Shareef Abdur-Rahim is excited about the Valley Suns news

NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim is excited about the news that the Valley Suns, the Phoenix Suns' new G League team, will join the league.

Rahim joined Burns & Gambo Friday and said that with the new G-League team, the league will now have all 30 NBA teams with a G-League team for the first time.

“We are excited about everything Mat Ishbia and Josh (Bartelstein) are doing with the Suns,” said Rahim Burns and Gambo. “When Mat and his brother (Justin) were approved as owners, one of their first calls was to us and they told us they wanted a team for the Suns and wanted to develop players and coaches.”

Rahim said it felt “incomplete” that the Suns were the only team without a G League franchise after former Suns owner Robert Sarver sold the previous team, the NAZ Suns, to the Detroit Pistons in 2021.

“We weren't complete and there was always something going on,” Rahim said. “There were some provisions made when players were assigned and what would happen to their two-way players. Now that we have everyone, we're thinking about the league from everyone's perspective. It completes us and our connection to the NBA.”

The Valley Suns will debut in the 2024–25 season and play their home games at Mullett Arena in Tempe.