Ryan Dunn has given the Phoenix Suns exactly what a player on the bubble needs in preseason: a clean, convincing run when the lights came on.
With the Suns carrying sneaky depth into the 2026-27 season, the pressure on the former first-round pick is obvious. Ryan Dunn is trying to prove he can still matter in this rotation, and head coach Jordan Ott handed him a real opening. Dunn has made the most of it.
In the recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Ott rested his starters and Dunn jumped into the starting lineup. He played 23 minutes, second only to Jamaree Bouyea’s 28, and matched Bouyea with a team-high 15 points. Best of all for Dunn, he was perfect from the field, hitting all 6 of his shots while not taking a single attempt from three-point range.
That last part may be the cleanest path forward for him. Dunn’s confidence has too often seemed tied to whether his outside shot is dropping, and when it hasn’t, his game has tended to sag with it. This preseason stretch suggests a simpler formula: keep the shot diet manageable, lean into what he already does well, and let the rest follow.
What he does well still matters. Dunn remains a useful defender, and the Suns have seen enough flashes to know he can bring length, effort, and real disruption on that end. The idea that he’d become the next Mikal Bridges has already been dialed back, but Phoenix can still use the version of Dunn who defends hard and gives them quality minutes in smaller doses.
That shift in roster construction also matters. The Suns don’t need Dunn to turn into a starting forward next to Devin Booker anymore. Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges are set to handle most of those minutes, which leaves Dunn with a clearer lane: shorter stints, defensive responsibility, and a chance to carve out a real role that fits the team’s current shape.
The opportunity, though, is still fragile. Mark Williams’ injury opened the door for Dunn to show what he can do, but Williams will eventually be back.
Bouyea is fighting for minutes wherever he can find them, and Pat Spencer is trying to turn his two-way deal into something more permanent. On top of that, the Suns still have to make a call on Duop Reath before the season, while Haywood Highsmith remains in The Valley.
So the path for Dunn is still crowded. But given how last season ended and where he stood before this preseason run, simply being in the mix again is a meaningful step. More than that, he’s taken the chance and made it count.
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Suns Rotation Question Gets Tougher With New Shooter Suddenly Sidelined
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Even so, the timing adds another layer to a rotation battle that was already worth watching. Kennard was brought in to be a meaningful part of the offense, not just a depth piece, and any missed time slows the chance to get him comfortable in his new setting. For a Suns team trying to sharpen its shooting and identify reliable lineup combinations, losing a new weapon even briefly makes the final tune-up a little less straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Suns May Be Closing In On A Crucial Oso Ighodaro Decision
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The Suns clearly see him that way, viewing Ighodaro as a valuable piece who is trending upward and worth securing on something that works for the team long term. The timing matters too, because a decision could come in the next few days, leaving Phoenix with a chance to settle an important frontcourt question before it becomes a louder one. [Read more 🡒]
Rasheer Fleming Still Has One Hurdle Before Suns Can Trust Him
Rasheer Flemings preseason work against the Spurs offered another look at why the Suns are still sorting out what kind of role he can handle right now. The second-year forward put up 8 points and 4 rebounds, but the bigger takeaway was the feel of his night: he was active, yet not always sure of himself, and his offensive decisions showed the kind of hesitation Phoenix is still trying to iron out.
He finished 4-for-10 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point tries, while also giving away the ball three times and picking up three fouls. Compared with Ryan Dunn, who attacked more decisively on the offensive end, Flemings path is a little more complicated, and the Suns are clearly waiting to see when the game starts to slow down for him rather than speed up. [Read more 🡒]