Fantasy Basketball Exit Interview: Suns get swept in the first round, so what's next?

Nobody wants to be swept in the first round. The exit was far too soon, but the Suns exceeded all expectations, winning 45 games without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Jordan Ott built one of the most improved defenses in the league and got the most out of a roster few believed in. Losing to the league’s best team and defending champions in the opening round just highlights how far this group has come in such a short amount of time.

Let’s recap the Suns’ year and look ahead to next season.

The core

Devin Booker continues to carry the franchise as the primary scorer and playmaker. Though he finished far below his ADP in 9-cat leagues (63rd), his main counting stats remained elite in High Score, finishing 26th overall, averaging over 45 fantasy points per game (FPPG). I suspect he’ll be more efficient next year, which would bump him back into that third-round territory by draft season.

Dillon Brooks was a surprise, delivering a career-best 20 points per game while anchoring Ott’s defensive identity. He’ll generally be better for points leagues, but he showed real growth as the Suns' second scoring option with Jalen Green out for nearly 40% of the season.

Seeing Green for just 32 games wasn’t enough. Although it was more of the same — inefficient buckets with minimal contributions elsewhere. He couldn’t find his rhythm because of all of the injuries. Still, we know who he is and his long-term fit next to Booker is a legitimate question.

More Fantasy Exit interviews

• What’s next for 10 teams that missed the playoffs?
• What to watch for with losers from play-in tournament

The breakout - Collin Gillespie

With Green limited to just 32 games, Gillespie stepped into heavy minutes across 80 games (58 starts), securing a critical role in Phoenix’s rotation. The guy who went undrafted in real life and all fantasy leagues this season ended up breaking the Suns franchise record for 3s made in a season with 232 triples. A pretty wild feat and it helped him close out the regular season as an 8th-round value in 9-cat leagues.