Royce O’Neale believes the Phoenix Suns have multiple players who could prove to be X-factors in the 2025-26 season. We asked O’Neale to pick one before the Suns’ practice at The Venetian Arena, Macau, on Thursday, and while he initially went with himself, he later changed his mind.
“I say I’m the X-factor, but I mean we got a lot of guys who could be X-factors on this team,” O’Neale said. “Every night it’s gonna be somebody different.”
Royce O’Neale thinks multiple players could prove to be X-factors for the @Suns in 2025-26.
“I say I’m the X-factor.” pic.twitter.com/bFy6sucakT
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) October 9, 2025
While the Suns have some contenders for that title, like Ryan Dunn, O’Neale could certainly prove to be one. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 2024-25, and shot an excellent 40.6% from beyond the arc. The 32-year-old impressed on the defensive end as well.
O’Neale is that classic 3-and-D player that teams cannot have enough of. There is always room for one more.
Despite O’Neale’s best efforts, though, the Suns were one of the biggest disappointments of last season. They finished 11th in the West with a 36-46 record and made major changes in the offseason.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are both gone, and there was some chatter about O’Neale heading out of town as well. A player like him won’t lack suitors, but he remains in Phoenix as of now.
The Suns had acquired O’Neale in a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies back in February 2024. The team hasn’t been all too successful in that time, but you’d argue this was one of the better moves they have made in recent times.
While there isn’t much optimism regarding the Suns following that disappointing season and the offseason departures, the mood within the camp remains optimistic. Jalen Green thinks they can be a lot better than they were last season, and if that ends up happening, they’d be one of the biggest success stories of the campaign.
The Suns did impress in their opening preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 103-81. They’ll now look for a repeat when they take on the Nets at The Venetian Arena on Friday at 8 AM ET.
