These players should definitely see some action in the G League, as they all demonstrated their potential during the preseason.
There have been several storylines during the 2024 Phoenix Suns preseason. Just to name a few: playing with pace, three-point attempts, Grayson’s muscle, the good vibes, DLee’s return to the court, and Ryan Dunn’s three-point shooting.
Today, I want to show some love to our two-way contracted players and see how they played this preseason.
TyTy Washington
Let’s start with TyTy Washington. He appeared in four preseason games, averaging 10.8 minutes, 4 points, 40% from the field, 25% from three, and 75% from the free-throw line. He was the team’s final two-way signing and is a local talent, having played his high school ball at Cesar Chavez High.
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In our Bright Side player preview, Elbow Jumper noted one of his strengths: his solid runner/floater game. He showed flashes of that in the preseason. However, his three-point shooting has not been stellar in his short NBA career: 21-for-86 overall, about 24%. During the preseason, TyTy shot only 1-for-4 from distance and 40% overall. Granted, all this is from a small sample size.
Washington has the potential to grow into a solid NBA player, but he needs to continue to develop his game, especially his three-point shooting. The Valley Suns are the perfect spot for a player like him. He has the potential; all he needs to do is improve his skills.
Jalen Bridges
Jalen Bridges had a rough preseason, averaging just 7.6 minutes and 1 point per game. His shooting stats tell the story—5% from the field (not a typo), 7% from three (also not a typo), and a perfect 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.
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Jalen was our first two-way signing and there was a great deal of excitement surrounding his signing. He backed that up with a solid summer league performance. In Bright Side’s player preview, yours truly said a strength was his shooting ability. In preseason, he was 1-for-14 from three and 1-for-18 overall. Again, a small sample size. He appeared to rush his shot this preseason.
Don’t let the preseason damper your excitement about Jalen. He has the size and shooting ability for a prototypical 3-and-D wing. Like TyTy, he needs to use his G League time to continue to develop his skills.
Collin Gillespie
Collin Gillespie stood out this preseason, averaging 12.9 minutes and scoring 9 points per game. With shooting percentages of 51.9% from the field, 42.9% from three, and an impressive 84.6% from the free-throw line, he played the most minutes of the trio. Over five games, he showcased NBA-ready point guard skills, hitting 14-for-27 shots from the field and 6-for-14 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 16 assists, though he did have 7 turnovers.
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In our player preview, we noted Collin’s strengths as a floor general and his ability to space the floor. Both were apparent in the preseason. Again, a small sample size, but he definitely demonstrated NBA ability.
TyTy, Jalen, and Collin will all be part of the new Valley Suns G League team at some point. Each has something to prove, and playing time in our system will cultivate their development. What an opportunity for the Suns, who are short on draft picks, to find and develop new talent to help in case of injuries or grow new rotational pieces for the future.
The Valley Suns will be fun to watch, and I can’t wait to see these three play!