There was only ever going to be one winner of our first-quarter MVP award for the Phoenix Suns, and of course it would be point guard Collin Gillespie. What an incredible first 21 games he has had this season for the franchise, going from key backup off the bench to starting games.
Gillespie more than deserving of first-quarter MVP award.
It says it all that head coach Jordan Ott, who has a clear way of playing on both ends of the court and uses veterans to try and win games, turned to Gillespie when some of his key players were missing to steady the ship. This despite superstar Devin Booker turning in a great campaign as the creative hub.
It was clear Booker needed more help, his own shooting was in a bit of a slump as a result, and it was a guy who was on a two-way deal and spent considerable time in the G League last season who was expected to answer the call. He did just that, and now has us thinking - is he the smartest player on this roster? He had some ideal mentorship in his rookie season.
Cute moment from Collin Gillespie and Nikola Jokic before the game last night
Collin was lucky enough to have Jokic as a vet his rookie year 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/HYVOvln1sY
— Nuggets Lead (@NuggetsLead) November 30, 2025
The way he is able to get off his shot offensively by moving without the ball and being one step ahead of the defense is incredible, and shooting a sizzling 42.9 percent on a high volume 6.7 attempts from 3-point range is surely proof of that.
That is more shots from beyond the arc than Booker is taking (5.8), a sentence that would have made fans shudder this time last season. Instead it is encouraged, and if anything it would be great to see him take a couple of the bombs Dillon Brooks seems contend on throwing each night.
The only other player who was seriously in consideration here was center Mark Williams. He has also been excellent but the fact he still gets held out of back-to-backs hurt his case. Whereas his value is seen by his absence, Gillespie instead plays every night and forces you to respect what he does.
The highest compliment we can give here is that when Jalen Green returns, coach Ott is going to have a tough time cutting Gillespie's role and minutes here. He'll likely return to coming off the bench, and you can be sure he won't complain and will keep churning out great performances.
Even the national media have copped on to what he's doing each night, and it has helped the Suns become an above average defensive team. Not bad for a unit that started the season trailing only the Brooklyn Nets in points allowed each night. Gillespie alone doesn't deserve the credit for the turnaround in this department, but he has a big part of the solution.
The Suns have to bring him back at all costs next season, but for now just enjoy a guy who should get some actual Sixth Man of the Year buzz. That is if he even qualifies, because right now he is excelling with the starters. Collin Gillespie, you literally changed our lives.