PHOENIX SUNS

Are Suns ready to join Trail Blazers, rest of NBA with a G League franchise?

Apr 26, 2023, 11:52 AM | Updated: 1:00 pm

The logo of the Northern Arizona Suns at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott, AZ. (Photo by Alec ...

The logo of the Northern Arizona Suns at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott, AZ. (Photo by Alec Henden/Cronkite News)

(Photo by Alec Henden/Cronkite News)

The Portland Trail Blazers made it official Wednesday and became the newest team to own and operate a G League franchise.

Will the Phoenix Suns – now the only NBA team to not operate a G League team – join them soon?

G League commissioner Shareef Abdur-Rahim seems to think so, telling Adi Joseph of CBS Sports that new owner Mat Ishbia is motivated to get the Suns back into the league.

“I think there’s motivation there (with new Suns ownership) to have a G League team,” Joseph reported Abdur-Rahim as saying.

It would not be the first time the Suns operated and owned a G League team.

In 2011, the Suns entered a multi-affiliation agreement with the Bakersfield Jam before making that exclusive in 2014.

The Suns purchased the Jam in 2016, moved the team to Prescott and rebranded them as the Northern Arizona Suns.

Upon buying the Jam, the Phoenix Suns became the 15th team to join the G league as an owner. In 2020, they sold the Northern Arizona Suns to the Detroit Pistons.

Initially, the team was slated to play a final season representing Arizona, but when the G League went to a single site season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they balked at participating.

The team began play as the Motor City Cruise in Dearborn, Mich., for the 2021-2022 season.

More than half of the players on NBA rosters have G League experience and six NBA head coaches have spent time in the G League.

The G League also serves as the league’s testbed for rules now used at the NBA level, including the coach’s challenge and the 14-second shot-clock reset rule.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

9 hours ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

1 day ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

1 day ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

Are Suns ready to join Trail Blazers, rest of NBA with a G League franchise?