Meet the Suns’ newest addition from the Wizards: point guard Tyus Jones
The Phoenix Suns introduce their new point guard Tyus Jones to the media.
Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett has more confidence in the Phoenix Suns than most outside his circle when it comes to predicting what they can accomplish this season.
“Devin Booker can be an MVP, you know what I mean?” Garnett said last week on “KG Certified” with Paul Pierce. “(Bradley) Beal can be an MVP. Those guys have it, bro. And you’ve got KD (Kevin Durant).”
In response, Pierce said the Suns are getting older, as Durant turns 36 next month while Beal turns 31 in June. Booker is 27 and his birthday is in October.
Booker, Durant and Beal played only 41 games together in their first season in Phoenix. The Suns finished 26-15 in those games as Beal struggled with injuries for most of the season.
“I think these young teams are a problem,” Pierce said.
Oklahoma City, which had the best record in the West last season, entered the 2023-24 season with the second-youngest team in the NBA.
Pierce questioned Phoenix’s depth when Garnett noted that Durant and Booker played for Team USA in Paris this summer and won an Olympic gold medal.
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“That means something,” Garnett said. “That means they’re in rhythm. I’m telling you, brother. Phoenix is going to be better than most (think).”
Pierce asked if Phoenix would win more than 47 games, to which Garnett said the Suns would have 47 or more wins. Phoenix won 49 games last season, but Minnesota swept the Suns in the first round.
The Suns fired Frank Vogel after just one season, hired Mike Budenholzer as head coach, and were able to bring back most of their roster, with Tyus Jones being the key signing to fill their point guard needs.
Pierce expressed doubts about the Suns and said he didn’t want to hear anything about Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State.
“Right now it’s all about Minnesota, Dallas, Denver,” Pierce said.
Phoenix opens the 2024–25 regular season on October 23 at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Have an opinion on the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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