Last Word On Sports • 17/11/2024

The Suns Need Devin Booker to Return to MVP Level

The Phoenix Suns have enjoyed a strong start to the NBA season, though they are still waiting for MVP-caliber star Devin Booker to get going. Their 9-4 record has them fifth in the Western Conference, but they have lost three of the last four as they navigate a stint without Kevin Durant. It was a costly victory against the Dallas Mavericks that altered the course of their young season, as they improved to 8-1 but lost Durant to a calf strain.
Durant’s performances have earned him a top-three ap...

Last Word On Sports • 16/11/2024

Josh Okogie Emerges as Scoring Threat amid Suns Injury Woes

It is just 13 games into the new NBA season, but the injury bug has already hit the Phoenix Suns. One player who has benefitted from the absences of his teammates is Josh Okogie. The 26-year-old dealt with an injury of his own to start the campaign but is now playing an extended role. Kevin Durant is the biggest missing piece as he deals with a left calf strain, but he has since been joined on the sidelines by Bradley Beal, who is suffering from a similar injury. Jusuf Nurkic has missed a couple...

Last Word On Sports • 10/11/2024

Suns Star to be Re-evaluated in 2 Weeks with Calf Strain

Kevin Durant suffered a left calf strain during the Phoenix Suns’ 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Durant recorded 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the victory and showed no clear signs of injury. It will be a huge loss for a Suns team that is having an excellent start to the season with an 8-1 record. They currently sit atop the Western Conference, tied with the OKC Thunder. The Suns announced that he will be re-evaluated in two weeks, which will see him m...

Last Word On Sports • 09/11/2024

Suns Clutch Time Play Continues to be a Strength

The Phoenix Suns have started the season with an 8-1 record, mostly due to their dominance in the clutch.  This record also matches the best start to a season in franchise history, which occurred in both 1980-81 and 2009-10.  In nine games so far, the Suns have been involved in seven clutch games, winning all of them.  A ‘clutch’ game is defined as a game in which the score is within five points with less than five minutes remaining.
On Friday night, the Suns won their latest clutch game, a 114-...

Last Word On Sports • 06/11/2024

The Suns Need to Reduce Kevin Durant’s Workload

It is just seven games into the NBA season, but Kevin Durant has already seen a huge workload for the Phoenix Suns. He has performed excellently so far, leading his side to an early 6-1 record and averaging 27.1 points per game. However, at 36 years old, Durant is playing a total of 39.3 minutes per game, which the Suns will need to reduce in order to maximize his effectiveness later in the season.
Last season, the Suns were fortunate to lean on Durant’s healthiest season since 2018-19, in which...

Last Word On Sports • 24/10/2024

Suns Victory over Clippers Shows Clear Difference From Last Season

It was not pretty, but the Phoenix Suns recorded their first victory of the season with a 116-113 win over the LA Clippers. The Clippers debuted their new arena, the Intuit Dome, but their opener was spoiled by an overtime victory led by Kevin Durant late on. There was certainly some sloppiness that the Suns will need to clean up going forward, but new head coach Mike Budenholzer will be pleased to see the team overcome a weakness that plagued them so much last year.
Plenty of the discussion aro...

Last Word On Sports • 23/10/2024

A Look at the Last Five Suns Season Openers

It is always important for the Phoenix Suns to get off to a winning start in season openers, particularly in a conference as competitive as the West.  The Suns have title-winning aspirations this campaign, and victory over the LA Clippers in their first game will give them momentum heading into a busy first two weeks.
But how have they fared in the last five seasons and what has it led to?Last year, the Suns began with a victory over the Golden State Warriors in their season opener.  It was the...

Last Word On Sports • 18/10/2024

Suns Have an Opportunity to Start the Season Strong

The Phoenix Suns have big aspirations this season and will want to start it strong as their window for an NBA Championship shortens with each passing year. With Kevin Durant not getting any younger and a roster hamstrung by three huge contracts, it feels like this has to be the year the Suns make a run at the finals. They have not made the biggest stage since 2021 and have endured some embarrassing playoff exits in the years following.
With the trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal unde...

Last Word On Sports • 18/10/2024

Suns Handed Double Injury Boost in Final Preseason Game

Devin Booker and Jusuf Nurkic returned for the Phoenix Suns in their final preseason game ahead of their season opener on Wednesday night.  Booker had missed the previous two games with right ankle soreness, whilst Nurkic had not played at all with a finger injury.
The Suns lost 128-122 in overtime to the LA Lakers, but both players came through the game well and will be ready to go against the LA Clippers in their first game of the regular season.It was the first time in this preseason that the...

Last Word On Sports • 07/10/2024

Mike Budenholzer’s Impact Evident in First Suns Preseason Game

The Phoenix Suns won their first preseason game under new head coach Mike Budenholzer, beating the LA Lakers 118-114.  It was a big come-from-behind victory as they were down by as many as 16 points in the game.
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal played 14 minutes each, only appearing in the first half. LeBron James and Anthony Davis starred for the Lakers after sitting out of their first preseason fixture. The pair combined for 36 points.Throughout training camp, the need to shoot more...

Last Word On Sports • 07/10/2024

Preseason Gives Suns Youngsters Opportunity to Impress

The Phoenix Suns kick off their preseason schedule on Sunday night against the LA Lakers.  With the NBA regular season just over two weeks away, new head coach Mike Budenholzer will have the opportunity to look at some fringe players fighting to crack the rotation.  The Suns also have one final roster spot which will be up for grabs.
This includes a plethora of youngsters who will be battling for playing time.  For the first time in recent seasons the Suns have a pair of rookies who will contrib...

Last Word On Sports • 01/10/2024

Kevin Durant Contract Extension Addressed at Suns Media Day

NBA Media Day has come and gone, and the potential contract extension of Kevin Durant was amongst many topics discussed with the Phoenix Suns.  Durant is eligible for a one-year $59.7m extension which would keep him under contract until the end of the 26-27 season. He has two more years to go on his current deal which sees him become an unrestricted free agent following the 25-26 season. However, there are no indications yet that they are close to an agreement.
First up to the podium was owner M...

Last Word On Sports • 30/09/2024

Phoenix Suns Stars Heap Praise On Tyus Jones Signing

The signing of point guard Tyus Jones has proved very popular with the Phoenix Suns stars.  As they looked ahead to the new season on media day, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal expressed their delight in welcoming Jones to the squad.
The Suns were very limited in who they could add in the off-season.  They are currently in the second apron of the luxury tax, with $150m committed to the big three of Kevin Durant, Booker and Beal.  According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, this is higher than the payroll of...

Last Word On Sports • 26/09/2024

Phoenix Suns Sign Former Big Man to Training Camp Deal

As the new NBA season quickly approaches, the Phoenix Suns are bringing back a familiar face, veteran Frank Kaminsky. According to his agency, Priority Sports, Kaminsky will be joining the Suns for training camp. The 31-year-old spent last season with Serbian side Partizan Belgrade but has returned to the Suns hoping for another shot at an NBA contract.
Kaminsky played two-and-a-half seasons for the Suns before being waived in 2022.  He was a member of the team that made it to the NBA Finals in...

Last Word On Sports • 25/09/2024

Phoenix Suns NBA Finals Team: Where Are They Now?

Since the Phoenix Suns’ heartbreaking defeat in the 2021 NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, it has been nothing but change as they still seek that elusive first championship. Not only are they under new ownership, but the roster turnover has meant the side looks completely unrecognizable from what it did in 2021.  Three years later all but one player has gone. But where are they now?
Monty Williams is largely credited with bringing a culture change to a Suns team that had endured 10 seasons with...

Last Word On Sports • 20/09/2024

3 Phoenix Suns Stars Named in CBS’ Top 100 Players

Ahead of the new NBA season, CBS Sports has released their top 100 players.  To no surprise, the Phoenix Suns’ big three, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, have all earned a spot on the list. But where do they rank?
The Suns’ latest star acquisition, Bradley Beal, lands at 69 in CBS’ top 100.  It was an injury-riddled first season in Phoenix, as he missed a total of 29 games due to a variety of issues with his back, ankle, and hamstring.  He also suffered from a broken nose and a fin...

Last Word On Sports • 18/09/2024

Devin Booker Set to Break Phoenix Suns Record in 2024-25

As he enters Year 10, Devin Booker is set to cement his name in Phoenix Suns history by breaking the franchise’s all-time scoring record.
Despite not turning 28 years old until October, Booker is already on his way to becoming one of, if not the greatest player in Suns history.  Whilst his younger years were synonymous with losing, he has led the team to far more success recently, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2021 and four consecutive playoff berths.He has also helped mold a new winning...

Last Word On Sports • 13/09/2024

5 Contenders to Win NBA Scoring Title

There is a lot of offensive talent in the NBA, with plenty of players capable of winning the scoring title.  It is difficult to pick out five players, but which stars have the best chance of leading the scoring charts in 2024-25?
This year is set up to be a very different season for Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. For the first time since 2011, the Warriors will have only one-half of the ‘Splash Brothers’ following  Klay Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade...

Last Word On Sports • 11/09/2024

NBA Legend Questions Victor Wembanyama’s Dominance

Shaquille O’Neal has recently questioned the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama’s future dominance, despite a historic rookie campaign for the San Antonio Spurs. Citing his heavy reliance on shooting jumpers, the Hall-of-Famer suggested that the Frenchman’s playstyle does not invoke fear in the opposition compared to other greats in the game.
Speaking on the Pat McAfee show, Shaq said:
Clarifying his ‘dominant’ definition, O’Neal cast doubt on whether Wembanyama fits the criteria.His com...

VAVEL • 06/09/2024

Los Angeles Lakers: 2024/25 season preview

There is a lot of pressure on the Los Angeles Lakers this season as they try to win their first Championship since 2020.

Last season they enjoyed their best record since their title triumph, but the franchise knows further improvements must be made to compete again.

Plagued by injuries to several key role players throughout the season the Lakers endured a campaign of inconsistency. This led to an eighth-seed finish and a play-in spot, though they suffered at the hands of a very competitive Wes...

Last Word On Sports • 06/09/2024

Two-Time NBA Finalist Still Searching for Team in Free Agency

The new NBA season is just weeks away, but Jae Crowder is still without a team.  After spending last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, the veteran forward entered free agency. This is where he remains, as one of the top options on the board that remains unsigned. Heading into year 13 of his career, Crowder could provide a tough and experienced 3-and-D wing for any team, especially a contender having played in two NBA Finals. However, no one has made a move yet to sign the veteran.
Milwaukee paid...

Last Word On Sports • 04/09/2024

4 Dark Horses Who Could Push for NBA MVP Award

As the new NBA season approaches, it is time to start discussing MVP candidates. Several players will force themselves into the conversation, and here we take a look at some potential dark horses who could make a push for the award.
The Minnesota Timberwolves surprised many last season by finishing as the third seed before ultimately falling to the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals.  They finished just one game back of the first-seed Oklahoma City Thunder and expect...

VAVEL • 28/08/2024

Phoenix Suns: 2024/25 NBA season preview

​​​​​There is a new coach at the helm of the Phoenix Suns this season, but the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are back to avenge the embarrassment suffered at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

A lot of eyes will be on the team this season, with the pressure ramping up even more to deliver a first NBA Championship for the franchise.

After acquiring Beal in the summer of 2023 to team up with Booker and Durant, the expectations were s...

VAVEL.com • 17/05/2024

Top Five Highest Paid Players in the NBA

The money in the NBA is increasing year-on-year, and with that comes the huge contracts that players and agents are able to negotiate. The talent in the league is ever-growing, but who are the highest paid players this season?

The highest-paid player in the NBA this season is no other than Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Being the greatest three-point shooter of all-time, a two-time MVP and a four-time NBA champion, it is no doubt that he is worth his contract. Additionally, he is a 1