PHOENIX– An emerging third-year is in the books for Phoenix Suns defensive wing Ryan Dunn, but there’s more beneath the surface.
Behind the pick-and-roll drills, learning how to play on and off the ball, and playing off two feet came a love for the process.
“You just gotta love to do this s**t,” he told ClutchPoints exclusively before the Suns’ preseason finale on Friday. “It's just working, working every day.
“That's something that I grow on just to work with it, and just trying to get better every day and just trying to find more milestones to win and go from there.”
The past two seasons, Dunn was sought as a versatile defender with superb athleticism. There were times when the physical attributes weren’t in step with the mental, that being his confidence. Yes, it was there, but it came in ebbs and flows.
Now, there appears to be more certainty in Dunn’s own abilities than ever. His points-per-game average (5.4) won’t leave anyone in awe, but the 55% field goal percentage and knocking down all his free throws is a step in the right direction.
That field goal percentage, though? A majority of these shots are coming around the rim, where he’s using his athleticism to his advantage. Utilizing backdoor cuts, being an effective screener, and knowing his spots have enhanced his on-court production.
Most importantly, he’s adapting to what the team needs, but is excelling in his strengths.
Ryan Dunn’s offseason work captured the Suns’ attention
Jordan Ott saw the work the moment he took the reins as the Phoenix Suns head coach in 2025. He always emphasized Dunn’s potential and how much the Suns need it, particularly on the defensive end alone, which was his calling card and the main reason he was on the floor.
Granted, the team knew what the offensive limitations were. The lack of a consistent 3-point shot, ball-handling, and honestly, the confidence were part of it.
Some of that can come from Ott’s predecessor, Mike Budenholzer, who benched Dunn after making him a starter due to missing his open looks from deep. That can damage a player’s confidence like no other. Some of that can also come from adjusting to NBA life and Phoenix’s win-first approach in his rookie year.
But in his sophomore season, the wing room was more loaded, and with guys like Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie, and Royce O’Neale having career seasons, there was little room for Dunn to get on the floor at a consistent rate.
Sure, he was able to, but capitalizing on those hot hands, combined with those three players’ experience, was what Ott rode with. On top of that, rookie Rasheer Fleming was emerging, and making Suns fans debate between the latter and Dunn for who should fill the final wing spot.
That all changed the moment the 2026 training camp hit. Players said that Dunn has improved dramatically. With all of his physical gifts, much of the improvement stems from a simple thing: awareness.
“Ryan’s making a huge leap right now, a huge leap, especially on the defensive end,” Jordan Goodwin said following Monday’s practice. “His physicality. I think he's starting to use his athleticism; it’s starting to help him out now.
“I think he's starting to understand his spots on the offensive end. He’s being perfect. He's tossing, he’s making rebounds, hitting plays, hitting threes, rebounding. But yeah, he’s doing all the right things right now.”
Article Continues BelowRyan Dunn Year 3 leap incoming?
The leap is here, but not in the jaw-dropping or eye-popping statistics some people could hope for. All those little elements Dunn worked on in the offseason greatly improved his game. And as Goodwin said, doing those things will get him on the court and keep him there.
With five days remaining before the season opener, the roster will be solidified. Ott raved about Dunn’s consistency after the team’s Wednesday matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. And that word, consistency, is exactly what is needed.
Between him and Fleming, that last wing spot can easily go to the former Virginia standout.
“Anyone on the team is here to win, regardless of what people say or what's going on in between those lines,” he said. “We're just trying to do the best that we can on the floor. For me, it's just like, I want everybody to succeed as a team.
“I'm gonna try to do my best to do my job and compete, but at the end of the day, I want to see everybody here win, and we want to win as a team as well. That's kind of the way I take it.”