NBA G League

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

On April 12, 2016, the Phoenix Suns announced that they had purchased the Bakersfield Jam and would be relocating the team to Prescott Valley, Arizona, rebranding the team to the Northern Arizona Suns. On July 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Detroit Pistons announced that they had purchased the franchise from the Phoenix Suns (who were owned by Robert Sarver at the time) and that following the Northern Arizona team skipping out on the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season entirely, the Pistons would move that team to Detroit to play as the Motor City Cruise. With the creation of the Rip City Remix, the affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the 2023–24 season, the Suns were left as the only team without a G League affiliate. However, months after the NBA approved of Mat Ishbia's primary ownership of the Phoenix Suns after they had previously suspended Sarver for the entire 2022–23 NBA season, Ishbia noted that bringing in a new G League team for the Suns as early as the 2024–25 season would be a top priority for him. On February 14, 2024, the Phoenix Suns announced that they acquired the right to own and operate their new G League affiliate in Phoenix, marking the first time all 30 NBA teams had G League affiliates. The team revealed their name, logo, and arena on May 22. An expansion draft was held on June 13, where the Suns selected 14 unprotected returning players, with two of them including former NBA champion Quinndary Weatherspoon and former Phoenix Suns player Théo Maledon. On September 3, the G League announced the Valley Suns' inaugural schedule, with their opening game being on the road on November 8 against the Santa Cruz Warriors and their home debut being three days later against the Stockton Kings as a part of the newly minted Tip-Off Tournament. A day after that, the Valley Suns made their first ever trade by trading a 2025 first-round pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft to the defending champion Oklahoma City Blue in exchange for guard Jaden Shackelford. The Valley Suns would then make three more trades during the month of September and two more trades in the month of October, with two of their moves involving the Austin Spurs and two more moves also involving the Indiana Mad Ants, including one that featured a six-team trade.

In Their Own Story

During their first season of play, the Valley Suns would lead the entire West Division with a 10–4 record to qualify for the newly rebranded Tip-Off Tournament (formerly known as the Showcase Tournament). However, the Suns squad would falter as the #5 seed to the eventual champions of the tournament, the #4 seed Westchester Knicks by a 127–119 defeat. By the end of their first season of play, the Valley Suns franchise would make it to the G League playoffs, getting in a three-way tie for the last three playoff spots in the Western Conference between the Santa Cruz Warriors and Rio Grande Valley Vipers with a 20–14 record. By virtue of tiebreakers, the Valley Suns acquired the #5 seed ahead of the Vipers, but behind the Warriors and later facing off against them in the first round. The Valley Suns would win their first ever playoff match 131–127 over Santa Cruz, but they would lose their second playoff match in the conference semifinals with a 122–114 loss to the eventual G League champions that season, the #1 seed Stockton Kings. On July 19, 2025, head coach John Little was hired onto the Phoenix Suns properly as an assistant coach under the coaching staff led by their newest head coach, Jordan Ott. As such, the Valley Suns would enter their second season with a new head coach leading the team, which was announced on August 18, 2025 to be Paul Jesperson (who was an assistant coach for the team the previous season) taking on the role.

Reader's Guide

The Valley Suns are the G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns. Based in Tempe, Arizona, they played their home games during the 2024–25 season at Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. The team was officially created on February 14, 2024, when the Phoenix Suns announced they acquired the right to own and operate their new G League affiliate in Phoenix, marking the first time all 30 NBA teams had G League affiliates. The team revealed their name, logo, and arena on May 22, 2024. An expansion draft was held on June 13, 2024, where the Suns selected 14 unprotected returning players. Their inaugural season began on November 8, 2024, on the road against the Santa Cruz Warriors, with their home debut on November 11, 2024, against the Stockton Kings as part of the Tip-Off Tournament. The Valley Suns finished their first regular season with a 20–14 record, made the playoffs as the #5 seed, won their first playoff match 131–127 over the Santa Cruz Warriors, and lost in the conference semifinals 122–114 to the Stockton Kings. For their second season, Paul Jesperson was named head coach on August 18, 2025, replacing John Little who had been hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns on July 19, 2025.

Did You Know?

• The Valley Suns were officially created on February 14, 2024, marking the first time all 30 NBA teams had G League affiliates.
• The team played their home games during the 2024–25 season at Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University.
• In their first ever trade, the Valley Suns traded a 2025 first-round pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft to the Oklahoma City Blue in exchange for guard Jaden Shackelford.
• The Valley Suns won their first ever playoff match 131–127 over the Santa Cruz Warriors.
• Head coach John Little was hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns on July 19, 2025, and was replaced by Paul Jesperson on August 18, 2025.

Franchise Milestones and Leadership

The 2026–27 campaign marks a significant chapter for the Phoenix Suns, representing their 59th year in the NBA and their 34th season calling the Mortgage Matchup Center home. This era is defined by the continued stewardship of brothers Mat and Justin Ishbia, who officially took ownership on February 8, 2023. As they enter their fourth full season under this leadership group, the organization carries high expectations to maintain its recent trajectory of success. The team aims to secure a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive year within a seven-year span, a feat that would solidify their status as a perennial contender. Furthermore, the franchise has set its sights on breaking a specific drought by winning their first playoff game since 2023. Adding to the season's prestige, Phoenix will serve as the host city for the 2027 NBA All-Star Game at their home arena. This event will be historic for the region, marking the fourth time an NBA All-Star Game has been held in Arizona, further cementing the franchise's growing influence on the national stage.

Draft Strategy and Homegrown Talent

Entering the draft with limited assets due to previous high-profile transactions, including the complex Bradley Beal trade that saw their original first-round pick eventually land with Memphis, the Suns executed a surprising maneuver on the second night. Through a four-team deal involving Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, Phoenix traded away three second-round selections and cash considerations to acquire the 30th overall pick from the Mavericks. This strategic move allowed them to select Koa Peat, a forward hailing from Gilbert, Arizona, who starred at the University of Arizona. Peat was instrumental in leading his college team to the 2026 NCAA Final Four, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while earning All-Big 12 Third Team honors. Although initially viewed as a potential lottery pick during his freshman year, Peat's selection represents a homegrown success story for the franchise. The trade also saw the Lakers move up to the 24th pick, while the Knicks acquired multiple future assets and cash in exchange for the pick that ultimately became Tyler Nickel.

Roster Reconstruction via Free Agency

The team's roster construction heavily relied on navigating the financial implications of waiving contracts from previous years, specifically those involving Bradley Beal, Nassir Little, and E.J. Liddell. These moves created significant cap flexibility, allowing Phoenix to re-sign key contributors like Mark Williams, Collin Gillespie, and Jordan Goodwin to long-term deals before free agency officially commenced. The team also secured the return of two-way players Isaiah Livers and Koby Brea, alongside new signing Pat Spencer, a former lacrosse standout transitioning from Golden State. A major acquisition arrived in the form of Miles Bridges, obtained via a trade with Charlotte that sent Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a future first-round pick to the Hornets. Additionally, Luke Kennard joined on a two-year deal, while Amir Coffey departed for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. By mid-July, the roster was nearly finalized, leaving only Isaiah Livers unsigned as the team prepared for training camp.

Competitive Landscape and Tournament Play

For the 2026 NBA Cup, the Suns were placed back into West Group A, facing a challenging slate of opponents within their division. The group structure pits Phoenix against familiar rivals such as the Utah Jazz, alongside the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets. This grouping tests the team's depth and resilience early in the season against Western Conference powerhouses. The competitive intensity is further heightened by the team's internal goals to not only reach the playoffs but to advance past their first hurdle since 2023. With a roster rebuilt through strategic trades and free agency signings, the Suns enter this tournament phase with a mix of veteran stability and emerging young talent like Koa Peat. The upcoming season serves as both a continuation of their recent playoff consistency and a critical test of whether their new core can overcome previous postseason stagnation to achieve deeper success in the league.