Jordan Goodwin: The most underrated member of the Suns

Yes, Jordan Goodwin is dearly loved and not taken for granted by Suns fans. Even then, I make the case for him still being criminally underrated.

A hill I will die on is that Goodwin’s absence was the most critical absence of the first round matchup against the Thunder. They missed him more than they did Mark Williams or Grayson Allen. I firmly believe he was one of their most important and impactful players last season and deserves much more credit for their turnaround season from a cultural perspective.

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The man in the mask was everything they could have imagined him to be and more last season. And he is not done.

The proof is right there in the numbers. Goodwin played 70 games for Phoenix in 2025-26, appearing in nearly the entire slate while logging meaningful minutes.

His production jumped across every meaningful category. He posted a career-high 8.7 points per game, up from his career average of 7.0. But here’s where it gets interesting for anyone actually watching rotations: his efficiency spiked to 51.4 effective field goal percentage, a real jump from his career 48.7 mark. On three-point shooting, he hit 37.1 percent from distance, a significant leap from his career 33.9% entering the season. That total rose to 34.6% after this season, of course. This isn’t even his specialty we’re talking about, it’s a luxury if you get offense out of him

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For a player not expected to bring much offensively, he was visibly more confident and more reliable with his jumper last season. Let’s not forget when he turned into Steph Curry against the Thunder, draining 8 threes, which led to the eventual Devin Booker game-winner.

Now the Thunder series. This is where the story breaks your heart a little. Goodwin barely appeared in one playoff game against Oklahoma City. He played five minutes total before a calf injury sidelined him for the rest of the series. The Suns got swept 4-0. Was it the only reason? Of course not. But it matters significantly more than the national narrative gives it credit for. He would have been the one shading Shai all series long. Matching Caruso’s scrappy intangibles. Diving on the floor for loose balls. Hitting timely threes. All wiped away. That stuff stacks.

This is their best point-of-attack defender we are talking about here. He was their second-best offensive rebounder. Read that again. He’s 6’3″, 6’4″ on a good day. Only Mark Williams had more offensive rebounds per game, and that’s kind of his job!

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People talk about the offensive firepower Phoenix was missing. They rightly point to shot creation and spacing. What they miss is the fungibility of what Goodwin was doing for 70 regular-season games: he was reliable on-ball movement, he was executing the defensive switching schemes without fouling out, and he was hitting open threes at a clip that actually opened driving lanes for others. Not to mention how terrible of a time it looked to dribble a basketball against him. He picked up full-court. He made sure it was not an enjoyable experience to play against the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns’ turnaround season in 2025-26 was built on consistency and depth. Goodwin was part of that foundation in a way that doesn’t show up in isolation. He was available. He stayed healthy until the playoffs. He shot better. He ran the offense. He defended without getting punished for it. When you’re trying to overtake the Western Conference, that’s the kind of player you lean on.

Let’s all just take a moment to collectively thank the Los Angeles Lakers for Goody again.

What makes the Thunder series loss hit different is the ripple effect of losing a guy like that mid-rotation. You don’t just lose the steady, impactful minutes he would’ve provided. You lose the rhythm of your bench unit. You lose a decision-maker on the floor. You lose a guy who doesn’t need the ball to be effective. Goodwin’s value is in making everyone else’s job easier. Against the Thunder’s suffocating defense, that matters exponentially more.

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Underrated players often stay underrated because their impact is collaborative, not individual. Goodwin’s 8.7 points and 4.9 boards won’t make the top headlines any time soon. His ability to move the ball, set his man up for better positions, and execute pick-and-roll coverage won’t trend on social media. But watch the tape from the regular season, then watch the Thunder series footage, and the lack of that third-unit glue. The difference is stark. Suns fans who paid attention last season know just how vital he is to this team.

And boy, are we glad he’s back at a team-friendly rate.