The Phoenix Suns are having one of the more disappointing seasons in the NBA this year. After a surprising 48-win 2013-14 campaign, the team suffered a setback last season, and have really taken a dive in 2015-16.
The team is currently on a nine-game losing streak, which includes losses to the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Sacramento Kings, and most recently, a 20-point blowout to the Los Angeles Lakers. Times are not good in Phoenix.
What could possibly be the reason for the Suns’ troubles this year? Team owner Robert Sarver thinks it’s “millennial culture”.
Sarver used Markieff Morris as an example, saying that Morris hasn’t been able to shake off his brother’s departure from the team from July of 2015.
“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said to The Arizona Republic. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason and he can’t seem to recover from it.
Morris has been asking for a trade ever since the team got rid of his brother, and has had issues on and off the court. His most recent incident came when he threw a towel at head coach Jeff Hornacek after a heated exchange. It would result in a two-game suspension for Morris.
This season, Morris has averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and two assists, numbers that are below the standard he set as far back as two seasons ago when the Suns surprised the NBA.
“I’m not sure if it’s the technology or the instant gratification of being online. But the other thing is, I’m not a fan of social media,” Sarver said. “I tell my kids it’s like Fantasy Land. The only thing people put online are good things that happen to them, or things they make up. And it creates unrealistic expectations. We’ve had a number of setbacks this year that have taken their toll on us, and we haven’t been resilient. Therefore, it’s up to our entire organization to step up their game.”
Things won’t be getting easier anytime soon for the Suns, who will face the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat at home before going on a three-game road trip, where they will face young, talented teams in Indiana, Boston, and Minnesota also filled with millennials.
