Phoenix Suns fans rightly entered the 2025-26 season with high hopes for Ryan Dunn. After an encouraging rookie season, where he was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise nightmarish campaign, he seemed to take a step backwards in his sophomore outing.
Dunn suffered from the sophomore slump
Over the course of this season, his role slowly diminished, going from 24.4 minutes per game in November to a string of DNPs in March. The same flaws that were on display in his rookie season felt amplified in his sophomore season, which led Coach Ott to opt for rookie Rasheer Fleming and some of the veteran wings over him late in the season.
He still looks like the timid offensive player that he was as a rookie, refusing to take open 3s and anxious to move the ball as soon as it lands in his hands. As an athletic, sizeable wing, his defense can still be game-changing, but he really seems to be more of a hindrance to the offense than he is a benefit to the defense.
Considering the rise of Rasheer Fleming, who is poised for a major role next season, along with Dunn's diminishing role, leaves one to think it may even be the end for Ryan Dunn in Phoenix.
If the Suns are pessimistic about his chances at developing into the player they need him to be, and if there is value to be gained from trading him, the Suns may just opt to move him while they can.
There's still reason for hope
As disappointing as his development has been, the Suns cannot write off a 23-year-old entering his third NBA season. Although he seemed like more of the same player, he did show growth in some key areas this past season.
His 3P% rose from .311 to .331, along with his FG% from .430 to .453. On roughly the same minutes per game, he averaged more steals (0.9 v. 0.6) with fewer fouls (1.9 v. 2.2) and more rebounds (4.2 v. 3.6). On offense, his points per game lowered from 6.8 to 5.9, but his assists nearly doubled from 0.8 to 1.5.
The Suns actually played better with him on the floor this season, with a NETRTG of 1.9 with him on the floor versus a NETRTG of 1.2 without him. Unsurprisingly, it was the defense that did it, as they performed 4.6 points better defensively while only being 2.7 points worse offensively.
He showed small developments across the board, but developments nonetheless. Ideally, if the Suns can even get him to just be a more efficient, voluminous shooter, that's enough for him to become a positive offensive player.
The defense speaks for itself, so if he figures out the offense, he'll be an impactful role player in the NBA for years to come.
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