2025 Suns Player Review Anthology: One final look back at every player on the 2024–25 Phoenix Suns

Every Phoenix Suns player is reviewed as we bury the season.

It’s been 28 days since the Phoenix Suns played their final game. As the playoffs roll on — teams trading blows deep into the second round — the Suns have gone to Cancun and come back by now.

Every year, we try to put a bow on the season. Wrap it up. Clean out the locker, pack away the pens. School’s out for the summer. This time, our writing team went the extra mile, delivering in-depth reviews for every player who suited up in a Suns jersey. And based on their insight, I’ve stitched together this final anthology. A complete, player-by-player breakdown of how this season unraveled.

We know the epitaph: “Here lies the Phoenix Suns, 36–46, no playoffs”. But how did we get here?

We’ve done the weeklies. We’ve tracked the fall. And now, at last, we close the book with one final chapter: the individual stories. The moments. The misfires. The glimpses. All of it.

To the Bright Side writing staff: thank you. This kind of work takes time, focus, and care. Your words helped shape this. And mine, as usual, took far too long to put together. But now, at least, it’s done.

We can finally move on.

Player Reviews

Did you miss the reviews? Need a place to catch up on every single player breakdown from the 2024–25 Suns season? Look no further. This is your one-stop shop. Every recap, every grade, all in one place. Bookmark it. This is the page.

Player Recaps

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant didn’t just play well. For stretches this season, he carried the Suns. Early on, he was the engine, guiding them to an 8–1 start with surgical precision. In clutch time, he was ruthless: 5 points per on 63% shooting, leading the league and slamming doors shut nightly.

But when he missed seven games? The Suns went 3-17. That told the story: with KD, they had a chance. Without him, they were cooked.

He logged 62 games, dropped milestones (hello, 30K points), and was quietly one of Phoenix’s best defenders. His net rating (-1.9) reflects how often he was propping up a flawed roster. Say what you want about the man. Even at 36, he’s still elite.

Devin Booker

Devin Booker became the Suns’ all-time leading scorer this season, passing Walter Davis with his signature blend of grit, loyalty, and buckets. Ten years, 642 games, and 15,666 points later, he etched his name atop the franchise’s history books.

Only he and Giannis have averaged 25+ points over the last seven seasons. That’s rare air. Sure, this wasn’t his prettiest year (career-low 46.1% shooting since 2018), but the man still poured in five 40-burgers and a season-high 47-piece against Utah.

Unfortunately, it all came in a season where the wheels fell off. He and Beal never clicked. Durant went down. And any momentum they scraped together eventually evaporated. In Booker’s words? A slow bleed. And a bitter end.

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal’s second year in Phoenix felt more like a ghost story than a fresh chapter. He drifted in and out of games, rarely imposing his will, never truly syncing with the team. His usage rate (22.1%) was the lowest of his career, even lower than his rookie season.

Nine single-digit scoring nights. Just one 30-point game. This from a guy who once averaged 30+ in back-to-back seasons.

The low point? That Boston game in April: 1 point on 0-for-7 shooting while the Suns were clinging to postseason hopes. It was a statline that doubled as a metaphor. Beal was out there, technically, but barely. If there’s a snapshot of his season, that game is it. Disengaged. Disappointing. And impossible to ignore.

Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen’s 2024–25 season felt like a vanishing act. After starting the year before, he moved back to the bench. And nearly disappeared with it.

His minutes dropped by 10, and his impact somehow dipped even more. Catch-and-shoot looks that once felt automatic were now just slightly off. Wrong spot, wrong time, wrong rhythm.

He bulked up in the offseason, sure, but the added muscle didn’t translate. On defense, his body language often said more than his play. Yes, he technically shot over 40% from deep, but it felt like 35%. No flow, no identity, no spark. Just a guy on the court, floating around the edges of a broken rotation. Blink and you missed him. Most nights, we barely knew he played.

Nick Richards

Nick Richards wasn’t supposed to be a difference-maker, but he kinda was.

After starting the year in Charlotte, he landed in Phoenix midseason as the Suns scrambled to patch up a fractured center rotation. Budenholzer soured on Nurkic, and Richards stepped in like a pro. No drama, just boards. He dropped 21 and 11 in his debut and never looked back, starting 34 of 36 games and grabbing double-digit rebounds in 13 of them.

Offensively? Meh. 9.5 points in 22.7 minutes. But compared to Nurkic? More impact, less baggage, and over $10 million cheaper. He wasn’t flashy. He was functional. And in a season full of underwhelming returns, that actually meant something.

Royce O’Neale

Royce O’Neale’s Suns season started slow, but he eventually found his footing.

By Game 5, he dropped his first 20-piece against the Clippers, and December was his sweet spot. Six straight games in double figures, shooting over 50% in five of them. His high-water mark came February 20th vs. the Spurs: 27 points on 62.5% shooting, plus six boards and three steals. The Suns still lost, but it was a glimpse of what Royce could bring when things clicked.

That said, those flashes were few. Just one more 20-point game followed, and as Phoenix sputtered late, his role shrank. Still, he was a steady rotation piece all season, never spectacular, but rarely out of place. A pro’s pro.

Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn’s rookie year was a blend of promise and puzzlement. He started hot—13-of-33 from deep, the Suns went 7–1, and it felt like they’d struck gold. Defensively, he was a breath of fresh air: energy, grit, effort. Everything the team desperately needed.

And yet, Mike Budenholzer couldn’t seem to decide what to do with him. Dunn played fewer than 20 minutes in nearly half his games, often disappearing from the rotation entirely without explanation. For a team starving for perimeter defense and heart, benching Dunn felt like coaching malpractice.

Still, he made noise: 74 games, 44 starts, no DNPs, and a poster on Giannis that cracked the NBA’s Top 10 dunks list. Oh, and he never fouled out. Not once.

Oso Ighodaro

Oso Ighodaro’s rookie year was a tale of two seasons. Early on, he carved out a real role. 26 appearances in the first 32 games, giving the Suns steady minutes, smart cuts, and sneaky rebounding. For a team desperate for dependable depth, it felt like they might’ve found something.

But when January rolled into February, and Phoenix hit a lull, Budenholzer did what he does: youth got the boot. Oso vanished.

Then came March. He clawed his way back into the mix, playing all 17 of the Suns’ final games and flashing the same intrigue. 25.6 minutes a night, modest stats, solid presence. He didn’t save the season, but he didn’t sink it either. He competed. And that mattered.

Bol Bol

Bol Bol’s season was mostly forgettable, save for one bizarre highlight: while the Suns and Rockets squared up mid-game, Bol was off to the side…practicing layups. That moment, reportedly not well-received by Coach Bud, pretty much summed up his year.

We had high hopes entering the season. Thought maybe he’d turned a corner. Nope. His three-point shot regressed, his court awareness was still lacking, and his basketball IQ never quite caught up. Despite a 25-point outburst with five threes that teased what could be, Bol never earned a real role.

The tools are still there. The intrigue is still there. But the clock is ticking, and so far, it feels like he’s still more myth than material.

Mason Plumlee

Mason Plumlee’s season with the Suns wasn’t exactly by design. Originally brought in to back up Jusuf Nurkic, the coaching staff soured on Nurk, forcing Plumlee into more of a starting role. It wasn’t pretty, but Plumlee kept grinding.

He was steady, never flashy, and a rare source of consistent effort on a team that often lacked it. Kevin Durant’s occasional shouts at him were a testament to the frustration, but Plumlee kept his head down and played through it.

The high point? That memorable, gritty clash with Steven Adams shown above. That altercation summed up his season: intensity, frustration, and a refusal to back down. He wasn’t the solution, but for a team in chaos, Plumlee’s edge stood out.

Monte Morris

Monte Morris started the season as a reliable bench option for the Suns, offering steady contributions in limited minutes. Through the first 48 games, he averaged 5 points and 1.7 assists per night, with eight double-digit performances that highlighted his value.

But his 30.4% shooting from three became a glaring issue, and as the season progressed, his role diminished. By the final 34 games, Morris saw just seven appearances. Despite his early flashes, his struggles from beyond the arc and inconsistent role ultimately kept him from carving out a more significant spot in the Suns’ rotation.

Collin Gillespie

Collin Gillespie’s rise from a two-way contract to a key contributor for the Suns showcased his resilience and skill.

After dominating with the Valley Suns, averaging 21.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 11.1 assists, he made his Phoenix debut in October but got his real chance in January. His turning point came on March 4th with clutch shots against the Clippers. Gillespie’s best performance arrived on March 26th against the Timberwolves, scoring 22 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing 5 assists while shooting 9-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from three, without a single free throw attempt.

His ability to step up in crucial moments highlighted his potential as a future asset for the Suns.

Cody Martin

Martin’s stint with the Suns was brief and marred by injury, as he was sidelined with a sports hernia when acquired in March. In his 14 appearances, he averaged just 14 minutes a game and took only 4.1 shots per night, his lowest since his rookie season. His shooting was inconsistent, hitting 50% or better in only five games, and struggling in nine others with under 35%.

He didn’t have enough of an impact to be considered a significant factor in the Suns’ struggles, but his best performance came in a key win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he contributed 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block in a rare bright spot.

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Damion Lee

Damion Lee’s season was defined less by his on-court play and more by his personal journey. His emotional Media Day speech, where he opened up about battling depression and overcoming a major injury, set the tone for a year that never quite materialized.

Despite his efforts, Lee barely made an impact once the season started. He struggled to find his role, and his best game was an 11-point performance in a lopsided loss to Denver, which accounted for nearly 13% of his total points for the season. With just 83 points on the year, it was a far cry from the contribution many expected from the veteran guard.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the comeback season Lee or the Suns had hoped for.

Vasilije Micic

Vasilije Micic’s time with the Phoenix Suns was a non-factor. Acquired at the trade deadline as part of the deal for Jusuf Nurkic, Micic was mainly a salary filler and was never expected to make a meaningful impact on the court.

In his five appearances with Phoenix, all in garbage time, he didn’t score or contribute much beyond a turnover in one brief eight-minute stint. His lack of action wasn’t due to any specific reason or injury, but rather because he simply didn’t fit into the rotation. Micic spent most of his time inactive, serving more as an observer than a player, and ultimately, his role with the Suns was as expected. Minimal.

TyTy Washington, Jr.

TyTy Washington’s transition from the G League to the Suns was a tough one. In 16 games, he logged just 118 minutes, totaling 35 points. His best performance came in a 25-minute stint against Houston, where he scored 11 points.

Despite flashes of potential, the jump to the NBA was a struggle. His 16 assists in those minutes weren’t terrible, but they didn’t indicate he could lead an offense. Defensively, he showed effort, but against stronger, quicker guards, that effort wasn’t enough. The hope was that his G League confidence would translate, but it never fully materialized.

Jalen Bridges

Jalen Bridges was peak James Jones: seasoned, low-risk, and built in a lab to shoot corner threes. Four years in college, 6’8”, and just enough athleticism to justify a flyer.

He got the classic two-way treatment. 30 NBA minutes, all garbage time, every shot a three. No creation, no chaos, just catch-and-shoot reps while the buzzer ticked down. His real work came in the G League, where he was solid. 14.3 points, efficient splits, playoff berth.

But that leap from “hmm, interesting” to “hold on, we’ve got something” never happened. No flashes. No buzz. Just a guy doing his job. Maybe he gets another look. Maybe he’s just another G Leaguer who almost made it. That’s the math on two-way bets. Most don’t cash.

Final Grades

We wrote, we graded, and you chimed in. Below are the final marks. Each player’s grade from our writers, your input included, and our take on their chances of returning next season.

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And that, my friends, is the end.

No more deep dives. No more player recaps. This is the final word on the 2024–25 Phoenix Suns. We’ll reference this season forever. The weight of expectations, the bloated payroll, the slow unraveling. It’ll linger. But this level of detail? This kind of dissection? We’re closing that chapter. I’m closing it.

This took far too long, and it’s time to move on.

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