2025 Suns Player Review: Collin Gillespie, the next hidden gem for the Suns

In a limited role, he impressed, but will it be enough to bring him back to the Valley?

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we take a closer look at each player who suited up during the 2024–25 campaign. One by one, we’ll break down what went right, what went wrong, and what each player can do to take the next step heading into next season.

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Collin Gillespie came into the Valley this year and showed who he can truly be in the NBA this season.

After getting released from the Denver Nuggets, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns. Gillespie was ready to change the narrative on his game and truly show that his college dominance can translate to the NBA. He was a two-way player, though, so he had to earn his role to show out for the main roster.

Gillespie got that opportunity due to the influx of injuries sustained by the Phoenix roster. In his limited time of 33 games, he showed the Suns something they had been missing: heart and hustle.

Collin Gillespie

• Position: Point Guard
• Vitals: 6’1”, 195 pounds, 25 years old
• Experience: 2 Years
• Stats: 33 GP, 5.9 PTS, (43 FG%, 43.3 3FG%, 86.4 FT%) 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.2 BPG, 0.5 SPG

Contract Details

In free agency last summer, Collin Gillespie signed a one-year two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, allowing him to play for both franchises, the Phoenix and Valley Suns. Since Gillespie was not signed before the season ended, he is now a restricted free agent. Any team can offer him a contract around the league and take him from Phoenix. They do not want to be in this scenario because they already have a high tax bill.

Regular Season Recap

Since Gillespie was on a two-way deal, he started his season with the Valley Suns. This year, he played ten games for the G-League squad, starting in all. He averaged 21.2 PPG alongside 7.6 RPG, 11.1 APG, and 1.9 SPG. By putting up stats like this, it was evident he was better than his competition, and the Villanova veteran was ready for the NBA.

His debut for Phoenix was in October, where he suited up in an early victory. Gillespie was not seen until January, when he saw garbage time minutes in blowout wins. It was not until the guard room started sustaining injuries that Gillespie could see some real minutes. The night that helped Gillespie the most, though, was March 4th. The Suns and Clippers were playing, and Collin Gillespie hit some clutch shots alongside Kevin Durant to give the Suns a win. That was a key game for Collin, as after it, only three more times did he receive less than ten minutes a night when he suited up.

The best night he had for Phoenix came vs the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 26th. After the Suns had been embarrassed by the Celtics the previous game, they looked to get back into the win column. Unfortunately, that did not come true, but they saw Collin Gillespie’s career high. He notched twenty-two points, ten rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting above 80% from FG and the 3FG (9/11 from the field, 4/5 from three). The best part? He did this without shooting ONE free throw! Now this is a guy the Valley should invest in.

Biggest Strength

His most significant strength is his offensive ability and creation of offense for others. Gillespie is a more undersized guard at 6’1”, so it hinders his ability to score on bigger defenders. Yet that is not a problem for Gillespie, and it was shown this year. He showed multiple times that he had this “Nash-esque” driving ability, and we all gasped when seeing it for the first time. He can shoot the ball at a solid clip, especially from three if he’s hot. Whether it is a shot he creates for himself or a catch-and-shoot three, you can trust him.

Also, Gillespie can be a perfect playmaker for a secondary unit. His stats for the Valley Suns showed he is selfless and willing to set up his teammates. He did the same when getting called up, especially when placed in the starting lineup. Gillespie’s ability to play off-ball alongside Devin Booker was also a key factor. He was the only one to fit next to him, which is not good, especially when the Suns tried to achieve this success with other guards, such as Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, and Bradley Beal.

Biggest Weakness

His biggest weakness is his defensive ability. As I mentioned earlier, being just above 6 feet makes it more challenging for him to match up against some of these players in the NBA. Opposing teams will try to utilize mismatches by setting screens to get Gillespie on their best player or a favorable matchup for them. A team like the Boston Celtics uses a “killer whale” mentality, attacking the “seal,” and that is what they did in their matchups this season.

This will motivate Collin to improve on that side of the floor. He is aggressive on the offensive side to get whatever bucket he needs, and I don’t see that fight stopping on the defensive side either, even if, due to his size, he cannot stop everyone.

Likelihood of Return: 7

With the Suns being in the second apron, it makes any transaction difficult. Since Gillespie is also a restricted free agent, any team can offer him a deal. This means the Suns will compete with teams that value a young point guard who has shown growth in a limited time. Gillespie values the Suns giving him an opportunity and stated that at the end of the season. A young player who wants a chance in the league may value that loyalty to the team that let him sprout. That said, I would not be shocked if he got more money from another team and did leave, as this is a business.

Overall Grade: B+

In his limited time on the roster, Collin gave it his all regardless, and you tip your cap to that. The heart and hustle in every contest on both sides of the ball were unmatched. Whether it was 3 minutes or getting 20 a night, he was always ready to go for this team when he was called upon. He also did not try to outdo his role for the team. When he knew he was struggling, he let the stars go to work and was a solid complementary piece alongside Booker, even with their defensive flaws.

I wanted Collin signed before the end of the season, and I will be severely disappointed if he leaves this offseason. Let’s do something right and bring him back!

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