Peat turned down a hefty NIL deal<\/a> to return to Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m all about development. I\u2019m 19 years old so there\u2019s a lot I can grow into and get better at,\u201d Peat said. \u201cTalking with BG and coach about their player development, that’s the number one thing they harp on. I\u2019m gonna come in here and work hard every day and try to get better as a young player.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gregory believes Peat\u2019s physicality and unique skill set will address on-court issues the team had a year ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two key areas for us are defensive pressure and offensive rebounding,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cIt\u2019s an area that he\u2019s really good at right now and he\u2019s only going to get better at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peat will jockey for minutes in the Suns\u2019 frontcourt after the recent acquisition of Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFull circle: Valley product Koa Peat returns to Phoenix as Suns\u2019 first-round draft pick<\/p>\n
Addison Lenhart, Cronkite News
\nJune 29, 2026<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2013 Former Arizona high school basketball star and Phoenix native Koa Peat was just 10 years old when the Suns drafted Devin Booker. As a young fan, he attended the first game of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember those days seeing the team compete and seeing the team win,\u201d Peat said at his introductory news conference on Friday at the Suns\u2019 practice facility. \u201cSeeing the crowd be involved with the team was super special and this is a super special place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Five years later, Peat will have the chance to play in front of that very same crowd. The Suns selected the Gilbert Perry High School graduate and University of Arizona standout with the last pick (No. 30) of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so excited about this opportunity to bring this young man into our franchise,\u201d Suns GM Brian Gregory said. \u201cWinning is really important. You have to continue to bring in guys that know what winning\u2019s all about.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a full-circle moment for Peat and his family. His father Todd is a former NFL offensive lineman who played with the Phoenix Cardinals in the 80s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHis family has built an amazing athletic legacy here in the Valley and throughout the country,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cThey\u2019re ingrained in the Valley which is a unique situation for us and one that we\u2019re very excited about. This community already has an unbelievable bond with Koa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Peat\u2019s resume so far in his young career is filled with nothing but winning. During his four seasons at Perry, Peat led the school to state championships in each one, while simultaneously capturing four gold medals with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he has a goal or a dream like being in the NBA, nothing is going to stop him,\u201d said Sam Duane Jr., Peat\u2019s high school coach. \u201cHe sacrificed a lot growing up. You have to give credit for the work that he\u2019s put in to make himself the player he is.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following his decorated high school career, Peat signed to play for coach Tommy Lloyd at the University of Arizona. He helped guide the Wildcats to one of their best seasons in program history as they won 36 games this past season en route to their first Final Four appearance since 2001.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKoa\u2019s value is a lot higher than the number he got picked at,\u201d Lloyd said. \u201cIf you\u2019re basing this draft on impact on winning, Koa to me is a guy that\u2019s a top-10 type pick.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Peat\u2019s presence at both Arizona and Perry was felt mostly in the paint. The Wildcats sported one of college basketball\u2019s most physical frontcourts, thanks in large part to the 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward\u2019s services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s gifted with his body,\u201d Duane said. \u201cHe probably plays with more force than any player I\u2019ve ever had. Some of his dunks in practice, the ball would go through, hit the floor and bounce almost back up to the rim.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Suns entered the 2026 NBA Draft without a first-round pick but acquired the 30th selection in a four-team deal involving the Lakers, Knicks and Mavericks. The organization was determined to land Peat according to Lloyd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey started to work trades for Koa a lot earlier than the 30th pick,\u201d Lloyd said. \u201cThey really wanted him. Koa ended up in a situation where they want to rebuild with tough, hardworking, blue-collar kinda guys, and he fits that billing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gregory said Peat reflects the type of culture the Suns are trying to establish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHis work ethic, his character, his ability and desire to continue to improve,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cAll of those things are important for where we\u2019re at and where we want to get to.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prior to the draft, speculation swirled regarding Peat\u2019s potential landing spot. Many analysts initially believed Peat could be a lottery pick, but a shaky combine performance fueled concerns about his shooting and readiness for the league. It\u2019s rumored Peat turned down a hefty NIL deal to return to Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m all about development. I\u2019m 19 years old so there\u2019s a lot I can grow into and get better at,\u201d Peat said. \u201cTalking with BG and coach about their player development, that’s the number one thing they harp on. I\u2019m gonna come in here and work hard every day and try to get better as a young player.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gregory believes Peat\u2019s physicality and unique skill set will address on-court issues the team had a year ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two key areas for us are defensive pressure and offensive rebounding,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cIt\u2019s an area that he\u2019s really good at right now and he\u2019s only going to get better at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peat will jockey for minutes in the Suns\u2019 frontcourt after the recent acquisition of Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.<\/p>\n
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