Honestly, if you looked at Ryan Dunn’s box score from last Tuesday and saw three points, you’d probably keep scrolling. You might even think the Phoenix Suns blew a late first-round pick on a "project" that isn't projecting very fast. But that’s exactly where the box score fails to tell the real story of what’s happening in the Valley right now.
Ryan Dunn is a bit of an anomaly. He’s 6’7” with a 7’2” wingspan and the kind of defensive instincts that make veteran scorers visibly frustrated by the second quarter. When the Suns grabbed him 28th overall in 2024, the "draft experts" had a very specific script for him. It went like this: elite defender, zero jumper, basically a four-on-five liability on offense.
He didn't stick to the script.
The Ryan Dunn Phoenix Suns Experiment: Year Two Realities
Most rookies hit a wall, but Ryan Dunn basically dismantled his. In his 2024-25 rookie campaign, he wasn't just some end-of-bench cheerleader. He played 74 games and started 44 of them. That's a massive amount of trust for a late-round pick on a team that was, at the time, still trying to juggle the Kevin Durant era.
Fast forward to the current 2025-26 season. The roster looks different. KD is in Houston. The "Big Three" era is a memory. Now, Ryan Dunn is part of a younger, scrappier core alongside guys like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.
People keep waiting for him to become a 20-point scorer. He probably won't. But look at his 2025-26 splits:
- Minutes: 21.6 (up from 19.1)
- Rebounds: 4.7 (up from 3.6)
- Steals: 1.0 (nearly doubled his rookie rate)
- Free Throw %: 69.2% (a huge jump from his 48.7% rookie struggle)
That free-throw jump is the most telling stat. It shows he's actually working on the mechanics. In college at Virginia, he was a 50% shooter from the stripe. NBA teams used to "Hack-a-Dunn" him to get him off the floor. Now? You can't just put him on the line and expect a miss.
Defensive Impact That Doesn't Show Up in the Stats
We have to talk about the "Defended Field Goal Percentage." This is a stat the Suns' analytics department loves. Earlier this season, Dunn ranked 5th in the entire NBA among players with at least 300 defended shots, holding opponents to just 40.1% shooting when he was the primary defender.
That is absurd.
He’s guarding everyone. One night it’s a shifty point guard, the next it’s a 6’10” power forward. He has these "pogo stick" legs that allow him to recover even when he gets beat on a first step. You've probably seen the highlights—the ones where he swats a layup from behind after it's already left the shooter's hand.
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The Shooting "Problem"
Is Ryan Dunn a knockdown shooter? No. He’s hovering around 30.7% from deep this season. It’s a slight dip from his rookie year, but the volume is there. The Suns coaching staff is telling him to fire. They know that even if he's not Klay Thompson, he has to be a threat to keep the spacing alive for Devin Booker.
There was a game back in November against the Spurs where he dropped a season-high 17 points. He looked comfortable. He was cutting to the rim, hitting the occasional corner three, and living in transition. That is his ceiling: a high-level "connector" who doesn't need the ball to be the most impactful player on the court.
Why the Suns Kept Him Around
In October 2025, the Suns exercised their team option on Dunn for the 2026-27 season. They didn't even hesitate. In a league where late first-rounders are often traded for "cash considerations" or future second-rounders, Phoenix sees him as a foundational piece.
He’s cheap, he’s durable, and he’s one of the few players on the roster who actually enjoys playing defense. Honestly, watching him shadow an opponent’s best player is more entertaining than watching a standard iso-play. He’s "sticky." He stays in your jersey.
What’s Next for Dunn?
The next step is the "corners." If Ryan Dunn can turn that corner three-pointer into a 36% shot, he becomes a $100 million player. It’s that simple. We’ve seen guys like Herb Jones or Jerami Grant do it. They start as "all-defense, no-offense" and slowly build the jumper until they are indispensable.
For now, he’s a defensive specialist who is slowly finding his way. He might only score 6.8 points per game, but his +6.4 net rating tells you that the Suns are just better when he’s out there.
Actionable Insights for Following Ryan Dunn's Progression:
- Watch the FT%: This is the best indicator of his touch. If he stays near 70%, the three-pointer will eventually follow.
- Track the "Defended FG%": Check the NBA's advanced tracking data once a month. If he stays in the top 10, he's an All-Defensive candidate.
- Ignore the PPG: Don't judge his games by points. Look at his "stocks" (steals + blocks). If he has 3+ stocks in a game, he’s done his job.