If you’re looking for Suns’ silver linings, look no further than Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro

I bet you didn’t have “Both Rookies Start in Game 15” on your BINGO card, did you?

When the Phoenix Suns drafted Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in the 2024 NBA Draft, there was a spark of excitement. Sure, we didn’t know if the 28th and 40th overall picks would actually contribute to the team’s success, but there was hope. For the first time in years, it felt like Phoenix was finally dipping its toes into the idea of a youth movement. Something we’ve sorely missed since 2020. And honestly, that’s been fine.

We endured a decade of Suns teams squatting in the NBA Draft lottery like permanent residents. If Phoenix didn’t have another pick for the next 10 years, many of us would’ve been content. We understand the unpredictable nature of the draft; no prospect comes with a guarantee. Not every young player turns into a reliable rotation piece, let alone a star.

But after a few seasons of zero contributions from draft picks, you start to feel the void. The Suns were old. Heck, they’re still old. They are the fourth-oldest team in the league with an average age of 27.3 years old. And when you’re facing younger, more athletic teams — sometimes with less talent — that youthful energy can tilt the game against you. The relentless pace, the constant pressure, it wears you down. Tired legs don’t keep up, and losses start piling up.

I keep thinking back to last season’s matchups against the San Antonio Spurs. A team that beat us three out of four times. Talent-wise, they weren’t in the same stratosphere as the Suns. But their youthful exuberance and athleticism put Phoenix on its heels. They pushed the pace, pressured our veterans, and ran us right out of the arena.

So yes, having youth on the roster is a plus. But it’s only a plus if that youth is ready to contribute.

Fast forward to Game 15 of this season against the Orlando Magic. Something happened that I don’t think any of us saw coming when the draft wrapped last summer: both of the Suns’ rookies were in the starting lineup.

If you’d told me back in June that both Suns rookies would be starting in a game this season, I would’ve assumed the team was drowning in injuries. And I’d have been right. With no Kevin Durant, no Bradley Beal, and no Jusuf Nurkic, head coach Mike Budenholzer decided to inject some youth into his starting lineup.

It makes sense, doesn’t it? The team was playing the second game of a back-to-back. Again. It marked their fifth game in eight nights, and honestly, based on their previous performances, Dunn and Ighodaro had earned the opportunity.

Ryan Dunn, though his shooting has started to normalize after a hot start, continues to provide quality defense as a wing player. And Oso Ighodaro? Sure, his jumper is non-existent, and his push shot might look like something you’d see at a middle school gym, but he brings relentless energy on the boards, a skill this team sorely needs.

Neither rookie looks like a rookie out there. The Suns appear to have hit on both draft picks, which is almost unheard of, not just for this organization, but league-wide. Hitting on one draft pick is hard enough. But landing two rotational pieces for the future out of the 28th and 40th picks in the 2024 Draft? That’s borderline miraculous. For all the criticism James Jones has received over some of his transactions and draft misses, let’s give the man his flowers for this one.

Ighodaro, in particular, had a huge impact in last night’s game. While other members of the team were running on fumes, he was flying to the rim and throwing down dunks with authority. It was the kind of performance that makes you sit up and realize just how bright the future might be for these two.

Did it come in a 10-point loss? Sure. But it’s also game 15 of the season. The Suns, plagued once again by the injury bug, are taking this as an opportunity to give their rookies valuable minutes and see what they’ve got. And those minutes in November? They could pay huge dividends in May and June.

This isn’t garbage time basketball, where everyone’s jacking up shots and playing hero ball. These are meaningful minutes in competitive games with real stakes and real lessons to learn from. Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro aren’t just getting tossed out there; they’re putting legitimate basketball on tape, sharpening their skills in moments that matter.

Both players have foundational skill sets that translate to the NBA. The experience they’re gaining now isn’t just shaping them for later this season; it’s setting the stage for their entire careers. And for the Suns, the organization that drafted them, this development could prove invaluable.

I get it. Losing four straight games stings. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, you don’t have to look far. Their names are Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.