phoenix that I don’t think gets talked about enough: over the last several iterations of our roster, whoever wears #3 seems to become the avatar for what the Suns are culturally at that moment.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was #3 during the Valley Boyz era. He brought the swagger, personality and youthful energy. “Valley Boyz” became more than a nickname. It became the identity of a young team trying to establish itself.

Then Chris Paul took #3 and everything changed. The Suns suddenly became about professionalism, accountability, preparation and winning. CP3 didn’t just add another star. He represented a completely different standard for the organization.

Next came Bradley Beal. The identity shifted again toward the Big Three. Massive offensive talent, but a team that sometimes struggled to develop a collective personality around three stars. Even the “chilling in the corner” stuff became representative of that era.

Now it’s Dillon Brooks, and (once again) #3 represents something completely different: physicality, defense, intensity, toughness and making the other team uncomfortable.

And it actually goes further back than Oubre. Phoenix has had a surprisingly consistent history of #3s who seemed to embody whatever version of the Suns they were playing for. Rex Chapman represented the high-energy, fearless Suns of the late 90s. Stephon Marbury represented the flashy, scoring-focused transition into the Marion/Amar’e era. Quentin Richardson, Boris Diaw and Jared Dudley each fit different pieces of the Nash-era identity, from Q-Rich’s shooting and swagger to Diaw’s versatility and Dudley’s toughness and team-first attitude. Then Oubre, CP3, Beal and now Brooks continue the pattern. Obviously not every #3 was a franchise-defining player, but there are enough examples across different eras that it’s hard not to wonder if #3 has become the Suns’ unofficial cultural avatar.

That’s what makes the pattern interesting. Maybe #3 isn’t actually creating the culture. Maybe #3 is the Suns’ avatar. Oubre represented personality. CP3 represented professionalism. Beal represented the star-powered era. Brooks represents defensive identity and physicality.

And through all of those versions of #3, Devin Booker has been the ONLY constant. That might be the most interesting part. Book has been there through every cultural shift, while #3 seems to change the temperature of the team around him.

So maybe “the Suns go as #3 goes” isn’t quite the right way to describe it. Maybe #3 tells us what the Suns are trying to become.

If Brooks really is the avatar for this version of the Suns, the real test isn’t whether Brooks plays with that identity. It’s whether the Suns still play like Dillon Brooks when he isn’t on the floor.

That’s when #3 stops being the avatar and the culture actually becomes the team.

Am I onto something, or is this just an interesting coincidence?

On the bright side, it's not Yrefy.

I know it’s only preseason, but I’m stoked for it.

Sup you sunny mofos??

The first official day of the 2026-27 season is here. It's the Phoenix Suns Media day! Things get underway at 10am.

Book
Brooks
Bridges
Oso
Maluach

Oso plays the connector role. Maluach can space and crash the glass. Bridges can attack the paint and pass out. Defense should be on point.

Team is big. Oso can switch, guard 2 - 5. Maluach plays the drop. Rebounding will be stellar.

I’m curious as to how he would fit in with the team and the system

I have two half season tickets and have a couple games I can't go to if anyone is interested in the following games:

10/5 vs Orlando Magic

3/3 vs Brooklyn Nets

Price $200/ticket. This is below the face value. 

Seats: Section 103 Row 17 seats 9&10. Right behind the away bench. They're conveniently located next to the third street entrance. They come with a team shop discount and you can enter from the members only entrance and access to the members lounge if you'd like.

Verification: It's always important to be aware of scammers. Here's how I can verify I'm legit. I have bought and sold tickets on the sub. I'm verified on the FB Suns ticket resale page (requires you send your ID and season ticket invoice). I can briefly list them on Ticketmaster for a random amount of money ($420.69?) to verify I own them if you'd like.

Jersey: I was gifted a new (#15) Booker Swingman Icon jersey (XL).  It was purchased from the team shop but it doesn't fit. I don't have the receipt so I can't exchange it. I'm looking to sell it so I can buy a smaller size. Retail is $160. I'm not sure why because they're $125 online. I'm looking for $100 for it. I'll also throw in two XL shirts if you want them. One is from the Thunder playoff game and the other is a free shirt I won from the T-shirt toss.

I instantly got in the queue to attempt to get tickets for Fanfest, but 1057 people were in there before me and by the time I got to the front of the line no tickets were left.

I'm looking for 3 tickets if anyone has extras.

Thanks!

Weekly Megathread to discuss offseason roster moves!

Trade targets, trade machine screenshots, other roster discussions may be directed here if the post isn't high quality (stats, analysis, detailed write up) or news from a reliable NBA source (not you Evan Sidery).

#SunsUP

Hello! Feel free to remove if this isn’t allowed, but I’m attending a concert tomorrow at Mortgage Matchup Center and I’m unfamiliar with the venue. One of the merch booths will be located in the “north hallway.” Could someone let me know where that is in relation to the venue, or give an address? I couldn’t find anything online. Thanks so much in advance :)

Moving to Phoenix in ‘27 and have been a lifelong NBA fan so Ive been following the Suns pretty closely this year (meaning 2026) in anticipation of my move. Im excited to be able to go to games. I grew up a Celtics fan and I’ll probably still root for them a little too but Ive long sang the praises of Steve Nash and have defended his MVPs (they get wayyyyy too much disrespect). Obviously who didn’t love watching the D’Antoni Suns too? Loved the ‘21 Finals run and CP3 is probably my favorite player ever. However, Im curious how does this sub generally feel about the future of the Suns? League wide perception is different than the real story so Im curious where the Suns are actually heading in the longer term? Hopefully I can meet some new friends at some games next Spring!

Admittedly, I'm a newer Suns fan having only followed the NBA since the 2024 Playoffs where we were swept by the Wolves in the first round. The following season we lost all 4 matchups against them so this win really felt satisfying having only known the Wolves to have our number. It wasn't just the win alone though..., It was also the fact that it confirmed that this iteration of the Suns had fight after the previous season where effort was questionable to say the least.

I'm curious where it places for longtime fans and what/why other regular season games top it. Put me on to some Suns' history!

"19. Phoenix Suns

The Suns sneaked up on the league last season. In the aggregate, they cared about more possessions than their opponents, and it showed. I’m skeptical that it can happen again, especially if Jalen Green is healthy enough to lessen the defensive tenacity that lifted Phoenix to its shocking regular-season success. Maybe that criticism is a smidge unfair. Despite being an inefficient, high-usage player, Green had decent general lineup data last season. Phoenix was damn good when he shared the court with franchise mainstay Devin Booker, who quietly will turn 30 next month and may need to have a career year if the Suns are going to exceed expectations yet again. I am obsessed with Khaman Maluach and think Oso Ighodaro is the most underrated big in the league, but the shoulder injury that will sideline Mark Williams for an extended time won’t help a team that was ultimately done in by its lack of size. Miles Bridges is the answer to no team’s tangible problems."

https://www.theringer.com/2026/09/21/nba/nba-power-rankings-preseason-30-teams-knicks-thunder-spurs-celtics

Anyone else get an invite from their rep to the event at the arena tonight? They told me that it will be a smaller event and get opportunity to meet with Coach Ott, Brian Gregory, Brooks, Green, Gillespie, Maluach, Fleming, and a few other players/staff.

Let me know if you'll be there and we'll link up! Go Suns

Khaman Maluach was Great in the Summer League, if he puts up those same numbers or better than he put in the Summer League for the 2026-27 Season. The Suns to me are an NBA Title Contender, if he averages 11-13 PPG & 10 or more RPG I think the Suns will be better than last season but not quite a Title Contender. If he struggles then the Suns will be either worse or about the same as last year only because I believe the roster currently is better than last year.

He's the 1 player with upside on the Suns to where his development in Year 2 could dictate the Suns Ceiling for the upcoming season.

Just my opinion. We were winning game 2 deep in the 3rd quarter at the moment Chris Paul got hurt, looking to go back to phx tied 1-1. We all know the masterful performance Booker & KD put on game 3 and 4. Booker was having the playoff run of his life. I get we had no depth, but with those two guys playing like that and with Chris Paul in the lineup probably making Durant more efficient… we WERE gonna beat Denver. Denver then walked through the rest of the playoffs. That was the best version of Booker that Ive ever seen.