Why Collin Gillespie could have another gear as he enters year 4

Collin Gillespie was a revelation for the Phoenix Suns last season, and it may have surprised some folks… not me.

I’ve been higher on him than most, so high that I threw him in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year last preseason and was (somewhat) ridiculed for those lofty expectations. Okay, maybe not ridiculed, but an eye roll or two for being a homer from our Bright Siders, no doubt.

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But now I know what most people are thinking from the outside looking in. A 27-year-old 6’1″ guard? He hit his peak during his breakout, surely, right?

Not so fast.

Gillespie’s 2025-26 season wasn’t a lightning-strike anomaly. It was a floor being set. The undrafted Villanova product who spent three consecutive years scrapping on two-way deals just logged his first full season in a legitimate rotation, and what he showed over 80 games was a player operating at maybe 75 percent of his ceiling. The stats support this. The tape supports this. The situation supports this. He is not a finished product yet.

The Numbers

Let’s get specific. The Suns owned a plus-3.7 net rating with Gillespie on the floor in the regular season compared to a minus-2.2 net rating with him on the bench. That’s not a coincidence. In an 82-game NBA season, that’s a direct measurement of what happens when a guy plays versus when he doesn’t. Gillespie appeared in 80 games, so uhh, yeah… that’s a quality sample size.

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Most of that value came from his three-point shooting and decision-making in transition. Despite being undersized, he fights like hell on defense. He picks up opponents 94 feet. He dives for loose balls. He fights through screens. All the green flags that we’d expect from this new Suns culture.

Gillespie thrived from behind the arc, shooting 40.1 percent on three-pointers while taking 7.2 long-range shots per game, ending the year with 232 triples, tied for the seventh-most among all players. In addition to his sharp shooting, he brings a steady assist-to-turnover ratio, an ability to navigate the pick-and-roll in late-game situations, and a willingness to attack closeouts with genuine basketball IQ rather than herky-jerky athleticism.

His game has a foundation that isn’t built on flash. But don’t get it twisted… he has some flashy moments when he’s in the zone.

Career Path

Gillespie didn’t walk into a perfect situation by any means. He initially went undrafted in 2022 before signing a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. He didn’t play during the 2022-23 season due to injury and wasn’t able to carve out a consistent role in Denver’s rotation throughout his 2023-24 campaign. Phoenix took a flyer on him on a two-way contract in July of 2024 as a dartboard depth piece. He wasn’t promised anything, so he went out and earned it.

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The 2025-26 campaign? He started in 58 games, establishing himself as a key piece of Phoenix’s offense after initially being outside of the Suns’ rotation to begin the season. That’s progression. That’s the byproduct of earning trust.

What’s Next?

People assume breakout seasons plateau, especially for late bloomers. I think that’s lazy thinking. Gillespie’s still figuring out how to operate with consistent starter’s minutes. He’s still adjusting to playing alongside Devin Booker in a coherent system. He’s still learning how to manage his aggression in tight games.

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Gillespie averaged a career-high 12.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. That’s solid. But a guy who shoots 40 percent from three at volume should be finding ways to push closer to 15-16 PPG by year four. They may not even need that type of offense in a perfect world where everyone is healthy, but we all know how an NBA season goes. When Booker or Green miss time, his offensive role shifts entirely and he needs to be more aggressive.

His assist numbers should climb to five or more per game with more usage. His playmaking, which is genuinely elite-level if you’re watching the movement, hasn’t been fully unleashed.

Following his breakout 2025-26 season, Gillespie signed a four-year contract worth $48 million with Phoenix. That’s $12 million per year. It’s the right price for a player still ascending, still proving he belongs, still hungry.