National Basketball Association

How The Phoenix Suns Became Fun Again

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:46 a.m. ET

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Fansided, Gerald Bourguet/FanSided via Hoops Habit

Mar 5, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis (right) is lifted up by teammate Marquese Chriss as they celebrate Ulis buzzerbeater against the Boston Celtics at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Celtics 109-106. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the youth movement finally and fully underway, the Phoenix Suns have officially become fun again. Here's a look at how these youngsters are stepping up.

Since the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns have officially become fun again.

It sounds silly to say about a team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference and the third-worst record in the NBA. It may seem hasty to make such a declaration for an organization heading for its franchise-record seventh straight season without the playoffs.

But as unexpected as it might be, it's 100 percent true: The Phoenix Suns are fun to watch for the first time since Goran Dragic and that ragtag 2013-14 team won 48 games and barely missed the postseason.

Since All-Star weekend, the Suns are only 3-4 in their seven games. They've also been surpassed by the Los Angeles Lakers in the tank race, and for a team with no hope of making the playoffs, falling from the projected No. 2 overall pick to the No. 3 overall pick stings a little bit.

However, the Suns also put together an undeniably entertaining three-game win streak at home in that span, beating two surefire playoff teams and being competitive in every game except an 18-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

They were one missed Devin Booker free throw away from beating the Chicago Bulls, they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks by four on the road and they barely lost to the Washington Wizards by three on Tuesday night.

Believe it or not, Phoenix should be one of your top NBA League Pass teams right now, and it's all thanks to the youth movement.

Before the All-Star break, head coach Earl Watson was criticized by and large for playing aging veterans like Tyson Chandler and P.J. Tucker too much in losing efforts. But Tucker was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, and Watson and the front office decided to shift their focus heading into the season's home stretch.

Since then, the Suns haven't played Chandler or Brandon Knight a single minute. Alex Len moved into the starting lineup, Alan Williams has seen ample time as his backup, Tyler Ulis is now the first guard off the bench and even D-League frequenter Derrick Jones Jr. is playing rotational minutes.

Veterans Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa anchor Phoenix's new second unit that's taken teams by surprise, but outside of them and the 27-year-old Eric Bledsoe, the Suns' new 10-man rotation now includes seven players who are 24 or younger and three rookies (four when Dragan Bender returns).

It's a situation unlike any other in the NBA right now, but the funny thing is, Phoenix's youth movement is not only more fun to watch, but it's also made for a more competitive team.

With so much youth on the court, it's not uncommon for the Suns to have full five-man lineups who are all in some stage of learning — including Bledsoe, who is learning how to be a more vocal leader with Tucker gone and Chandler on the bench.

With that inexperience comes a need to establish an identity and avoid being bullied by the more veteran, talented teams.

Watson has talked endlessly on the subject, and so far, it appears that identity revolves around not backing down from anyone. This often involves scrappiness, chippy play and yes, plenty of trash talk that has led to more than one scuffle over the last few weeks. The Suns have rapidly become the league's annoying little brother.

Though Watson has deflected questions about whether the shift to the youth movement came down directly from management, the inherent risk in making that switch — especially in a league where job security is fleeting — has been offset by the progress these hungry players have shown.

The youth movement in Phoenix is fully engaged, so it's time to take a look at how the Suns have become so much fun again and what specific components are contributing the most.

Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker greets young fans following the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker Shaking Off Sophomore Slump

Early in the season, it seemed as though Devin Booker was dealing with the dreaded sophomore slump. Watson chalked it up to a nagging toe injury holding him back, but whatever the case, the 20-year-old franchise cornerstone has completely turned it around since the calendar flipped to 2017:

For the month of January, Booker showed more than a few glimpses of his superstar potential on the offensive end, averaging 25.4 points per game on blistering .464/.444/.832 shooting splits.

In that same month, he tied his career-high of 39 points in back-to-back games in Mexico City, the latter of which was an unexpected victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

In early February, he knocked down a game-winner against the Sacramento Kings in a 33-point performance:

Booker is still a poor defender, but he's actually been better on that end since the lineup changes, emphasizing what appears to be part of a collective team effort to fill the void left by P.J. Tucker.

Though his comments about Troy Daniels were a little unwarranted for a player who hasn't even been in the league for two full years yet, Booker has displayed a Kobe Bryant-esque confidence that makes him revered by his fans and 100 percent punchable by his foes.

Marquese Chriss may be seen as the unruly personality on the court, and Jared Dudley was the most recent Sun to earn an ejection, but Booker's usually the one getting under people's skins — including NBA officiating crews, who have whistled him for 10 technical fouls.

Whatever the case, Booker's combination of production, swagger, baby face syndrome and confidence that comes off as entitlement in the eyes of opponents will make him a loved and hated player in this league for years to come. As long as the production is in there to back it all up, Suns fans will be satisfied.

Mar 5, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Alan Williams (15) battles for a rebound against Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson (90) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

BIG SAUCE

A few weeks ago, we wrote about how Alan Williams was trying to crack an NBA rotation the right way, even if he was hardly getting minutes on one of the worst teams in the association.

Now that the Suns have fully embraced their youth movement, "Big Sauce" has proven those weren't just flowery euphemisms for an end-of-the-bench cheerleader who had one or two encouraging games; there's a legitimate NBA player in there.

Though he was mostly known for his priceless bench reactions before the All-Star break, Williams has benefitted from the lineup changes as much as anyone. In fact, he's been Phoenix's best center in that seven-game span, averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 58.7 percent from the floor with a +1.7 point differential.

Williams is not the most mobile athlete. He's not an above the rim player, he has no jump shot to speak of and as he heads for restricted free agency alongside Alex Len, there is a question as to whether the Suns will be able to keep the Phoenix native in his hometown.

However, Williams has been absolutely infectious, not only for his on-court demeanor and clear love for the game, but for his old-fashioned rebounding prowess, his nose for the ball and his high efficiency around the basket.

Williams has recorded five double-doubles in his last six games, proving himself as a work horse off the bench who can feast on opposing backups. Not bad for a 24-year-old player who's hardly played through his first one and a half seasons in the NBA.

Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts as he controls the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr. (10) in the second quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Airplane Mode

When Derrick Jones Jr. failed to win a disappointing Slam Dunk Contest, most people thought his shot at NBA relevance had sailed out the window. After all, this was a 20-year-old undrafted rookie who had spent most of his season playing for the Suns' D-League affiliate.

But with Tucker gone, Bender injured and the focus for the rest of the season drastically altered, "Airplane Mode" has gotten the chance to show that he also has a bright future in this league.

Though his 5.1 points in 15.1 minutes per game since the All-Star break are fairly underwhelming, Jones has shown far more than the raw statistics indicate — especially on the defensive end, where Watson says he is slowly establishing himself as one of the team's best perimeter defenders.

In addition to a collection of chase-down blocks against Washington Tuesday night, Jones harassed Russell Westbrook up and down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder last week.

Though the MVP candidate finished with 48 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists for the game, his scuffle with Jones made him forget about basketball for a second and focus on a rookie inexplicably standing his ground. From then on, Westbrook made it personal and appeared to be trying to do too much down the stretch.

Again, Jones is not much of a scorer or perimeter threat, but he has been highly efficient on his limited number of attempts, going 16-for-19 from the field (84.2 percent) over the last seven games.

Yeah, those attempts are mostly dunks and alley-oops, but if game-changing plays to ignite the home crowd are wrong, nobody should want to be right.

Derrick Jones Jr. is still a very raw, skinny player, but he's also only 20 years old and has shown more than a few flashes of defensive potential and breathtaking athleticism.

Jones is not the crown jewel of Phoenix's youth movement, but thanks to this sudden change in the allocation of minutes, everyone can see that he may actually have a bright future with this team.

Mar 5, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis greets fans following the game against the Boston Celtics at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Celtics 109-106. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler The Creator

Whether you prefer "Ant-Man," "Tyler the Creator" or "The Micro Machine" as Tyler Ulis' new nickname, there's no question that this 21-year-old rookie has been the most exhilarating part of this whole Suns youth movement.

Since the All-Star break, Ulis has put up 9.4 points, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals in his 20.4 minutes per game, shooting 50.9 percent from the floor, 40 percent from long range and 90.9 percent from he foul line.

He also just so happened to knock down the game-winner against the Boston Celtics that serves as the perfect display for what makes the Suns fun again.

Against Boston, where he made his game-winner from the exact same spot as his D-League game-winner last summer, Ulis finished with a career-high 20 points and five assists on 8-of-12 shooting.

Until Tuesday night's Washington matchup in which he was a -25 in 22 minutes during a game featuring huge runs on both sides, Ulis had posted a +3.8 point differential since the All-Star break.

It's not surprising, then, to learn that the backup who's recorded 38 assists to only nine turnovers in that same span has been a boon to Phoenix's lackluster assist department:

Ulis can't take all the credit for such a drastic turnaround in the way Phoenix has moved the ball, but he's a huge part of it in a second unit that's surprised some people.

His court vision and ability to bend defenses to his will is uncommon for any 21-year-old rookie, let alone one that stands at 5'9″.

In matchups against Kemba Walker, Russell Westbrook, Isaiah Thomas and John Wall, Ulis came into the game, hounded All-Star point guards for the full length of the court and made Eric Bledsoe's job easier by helping wear them down.

Watson has said all season long that Ulis was ready, and now that he's actually getting the minutes, those words have proven to be more than baseless encouragement to keep a young player's confidence intact.

Ulis' contributions aren't limited to his hounding defense and his passing ability, however. As he did at Kentucky, Ulis has scored the ball at a surprisingly efficient level despite being so undersized.

After the Boston game, Ulis mentioned he's started watching more film of Isaiah Thomas, another small player who is currently second in the league in scoring. With Ulis' well-rounded game, the Suns are thankful to have found such a quality backup in the second round of last year's draft.

Next: Chriss' Defensive Improvements

Mar 5, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (right) loses the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss in the closing seconds of the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Celtics 109-106. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chriss' Defensive Improvements

To this point, we've hardly mentioned Phoenix's top two picks in the 2016 NBA Draft, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. Though guys like Ulis and Williams have stolen the show recently, Chriss' improvement — especially on the defensive end — should not go overlooked.

Though this 19-year-old rookie is still prone to falling into early foul trouble, and though he leaves much to be desired as a rebounder (4.0 rebounds per game since the All-Star break), he's made strides on the defensive end, where he looked incompetent for the first half of the season.

Against the Celtics, for example, Chriss recorded five blocks — the highest total for a Suns rookie in a game since Amar'e Stoudemire — and forced the late-game turnover that led to Tyler Ulis' game-winner.

Watson has not been shy about comparing his players to NBA greats, and his frequent calls for Chriss to be this team's Draymond Green felt outlandish just a few weeks ago.

And yet, with Chriss making a concerted effort to add weak-side rim protection to his game, suddenly it doesn't seem so outrageous to suggest this moldable ball of clay who has only played basketball for a few years could become a versatile defender.

Since the break, Chriss is averaging 11.3 points, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, shooting an encouraging 56.1 percent from the floor and 45 percent from downtown. His potential as a stretch-4 is tantalizing at this stage, even as he takes his lumps on the other end trying to guard some of the game's best frontcourt players.

However, this trial by fire appears to be paying off in stretches where Chriss blocks Boston's crafty leading scorer on a fast break and later forces a late turnover that leads to his teammate's game-winner.

The Draymond Green comparisons are a bit much at this stage, but with 10 technical fouls to tie Devin Booker for the most on the Suns and eighth most in the league, perhaps it's not as far out of the question as we once thought.

Next: Looking Forward

Nov 9, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) against the Detroit Pistons at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Looking Forward

Though this recent streak of success has concerned some fans hoping for a great draft pick, the Suns are still two games "ahead" of the Orlando Magic in the tank race, and 2.5 games up on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even if falling out of the top three is cause for alarm, at least the Suns would be doing it the right way this time. Winning games with veterans past their prime to barely sneak into the postseason in a down year would've been a waste; winning games while playing the players who are core pieces of the franchise's future — and STILL most likely keeping a top-five draft pick — is not.

More from Hoops Habit

In a talented and deep 2017 NBA Draft, a top-five pick (currently top-three) would give the Suns a great rookie to add to this exciting youth movement. It could be a point guard, which would potentially make Eric Bledsoe expendable in a trade that could net Phoenix even more young talent and future draft picks.

As for the rest of the season, there's plenty to like here. Whether the Suns lose out the rest of the way or win too much to fall out of the top three in the draft, this team has gone from being an unbearable viewing experience to legitimately exciting.

Though Dragan Bender still hasn't resumed basketball activities, he should be back in a few weeks, and unlike the first half of the season, he'll get ample minutes alongside his fellow rookies. If Len struggles or there's foul trouble, we may even get to see Chriss and Bender together in the frontcourt as a 4/5 combo.

Meanwhile, T.J. Warren is quietly averaging 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 64.3 percent shooting since the break. We're getting a better look at what Alex Len actually is. Even the Suns Gorilla is going viral for slip-n-sliding all over the court.

The sample size is admittedly small, but the Suns are suddenly competing with top teams in the league, they're winning games with an unprecedentedly young core and they're lighting up the highlight reels with chase-down blocks, game-winners and high-flying dunks.

If Devin Booker playing defense doesn't tell you how special and fun this Suns youth movement has become, nothing will. After months of waiting for this exact transition, the results have been even better than anyone anticipated.

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