His G League dominance fails to translate in the Phoenix Suns’ season.
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.
The local kid did good.
TyTy Washington Jr., a name that still echoes through the gym walls of Cesar Chavez High School, didn’t just show up in the G League. He detonated. He wasn’t a benchwarmer. He wasn’t a call-up cameo. He was the guy. One of the league’s chosen few, earning the title of “Up Next” like it was inked into his birth certificate. A prophecy fulfilled under the hum of low-ceiling arenas and scattered applause.
He averaged 22.3 points per game in the regular season, slicing up defenses with the calm of someone who’s done it a thousand times. But when the lights got brighter, the numbers got louder. TyTy dropped 39.5 points per game in the postseason like it was just another Tuesday. Not bad for a guy who probably still knows where all the good taco spots are off Baseline.
TyTy Washington, Jr.
- Position: Point Guard
- Vitals: 6’3”, 197 pounds, 23 years old
- Experience: 3 years
- Stats: 16 GP, 2.2 PPG (31.1 FG%, 19.0 FT%), 0.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.2 TO
Contract Details
After playing with the Houston Rockets two seasons ago and the Milwaukee Bucks last season, TyTy signed a two-way deal with the Suns this season. He will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Regular Season Recap
Like most G League call-ups, the transition from small arenas to the Suns’ bench came with turbulence. TyTy’s impact with Phoenix was minimal. He logged 118 total minutes across 16 games, scoring just 35 total points. His biggest night? A 25-minute stint in a blowout loss to Houston, where he dropped 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
He had his moments, but they were faint glimmers. Flashes you had to squint to see. You hoped that G League magic would seep upward, that maybe TyTy’s confidence would punch through the speed and physicality of the NBA game. It didn’t.
16 assists across 118 minutes. Not a disaster, but not enough to suggest he’s ready to orchestrate an offense. Defensively, he fought. But against bigger, faster, more polished guards, fight only gets you so far.
Biggest Strength
It’s the shot creation. The scoring instincts. In the G League, TyTy showed he can get buckets from all over the court. Floaters, pull-ups, step-backs, transition finishes. His bag is deep. He’s shifty, slippery, and never in a rush. You can see the Kentucky pedigree when he’s in rhythm.
And let’s not forget: he’s still just 23. He’s already shown he can be the guy at the developmental level. That matters. It means he’s not just a placeholder. He’s a prospect with pedigree, polish, and upside. A two-way player who’s a heartbeat away from sticking if the right situation presents itself.
Biggest Weakness
Washington’s biggest issue at the NBA level is that none of those G League strengths translated consistently. The game moves faster up here. The space closes quicker. The leash is shorter. TyTy often looked unsure, hesitating on drives, missing reads, and deferring too much when he should’ve asserted himself.
He’s also not an elite athlete. He’s quick, but not blow-by quick. He’s got handle, but not a break-your-ankles handle. His size — 6’3” in shoes — limits his versatility, especially when you factor in the modern game’s obsession with oversized guards.
Likelihood of Return: 7.5
Washington is a restricted free agent. That gives the Suns control if another team comes sniffing, but the truth is, TyTy didn’t show enough to make teams desperate. He’s intriguing, sure. But intrigue isn’t leverage.
The most likely outcome? Phoenix brings him back on another two-way, giving him another year of development. He’s already proven what he can do in the G League. Now it’s about unlocking that next level, finding consistency, confidence, and a clear NBA role.
Overall Grade: C-
It wasn’t a bust of a season. But it wasn’t a breakthrough either.
TyTy Washington Jr. gave Suns fans hope in the G League. Real hope. But when the call-ups came, when the door cracked open, he didn’t kick it off its hinges. And maybe that’s okay. Not every player is ready the first time through. Not every prospect’s growth is linear.
The story’s not over. The local kid still has time to make good on the arc. And maybe next time — next season, next call-up, next opportunity — he won’t just show up. He’ll stick.
Because the talent is real. The question now is whether the right window opens again…and whether this time, he’s ready to walk through it.
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