{"id":490874,"date":"2026-02-19T20:25:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/490874\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T20:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:25:09","slug":"suns-gm-brian-gregory-confident-in-direction-knows-the-payoff-is-yet-to-come","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/490874\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns GM Brian Gregory confident in direction, knows the payoff is yet to come"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phoenix has a positive trajectory, but Suns GM Brian Gregory is not ready to take a victory lap because he knows how quickly things can change in the NBA.<\/p>\n

Identifying a culture and the right people to lead it were both critical parts of his first offseason in the seat, Gregory told\u00a0Arizona Sports\u2019 Bickley & Marotta\u00a0for Newsmakers Week.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of it starts off with the kind of people that you\u2019re bringing in, the character, the work ethic, the desire to be part of something that is being restructured,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cIdentifying those types of players, types of coaches, front office people \u2026 is critical, but you can only control what you can control.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot in the NBA as fragile as it is that is uncontrollable, and you have to respond when those things happen and respond in a positive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

He credits owner Mat Ishbia, head coach Jordan Ott, all the players and everyone in between for positive responses that have come as a result of the organization\u2019s alignment, a term the team leaned on heavily and became a massive talking point<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When suggested that it\u2019s been a collegiate style that has worked for the Suns \u2014 and many of their figures having strong ties back to Michigan State \u2014 Gregory pushed back and said it\u2019s simply \u201cthe right style for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe emphasize the work ethic and the preparation and coaches that want to coach, coaches that want to hold guys accountable, and then you got to have players that want that too,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cYou got to have players that want to be coached, players that want to be driven.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen that match happens \u2014 and that\u2019s where we\u2019re at right now \u2014 then you can have success that maybe no one saw around the corner happen on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

With its surprise 32-23 record coming out of the All-Star break that has the Suns threatening for a top-six playoff spot (1.5 games behind), Phoenix has already surpassed its expected win total of 30.5, per BetMGM<\/a>. No other team has passed its number.<\/p>\n

While some have questioned the Suns\u2019 ability to sustain the style of play because of the physical exertion required to play as hard as they do, Gregory suggested getting healthier now \u2014 with Jalen Green<\/a> potentially in the lineup more consistently \u2014 could naturally improve the depth and its ability to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing what two or three less minutes in a game will do to you over a two- or three-week span,\u201d Gregory said Wednesday. \u201cThose just keep adding up, so I think our depth is going to be critical for us as we move forward in these last 27 games.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that the promising first year of the new regime won\u2019t necessarily speed up the timetable of big decisions during offseasons, rather it makes the ride that much more fun to enjoy as it happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cPayoff is too strong of a word because we\u2019re still in the process, but it\u2019s a good feeling,\u201d the GM said. \u201cTo see our competitive level and the joy that our players play the game with, that\u2019s rewarding because I know that those are the framework for what can build successful teams and teams that challenge for championships.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t
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