{"id":261383,"date":"2025-09-28T13:37:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T13:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/261383\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T13:37:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T13:37:09","slug":"phoenix-suns-have-competitive-scrimmage-day-3-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/261383\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Suns have ‘competitive’ scrimmage Day 3 training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"play\"<\/p>\n

Collin Gillespie is a skilled basketball player, Suns head coach says<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott described Collin Gillespie as a skilled basketball player and praised him for his work during the offseason.<\/p>\n

Diannie Chavez and Diana Payan\/The Republic<\/p>\n

The Phoenix Suns<\/a> scrimmaged on Day 3 of training camp Saturday, Sept. 27, at the team\u2019s practice facility as they continue to display a high level of competitiveness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWent well,\u201d Suns first-year head coach Jordan Ott said. \u201cThat was our plan to just install principles, our base on both sides of the ball on the first day. Second day, play a little bit and today we told them ahead of time that this was a scrimmage day. Split up into two teams, got after it. Really, really competitive even until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Suns were expected to take off Sunday and resume training camp Monday, Sept. 29. They\u2019ll play their preseason opener Friday, Oct. 3, against the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> in Palm Desert, Calif.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s been a great three days,\u201d Suns guard Grayson Allen said. \u201cOur live play has been super competitive between both groups and our breakdowns, stations at the beginning of practice have been really good with our teaching. Focusing on what are principles are, what we\u2019re going to do on both ends this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suns veteran forward Royce O\u2019Neale echoed Ott\u2019s observation, saying the players are adjusting and figuring out their roles.<\/p>\n

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Jordan Ott confirmed Mark Williams isn’t injured as the Suns had a scrimmage today.<\/p>\n

Nick Richards, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro have been getting most of the work as far as the bigs in camp.<\/p>\n

“He’s in a good place. We want Mark to know is we care about him this year and going\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Azhr3FoD43<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cSetting an identity and I think just having fun,\u201d O\u2019Neale said.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neale sees similarities to what the Cleveland Cavaliers ran last season with Ott serving as an assistant under Kenny Atkinson to what the Suns are installing on offense.<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers led the NBA in points per game at 121.9 points a game.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertain concepts, certain things we can do on offense to help us out with cutting, spacing, the way we want to play,\u201d O\u2019Neale said. \u201cI think JO (Ott) has been doing a great job implementing that in our offense, utilizing the guys that we got to play to our best ability. Everybody is learning as much as we can and being in the right position to make plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen talked about the importance of ball movement and player movement and how that\u2019s different from the way they functioned offensively last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the ball swinging side to side, that creates advantages for guys on the weak side,\u201d Allen said. \u201cWe talk about Jalen (Green) getting downhill, Jalen gets downhill, they sink to the big and skip (the ball) to the weak side. A little different way to get the same result that we\u2019ve done the last two years, but now we have different personnel. Those advantages to the weakside, we\u2019re just going to get to them differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Suns landed Green from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade before the 2025 draft. An explosive talent, Green is being put in position to score and create for others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe system is built around those guys,\u201d Ott said. \u201cElite players, you build the system around those guys. With Jalen, just give him space. He\u2019s so dynamic with the ball in his hands. Just to give him the gaps to play in space, to keep it simple. We\u2019ll obviously have some rim pressure. We can put some pressure on the rim with a roller, and then at times, be aware of where his outlets are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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