Valley Suns crowd helps lift them to home debut win

Heading into the Valley Suns’ home opener at Mullett Arena on Monday night, head coach John Little was hoping for an atmosphere similar to the one Arizona State has for their hockey games in the same venue: rowdy and raucous.

“I’m hoping it’ll be a college atmosphere,” Little said. “There’s some really cool environments around the G League, and I’m really hoping this can be one that we can add to that as well.”

As the Suns took the court for warmups, there was certainly a palpable energy in the air. Many fans already donning Valley Suns gear could be seen sprinkled throughout the crowd, as well as plenty of those in attendance sporting Phoenix Suns jerseys from Devin Booker to Connie Hawkins. Suns names such as Rex Chapman, Cedric Ceballos and James Jones were in the house too, as well as G League commissioner Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

The Valley Suns mascot Ray got in on the action too. Ever the stoic guy, Ray refused to comment but seemed to enjoy high-fiving fans, throwing T-shirts into the crowd and slamming home a few dunks off a trampoline (as well as a botched alley-oop attempt), head bobbing all the way around the arena.

While it may not have matched the hockey vibe, it wasn’t too dissimilar from an NBA Suns game where the crowd is engaged throughout. At one point a group of fans in one section unsuccessfully tried to get the wave going. As the game went along, the crowd got more and more into it. 

“It’s incredible,” season ticket-holder Matt O’Connor said. “I’ve been looking forward to this for so long.”

The crowd was at its loudest when Suns two-way player TyTy Washington Jr. stole the ball and lobbed it up to fellow two-way Jalen Bridges for an emphatic jam midway through the third quarter.

“It was a great atmosphere and I hope whenever our next home game is, they bring it again,” Bridges said.

Washington concurred.

“The more we can have special plays like that and get the crowd going is always nice,” Washington said. “It’s the first time the city had a G League team, just to see all the support that came out, it really meant a lot.”

Valley Suns secure win in home debut

The Valley Suns were largely in control throughout thanks in no small part to the effort of Bridges on Stockton Kings forward Terry Taylor. Because of the performance, Bridges earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Game chain. After the game, Bridges posted a picture of him wearing the golden necklace and black sunglasses to his Instagram story.

“We had a big point of emphasis on keeping them off the boards, especially Terry Taylor,” Bridges said. “And that was my matchup all night and I had nine defensive rebounds.”

It helped that the Valley Suns were fully in control throughout, getting by with a 108-100 win.

For Washington, it was more than just a team’s debut and a home win, but a homecoming of sorts as well. Washington grew up in Tempe and said at Media Day about two weeks ago that it would be special to play in the city he grew up in. The guard had about 20 family members and friends in attendance at Mullett Arena. 

“It’s special, man,” Washington said after the game. “Growing up here, been able to play here my whole life, went to college elsewhere, been pro elsewhere, so just being able to be back at the highest level is always cool.”

The moment wasn’t lost on coach Little either.

“To be back here in Phoenix, be a two-way [player], be on the Suns, the team he grew up looking up to, this has to be awesome,” Little said.

Ultimately, the crowd lived up to the expectations Little had before the game.

“This is an awesome arena. This is an awesome place,” Little said. “For the most part, I think we got a great home court, great fans, everything. Guys are enjoying it. They’re loving it on the sideline. They’re smiling. It’s a cool place to be.”