After signing a $70 million contract with the Phoenix Suns in April, fans expect Grayson Allen to be a vital piece of the Suns’ rotation for years to come after an impressive season.
This year, he was a knockdown shooter, shooting 46.1 percent from beyond the arc and finishing with shooting splits of 49.9/46.1/87.1. So close to a 50/40/90 season, Allen averaged 13.5 points and 2.7 3-pointers per game.
Seen as a throw-in in the Jrue Holiday deal, Allen surpassed all expectations. Despite the Suns getting swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Allen was a godsend for the Suns due to the lack of depth.
Allen’s 3-point shooting worked wonders with offensive talents like Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal creating looks in space for Allen.
In addition to the Jacksonville, Florida native’s range and ability to shoot off the catch, Allen was a perfect fit on the offensive end. This season, he was in the 99th percentilefor shot quality and rewarded his teammates for getting him good looks by being in the 97th percentile in true shooting.
Allen made nine 3-pointers on three occasions this season, resulting in three wins. His ability to get hot and be a deadly shooting threat will be vital for next season.
Grayson Allen with 32 points and 9 threes man. He’s Him pic.twitter.com/aWaOZRRyZW
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) March 21, 2024
The guard had some fantastic slams this season in the fastbreak. His ability to put the ball on the floor to get to the rim and finish strong separates him from other elite spot-up shooters. However, he’s a limited playmaker and doesn’t get to the line very often.
Grayson rises UP...
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 22, 2023
and throws it DOWN! pic.twitter.com/uO6HSnGkCr
Due to the sheer amount of offensive talent on this team, the Suns will need more from the guard position on the defensive end, but Allen was not poor by any means. He got some deflections and didn’t get into foul trouble too often. The six-foot-four sniper was not expected to be a wizard on this end, and his ability to space the floor for the Suns was a big reason why the Suns ranked 10th in offensive rating.
The Suns will need to build a complete roster, but with head coach Mike Budenholzer now in the mix, who is no stranger to having his teams shoot lots of 3-pointers, Allen will be an essential piece. However, a team with Booker, Beal, and Allen defending opposing guards is a tricky recipe to sell.
Overall, Allen is a 3-point sniper, which is of great value in today’s game. Suns fans will have to hope he does not take a step back next season, as any role player who can bring value to Phoenix is desperately needed. Hopefully, Suns fans can see more of Allen in the postseason next year, as he aggravated an ankle injury in Game 2 in the first round.