We’re continuing our Bright Side series by exploring what success looks like for each Suns player in 2025–26.
For the second time in three seasons, guard Jordan Goodwin will start his NBA season as a member of the Phoenix Suns. After being an ancillary piece in the Bradley Beal trade two years ago, the Valley signed Goodwin when he has an opportunity to play valuable guard minutes for the team this year.
With Bradley Beal, Tyus Jones, and Monte Morris off the roster and only one of them being truly replaced, Jordan Goodwin has a chance to compete with Collin Gillespie for the backup point guard spot. Last season, Goodwin was a glue guy for the Lakers off the bench in 29 games. While his stats won’t wow you, he helped move the ball, guard the other teams top perimeter talent and was a reliable shooter, making 38.2% of his triples for the purple and gold. Los Angeles waived him last month so they could make room for Marcus Smart, which is who Goodwin should be compared to throughout the season.
With the two playing the same position and having similar frames, a successful season for Jordan Goodwin should be how his play compares to Smart’s. The cheaper and younger option, it would have been understandable if the Lakers kept him on the roster and opted to waive someone else when they signed Smart, or not have signed him and relied on Goodwin to develop after his strong campaign, even with Luka Dončić pushing for LA to sign him. Instead, the Lakers went ahead and signed the former Defensive Player of the Year.
For a Phoenix team that ownership and management has talked continuously about being tough and aligned, a strong season for Goodwin would be one where he makes sure the intensity and energy that was being displayed during the game before he got in, maintains when he’s in the lineup.
At 6’5”, he’s probably best suited playing both the guard spots on offense, but if he’s able to switch on to some 3’s in lineups where he’s playing next to Grayson Allen off the bench, he could give the Suns more lineup flexibility and open up more opportunities for himself to play alongside the starters in some rotations.
Since being traded from the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Offseason, Smart has been heavily injured, and when he’s played, hasn’t provided the same defensive prowess he was known for to start his career. Even if he has a bounce back season, if Jordan Goodwin outplay, or even keep pace for Smart’s production, it’ll be a win for both him and the Suns.
Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below.
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