Injuries open the door for players to step up, and with the Phoenix Suns navigating injuries to both Jalen Green and Grayson Allen, there is a real chance that Collin Gillespie could slide into the starting lineup. He has shown command of the offense from the moment he checks in, and the team looks settled when he has the ball.
In the last game against the Atlanta Hawks, Ryan Dunn received the start instead of Gillespie. If you look at the plus/minus from that game, you might think that decision missed
the mark. Gillespie finished a +18 while Dunn finished a -24.
Plus/minus can fool you, though. In a single game it reflects who you share the floor with more than it reflects your individual production. Spread that stat across a long stretch and you get a clearer feel for a player’s real impact. A single night can create a false picture.
Gillespie’s +18 happened during the stretch when Dillon Brooks went into full attack mode against Atlanta. Gillespie added to it with 9 points in the second quarter, but it was Brooks swinging the momentum to close the first half on Monday night. Dunn’s -24 came during the early part of the game when the Hawks went up by 13. That swing was not tied to Dunn losing a matchup or getting hunted. It was simply the sequence of the game and the lineups on the floor at the time.
I still would not be opposed to seeing Collin Gillespie get a start with Phoenix, however. Grayson Allen should be back within a week, and the rotations will settle back in without Green, so this window gives the Suns a chance to see what Gillespie brings to the opening unit. It is a chance to find out if his presence helps the team set the tone early.
There is an old saying that it is not about who you start, it is about who you finish with, and Gillespie was out there in the final nine minutes on Monday. He finished that stretch as a -13, for anyone who keeps going back to single-game plus/minus. You can make a case that a more defensive presence, maybe Dunn, could have helped slow Atlanta’s run. Losses like that create doubt in every decision, every rotation, every on-court combination.
Gillespie has shown real upside this season. A team that cares about development should take a look at what the starting five looks like when he runs with Booker from the opening tip. He is the closest thing Phoenix has to a traditional point guard, and seeing that pairing to begin a game feels worth the experiment.
When you look at some of Gillespie’s defensive numbers on B-Ball Index, he has been productive in meaningful ways. He sits at an A- in ball screen navigation, off-ball chaser defense, and passing lane defense. He also holds an A in pickpocket rating. Those grades reflect effort, awareness, and consistency in the areas that matter for a guard trying to earn trust.
Starting Gillespie also shifts Ryan Dunn back to the bench, and that might be the best spot for him right now. The strongest versions of Dunn this season have come when he enters the game as a reserve. Opening with Dunn and Brooks gives you two point of attack defenders, which in theory should help your early defensive presence. Dunn as a starter in 9 games, however, carries a net rating of -2.1. As a bench player, he sits at +24.6. Similar to plus/minus, that number can swing based on lineups, although the gap stands out even in a small sample.
I prefer Dunn coming in behind Dillon Brooks rather than running alongside him. That approach keeps the defensive pressure steady throughout the game. It gives Phoenix a chance to stay connected on that end of the floor for longer stretches and prevents long lapses that can shift momentum.
A move like this is not about making a dramatic statement, it is about gathering information while the opportunity exists. Gillespie has earned a longer look with the way he organizes the offense and competes on defense, and the current injury situation gives the Suns a clean pocket to evaluate him with the starters. It strengthens your opening group, it balances your bench, and it offers more clarity on how this roster fits together.
If the goal is steady growth and sharper identity, giving Gillespie a start feels like a simple step that can reveal something valuable about the direction of this team.
