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The 2018-19 NBA season was yet another disappointing campaign for the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps the team's most remarkable moment in the recently-concluded season is the fact that owner Robert Sarver made noise about getting a new stadium or potentially moving the franchise.
While that drama was playing out, the Suns waived players such as Tyson Chandler from their roster with him immediately signing with the Lakers after being bought out. A trade was swung with the Wizards moving Trevor Ariza, who was signed in the off-season, for the service of Kelly Oubre Jr.
Ultimately, it was another miserable season for Phoenix’s fan base with the team finishing the season with a record of 19-63, winning just 12 times at home. Phoenix’s one bright spot for this past season is they get to make the 6th selection at the 2019 NBA Draft in June.
There is a good young nucleus for the Suns to build around in Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, but for now, here is a look at three great individual performances by Suns’ players this season:
#3 TJ Warren vs Dallas Mavericks - December 13th, 2018
6’8 forward TJ Warren was drafted back in 2014 in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. This season, his 5th in the NBA, Warren averaged 18 ppg and 4 rpg. He also upped his 3-point shooting average from 22.2% last season to 42.8% this year. One set back is he managed to play in just 43 games this year.
Warren had a signature game on December 13th, 2018 in a 10 point victory over the Dallas Mavericks. That night, Warren scored 30 points, recorded 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Warren was also 5/6 from the free throw line and 3/4 from 3-point range, shooting 75% from downtown. Warren shot 11/17 for 64.7 from the field that night in a very efficient offensive display.
#2 DeAndre Ayton vs Denver Nuggets - December 29th, 2018
One of the bright spots for the Phoenix Suns in the 2018-19 season was center DeAndre Ayton. He was drafted last year as the 1st overall pick by the Suns at the NBA Draft. In terms of the Rookie of the Year race, Ayton likely comes in as the third-best performer behind Luka Doncic and Trae Young. At 7’1 and 250lbs, Ayton provides Phoenix with the true size need in a center.
In his rookie season, Ayton averaged 16.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg and shot 58.5% from the field in 71 games. Ayton along with Devin Booker forms the core of the youth talent that the Phoenix Suns will likely rely on over the next 3-5 years.
Of Ayton’s standout moments, perhaps his outing on December 29th, 2018 against the Nuggets was one of his best NBA performances so far. On that night, Ayton shot 16/20 from the field which is 80% accuracy for 33 points and 14 rebounds, four of which were offensive. The Suns still lost the game by 4 points and it was one of a 6-game losing streak for the Suns.
#1 Devin Booker vs Utah Jazz - March 25, 2019
Drafted in 2015, 13th overall, Devin Booker has been in the NBA for 4 years. Booker is a 6’6 shooting guard. He has been getting better each year and is perhaps Phoenix’s best player. In the 2018-19 season, he averaged 26.6 ppg, 6.8 apg and 4.1 rpg.
One negative is for the second season in a row Booker has failed to play more than 70 games in a season. A second negative is, while he shot 46.7%, Booker only drained 32.6% of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc. He will need to improve his long-range shooting stroke in the future. It seems like an odd thing to say since Booker was the 2018 All-Star Weekend 3-point contest champion in 2018. Booker did make 38.3% of his threes in 2018.
His most iconic moment in the 2018-19 season came on March 25th, 2019 in a 33 point loss to the Utah Jazz when clearly only Booker was able to make shots for the Suns. On that night, Booker had a season-high 59 points and 4 assists. He went to the free throw line 17 times, making 16 of them. Most impressive though was his 3-point shooting (5/8 for 62.5%) and he went 19-34 overall from the field. Booker is sure to provide Phoenix Suns fans with more electric nights like this.
