After a dominant win over the Wizards, the Suns delivered a result that felt as dramatic as a Live Cricket BPL clash swinging late in the innings, completing two achievements that few expected. First, they climbed to sixth place in the Western Conference, moving into the group with direct playoff qualification. The team they overtook happened to be the Rockets, the very destination Kevin Durant chose after leaving Phoenix last summer. Second, in the latest league power rankings released the same day, the Suns surged ahead of several so-called title contenders and rose to fifth overall, a position that would have sounded unrealistic only months ago.
As the season approaches its midpoint, Phoenix have quietly become the biggest surprise not only in the West but across the league. That reality stands in sharp contrast to their situation just a few months earlier. On April 10 last year, the Suns lost to a depleted Thunder squad, a defeat that officially ended their playoff hopes. Despite boasting a star-studded trio, the season was effectively over before it had truly finished, leaving the roster heading into an early summer with more questions than answers.
Missing the postseason was only part of the problem. After new owner Mat Ishbia spent aggressively, the Suns were hit with a staggering luxury tax bill of around 150 million dollars. At the same time, reports emerged suggesting Ishbia was facing cash flow pressure. All these factors combined to force a dramatic offseason reset. Durant was traded away before the draft, and Bradley Beal later agreed to a buyout before joining the Clippers on a modest deal, allowing Phoenix to finally shed their financial shackles.
Once the big contracts were gone, expectations collapsed. ESPN analysts even listed the Suns as one of the teams most likely to spiral into chaos. Yet the current campaign has turned that narrative on its head, much like a Live Cricket BPL season that defies pre-tournament predictions. Phoenix are not only more consistent but transformed defensively, leaping from near the bottom of the league to sixth in defensive efficiency. Since Christmas, they have even ranked first over that stretch, while leading the NBA in steals and thriving in tough matchups against elite Western rivals.
The architect of this turnaround is young head coach Ott. When he arrived last summer, many saw him as a temporary caretaker, hired for his relationships rather than his résumé. What critics overlooked was his 12 years of NBA assistant coaching across multiple franchises. With no ego to protect, Ott rebuilt the team around energy, trust, and ball movement. Players like Gillespie, Mark Williams, and Royce O’Neale have flourished, while the new core unit has flipped from a heavy negative to a strong positive in net rating.
Even with Devin Booker as the focal point, Ott resisted overloading him, instead creating reliable support across the roster. Six players now average double figures, Dillon Brooks is enjoying the best season of his career, and the team finally has a defensive identity. As Booker said, Ott is a true tactician who understands what works and what does not.
Ironically, the most awkward figure watching this rise may be Durant himself. Before the season, he mocked Phoenix by saying low expectations meant peace of mind, yet today the Suns sit above his new team in the standings. As fans follow this unexpected script with the same fascination reserved for Live Cricket BPL drama, even seasoned analysts are left wondering whether Phoenix truly became stronger after he left.