In many ways Grayson Allen ended up doing exactly what he was supposed to with the Phoenix Suns. Which is why he lands at number eight on this list of top Suns from 2025-26.
A strange way to look at a campaign in which he had some injury issues once again and ultimately was traded at season’s end, but that was always the point with the former Duke sharpshooter.
Appreciation for Allen will only grow in the coming years
Allen’s 51 games played was his fewest going back to his days with the Memphis Grizzlies, while the 34.9 percent he shot from deep was the worst output since his rookie season in Utah. It was the same old story in the postseason as well, injury limiting the 30-year-old to appearing in only two of the four games versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But the swingman who led the entire league in 3-point shooting his first year in Phoenix morphed into a true fan favorite, thanks to his underrated defending and ability to become a secondary playmaker around Devin Booker. As the Suns made their playoff push, the fanbase realized how good they had it with Allen.
Number 10 - Jamaree Bouyea took his NBA career off life support
Number 9 - Brian Gregory banished the 'Michigan Guy' tag
He was one of the veterans who ultimately helped get the Suns to the postseason, always coming across well to the media and doing wonders for his own reputation as a dirty player which definitely existed prior to his arrival. How can you hate on a guy who willingly gave up his starting spot for Tyus Jones in an effort to make things work in Phoenix the previous season as well?
The real beauty in Allen in 2025-26 was how he still gave his all despite the Suns’ title aspirations ending with the departure of Kevin Durant. He had been brought in to space the court for a trio of star teammates (which at the time we thought would include Bradley Beal), but that experiment never got off the ground. Instead it was having a bigger role on a more limited roster that saw the Suns get the best out of Allen.Â
The nature of his contract always made him an ideal trade candidate, that was always how this was supposed to end.
Yet the return of Miles Bridges felt underwhelming.Â
Feels like The Valley won’t truly know what it had with Allen until he is gone, but his time with the franchise will always be remembered fondly and saw him give his all no matter the cause, and no matter the role he had each night.
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