The Phoenix Suns were handed a dose of reality Monday as the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder got underway.

Suns handed reality check by Thunder-Spurs WCF

In the opening round, the Suns got a firsthand look at how good the Thunder are, but the high-level competition in the WCF reset the standard of what it’s going to take to win in the West.

Not only are the Thunder and Spurs playing at a historically elite level, but they are also two of the league’s younger teams primed to dominate for years to come. Where does that put the Suns?

The team’s core was able to win 45 games in 2025-26, but what does the franchise need to do to interrupt the title windows that both San Antonio and Oklahoma City appear to be in?

PHNX Suns discusses the WCF, the Suns’ timeline of contention and taking a look back at Booker’s performance against this very same Thunder team.

Follow the show: @PHNX_Suns, @ErikRuby, @GilMcGregor_, @Espo and @StephenPG3!

0:00 – Intro

2:00 – Just How Good Are OKC and San Antonio?

16:35 – Is the West TOO GOOD and Does it Affect the Suns Teambuilding?

36:40 – Grading Devin Booker’s Controversial Postseason

50:00 – The Eastern Conference Finals Starts TONIGHT