Collin Gillespie

Suns Notes: Gillespie, Offseason, Durant

April 11th, 2025 at 5:45pm CST by Luke Adams

Signed last July to a two-way contract, guard Collin Gillespie emerged as a reliable rotation player for the Suns within the last month, averaging 8.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per night with a .421 3PT% across his past 13 games. He’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this summer when his deal expires and said on Friday that he’d be interested in sticking with the Suns going forward, as Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (Twitter video link) relays.

“I have not had any conversations,” Gillespie said when asked if he and the Suns have talked about his future. “It’ll probably be something I (discuss) with my agents toward the end of the year after these last two games, but I love Phoenix. They gave me an opportunity, coming from Denver. I would love to be here if they’ll have me back. But we’ll see. I really don’t know right now, but I would like to be here.”

This was Gillespie’s first season with the Suns and he remains eligible for a two-way contract, which means his qualifying offer would be the equivalent of another two-way deal. Assuming he receives that QO, Gillespie would have the option of accepting it or attempting to negotiate a new contract with Phoenix or another team. The Suns would have the ability to match any offer sheet he signs with a rival suitor as long as they have the cap flexibility to do so.

Here’s more out of Phoenix:

Discussing the decisions facing the Suns this summer, ESPN’s Bobby Marks refers to it as “the most important offseason in franchise history” (Twitter video link). Marks runs through the issues facing the team, including whether to retain head coach Mike Budenholzer, what will happen with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and whether ownership is willing to entertain the idea of a rebuild.
If Durant’s time in Phoenix comes to an end this summer, how will his Suns stint be remembered? Doug Haller of The Athletic explores that topic, noting that Durant “doesn’t have a true NBA home.” As Haller explains, the future Hall of Famer still hears boos in Oklahoma City for the way he left the Thunder and was viewed by many as a hired gun in Golden State before falling short of expectations in Brooklyn and Phoenix.
Durant’s ongoing absence due to a sprained ankle means he’ll fall short of the 65-game minimum required for end-of-season award consideration, notes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Despite Phoenix’s sub-.500 record, the star forward would have been an All-NBA candidate due to his impressive individual stats (26.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.2 APG, .527/.430/.839 shooting).

Suns Notes: Beal, Gillespie, Allen, Plumlee

March 26th, 2025 at 1:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Suns guard Bradley Beal, who is dealing with a left hamstring strain, will miss his fifth consecutive game on Wednesday vs. Boston, as Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays (Twitter video link).

According to head coach Mike Budenholzer, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday, Beal has yet to take part in any 5-on-5 scrimmages but is doing on-court workouts and moving through the necessary steps in his recovery process: “He’s ramping up his court work. We feel like he’s making good progress. … The next few days are big. We’ll just see how he progresses each day.”

As Rankin writes for The Arizona Republic, the Suns are riding a four-game winning streak with Beal on the shelf. The team is leaning more on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker for scoring and play-making while surrounding those two stars with more defensive-minded role players.

Obviously, when he gets healthy, Beal will have a spot in the rotation, Rankin writes, but it remains to be seen what exactly that role will look like. Phoenix has been thriving with younger guards like Collin Gillespie and Ryan Dunn doing the “dirty work” next to Booker in the backcourt, so the team may ask him to slot into a similar role.

Here’s more out of Phoenix:

The Suns have been playing a fun style of basketball during their current four-game winning streak and have finally looked like the team that got off to an 8-1 start in the fall, according to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, who considers whether Phoenix has turned a corner and whether or not it has happened too late in the season to make a difference.
The Suns are aware that they’ll need to waive a player from their 15-man standard roster in order to promote Gillespie from his two-way contract in order to make him postseason-eligible, Budenholzer said on Tuesday. However, the Suns’ coach said the team hasn’t discussed that scenario yet (Twitter link via Rankin). Since Gillespie won’t reach his active game limit before the end of the regular season, Phoenix doesn’t need to make a roster decision for at least a couple more weeks.
Grayson Allen returned to action on Monday vs. Milwaukee after missing six games due to a foot strain he described as “frustrating,” per Bourguet (Twitter video link). “Took me longer than I thought (to recover),” Allen said. The veteran wing contributed three points and a pair of rebounds in 12 minutes against the Bucks.
Suns center Mason Plumlee was also available on Monday after being inactive for two games due to a left quad strain, but he didn’t see any action. Plumlee said ahead of the Bucks game that an MRI on the quad revealed a “small tear” and he was advised to sit out for seven-to-10 days to avoid making it worse (Twitter video link via Rankin).

Suns Notes: Gillespie, Ighodaro, Big Win, Allen

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:34am CST by Tristan Tucker

Suns two-way guard Collin Gillespie drew the first start of his career on Monday in place of injured Bradley Beal, writes The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin. Gillespie has since started twice more and Phoenix has won all three games, its first such streak since late January. Gillespie is in his third year in the league, all of which have been on two-way contracts. He missed his rookie season due to injury and joined Phoenix this past offseason.

“It was really cool,” Gillespie said of earning a starting opportunity. “Really surreal moment for myself after just battling that stuff, all the injuries and stuff. It was cool, it was fun. Most importantly, we got a win.”

There’s no concern about Gillespie reaching his 50-game limit on his two-way deal, since he has been inactive 35 times so far this season. However, he won’t be eligible for the playoffs unless he’s promoted to the active roster.

If the Suns wanted to convert Gillespie to a standard deal, they would need to waive a player, as they’re at the limit of 15. His energy has helped Phoenix get back into the play-in picture at 10th in the West. They’re two games behind the Kings and tied with the 34-37 Mavericks, who rank 11th due to tie-breaking procedures.

Gillespie scored 13 points on a trio of made three-pointers on Friday in a victory against the Cavaliers.

“If I’m out on the floor, I’m going to play hard,” Gillespie said. “I’m going to exhaust myself and then if I need a breather, they’ll probably get me out of the game, but when I’m out there, I’m going to play hard and I’m going to exhaust myself.“

We have more from the Suns:

Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro earned his third career start on Friday, playing a career-high 44 minutes. He finished the upset win over the Cavaliers with six points, 13 rebounds and four assists. “He’s shown a unique ability where he doesn’t seem to get winded or tired,” coach Mike Budenholzer said, per Rankin (Twitter link). “He plays at such a great pace. Mentally, he’s very calm. He understands and sees the game. So there’s not a lot of wasted energy mentally. We scheduled to give him a few more breaks, but he was just playing so good, we just kind of stuck with him.” The rookie No. 40 overall pick is playing much more as of late, averaging 7.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 28.8 minutes over his past six games. Ighodaro earned the start over an injured Nick Richards.
The Suns picked up one of their biggest wins of the season on Friday, defeating a healthy but slumping Cavaliers team. As Rankin writes, Phoenix was down four rotational players but their new-look starting lineup is providing an identity and generating good vibes. Alongside Kevin Durant (who scored 42 points on Friday) and Devin Booker, the Suns are starting Gillespie, Ighodaro and rookie No. 28 overall pick Ryan Dunn. When Beal, Richards, Grayson Allen and Mason Plumlee return to the lineup, Budenholzer will be forced to make some lineup decisions, Rankin notes.
In a similar story, The Athletic’s Doug Haller points out that Cody Martin is helping bring a defensive intensity off the bench for Phoenix. “I keep saying, just being connected,” Booker said of what’s fueling the team. “You’re moving as one. We’re covering (for) each other on defensive breakdowns and everybody’s making the extra effort to rotate for each other, and at the same time, making sure we secure the ball and rebound.”
Allen’s missed game on Friday was his sixth in a row, Rankin adds (via Twitter). “I think this has been a little bit more than what we anticipated, but I think he’s in a really good place,” Budenholzer said. “I think he’s making really good progress. We feel really good about it.” Allen, who is dealing with a foot sprain, was able to get some work in after shootaround on Friday. Budenholzer said the Suns feel “upbeat and optimistic” regarding his chances to play either Monday against the Bucks or Wednesday vs. the Celtics.

Bradley Beal Out At Least One Week

March 18th, 2025 at 7:54am CST by Luke Adams

Suns guard Bradley Beal will miss at least one week before having his left hamstring strain reevaluated, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters on Monday night, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.

Beal exited Sunday’s loss to the Lakers after playing just 15 minutes. The team initially referred to his injury as left hamstring soreness but has since changed the diagnosis to a strain.

The veteran guard subsequently sat out Monday’s blowout win over Toronto and will also miss games on Wednesday vs. Chicago and Friday vs. Cleveland before having his injury reassessed ahead of next Monday’s matchup with Milwaukee.

It has been a challenge for Beal to stay healthy this season. While he has appeared in 48 of Phoenix’s 69 regular season games to this point, the 31-year-old has also missed time over the course of the year due to calf, toe, ankle, knee, and elbow issues.

“I feel bad for Brad,” Budenholzer said on Monday. “We’ve just got to find a way to try to keep him healthy. Hopefully, get him right.”

In his 48 appearances (33 starts), Beal has averaged 17.3 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game, with a strong shooting line of .505/.395/.813.

Two-way player Collin Gillespie took Beal’s place in the lineup on Monday, making the first start of his NBA career. Gillespie logged 23 minutes on Sunday and 16 on Monday, well above his season average of 8.0 MPG, and appears poised to continue playing a rotation role this week.

Pacific Notes: Knox, Podziemski, Gillespie, Jones

March 6th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Former lottery pick Kevin Knox is on his second 10-day deal with the Warriors and is hoping to stick with the team beyond the expiration of that contract, according to Andrew Crane of the New York Post (subscriber link). Knox suited up for Golden State’s summer team and G League squad to begin this year before his eventual promotion to a 10-day contract.

“At the end of the day, you gotta put your ego and pride aside and go out there and just do what’s needed, best for you,” Knox said of his time in the G League. “And I think that was the best at the time, me to go there and to get some more reps, more film so the coaches, people around the league can see that I still can play this game.”

Knox’s role is somewhat limited by the fact that he’s playing on a star-filled roster in the midst of a playoff race, but he’s still working to impress Warriors brass. In his seven games with the team, he’s averaging 4.0 points per night.

“I’m just so impressed with the fact that he’s on this path, on this journey and not giving in,” coach Steve Kerr said of Knox.

Knox’s second 10-day deal runs through Monday. At that time, the Warriors will need to decide if they want to keep him for the rest of the season or extend a 10-day deal or standard contract to someone else. Yuri Collins also signed a 10-day deal on the same day as Knox, but he wasn’t given a second one.

We have more from the Pacific Division:

Second-year guard Brandin Podziemski exited Thursday’s game against Brooklyn in the first minute, heading to the locker room after being seen grabbing his back, Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets. Podziemski was later ruled out for the remainder of the game, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk (Twitter link). After the win, Kerr said the guard’s back simply tightened up and that the injury wasn’t serious. He’ll be listed as day-to-day moving forward, per Slater (Twitter link).
Suns players and coaches are happy, but not surprised, that two-way guard Collin Gillespie is contributing to recent wins. In the Suns’ last two victories, he’s totaled 19 points, seven assists and a trio of three-pointers. “It just seems like a story in itself, an all-time moment for him and a big moment for our team,” Devin Booker said, per PHNX Sports (Twitter link). “I’ve seen behind the scenes, it’s nothing that just popped up out of nowhere. I don’t think it caught any of us by surprise.” Gillespie spent the first two years of his career on a two-way deal with the Nuggets, missing his first season due to injury, before signing on with the Suns this offseason. “There’s a lot of confidence in him,” coach Mike Budenholzer said, as captured by PHNX Sports. “Collin just has a way, I think all his teammates love him. There’s a toughness, I think the Villanova coaching, the Villanova winning, it’s real.”
Derrick Jones Jr. is reaching new heights for the Clippers, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. He’s averaging career highs in points per game (10.6) and three-point percentage (35.6%) to help keep the team firmly in the playoff picture. In an exclusive interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Jones spoke about his role in Los Angeles, what he thinks he can improve, the coaching staff and more. “It’s just me having the same confidence as always,” Jones said of his success with the Clippers. “Whenever my opportunity comes, I go to score, I go to be aggressive or I make a play for somebody else. When I’m always on the floor, I’m always being aggressive and not having any seconds thoughts.“

Suns’ Durant Criticizes Reaction To Sideline Exchange With Budenholzer

March 5th, 2025 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters after the Suns pulled out a 23-point comeback to beat the Clippers 119-117 on Tuesday, Kevin Durant strongly pushed back against the “narrative” that formed among NBA fans and observers as a result of a heated exchange between him and head coach Mike Budenholzer on the sidelines during the first quarter.

TNT’s cameras captured Durant exchanging words with Budenholzer as he came off the court during a timeout. The Suns’ coach went to stop the star forward, who yanked his arm away from Budenholzer as he continued to the bench (Twitter video link). Durant said after the game that outsiders read too much into the exchange.

“That’s what usually happens when you don’t know dynamics of the relationship,” Durant said, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “You catch something on TV, you get a quote and now you pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don’t do that s–t all the time.

“We [are] competitive as two individuals who want to see things done the right way, and sometimes my way ain’t the way that Bud want to do it and vice versa. He allows me as a player on the team, a veteran on the team, to voice my opinion. If we both didn’t care, we would never have stuff like that, you know what I’m saying?

“So I’m glad that the win is going to sweep all of that stupid stuff under the rug. Because people couldn’t wait. Even some people in Phoenix, in here, couldn’t wait to run with that and say, ‘This is the reason why the team ain’t playing well, because of that specific thing.’ But come on man, that shows that me and Bud really care about trying to right this ship and trying to win basketball games.”

It has been a disappointing season so far in Phoenix, where the Suns have a 29-33 record and are three games back of the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. There has also been an increased spotlight on Durant’s relationship with the team in recent weeks after he was “blindsided” by having his name come up in trade rumors prior to the February 6 deadline. The Suns’ poor season and Durant’s reaction to those rumors has led to speculation that an offseason trade is a virtual certainty.

Even if that’s true, Durant took exception to the idea that there’s any animosity between him and Budenholzer, telling reporters that he wished TNT’s broadcast would show the two of them “smiling on the bench and tapping each other in the chest and slapping hands” after their animated conversations yield a solution.

“We’re like old friends or whatever where we’re always probably grabbing and talking to each other,” Budenholzer said when asked about the first quarter exchange. “I thought actually his energy and his voice tonight was great. I think there was some kind of offensive play. He wanted something, I wanted something [else] and it’s the beauty of basketball. But really from that moment, his voice and him talking — feedback, ideas, suggestions — was really I think a big part of the night.”

Budenholzer earned praise from his top scorer for pushing the right buttons during the Suns’ big second-half comeback, including inserting two-way guard Collin Gillespie into the lineup. Gillespie had 10 points and was a +21 in his 15 minutes of action.

“Coach made a great adjustment throwing (Gillespie) in there,” Durant said. “Coach was just perfect, to be honest. Every adjustment he made was incredible. He was catalyst for all of it.”

Suns Notes: Latest Loss, Beal, Allen, Gillespie, Butler

January 5th, 2025 at 11:35am CST by Rory Maher

Despite having Bradley Beal (hip contusion) and Grayson Allen (concussion, shoulder strain) available, the Suns lost their fourth straight game on Saturday at Indiana, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The game was tied at halftime, but the Pacers outscored Phoenix by 12 in the third quarter to break it open, eventually winning by 18 points.

“S–t, the vibes are low, man,” said Devin Booker, who finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. “We’re just have to keep fighting. It’s a blessing to even be in this position, but our output is super ugly right now. We continue to build. Hopefully later in the season, these moments right here are out the way, got past them, but right now, we’re in the thick of it.”

Even though Beal and Allen were active, the Suns were still shorthanded, with starting point guard Tyus Jones and rookie big man Oso Ighodaro late scratches due to illness. Royce O’Neale (ankle sprain) and Jusuf Nurkic (final game of his suspension) were also out.

After missing most of Tuesday’s loss to Memphis, Beal was ineffective vs. Indiana, recording just eight points (on 3-of-12 shooting), three assists and three rebounds in 33 minutes. The team was outscored by 21 points when he was on the court. Allen notched 13 points (on 5-of-10 shooting), four rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes off the bench following a five-game absence.

Here’s more on the Suns, who dropped to 15-18 on the season:

Collin Gillespie, who is on a two-way contract, was a “full participant” in Thursday’s practice and is expected to suit up for the team’s G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, “very soon,” according to Rankin. Gillespie has been sidelined since November 8 due to a right ankle fracture.
However unlikely it might be, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports examines what would need to occur for the Suns to trade for Jimmy Butler.
Following Saturday’s loss, Bourguet argued that Phoenix’s current roster isn’t good enough and trades are needed to turn the team’s season around (YouTube link).

Pacific Notes: Kuminga, Gillespie, Suns, Lakers

December 24th, 2024 at 11:51am CST by Luke Adams

Prior to Monday’s game against Indiana, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters that Jonathan Kuminga‘s recent shot selection and decision-making had been “poor” and that he had spoken to both Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski about making better decisions, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN relays.

Kuminga responded with one of his best games of the season off the bench. In just under 30 minutes of action, he racked up 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while only turning the ball over once.

“This is the JK we want,” Kerr said after the game, per Youngmisuk. “Spent a lot of time in the paint, took care of the ball. Had a couple really nice passes. Found Buddy (Hield) for three on a beautiful play and really attacked. So this is a great example of how JK needs to play. I’m really proud of him for coming out, playing that way. … He’s getting better, and it’s fun to watch his development.”

Kuminga started six straight games earlier this month, but has come off the bench for the past three. Kerr has suggested the change isn’t necessarily permanent, but noted last week that the club sets a better defensive tone with Draymond Green starting alongside a center. Kuminga, whose role has fluctuated frequently since he entered the league in 2021, said he’s gotten used to the unpredictability and isn’t letting it faze him.

“From where I come from, you always got to be mentally tough,” Kuminga said. “A lot of people that are playing … if they were in my shoes, they’ll quit basketball. They’ll need a therapist. They’ll go through a lot of mental situations. But that thing don’t affect me. As long as I go out here every day and just play, be with my teammates, (they) keep encouraging me to be who I am every day.”

We have more from around the Pacific:

Suns two-way guard Collin Gillespie, who was diagnosed last month with a right ankle fracture, is hoping he’ll be able to return to action shortly after the G League’s regular season begins next week, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “I haven’t really talked to the coaches about it, but I’m sure that’ll be the plan of making sure I check off all the boxes here, individual workouts,” Gillespie said. “Play 2-on-2, 3-on-3 and just build it up until I’m ready to go 5-on-5. Then I’m sure once they get back from break (between the Winter Showcase and regular season), they’ll have some home games that I’ll be able to play. Hopefully get some reps there.” The Valley Suns, Phoenix’s NBAGL affiliate, will play their first regular season game next Monday.
A year ago at this time, the Suns had a 14-14 record. This year, despite an 8-1 start, they’re 14-14 again. Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports explores why the team is being plagued by the same issues as last season and considers whether those issues are fixable.
The Lakers‘ offense ranks 29th in the NBA over the past four weeks and head coach J.J. Redick believes the team’s shot selection is a big part of the reason why, as Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group writes. “Over the last 13 (games), we’re taking five more non-paint twos – we’re shooting 39% on those,” Redick said. “… Those five extra non-paint twos, if we shot them at the same rate as Phoenix – who shoots 49% on non-paint twos – our offense would go from 29th to 27th. … If we took those five middies and we shot league average on threes, our offense would go from 27th to 12th. In some ways, we need to shoot more threes and we need to make more threes. That doesn’t mean we come down and just, no pass, one dribble shot. We’ve got to generate the right ones and we’ve got to do it with the right process.”

Suns’ Collin Gillespie Fractures Right Ankle

November 12th, 2024 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Suns guard Collin Gillespie has been diagnosed with a right ankle fracture, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic).

According to the Suns, Gillespie will be reevaluated in four weeks. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be ready to return at that point — just that he’ll be examined at that time.

Gillespie, who is on a two-way contract with Phoenix, had appeared in only one NBA game so far this season, logging 3:26 of game action in an October 26 win over Dallas. He suffered the injury in the G League season opener on Friday, just two minutes into his debut for the Valley Suns.

The Suns initially listed Gillespie’s injury as a sprain, but Valley Suns head coach John Little said on Monday that the 25-year-old was still undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury (Twitter video link via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports).

Gillespie’s absence won’t have any real impact on the Suns’ NBA rotation, since he had several players ahead of him on the depth chart, but it’s an unfortunate turn of events for a young player who already lost one full season due to an injury. The former Villanova standout missed his entire rookie season in 2022/23 as a Nuggets two-way player after suffering a lower leg fracture while helping out with a practice at his alma mater.

Pacific Notes: T. Jones, Clippers, Podziemski, Gillespie

July 18th, 2024 at 3:29pm CST by Rory Maher

A report last week from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype indicated that the Clippers had sign-and-trade interest in free agent point guard Tyus Jones.

However, Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter links here) has heard differently, stating the team was “never” focused on the 28-year-old, and with Kris Dunn coming aboard, L.A. is no longer viewed as even a long-shot destination for Jones. According to Murray, the Clips are not interested in Jones “in any capacity.”

As Murray explains, the Clippers always planned to acquire Dunn, it just took a few weeks to come together. Murray suggests the rumor may have come from Jones’ camp, as he’s still seeking a new contract nearly three weeks into free agency.

Here’s more from the Pacific:

In part due to his strong play as a rookie and in part due to his team-friendly contract, which will pay him $3.5MM, $3.7MM and $5.7MM over the next three seasons, Brandin Podziemski holds more value to the Warriors than he would to most other teams, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes. “I think I can get (to an All-Star level),” Podziemski has said. “I’m never gonna just settle for being a role player.” Shams Charania of The Athletic recently reported that Podziemski’s potential inclusion in a deal for Lauri Markkanen has been a sticking point in negotiations between Golden State and Utah. According to Slater, Podziemski isn’t off limits in trade talks, but the Warriors place a high value on what he brings to the table, both in the short and long term.
Former Nuggets guard Collin Gillespie landed with the Suns on a two-way deal this summer. He views Phoenix as a “really good opportunity” to earn minutes at point guard, he told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “I feel like I’m an elite shooter,” Gillespie said. “I can run the point guard position really well, get guys shots, especially the guys who I’ll be playing with (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal). They’re elite scorers. Just find them in spots for them to score and have the best opportunity to help us win.”
Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes an in-depth look at Gillespie’s game, exploring the 25-year-old’s strengths and weaknesses and discussing whether it’s reasonable to expect the former Villanova standout to play rotation minutes in 2024/25.

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