Suns must accept new NBA reality they’ve been desperately trying to ignore
A refreshing change of pace.
At the top of the rotation, the Phoenix Suns are as talented as any team in the NBA. At a time when depth has become essential, Phoenix has gone against the grain by building a big three of All-Star players, creating a monster of a trio with Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant.
Unfortunately, two seasons later, the Suns can’t possibly ignore the crushing reality that depth is king in the modern NBA—and a three-headed monster is only as effective as its best game.
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At the top of the rotation, the Phoenix Suns are as talented as any team in the NBA. At a time when depth has become essential, Phoenix has gone against the grain by building a big three of All-Star players, creating a monster of a trio with Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant.
Unfortunately, two seasons later, the Suns can’t possibly ignore the crushing reality that depth is king in the modern NBA—and a three-headed monster is only as effective as its best game.
It’s an unfortunate truth for Phoenix to accept, but it’s a deliberate result of the NBA’s response to the big three era. Changes to the CBA and salary cap structure have incentivized depth, and the teams who have ignored their hubris have benefited immensely.
Look no further than the defending champion Boston Celtics, which have complemented Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with a deep cast of players who routinely step up in a pinch.
Furthermore, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder won a combined 132 games in 2024-25 by embracing the need for a deep rotation. For that matter, the Houston Rockets overcame the absence of a true go-to scorer with that same philosophy—and 52 wins later, they ended a five-year postseason drought.
