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.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 14: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Devin Booker #1 after scoring against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Suns 114-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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…

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Publish date : 2026-08-19 12:00:00

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