Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Doug McDermott #7 of the Sacramento Kings (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Halfway through the first season of his NBA career, Phoenix Suns rookie swingman Ryan Dunn has kept life in perspective.
“This is something that I dreamed for, and this is something that God has given me, the opportunity just to play,” Dunn told RG in an exclusive interview in Cleveland. “Mentally, just trying to do my job, not trying to overthink too much. Just go out and play and have fun.”
Making the leap to the pros after two seasons at Virginia in Tony Bennett’s final moments at the helm, the Suns selected Dunn with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Following an impressive showing in training camp and the preseason, he was inserted into the rotation in a minimal capacity.
But with Bradley Beal out, Dunn's starting debut would take place by just Game 3 against the Dallas Mavericks. He went out and dropped 13 points, nailing three triples on six attempts in a winning effort for the team’s home opener. Though it was only temporary at the time, it was clear that he made an instant impression.
First-year Phoenix head coach Mike Budenholzer appreciated what he brought to the table off the ball and playing alongside the team’s creators. Still a part of the rotation, Dunn stayed ready for the call.
He’d be in the starting five from Nov. 10 to Nov. 20, as both Beal and Kevin Durant were battling bothersome calf injuries. Decimated without two of their top players, the Suns only won one of those seven contests. Phoenix was reeling, but the recently-turned 22-year-old was gaining invaluable experience.
Fast-forward two months later, and Dunn has become an everyday starter for the Suns. In an effort to find a spark, Budenholzer looked to the rookie forward in lieu of the ailing Beal beginning on Christmas Day. It’s a responsibility Dunn doesn’t take lightly.
“It means a lot,” Dunn said. “I think they have a lot of trust in me, and I just try to come out and do my job every night. I'm not trying to be perfect in any aspect. I'm trying to just play hard and compete, and I think that's gotten me a lot more minutes on the floor. I'm forever grateful for this staff and this team believing in me. I'm just trying to do the best to help our team win.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Dunn plays a pivotal part in Phoenix’s top defensive five-man unit. Alongside Durant, Devin Booker, Tyus Jones and Mason Plumlee, the Suns are allowing a paltry 88.0 points per 100 possessions. It’s the team’s second-most used lineup at 87 minutes.
Bolstering that interior, just recently, the Suns traded for Nick Richards, which sent Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets.
“It helps a lot,” Dunn told RG. “With the perimeter, we've got to guard that well. If someone gets past us defensively, we have Nick and Mason to help clean up on the backside. His kind of bruiser, strong body can help us a lot.”
Individually, Dunn has faced off with Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball, Lauri Markkanen, James Harden, and LeBron James.
And though he’s had his fair share of foul trouble with his aggressiveness – he averaged about three-and-a-half hacks over the team’s last seven games before a clean showing in Brooklyn – there has been zero backdown from the Virginia product. So much so that fans around the team are giving his lockdown abilities a nickname: “The Dunngeon.”
Dunn leads his class with a 40.1% defended field goal percentage and ranks in the top five in the NBA as a whole among those who’ve guarded at least 300 shot attempts. According to the Suns on social media, that currently stands as the best figure by a rookie since Luguentz Dort in 2019-20.
On the offensive end, Dunn is finding harmony between making simple plays and utilizing his ridiculous hops. At 5.6%, he holds the lowest turnover percentage in the league. If he catches the ball in the half-court, it’s likely going up for a shot in the corner, or it’s a high-percentage floater near or outside of the restricted area.
Closer to his torrid 11-for-25 start out of the gate prior to cooling down in November and December, his three-ball has gotten back to a 36.4% clip this month, too.
Of course, you can’t miss the most exciting part of his game. If the Suns get a steal or a stop, you’ll notice Dunn sense it and take off in an instant.
Get your cameras out for a getaway slam.
“I think that's a gift that God gave me, my athleticism, me being long and athletic and getting in those open breaks,” Dunn said.
"It helps me a lot being able to soar through the air and either trying to dunk it or trying to lay it up, or even on the defensive end, trying to block somebody or just trying to do that.”
He can do that on putbacks as well, as we saw an emphatic right-hand deposit off the cylinder in Cleveland on Monday afternoon. Crashing the glass for extra opportunities and providing second chances has been another focus area for Dunn. He’s delivered on that promise in all but two games since Dec. 25, averaging 1.7 offensive rebounds per contest.
Understanding Phoenix's star power, Dunn has honed in on doing his best to play off of the top guys.
“I mean, when you have guys like Kevin, Book and Brad, you've just got to find ways to succeed in that world,” Dunn told RG. “So kind of cutting, offensive rebounding, guarding the best players and hopefully getting rebounds and outlets to get out and run. Even having those guys believing in me when they're getting doubled and pass, just knocking shots down.
“That's probably the best way that they help me succeed. Just being ready in those aspects. Even sometimes, if I have the ball in my hand and make a play, they believe in me as well.”
Their impact on Dunn may be even bigger behind the scenes. He is grateful for the chance to team up with three of the best players in the NBA, who have been doing this for a decade.
“They go hard on every single rep,” Dunn said. “Everything that they do, it's never something that you take for granted. They have their own little regimens themselves, and I've been trying to watch that from afar."
As the All-Star break approaches, Dunn has made a name for himself quickly. There are areas to improve and things to get better at, including making more winning plays for a Phoenix team that is only 22-21 in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Make no mistake about it, though: Dunn is meeting the moment.
“Just go out and have fun,” Dunn said.
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Spencer Davies
