Suns participant who will shock NBA with breakout 2024-25 season

General, the 2023-24 season was a disappointment for the Phoenix Suns. They most actually didn’t envision getting swept within the first spherical of the playoffs in Kevin Durant’s first full season within the Valley, particularly after remaking the workforce with the additions of Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, and Grayson Allen.

Time will not be on the Suns’ facet of their purpose to lastly break by and win a championship. Durant remains to be taking part in at a excessive degree, however he is already 36 years of age, whereas Beal’s harm issues are solely going to be extra in regards to the older he will get. In addition they would not have management of their first-round picks till 2031, which makes it extra crucial that they rack up the wins and not less than mount a deep playoff run — a tall order within the loaded Western Convention.

All of the Suns can hope for now as they appear to around the roster out with high quality gamers to keep away from operating into the identical depth issues that they’ve encountered over the previous two seasons is to unearth a diamond within the tough. They’ve little to no avenues to take action contemplating their lack of draft property, in order that they must make each lottery ticket of theirs rely.

And in preseason, the Suns seem to have struck gold on Ryan Dunn — a participant who appears like he’ll be a fixture of the rotation for years to return.

Did the Suns simply unearth the following Mikal Bridges in Ryan Dunn?

As seen within the behind-the-scenes footage the Suns social media workforce posted earlier within the offseason, they particularly focused Ryan Dunn with their late first-round choose (at choose 22). However they have been assured that Dunn could be there at a later choose, in order that they made the shrewd transfer of buying and selling with the Denver Nuggets to maneuver again six picks whereas bringing in three extra draft property. Dunn, certainly, was nonetheless on the board by the point the twenty eighth choose of the draft rolled alongside.

On this Suns workforce, they do not precisely want gamers who can fill the scoring column. They’ve their massive three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to care for the scoring load, with Grayson Allen nonetheless round to grease the wheels offensively. They wanted somebody who can infuse the workforce with athleticism and two-way contributions, and Dunn seems primed to do exactly that.

Performances throughout preseason video games do not seamlessly translate to when the video games truly rely on the win-loss tally. However Dunn did not simply rack up stats for the Suns throughout their 118-114 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, he additionally handed the attention take a look at with flying colours.

Dunn has been flying in all places in preseason, unafraid to tackle the opposing participant’s finest perimeter participant on protection. He has been lively on the glass as effectively, and his physique language is screaming that he is able to contribute for the Suns as quickly as opening evening.

The 21-year-old wing was drafted by the Suns for his defensive contributions, so for him to indicate off on this finish of the courtroom this early in his profession is an efficient signal that James Jones and firm have certainly gotten themselves a possible long-term contributor. His offensive recreation, nevertheless, was a piece in progress.

Throughout his two seasons in Virginia, Dunn made simply 12 of his 51 three-point makes an attempt for a grand proportion of 23.5 %. That merely will not minimize it for an NBA wing. Opposing groups will merely enable Dunn to let it fly, as inducing a shot from him as an alternative of from the Suns’ extra gifted offensive gamers is already an enormous win in and of itself.

However Dunn confirmed on Sunday evening that he has been arduous at work on his jumpshot. It is one factor if Dunn made simply two or three triples. That already is an indication of progress. However he went out and made six of his 11 three-point makes an attempt on the evening — ending their win over the Nuggets because the Suns’ main scorer.

His jumpshot was fast and his capturing stroke was clean. He was catching and capturing with unabashed confidence, whether or not it was from above-the-break or from the corners. He additionally confirmed some guile off the dribble, and he thrived as a connective piece, racking up 4 assists as effectively on Sunday evening.

Little did everybody count on that Dunn’s offensive recreation would come round this quickly. Now, he’s a rookie, and he will likely be vulnerable to the occasional off-night. But when he could make sufficient of his open photographs, it will likely be arduous for Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer to maintain him off the ground.