We're sorry, and we're alright about it. If there's one thing we love being when it comes to these Phoenix Suns, it is wrong for all of the right reasons. That's exactly what Ryan Dunn showed us in the recent win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dunn is defensive spark Suns desperately need to succeed.
There's a reason Austin Reaves felt the need to say this after his side lost to the Suns, and players like Dunn were the reason why. With Devin Booker limited to only 10 minutes as a result of a worrying groin injury that has already set the team back, Dunn embodied the "next man up" mentality.
Had to come back to this INSANE Ryan Dunn putback 🤯 pic.twitter.com/s1vs9pWSow
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 2, 2025
That put back dunk above came in the first-quarter, and it set the tone for the night Dunn was going to have. He was a pest on the offensive boards, and although nobody is ever going to stop Luke Doncic, with his longer frame he fell for the star player's tricks less than his teammates.
We already made the case that Dunn should continue to come off the bench, and we're not quite ready to walk that back. When Jalen Green is back and Grayson Allen is also fully fit, it is hard to see who he could replace with that group. But the case for him closing certain games has increased.
His display over the Lakers also showed that it is perfectly fine for him to play 25 minutes off the bench, and be a terror every time he does so. He's in no way the same type of player as Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic, but perhaps he can have the same impact.
His career has been curtailed by injuries, and at this point Orlando only use him in bursts out of necessity. Dunn doesn't need to be on a minutes restriction, but head coach Jordan Ott can choose when to turn him loose because his style of play can be extremely effective.
The Suns remain above league average defensively, giving up 113.2 points each night. But with Dunn on the floor that shrinks to 109.4, while offensively he is not the black hole he was during his rookie campaign. The outside shot is not falling nearly regularly enough, but he's expanded his game.
Now you'll find Dunn getting those put backs or else grabbing an offensive board and making a play for his teammates. All little ways to help his team win, and which are completely in line with the culture coach Ott has quickly created. Sorry again Ryan, we were wrong.