Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Shooting Guard, 6’5, 215lb, 23 years old, 2nd season
Of all the draft picks the Phoenix Suns have acquired over the last three seasons, Brea has flashed the least at the professional level. Coming into the NBA Draft, Brea was touted as one of, if not the best, shooters in his group. At Kentucky and Dayton, he was an above-40 % shooter from 3 on high volume. That shooting has not carried over to his NBA career so far, but it will be his calling card if he has a long NBA career.
The Suns desperately need shooting on the roster and are putting their trust in Luke Kennard and Colin Gillespie to carry the majority of the floor spacing they need this upcoming season. Kennard has a player option at the end of the season and could go elsewhere, which would leave Phoenix with just one sniper on the team.
If Brea can return to form after a disappointing showing in his rookie season and in summer league, he has a chance to stay with the Suns long-term because the best version of himself is exactly what the Suns are looking for. If Brea cannot turn it around this season, this will likely be his last year in the organization on a two-way contract.
Last Season
In Brea’s rookie season, he played 12 games and just 85 minutes for the NBA squad and 34 games with the Valley Suns. In a very limited sample size at the NBA level, Brea did connect on 43.3% of his attempts from long range. He played the second-fewest minutes of anybody in the organization last year, only ahead of CJ Huntley.
With the G-League affiliate Valley Suns, Brea had a much more impactful role. He played 34 minutes per game and scored 16.4 points on 39.8% from the field and 34.9% from 3 on 10.0 attempts per game. In the G League, Brea showcased his ability to shoot off the dribble as well as off the catch, and got to the free-throw line at a decent clip, but his efficiency was far too low for the level of competition he was facing which carried over into Summer League.
As a defender, Brea did not excel at either level because of his lack of athleticism, and for a player that at best projects to be an off-the-bench sniper in the NBA, that is expected as long as you consistently hit over 40% from long range. The good news for Brea is that he made it through an entire professional season healthy because of his medical history. In 2023, when he was playing for Dayton, he had stress fractures in his legs that limited him to using a wheelchair.
The bad news is that the shooting has to improve for him to survive at the NBA level.
|
GP |
MIN |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
STL |
FG% |
3PT% |
FT% |
OFFRTG |
DEFRTG |
+/- (TOTAL) |
|
12 |
7.0 |
3.8 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
41.7% |
43.3% |
1.00% |
101.8 |
106.0 |
-15 |
Contract and Roster Context
Brea enters the 2026-27 season on a one-year two-way contract after re-signing with the Suns in July. It will be his second two-way contract with the Suns, and he will have one two-way contract available to sign for the 2027-28 season to remain in Phoenix unless he earns his way onto the Suns on a standard contract.
What He Brings
Shooting. The most important skill in basketball. Brea is not an elite athlete, a high-level creator, an elite defender, or a dribble-drive guy, but if he can shoot it, he’ll have a spot on the Suns. That’s the main reason Collin Gillespie earned a big payday this offseason, and why the Suns went out and aggressively pursued Luke Kennard this offseason. Brea’s career in Phoenix and elsewhere in the NBA will come down to just how elite of a shooter he can be at the professional level.
While the make-or-break aspect of Brea’s game is his 3-point shooting, he does offer more than that. While Brea is undersized and an average athlete, he also sees the game at a high level. Rarely is Brea ever rushed and out of control. While he is not a player who is going to pressure the rim, he has shown flashes as a crafty midrange scorer. Brea is as polished as you can be when it comes to creating his own shot off the catch, off the dribble, and off movement; it all comes down to how consistent he is as a shooter.
What Needs to Improve
Brea has to show more consistency shooting the long ball. In an extremely limited sample size this season at the NBA level, he did shoot over 40% from 3, shooting 13-of-30 in the 2025-26 season. At the G League level, Brea did not shoot above 35% from 3 on 10.0 attempts per game. Most recently, Brea showed how streaky of a shooter he has been as a professional, scoring in single digits in multiple games and then exploding for 29 points in another game. Brea has to be a more reliable shooter to remain on the Suns roster.
If Brea can develop another skill outside of shooting, that will greatly improve his chances of remaining a Phoenix Sun past this season. Whether he improves as an isolation scorer, a playmaker, or becomes a better defender, it will help his case immensely. But again, it really comes down to Brea and his confidence in himself as a shooter.
Prediction
If you have made it this far, you can already guess how I feel this season goes for Brea. Unfortunately, the Suns are even deeper this season than they were last year, and this is likely Brea’s last year on the roster unless he makes a significant jump from his rookie season. The Suns now have even more guys on the roster that need playing time, especially at the wing position. The Suns’ newest two-way signing, Pat Spencer, fills more of a position of need as an on-ball creator and facilitator, as well as more grit and toughness that the Suns want from their role players. So Brea’s opportunity to contribute is getting squeezed out.
However, if Gillespie or Kennard miss significant time due to injuries this season, Brea may get a chance to have a role because he is the only other stereotypical shooter on the Suns bench. If he gets that opportunity, he will need to contribute similarly to how Jamaree Bouyea played last season to remain a Sun long-term.
Stat Prediction: 15 Games, 3.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG,1.0 APG, 40/38/95 shooting
Final Word
The Suns have as deep a bench unit as any team in the NBA, which is a good problem to have. There are casualties because of that, and Brea’s development may be one of them. Even if the Suns do move on from Brea, I believe he will still get more bites at the apple because of how well he could be as a shooter. The key for him will be to make the most of his opportunity, whether it’s in the G League or at the NBA level. If he does that, then it will be a successful season.
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