Teams like the Spurs and Hornets had fantastic times during the draft and Summer League. However, the Phoenix Suns have a strong argument for being the winners of the 2025 NBA Draft, considering the moves they made with their limited assets. They were able to get a defensive center with high potential in Khaman Maluach, an athletic 3-and-D forward in Rasheer Fleming, and an excellent three-point shooter in Koby Brea. From the draft, Phoenix managed to get players that fit now and into the future. Let’s dive into the top three reasons why the Phoenix Suns won the 2025 NBA Draft.
3 Reasons Why The Phoenix Suns Won The 2025 NBA Draft
#1: Upgrading The Defense
One of the biggest reasons why Phoenix won the 2025 NBA Draft is because of their defensive upgrades through the draft. Undoubtedly, in taking Malauch and Fleming, the Suns massively improved their defense in the frontcourt. Specifically, their overall rim protection, which has been a major issue for years, took a major jump as both Maluach and Fleming are great at deterring shots near the basket. For Maluach, his physical tools make him the perfect center to place around Devin Booker and Jalen Green. His presence in the paint will provide the guards with a safety net on the defensive end.
As for Fleming, he has the versatility to guard both the paint and perimeter. Overall, the Suns used the draft to successfully add players who can have an impact defensively. Considering the Suns were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, their moves in the draft will go a long way in fixing that issue.
#2: Emphasizing Positional Size
The second reason why they won the draft is their emphasis on positional size. Maluach, Fleming, and Brea have great size relative to their positions. For Brea, his six-foot-six frame gives him the ideal size to defend on the wings. Not only that, but he will have the size advantage over guards on offense. Likewise, for Fleming, his size at six-foot-nine allows him to both guard forwards and smaller centers as well. And at seven-foot-two, Maluach holds a height advantage over anyone but the tallest of centers. That means not only will Maluach have an easier time finishing over opponents, but he will also have a taller vertical range defensively. This crop of rookies will give the Suns the size they’ve lacked last season, allowing them to better deal with bigger teams.
#3: Prioritizing Youth
The third and final reason why the Suns won the draft is due to their prioritization of youth. For the past few years, the Suns have gone all in for contention without much to show for it. They have nearly exhausted all their assets in pursuit of postseason success. Now that Phoenix is moving into a transitional period in their franchise, they’ve made the smart choice of focusing on youth.
The team lacked any hope for the future as they didn’t have enough to contend or enough picks to tank. By making trades this past draft, the Suns now have young talent who can be part of the franchise long-term. Not only that, but as their value increases, they can be used as assets themselves. The Suns’ move towards youth will allow them to reset as a franchise and pivot towards a brighter future.
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