Suns coach Mike Budenholzer reveals the Suns' starting lineup for the 2024-25 season: Tyus Jones in, Grayson Allen out

The 2024-25 Phoenix Suns starting lineup, according to coach Mike Budenholzer: Tyus Jones, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic.

“Obviously we feel like Tyus has established himself as a great starting point guard in our league and he will Be our starter,” Budenholzer told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. “If you put him on stage with Kevin, Brad, Book and Nurk.” [Jusuf Nurkic]We feel like we have a strong starting lineup. And a really strong bank behind it.

Four of the five starters are the same as last year. Jones, who signed a minimum contract this offseason, will replace Grayson Allen and relieve Booker of the responsibility of initiating the offense.

“Tyus can help us play faster,” Budenholzer said. “He’s great with the kick heads, he’s great at getting teammates involved in transition. But then also in the half field. He's a guy who's always been a high assist, low turnover guy. He can organize us. Everyone talks about how. “We have a lot of talent and hope he can enable them to do their best.

The fact that Jones will be in the starting lineup isn't exactly news. When he agreed to join the Suns, he told ESPN that the team had recruited him to be their starting point guard. Josh Bartelstein, the team's CEO, also referred to this in interviews with the Arizona Republic and Arizona Sports. If you thought Phoenix could ease this by getting a little weird — like making Beal the sixth man or Durant the nominal starting center — then Budenholzer has officially killed that.

This lineup is a bit small on the wing and lacks a perimeter stopper. However, there is a lot of playmaking and the potential to score a lot of points. The signing of both Jones and backup guard Monte Morris suggests that the Suns wanted to give their stars easier scoring opportunities. With Allen coming off the bench, Royce O'Neale filling the gaps for a full season, and the addition of Mason Plumlee, they have more depth than they did last season.

The big question now is how Phoenix will do it close games. Will Budenholzer turn to one of Allen or O'Neale in a difficult situation against an elite opponent? And if so, do Jones or Nurkic have to sit? Decisions like these are situational, but Budenholzer's coaching staff has certainly thought about it.