PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns two-way guard Collin Gillespie was one of the few positives of an otherwise disappointing season; and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, he would love to return to the Valley next season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“I love Phoenix, man,” Gillespie said at morning shootaround ahead of their final home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. “They gave me an opportunity coming from Denver. I would love to be here if they’ll have me back, but we’ll see. I really don’t know right now, but I would like to be here.”
Gillespie started much of the first half of the season splitting time between Phoenix’s G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, and riding the parent team’s bench. But through hard work he found his way not only into the main rotation, but as a mainstay into the Suns’ starting lineup as they pushed to stay alive towards the end of the season.
Oct 26, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) against the Dallas Mavericks in the home opener at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“It sucks,” Gillespie said of officially missing the playoffs after a 125-112 loss to the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. “There’s no way around it. Obviously, nobody wants to have their season end this early. I think it’s been a while for a lot of the guys in here and you just got to take it on the chin and learn from it.”
Gillespie averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 assists per game on 45.8/47.1/80.0 shooting splits in eight games as a starter this season, including many games where he either lit it up from beyond the arc or found his teammates for assists in bunches.
The 2023 NBA Champion certainly gave Phoenix just a glimmer of anything possible this season and, considering he wants to come back, it is a no brainer that the Suns should do everything possible to retain him.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenoNBA, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
