3 Suns who are underperforming, 4 exceeding expectations at the All-Star break
By Will Eudy
Exceeding expectations: Grayson Allen
Compared to his expectations coming into the season, Grayson Allen may have had the largest impact of any Suns player this year. You may look at his 12.8 points per game average and scoff at that statement, but Grayson has been a legitimate stud on both ends of the floor for Phoenix all season.
When Allen landed with the Suns as part of the three-team deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks in September, most viewed him as only a minor addition to the team. After all, he did not even average scoring in double figures for his career coming into 2023-24, and his career shooting numbers were certainly nothing special.
But up until a few weeks ago, Grayson was putting up shooting splits for the season that would put him in the highly elite 50/40/90% club. Since then, only his free throw percentage has dipped enough to take him out of that category. Allen is still shooting over 50% from the field and an astounding 48% from three.
That number makes him the top three-point shooter in the NBA this season percentage wise, and he is a full two percentage points above Luke Kennard who sits at number two. While locking up on defense as well, Allen has easily exceeded his expectations this season and could be a big reason the Suns go far in the playoffs.