G League’s Valley Suns announce TV agreement ahead of Monday home opener

The Valley Suns will air 24 home games on Arizona’s Family Sports during their inaugural season.

That begins Monday when the Phoenix Suns’ G League team has its home debut at Mullett Arena against the Stockton Kings.

Play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell will call games on the network, the Valley Suns announced Friday. He has worked for Sun Devil Athletics and is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Valley Suns tip off their season Friday night against the Santa Cruz Warriors on the road.

How to find Arizona’s Family Sports channel on your TV

Arizona’s Family Sports can be found on the antenna at Channel 44 or 3.5 in the Phoenix area.

It is Cox Channel 13, Dish Channel 44, DirecTV Channel 32 and available on Fubo TV.

Suns excited for formation, debut of G League team

The Suns will not only use the Valley Suns as a training ground for potential NBA contributors but hope to develop talent on the business side.

“Everyone talks about the basketball side of it,” CEO and president Josh Bartelstein told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Friday. “The business side of it is important, too, where we can develop young talent. The future leaders are the ones who are going to sell tickets and sponsorships and marketing.”

Phoenix’s NBA team has three two-way players who are expected to shuttle between the G League squad and NBA roster: Collin Gillespie, TyTy Washington and Jalen Bridges.

“For us with our team and the (NBA’s tax) aprons, we’ve shown we can push above the aprons and that’s why (owner Mat Ishbia) is the best,” Bartelstein said, “but if you can find the guy in the G League who can contribute on a minimum contract next year and play on the Suns next year after being on the Valley Suns this year, the impact of that is immeasurable.

“It’s incredible value.”

Follow @kzimmermanaz