Former Bucks guard Grayson Allen just had the night of his life. In the Phoenix Suns’ win over the Pelicans, he poured in a career-high 42 points on 10-15 shooting from beyond the arc, needing just 28 minutes to do it. Bucks fans know he can stick it, but this was something else – in fact, that’s what his 2025-26 season has been thus far.
Indeed, his masterpiece on Monday night was just the highlight of a mid-career breakout campaign. The home Phoenix crowd chanted his name and showered him in standing ovations. Afterward, it was all Allen could take everything in.
Allen’s revelatory start to season peaks vs Pelicans
“I absolutely love Phoenix and love the fans here,” Allen beamed in his postgame interview on the floor. “It’s surreal to have a moment where everyone is chanting your name and cheering you on.”
Mar 17, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) and former teammate Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) share a few laughs during the game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
He has given Suns fans a lot to cheer through the first 11 games of the season: 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per night, while shooting 44.7 percent from three on over nine attempts. He has not had a game with fewer than 12 points or three assists. Scoring at high volume, creating for teammates, this version of Allen is on a whole new level, rewriting his career-long reputation as primarily a 3-point specialist.
“I’ll never ever ever ever take that for granted,” he said of spectators’ appreciation. “I’m so grateful for all the support I get here.”
Allen arrived in Phoenix in the Damian Lillard trade three years ago. While solid in Milwaukee, it’s not like fans threw a fit over giving him away. In 138 games for the Bucks, he averaged 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
His production ticked up immediately with the Suns – 13.5/3.9/3.0 in ’23-24 – and his already efficient 3-point shot incinerated net on contact at league-leading clip of 46.1 percent. That earned him a four-year, $70 million extension.
Apr 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) works around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, however, his first post-extension, Allen’s down year had many Suns fans interested in putting him on the trade block (of course, a “down year” still involved sinking triples at a rate of 42.6 percent).
With his breakout start to ’25-26, a showcase of both hidden upside and consistency, no doubt they’re glad the team held onto him. His $16.9 million salary now looks like a bargain.
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