Ryan Dunn is impressing both pundits and fans as the Suns’ preseason steal

Eyes are looking at Phoenix and the emergence of Dunn is changing people’s minds.

The Phoenix Suns selected Ryan Dunn with the 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a decision made after a calculated trade down. While the choice didn’t send shockwaves through the NBA community, it was less about making a splash and more about finding a piece that could fit into the team’s evolving puzzle. Dunn wasn’t the flashy pick fans clamored for, nor the immediate impact player analysts dissect on draft night.

Instead, he represented something subtler — a long-term investment in a player whose growth could one day inject him into a starting role. In a league driven by headlines, this quiet move seemed to reflect the Suns’ commitment to building something sustainable rather than chasing immediate validation.

Phoenix received modest grades for their draft moves. ESPN granted the Suns a B+, noting that, “the best-case versions of Dunn and Ighodaro fit ideally with the Suns’ offensive stars.” It was a B from CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein and Kyle Boone.

But after four preseason games, Dunn is making national pundits’ heads turn. In four games, Dunn is displaying an offensive ability that few expected to see, at least this early in his development. I guess shooting alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal can have an effect on a guy, eh?

Dunn’s offensive surge, in which he’s averaging 11 points per game while making 44.4% of his three-pointers has basketball heads from all corners of the internet in disbelief.

Kevin O’Connor, a former writer for The Ringer and now with Yahoo Sports, was a big proponent of Dunn when he came out of the draft.

And now that Dunn is showcasing offensive talent, KOC is doubling down on his love for Dunn.

“Ryan Dunn is one of the best defensive prospects we’ve seen enter the league in years,” O’Connor said on the Kevin O’Connor Show, adding that he has zero concern for his belief that Dunn will be a lockdown defender in the NBA. “I compared him to Herb Jones in my draft guide, there’s a chance he could be even better than Herb Jones.”

Hearing more than five minutes of analysis on Ryan Dunn’s potential and what he could bring to the Phoenix Suns leaves you feeling optimistic.

It’s not just the national analysts who are taking notice. Dive into the Virginia Cavaliers’ fan boards, and you’ll find a community genuinely surprised by Ryan Dunn’s rapid development. Those who followed his college career are amazed at how quickly he’s translating his skillset to the NBA, with many expressing disbelief at the strides he’s already making. For them, Dunn was always a solid player, but even they didn’t expect him to adapt so seamlessly at the next level.

The r/NBA-Draft board is littered with interesting observations.

It’s nice to hear this about a draft pick who, quite frankly, we didn’t expect to make much of an impact this year. Remember pre-draft? How this draft wasn’t talented and wasn’t deep? Some were hoping that the Suns would trade out of it in an effort to garner more assets. Now the team has what some are already calling the “steal of the draft”.

There’s still a long road ahead. In reality, his stat line is filled with zeros—he hasn’t even suited up for an official game yet. But the trajectory he’s on feels promising. It’s easy to imagine an alternate scenario in the multiverse, one where Dunn struggles in the preseason, shooting 2-of-27 from three, and the frustration that would stir in the fan base. =

I choose this timeline.