The Phoenix Suns may have surprised a few people with their nice start to the season, but that doesn’t mean everyone on the roster has contributed in the way they would have liked. Guys like Isaiah Livers may continue to eat up minutes and prove they belong in The Valley, but others are going down.
Nigel Hayes-Davis is now completely out of action in Phoenix.
Consider former EuroLeague MVP Nigel Hayes-Davis, who despite not getting much of a chance to impress head coach Jordan Ott early in the season, is now completely out of the rotation. Fans were excited when the organization picked him up from Fenerbahçe in Turkey this summer, but there has been no reason to cheer since.
Nigel Hayes Davis is on a fully guaranteed contract and he hasn’t given us anything all season https://t.co/jPrVCyLGQ0
— 1⚡️ (@d6ook) November 17, 2025
He had 11.2 minutes of action in October and although he was firmly part of the bench unit, he had no signature moments on the pitch. Coach Ott clearly prefers offensive pace and the ability to cover multiple positions and switch defensively in certain matchups, but Hayes-Davis has provided neither.
The games pass him by when he’s there, which is why it was no surprise that Livers started to take his place on the second unit. His body type and playing style are more suited to clashing with other forwards, while he also shoots over 35 percent from deep. Compare that to Hayes-Davies, who played and logged 5.2 minutes in November a single three-pointer all season.
His highest score on the season so far is seven in an early loss to the LA Clippers, while he has a net rating of minus 26.6. Yes, you read that correctly. At a time when defenses are clicking, it’s telling that the Suns are giving up 121.7 points when he’s on the field. Only the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards allow more.
The Suns have quickly outgrown the veteran, which is a shame because he deserved another shot in the league. His contract for this season is fully guaranteed, but it’s hard to see Phoenix convincing another team to even give them a second-round pick for his services. Returning to Europe seems the best option, and that will eventually happen.
If the Suns had known this would happen, and it was a risk worth taking, they might have been able to keep a player like Jared Butler, who warmed up to them during the preseason. He too could have gone the same way as Hayes-Davis, and he currently plays in Serbia. But considering the franchise had just signed additional point guard coverage, it would have made more sense.
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