With the Suns exceeding most people’s preseason expectations, we saw many guys shine when they were not expected to. This was all led by new head coach Jordan Ott, who took the team and changed the narrative. He wanted to change the culture in Phoenix and did so by getting players who fit his playstyle and the scheme he wanted to run. That was one invested in three-pointers, but also one who played fast-paced and caused havoc on the defensive end.
This allowed many players to succeed on this team,
but I think three players truly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Players that truly shocked the development of this team and the future of how the Suns will continue to build.
Collin Gillespie
The first of those and the biggest riser, honestly, has to be Collin Gillespie.
Gillespie started the season last year on a two-way contract and found himself with playing time with the Suns as injuries depleted the roster. In that short stint last season, he averaged 5.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.6 steals in 14 minutes over 33 games. This showed the Suns that if they invested in Gillespie, they could find a diamond in the rough, and they did. He was brought back on a one-year deal, something he wanted to sign, to prove his worth and show his true value.
Well, Gillespie did that from the jump, as he showed he was a lot better than anyone anticipated. He first came off the bench for the team, looking to be the great sixth man that many, including myself, thought was his best role, but then he continued to succeed, finding himself in the starting lineup when Jalen Green was injured for most of the season. This allowed Gillespie to get comfortable alongside Devin Booker, someone he showed last year worked well with.
Gillespie remained in the starting lineup throughout the year, even as everyone wondered whether it was too small. This is due to his tremendous effort and hard work on both ends throughout the year. Gillespie, who is known for his solid three-point shooting and playmaking, broke a franchise record for most threes in a season with 232, passing Quentin Richardson on the list.
He also plays on the defensive end, plays with that heart and grit this team embodies. He is fighting for loose balls, always trying to steal, and even though he may be the smallest on the court, he is fighting for offensive rebounds.
He finished the season, suiting up for 80 games and averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in almost 29 minutes. As you can see, every stat rose for Gillespie this season, and he worked hard to showcase it. He has proved that, regardless of what contract you are on in the NBA, if given the opportunity, you can find your path to greatness.
Jordan Goodwin
The next player I would like to acknowledge is another guard, Jordan Goodwin. Goodwin came back to the Valley this year looking for some redemption after not fitting in on his first stint. He was picked up off waivers by Phoenix when the Los Angeles Lakers waived him this offseason. That move would be one that I have been eternally grateful for all season long.
When Goodwin was signed, he had to compete against Jared Butler for the final roster spot. This left fans wondering whether he would even make the team, but he proved his playstyle was a perfect match for Ott’s system. A guard who could pick up anyone on the court and allow the Suns to have the defensive versatility with him out there. Goodwin had proven that in our guard lineups, it did not matter; he was going to disrupt the opponents’ wings and bigs, just as he could with opposing guards.
Goodwin also had a season with the Lakers, where he was a pretty solid three-point scorer last year. Even if his numbers dropped a tiny bit (38.2% to 37.1%) from three, he still proved he could hit them for this team. Especially in the big game against OKC, where he had a career high six threes that helped the Suns beat the Thunder for the first time this year.
Goodwin is the epitome of what Ott wants for this team on all cylinders, and he was rewarded for that by winning the Dan Majerle hustle award this season. This award goes to the player who shows the most heart and grit on the court for Phoenix. Goodwin showcased that all season long with his relentlessness to never give up on a play, even if it put him in a silly situation.
With Goodwin and Gillespie hitting free agency, these are two players the Suns need to bring back, as they fit exactly what Phoenix wants. Not only that, but both of them also work very well together in a bench backcourt that can squander their opponents. Similar to Gillespie, his stats rose with more playing time. In 22 minutes of play, Goody averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals, which was a beautiful sight to see.
Oso Ighodaro
Lastly, but certainly not least, let’s dive into one of the centers who has had this fanbase second-guessing him since he arrived in Oso Ighodaro. Ighodaro last year did not get much playing time under coach Budenholzer, but this year his trust in coach Ott has grown immensely. When the season started, Mark Williams was still ramping up for 5 on 5, and Khaman Malauch was unproven. This gave Ighodaro the keys to the frontcourt, leaving many fans puzzled. Especially with the Suns beginning the year by taking on Ivica Zubac and Nikola Jokic, it looked not great.
Many fans were turning on Ighodaro and ready to ship him out, but they were seeing Oso in a spot he is not used to. Then, when Williams came back, and Ighodaro was allowed to be the backup big, he began to flourish. He started learning to work with Gillespie in the pick-and-roll, and the two had a nice connection that was blossoming. One that would stick around all season long as the two Big East graduates had now found some chemistry.
Not only would Oso shine with Gillespie, but he would show off in other ways. One of those would be his defense and his rim protection. As he is not the best offensive big, Ighodaro has to be resilient on defense and not make mistakes. One memory that still sticks with me is when the Suns took on the Knicks at home back in January. The game was close late, and Oso Ighodaro was forced onto Jalen Brunson via a switch after missing two free throws, keeping the Suns up three. Many would be nervous in this situation, but Ighodaro showed no fear, not biting on any pump fakes and staying grounded.
This then forced Brunson to make a bad pass to Mikal Bridges, who was intercepted by Grayson Allen, who then threw it to Bridges for the possession.
Most would reward Allen for the play, and I definitely recognize that, but without Ighodaro, it never happens. The fact that he also missed both free throws in a close game, yet remained focused and unfazed, shows why Ott has trust in him.
He may not be the best big man or the flashiest, but famn, he does his job effectively as a backup big. Arguably one of the best in the league on his current contract, which is a scam. The iron man who was the only one to suit up for all 82 games this year averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks. Many people called me crazy for my predictions at the beginning of the season, but he proved all those doubters and haters wrong.
That being said, many of the Suns played to a great standard this year. All of them showed they can be viable for this team in one or another for the future, which is something we have not seen for years. This team was deep and has the depth to match opponents if needed, and will continue to do so in the future. If all three players are back next year, their development will only improve the team, and the Valley will witness another finals run in the future!
