Collin Gillespie isn’t just making the most of his opportunity - he’s redefining what it means to be a value player in today’s NBA. The Phoenix Suns, sitting at 15-13 and holding down the seventh seed in the Western Conference, have been one of the league’s early surprises.
And a major reason for that? The third-year guard out of Villanova who’s gone from two-way contract afterthought to a legitimate difference-maker.
Gillespie’s rise hasn’t just caught the attention of fans in Phoenix - it’s earned him a spot on Bobby Marks’ NBA All-Value Team, a list that highlights players delivering outsized production relative to their contracts. These are the kinds of players who shift games without shifting the salary cap. And Gillespie has absolutely earned his place among them.
Let’s look at the numbers. After breaking into the starting lineup in late November, Gillespie has averaged 16.6 points and 4.8 assists while shooting just over 40% from three.
That’s not just solid - that’s starter-level production on a team with playoff aspirations. And he’s had moments where he’s flat-out taken over.
His 28-point performance in a road win against the Lakers on December 1 was a statement. Not just to the league, but to his own locker room.
This guy belongs.
And this isn’t a flash in the pan. Gillespie had already started to turn heads after the 2025 All-Star break, when he averaged 9.6 points in just over 24 minutes per game - all while on a two-way deal. That momentum has carried over into this season, and the Suns have been better for it.
Between November 13 and December 1, Gillespie went on a tear. He averaged 18 points per game with eye-popping shooting splits: 50% from the field, 49% from three, and a perfect 100% from the line.
Add in 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and you’ve got a player who wasn’t just filling in - he was leading. The Suns went 6-4 during that stretch, and Gillespie was a huge reason why.
But as with any breakout story, the NBA adjusts. Over his last six games, Gillespie’s production has dipped slightly - 12.7 points per game on 38% shooting overall and 27% from deep.
That’s the league doing what it does best: studying film, identifying tendencies, and building game plans to take away your strengths. And that’s where the next chapter of Gillespie’s evolution begins.
This is the part of the season where the real work starts. The schedule hasn’t done him any favors - games against Houston, Minnesota, OKC, the Lakers, and two against Golden State is a gauntlet.
But it’s also a sign of respect. Teams are preparing for him now.
They’re circling his name on the scouting report. That’s when you know you’ve arrived.
Even Anthony Edwards took notice, giving Gillespie a shoutout after a game - and now the Suns’ team shop is selling T-shirts quoting Edwards on Gillespie’s game. That’s the kind of organic recognition that can’t be manufactured. That’s earned.
What comes next will define Gillespie’s long-term trajectory. This is where young players often hit a wall - not because they lack talent, but because the league forces them to evolve.
It’s like a rookie slugger in baseball who crushes fastballs for two weeks, then starts seeing nothing but sliders. The league wants to see if you can adjust to the adjustment.
And that’s exactly where Gillespie is right now. He’s in the middle of that fight - figuring out how to counter the counters.
He’s already shown he can thrive when the league isn’t looking. Now, with the spotlight on and defensive schemes tightening, it’s time to see if he can keep climbing.
Help is on the way, too. Once Jalen Green returns, Gillespie can settle into a more natural role, one where he can pick his spots and continue to develop his off-ball game and playmaking without having to carry the full load. That should open up more opportunities for him to build those next-level counters.
Through the first third of the season, there’s no question: Collin Gillespie has been one of the best value players in the league. His growth has been central to the Suns’ early success, and his emergence has given Phoenix a new dimension in the backcourt. Now comes the true test - can he keep producing when the league knows exactly what’s coming?
The next few weeks will tell us a lot. But one thing’s already clear: Gillespie isn’t just hanging on. He’s making a name for himself - and forcing the rest of the NBA to take notice.