Ryan Dunn is emerging as a capable role player early in his NBA career. The 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has quickly made an impact on both ends of the floor in Phoenix.

After shooting 43.3% (13/30) from three in the preseason, Ryan Dunn is at 46.2% (6/13) through three games, leading all rookies in three-pointers. He scored 13 points in 21 minutes in the win against Dallas on Saturday night.

Of course, it’s not just about hitting the shot; his defensive effort and constant hustle drive the energy in the Suns’ defense. Some of the plays he makes may not show up on the stat sheet, but he impacts the game in several ways.

The 21-year-old is averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.5 minutes per game through his first three games. His plus-minus stands at +3.3 and he ranks 5th overall in PPG among rookies.

More importantly, he earned the trust of Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer early on. So much so that he drew the start with Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen both sidelined for Saturday’s game against the Mavericks.

Coach Bud said the following about Dunn: “Ryan has earned the trust and respect of his teammates. Earned my own trust and respect. Throw him in the fire. We need him to grow and develop.”

Gaining the trust of an experienced head coach like Budenholzer is not easy. We heard great things from both the staff and veteran players that both rookies were “ahead of schedule” or “advanced,” but that was before the games counted.

It was a joy to watch that hype manifest itself in real time.

The defense

One thing we aren’t surprised by is Ryan Dunn’s tenacious defense. It’s been as advertised so far, both in the Summer League, preseason and regular season. He’s everywhere.

Three games into his career, offensive players are just shooting 37.0% off the field as he was defended by Ryan Dunn. He fights for screens, he blows up passing lanes, he’s in the right spot on the help side and he finishes hard. He does exactly what this team expects of him and provides infectious energy.

Kevin Durant also had nothing but praise for the rookie, saying, “I just love his poise. I love that he’s physical, I love that he actually does dirty.

For example, we’ve seen NBA stars like James Harden do their best to get rid of Ryan Dunn as a rookie. That says everything you need to know about how he is already viewed as a defender in the league. His reputation will only continue to grow as he gets meaningful minutes and makes plays on both ends.

His attacking defense on the wing is exactly what the Suns lacked last season. His size allows him to guard those big wings that Phoenix has struggled with all too often over the years. When Beal and Allen return, it will be interesting to see if Budenholzer wants to close out the games with Dunn for defensive purposes and if so, who that victim would be.

Anyway, one thing is crystal clear. Ryan Dunn will help the Phoenix Suns win basketball games.

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images