Phoenix Suns

Despite dipping to 45 wins in 2022-23 after posting a franchise-record 64 the prior season, the Phoenix Suns still reached the conference semifinals for the third straight year. The Suns had a bit of an inconsistent first half as they battled injuries but finished strong and were undoubtedly lifted by the acquisition of Kevin Durant in a midseason trade. The 13-time All-Star played in just eight regular season games but averaged 26 points while boosting that number to 29 per night in Phoenix’s 11 postseason games. Devin Booker averaged a career-high 27.8 points per game in his eighth season while shooting just shy of 50 percent from the field, also a personal-best. Chris Paul played at a high level in his 18th season, averaging 13.9 points and 8.9 assists per game, becoming just the third NBA player to reach 11,000 career assists and the only one to record 20,000 points with that many dimes. In his fifth season in Phoenix, Deandre Ayton averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds while posting a double-double in 36 of his 67 games. Phoenix boasted the seventh-rated defensive unit, and the Suns eliminated the LA Clippers in five first round playoff games before succumbing to the eventual-champion Denver Nuggets in six games in the Western Conference semifinals.