Ryan Dunn is not your typical NBA rookie

The Suns’ first-round draft pick has looked like the steal of the 2024 NBA Draft thus far.

Ryan Dunn is shaping up to be a capable role player early in his NBA career. The 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has quickly made an impact in Phoenix on both ends of the floor.

After shooting 43.3% (13/30) from three in the preseason, Ryan Dunn is at 46.2% (6/13) through three games, leading all rookies in three-pointers made. He scored 13 points in 21 minutes in the win against Dallas on Saturday night.

It’s not just about the shot falling, of course — his effort defensively and constant hustle jolt energy into the Suns’ defense. Some of the plays he makes may not show up on the stat sheet, but he is impacting the game in a variety of ways.

The 21-year-old is averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 14.5 minutes per game through his first three contests. His plus-minus sits at +3.3 and he is 5th overall in PPG among rookies.

More importantly, he has earned the trust of Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer early. So much so that he drew the start with Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen both sidelined for Saturday’s contest against the Mavericks.

Coach Bud had this to say about Dunn: “Ryan has earned the trust and respect of his teammates. Earned the trust and respect of myself. Throw him into the fire. We need him to grow and develop.”

Earning the trust of a veteran head coach like Budenholzer does not come easily. We’ve heard great things from the staff and veteran players alike about both rookies being “ahead of schedule” or “advanced” but that was before the games counted.

Seeing that hype manifest in real-time has been a pleasure to watch.

The Defense

One thing we are not surprised by is Ryan Dunn’s tenacious defense. It’s been as advertised whether in Summer League, preseason, or in the regular season thus far. He’s everywhere.

Three games into his career, offensive players are shooting just 37.0% from the field when defended by Ryan Dunn. He is fighting over screens, he is blowing up passing lanes, he is in the right spot on the help side, and he closes out hard. He does exactly what this team needs him to do and provides contagious energy.

Kevin Durant had nothing but praise for the rookie as well, stating: “I just love his poise. I love that he’s physical, I like that he’s actually fouling.”

We’ve seen NBA stars like James Harden for example do their best to get Ryan Dunn off of them on a switch as a rookie. That says all you need to know about how he is viewed as a defender in the league already. His reputation will only continue to grow if he gets meaningful minutes and makes plays on both ends.

His point-of-attack defense at the wing is exactly what the Suns lacked last season. At his size, he is capable of guarding those big wings that Phoenix has struggled with all too often over the years. When Beal and Allen return, it’ll be interesting to see if Budenholzer wants to close games with Dunn for defensive purposes and if so who that casualty would be.

Either way, one thing is abundantly clear. Ryan Dunn is going to help the Phoenix Suns win basketball games.

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images