Ranking Most Anticipated Suns Regular Season Matchups
The entire NBA schedule was revealed on Thursday afternoon, and the Phoenix Suns have 25 games on national television, including an opening night date with the Warriors, a Christmas Day battle with the Mavericks, two Saturday night primetime duels, and two Sunday afternoon matchups.
The presence of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the rest of the squad automatically makes Phoenix one of the most closely watched teams around the league this season. Teams will almost assuredly give their best effort when facing the Suns, and there will be many marquee matchups with nearly two dozen games in front of a national audience.
Out of that slate, what are the ten single most anticipated games? The top ten will be ranked in order while taking into account opponent quality, star power, storylines, and projecting how competitive the game will be. Only one matchup per team.
Honorable Mentions- Oklahoma City, LA Clippers, Sacramento
OKC is a very good, young team with superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and local product Jalen Williams, but the Thunder haven't achieved enough to be considered a top-tier matchup just yet. The Clippers have good star power and should compete again this season, however it's hard to predict if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be available for potential matchups.
The Kings are a team that always seems to be a burr in the Suns' feet, and look to continue building off of their first playoff appearance since 2006 last season.
Number 10 - San Antonio - October 31
This will be the Valley's first impression of Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama The 7-foot-5 Frenchman was described by many as the best prospect since LeBron James, and perhaps even better.
He is the true definition of a unicorn, displaying a rare blend of size, speed, handles, shooting touch, and ability to defend every position on the court. Wembanyama instantly put San Antonio back on the map much like Tim Duncan did in 1996, and this will be a game to watch even if the Spurs aren't too competitive.
Number 9 - Cleveland - April 3
This game is interesting on many fronts. Cleveland is likely a fringe contender out in the East, but improved on the wings - the one glaring weakness the team truly had in their quick postseason exit against the Knicks.
There's a fair amount of star power, as Donovan Mitchell is a bona fide All Star, Evan Mobley is one of the best defenders in basketball, and Jarrett Allen boasts an All-Star appearance on his resume.
This matchup is even more intriguing off the court however, as Suns governor Mat Ishbia and Cavaliers governor Dan Gilbert are longtime business rivals, and there's no love lost between the two. The icy relations between the individuals who ultimately run the franchises will potentially leave a Cold War-esque vibe on the court.
Number 8 - Miami - January 5
This game could be higher if Miami is able to consummate a trade for Blazers superstar Damian Lillard prior to this matchup, but the Heat were just the league's runner-up last season and deserve mention regardless. Jimmy Butler is an all-around maestro, Bam Adebayo continues improving every season, and watching Erik Spoelstra coach is very captivating.
This game should be very competitive and could be a potential NBA Finals matchup.
Number 7 - Brooklyn - December 13
This marks the first time former Suns Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson will return to play in Phoenix since they were moved to the Nets in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Both are still beloved in the Valley, and are starring for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.
Both wings also excelled as focal points of the Nets' offense. Although the Nets project to be a fairly average team, this return should be anticipated by all Suns fans, and it's assured that Cam and Mikal will both get extremely warm receptions on this Wednesday night.
Number 6 - Boston - March 9
This is a potential NBA Finals preview on a Saturday night primetime slot. Boston boasts a potent two-way duo in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with potentially the deepest roster in the league. This game shouldn't have any shortage of strong scoring and shooting performances. Boston is better defensively, but the big three Phoenix has just may be the perfect counter to what the Celtics do defensively.
This is a Saturday night game for a reason, and it should be a great game.
Number 5 - Denver - December 1
Some may think Denver is too low as the reigning NBA champs, but the Nuggets simply don't have the same history with Phoenix that teams ahead on this list do. The star power is exceptional, as these two teams likely boast the two best duos in the Association.
It also will be the first time these teams lace up against each other since Denver's drubbing of Phoenix in Game 6 of the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals.
Number 4 - Golden State - November 22
The opening night game in San Francisco could have easily been the game selected, but Chris Paul's return to the Valley will likely be unmatched.
Paul is already etched as a Suns legend in only three short years, and his return in a rivals' jersey is going to be a unique experience not seen by Suns fans since Steve Nash returned to Phoenix in a Lakers jersey. Paul will still likely receive a largely warm reception.
The Stephen Curry- Kevin Durant dynamic will always be a storyline any time they face off. Frank Vogel and Steve Kerr are two recent coaches to win titles - plus Devin Booker, Draymond Green, and Bradley Beal round out the star power. This matchup should be epic.
Number 3 - LA Lakers - November 10
This will potentially be the second time Kevin Durant and LeBron James have played in the same game since 2018. The thing that raises the stakes compared to the first matchup is that this will be the first group stage game for both teams in the newfound in-season tournament.
Frank Vogel coaches against the team many feel wrongly fired him in 2022, and his replacement has done quite a bit of chatting this offseason. Devin Booker and Anthony Davis are two premier options with bigger superstars on their team, and Lakers sensation Austin Reaves will likely be tasked with guarding Bradley Beal frequently.
Number 2 - Milwaukee - March 17
The 2021 NBA Finals rematch will be a primetime Sunday afternoon game on ABC. The games the teams have played since the Bucks took the NBA title in a classic six-game series have been electric, even without the additions of Durant and Beal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the three best players in the world, and the Bucks possess a big-three and maybe even big-four if Brook Lopez is to be included. The Bucks will also have a new coach gracing the sidelines in former Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who is said to have been handpicked by Giannis.
Jae Crowder is once again facing against his former team in what was a tenure that ended with bad blood. This game should be a down-to-the-wire affair and should have one of the best atmospheres of the entire regular season.
Number 1 - Dallas - December 25
Dallas is simply Phoenix's biggest rival until further notice. Dallas easily handled Phoenix in Games 6&7 in the 2022 Western Conference Semis, and there has been heavy animosity from both sides since. Luka Doncic and Devin Booker have one of the most intriguing rivalries in the league.
Another wrinkle to the rivalry was added when former teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wound up in Phoenix and Dallas, respectively. The game in March last season had an insane playoff-like atmosphere and had a crazy finish, including a Durant takeover, and a smoked layup by Doncic that sealed a Suns win. This might be the best matchup on Christmas Day despite being the nightcap game.
