Welcome to the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns Season Preview series, where we embark on a comprehensive journey through the roster. In this series, we’ll break down individual player previews, offering a detailed look at each member of the Suns’ lineup. We’ll recap their performance from last season, highlighting key moments and areas of growth, and analyze how their skills, experience, and roles will contribute to the team’s championship aspirations.

Whether it’s the seasoned veterans or the rising stars, each player has a unique role in what could be a defining season for the franchise. Join us as we explore the potential and challenges that lie ahead for the Suns in their pursuit of basketball glory.

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Grayson Allen

Shooting Guard, 6’4”, 198 pounds, 28 years old, 6 Years of NBA Experience

He was a salary add-in in the Deandre Ayton and Jusuf Nurkić trade from less than a year ago, but Grayson Allen has become a key piece in the Suns’ rotation. His shooting, durability, and willingness to play multiple roles were one of the bright spots in a lost season for the Suns last year.

Going into his second season with the Phoenix Suns, his role may look a bit different from the starting spot he had a year ago, but he is as important as ever for the Suns and their quest to bring home the franchise’s first championship.

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2023-24 Recap

Allen had a career year last season starting next to Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. He averaged career-high in almost every major statistical category including in three-point percentage, which he led the NBA in. His ability to space the floor made him a preferred player to pair with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the court. He helped open scoring lanes for the two to operate and be efficient. Allen had three games where he made nine threes and one where he made eight triples in a single half, A HALF!!!

Tough as an eight-dollar steak, he played in 75 games in the regular season, making him someone Frank Vogel could consistently rely on to be in the lineup. When Bradley Beal or Devin Booker missed time, he was more than willing to take on ball handling duties, leading to a single-game career-high in assists against the Utah Jazz in February.

His best month of the season came in March. As the team started to get into a rhythm with Bradley Beal starting to consistently be in the lineup, Allen averaged 15.5 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting from the field and 45.3 percent from long range.

Unfortunately, Allen got hurt multiple times in the Suns’ short playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played a total of 42 minutes in just two games, scoring only seven points.

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Contract Details

Allen signed a four-year $70 million contract extension with the Valley at the end of the regular season. He will be the fifth-highest-paid player on the Suns this upcoming season.

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Allen is a marksmen; one of the league’s finest three-point shooters. He’s great off the catch, can knock them down from extended range, and in the corner. Last year, he shot 5.9 threes per game and made about three of them. He was incredibly consistent. Only one month of the season Allen shot below 40 percent from three.

When Allen was playing, the Suns were playing some of their best basketball. He had the fourth best plus minus on the team. It’s a testament to his ability to play winning basketball. Allen is best when he is aggressive. The more he searches for threes, the better he is. Some of the Suns best wins of the year were when he aggressively looked to shoot threes. Check out his eight-three performance against the Nuggets.

With both Beal and Booker missing time, Allen now has experience playing point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. While he is undersized, his experience playing the three is crucial for lineups for when the Suns want to play small.

Allen is a great shooter. He’s not a great creator. Undersized, he isn’t the best multi-level scorer and doesn’t try to be. Only 3.2 of his 9.1 shot attempts per game were from inside the arch.

For lineups when the Suns go small, he may help them offensively, but defensive questions will arise if he has to take on the other team’s best perimeter defender, so Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have more juice on the offensive end. He tries, but his lack of speed, size and agility put him at a disadvantage.

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One Key Factor

With Tyus Jones expected to start, Allen is expected to come off the bench. In many ways, he’s taking Eric Gordon’s role from a year ago: sixth man. New head coach Mike Budenholzer has experience coaching Allen, perhaps he’s able to unlock Allen as a scorer? Playing with a true point guard like Monte Morris should make the Suns’ second unit more organized, and if he plays at the shooting guard position, he can focus on what he does best, shooting threes.

Allen’s come off the bench before, but this time it will be as a team’s featured player.

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Prediction Time

Expect a solid year from Allen, with similar stats from a year ago. While his role may be different, he will be more of a focal point when he’s on the court. The offensive organization Tyus Jones and Monte Morris will bring to the Suns should keep his efficiency high, and games when Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker have it going, Allen should get a ton of open looks.

As long as he remains a strong shooter and doesn’t go through many slumps, his size and defensive chops should not make him unplayable. Maybe he’ll participate in the Three-Point contest this year.

74 games played, 13.9 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.8 RPG, 0.8 SPG on 51/44/88 shooting splits

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Final Thoughts

If the Suns have a great bench this season, Allen will be the main reason for it. When the starters are out, he has a chance to keep the offense humming with strong shooting. When he’s playing with the Big Three, he can make their lives easier and get a lot of open looks for himself.

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Read other 2024-25 Player Previews right here: