The 2025-26 VSiN NBA Betting Guide was released on Tuesday, October 7. The 79-page publication features best bets from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts, betting strategy advice from Jonathan Von Tobel and Kelley Bydlon, and trends/insights from Steve Makinen. The guide also features team-by-team previews for all 30 NBA teams, including one on the Phoenix Suns. Keep reading to see how we think the Suns will do compared to their regular season win total of 32.5.
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Offense
Phoenix finished 11th in adjusted offensive rating (115.1) last year — respectable, but underwhelming for a team with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Mike Budenholzer was supposed to modernize the attack with more threes and rim attempts, but the Suns instead doubled down on mid-range shots. They finished second in mid-range frequency (37.4%) and last in shots at the rim (21.8%). When the defense also cratered, it led to Bud’s firing, Durant’s trade, and Beal’s buyout.
Now the franchise is rebooting with Jordan Ott, a first-time head coach and former Cavaliers assistant. Around the Valley, staffers keep spamming the word “alignment” the way Stone Cold used to bark out “What?” in the Attitude Era. It’s the buzzword Ishbia and GM Brian Gregory are leaning on as they try to reset the culture with youth, effort, and buy-in.
Ott has earned rave reviews from players and peers for his work ethic and film-room obsession. He wants the Suns to play faster, hunt easy buckets early in possessions, and move constantly off the ball. He’s a big believer in persistent cutting, better shot selection, and crashing the offensive glass to generate extra possessions.
Booker will be at the center of all of it. The 28-year-old is one of the smoothest three-level scorers in the world, but he’s also underrated as a playmaker. With no true point guard on the roster, this will be Booker’s show. Expect All-NBA numbers.
Joining him are Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, acquired in the Durant deal. Green averaged 21.0 points for Houston but wore out his welcome with inconsistent efficiency. Still, he launched 8.1 threes per game at 35.4% and adds rare speed and athleticism. Brooks is less flashy but steady — a 39.7% shooter from deep and a better scorer than his reputation suggests.
Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Ryan Dunn round out the wing rotation. Allen and O’Neale bring reliable spacing — Allen even led the league in three-point shooting (46.1%) two years ago. Dunn is the opposite: a shaky shooter but explosive athlete who can cut, rebound, and make hustle plays. If his jumper ever comes, he’ll be a problem.
The frontcourt has been rebuilt, too. Mark Williams (15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds for Charlotte) gives Phoenix a strong inside presence, while lottery pick Khaman Maluach brings raw size and upside. Oso Ighodaro and Nick Richards add energy and rebounding. Collectively, this group should dominate the offensive glass.
Two other names to watch: Collin Gillespie, a sparkplug guard with shooting and playmaking chops, and Nigel Hayes-Davis, fresh off an MVP-level season in Europe, who can shoot, score in the mid-post, and serve as a connector.
This roster is younger, bigger, and more athletic than last year’s star-heavy nightmare. They won’t wow you with name value, but they’ll run, keep opponents guessing, and lean on Booker late in close games.
Defense
For all the talk about culture and toughness, this roster still has defensive issues. Ott will demand more structure and effort, but there’s only so much he can do with this personnel.
Brooks sets the tone as a relentless on-ball defender and vocal leader. Pairing him with Dunn, who should one day be an elite wing stopper, could give the Suns a real edge on the perimeter. O’Neale brings similar toughness, though he hasn’t defended at the same level since his Utah days.
Guard defense is the big hole. Unless Ott unlocks something in Green, the two-guard spot will bleed points. Booker only locks in on this end when he’s wearing a Team USA jersey, Allen is limited, and Gillespie is scrappy but undersized.
On the interior, Williams has size but hasn’t been a reliable anchor, and Maluach needs time to develop.
Phoenix finished middle of the pack in defensive rebounding (70.9%) last year, but with more size inside, they could improve there. Reducing opponent threes — 37.0% accuracy allowed last season — should also be a priority.
Outlook
The Suns keep talking about hustle, culture, and alignment, but this roster doesn’t exactly scream grit-and-grind. Unless Green makes a leap and others hit career years, Phoenix probably lands in the 25–30 win range.
Still, this group could be feisty. Ott has the look of a coach who can squeeze effort out of his guys, much like Fernandez did in Brooklyn. That won’t translate into playoff contention, but it could make the Suns an ATS darling — especially at home, where fans are desperate to rally behind a team that doesn’t look joyless playing basketball.
Prediction: Under 32.5 Wins
