The Phoenix Suns announced that their new G League affiliate will be called the Valley Suns. The team will begin play with the 2024-25 G League season.
Phoenix sold their G League affiliate to the Detroit Pistons ahead of the 2021-22 season. Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein was part of making that acquisition happen for the Pistons. Now, he’s on the other side of bringing a G League affiliate back to the Suns organization.
“Ironically enough, I was the one on the other side buying the team from the Suns and getting it to Detroit, and now three years later, I’m here,” Bartelstein laughed. “It’s really, really important. I mean, the G-League is a staple of many NBA franchises.”
The Suns had been the only team without a G League affiliate. The Portland Trail Blazers launched the Rip City Remix last season, leaving Phoenix the lone unaffiliated NBA franchise.
The G League now has 31 teams. The Mexico City Capitanes are the only unaffiliated G League team, as G League Ignite has ceased operations.
