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3 standout quotes from Suns Media Day
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- 3 standout quotes from Suns Media Day
Media Day can be filled with sound bites that lack introspection, observations that aren't particularly earth-shattering, and run-of-the-mill responses that ultimately provide little insight. But every year, there are a few hidden gems along the way that make you stop, think, and react. Maybe they're funny. Maybe they're unbelievably introspective. Either way, they're part of the reason Media Day is one of my favorite events of the year.
While the setting isn't quite as personal as a media scrum, you still get unique responses that reveal a player's personality, provide insight into their journey and the struggles they've experienced, or showcase their mindset and approach to the game. In years past, I think of players like Nigel Hayes-Davis, Grayson Allen, and Cameron Johnson, all of whom provided impactful quotes about their stories, how they apply their knowledge to basketball, and what their expectations were for the upcoming season.
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This year, there were numerous players whose thoughts I was particularly interested in hearing. The 2026–27 Phoenix Suns are an incredibly deep and unique team, operating on two separate timelines that are only a few years apart. The organization is attempting to accomplish multiple things simultaneously, which makes hearing from every player that much more interesting.
So as I sat there absorbing everything everyone had to say, I decided to identify the three most interesting comments I heard at Suns Media Day.
Collin Gillespie on Overcoming Physical Adversity
First up? Collin Gillespie. His story is unique. He's somebody who battled his way from the G League to a two-way contract, eventually earning a guaranteed deal before entering free agency this past summer. All of that hard work culminated in a four-year, $48 million contract that will keep him in Phoenix through the 2029–30 season.
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And when he spoke about his journey, he reflected on what it means to keep fighting, to never quit, and to use the adversity you experience as an opportunity to better yourself.
"I've gone through multiple injuries where I could have just quit, and I thought about it. Obviously I was like, tore my MCL, broke my leg, dislocated my ankle…but I just didn't quit. And I kept putting my head down. I kept going to work. I kept showing up every day. And couple years later, you're on the other side of it and you come out a better version of yourself. Not only a basketball player, but a better man."
Inspirational words, indeed. I'd recommend playing that clip for anybody facing adversity, because so much of overcoming it is mental. It's about understanding that you're going to get knocked down in life. Guess what? You will. Failure is how you learn, and those experiences are ultimately what help you grow. What matters is how you get back up.
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Khaman Maluach on Vocal Defense & Caring for Teammates
Then there was Khaman Maluach, the second-year big man I've grown to love covering, primarily because he has a knack for delivering insightful quotes you never see coming. "Tired is in the mind." That's something he said last year, and it's a quote I find myself thinking about constantly.
Plenty of his teammates have noticed Maluach's growth as a player, both physically and mentally, and the progress he's made on both ends of the floor. But there's more to that development than his physical abilities and understanding of the game. Maluach has also demonstrated an awareness of his role on this team and what it takes to be a productive big man, including the importance of being vocal and communicating with his teammates.
"I'm the center and I'm the line of defense and I get to see everything that my teammates don't see. So I view it in a different perspective. Sometimes I'll be in my head when I don't talk a lot. Imagine another center running to screen my point guard or my teammate, and I don't tell them the screen is coming and they get hit, and they get hurt. So I see it that way: I've got to call everything out, and I got to let them know what is coming cause they don't see what is behind them."
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Maluach understands that part of his responsibility as a center is to read the opposing offense and serve as the Mike linebacker of the defense, communicating with his teammates and putting them in positions to succeed. Because to Maluach, it's about team success. His focus is on winning and understanding how his individual responsibilities contribute to that goal, rather than chasing personal statistics.
"A successful season to me is my team winning," Maluach shared. "Playing in the playoffs, being healthy, and having a better record from last year. So that's what a successful season looks like to me. To me, it's not individual numbers or individual goals. I mean, I have individual goals, but the team comes first."
Dillon Brooks on Daoism and Martial Arts
And then there's a touch of comedy, which, of course, comes from Dillon Brooks. Probably the last guy you'd expect it from, given his national reputation as an intimidator, an in-your-face defender, and, quite frankly, a son of a bitch. But we know here in Phoenix that it's a compliment in all the right ways.
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Brooks gave us one of the more entertaining moments of Media Day when he was asked about spending time in China and learning kung fu. Of course, his response went beyond the humor, eventually revealing how much he values focus. It's something we're already familiar with, considering his pregame meditation routine, which consists of standing perfectly still and staring into the abyss of nothingness before games.
"If anybody pisses me off, I've got a dropkick…especially the ones in stripes."
But he went on to say, "I learned the opposite of that…learned a little way of life, it's called Daoism…energy. You know, they call it the pure way of living, simple living…center myself in the hotel rooms or getting ready for a game, staying focused."
Quotes like these make Media Day worth attending. Somewhere between the predictable answers and the annual declarations about having a great summer, you get moments that reveal who these players actually are. Gillespie reminds us that perseverance pays off. Maluach demonstrates that leadership begins with looking out for the people around you. And Brooks somehow manages to combine inner peace with threatening to dropkick an official. Three completely different personalities, three different perspectives, and three reminders that the people playing this game are often more interesting than the game itself.
