SunsRank: Why Grayson Allen is the 3rd best player on the Phoenix Suns roster, not Bradley Beal

When discussing the Phoenix Suns, opinions vary widely, and that’s part of what makes covering the team so damn exciting. As a contributor on Bright Side and a co-host of Suns Planet Podcast, I am thrilled to engage with fans of our “Valley Boys” worldwide and share perspectives. No single opinion is definitive, which keeps the conversation vibrant. I have recently been put under scrutiny by my fellow Phoenix Suns media content creators for this “hot take”.

And so here I will stand on this ledge alone...or am I?

Today, I am here to explain why I have ranked Grayson Allen as the third-best player on the Phoenix Suns roster for this upcoming season.

When the Phoenix Suns signed Grayson Allen, many of us had doubts. His reputation as a “dirty player” made us wonder if he’d be more of a liability than an asset. But we couldn’t have been more wrong.

Allen has indeed maintained his reputation as a troublemaker and a pest on the court, but it’s our opponents who are suffering, not us. He quickly became a fan favorite at the Footprint Center, providing not only entertainment but also an excellent addition to our roster. Last season Grayson was a scoring juggernaut. Allen dominated with a field goal percentage of .499. Even more impressive is the three-point percentage of .461, leading not just the Suns, but the entire NBA last season. Suns fans, rejoice: we have the league’s top three-point shooter. How good is this!

But his contributions don’t stop there.

Grayson Allen’s ball-handling skills are solid, evidenced by his 95 turnovers last season. To put that in perspective, Kevin Durant had 244, Devin Booker had 178, Jusuf Nurkić had 175, and Bradley Beal had 131. Despite playing the second-most minutes on the team — 2,513, just behind Durant’s 2,791 — Allen kept his turnovers low. Add on top of this, averaging 3.0 assists per game, this shows that his handles are not only adequate but reliable.

Allen is also a menace on defense with a 0.9 steals per game (ranking fourth on the Suns roster). His ability to disrupt the opposition on both ends of the court makes him a critical player for the upcoming season. Whether it’s offense or defense, Grayson Allen is poised to be a pivotal piece for the Suns this year.

It’s important to remember that Allen started 74 of 75 regular-season games and both playoff games last season. When he was injured, his absence was felt, especially in terms of scoring, ball-handling, and that “disruptive energy” he brings to the court.

This is where the real eye test comes into play. With Bradley Beal’s injury history, someone like Grayson will fill the gap and this is where Allen moves from fourth to third on this Suns roster. His durability, reliability, and overall commitment edged him into this spot over anyone else. Grayson Allen does not give up and thrives on his competition. He will not let us down. Beal? I have not seen that we can rely on him when needed.

Looking ahead this season brings new challenges — a different coaching staff, new roles, and deeper rotation with the addition of two qualified point guards. While this may affect his minutes and possessions I believe that under Coach Mike Budenholzer, Grayson Allen will continue to be one of the most valuable assets on the team. Will he get a starting role, as many minutes, or be used as often as he was? Probably not, but time will tell.

That is the most exciting thing about a new roster and coaches we have no idea what is in store for this season. I know @GraysonJAllen has transformed from a league villain into a Suns hero and I got your back Brother!

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