It’s been a brutal couple o’ games for the Phoenix Suns. Any momentum they built during their four-game win streak has been wiped away, buried beneath back-to-back losses by a combined 45 points. One step forward, two steps back. We knew the road ahead would be tough, but losing in such a deflating fashion doesn’t just take the wind out of the sails. It starts sinking the whole ship.
If we’re searching for silver linings, there are a couple. One is Mike Budenholzer’s continued commitment to starting Collin Gillespie. It’s a move that surprises me, but one I believe gives the Suns their best shot at success. More than that, it provides the young Villanova product with invaluable experience, a chance to develop, and maybe even carve out a long-term role. Could he be a reliable backup moving forward? Maybe. Could he be something more? Time will tell.
Last night, he was thrown into the fire against a Timberwolves squad built to suffocate stars. Their game plan was simple: swarm Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. With their size, length, and athleticism, they executed it to perfection, holding Phoenix’s two elite scorers to just 33 points on 11-of-33 shooting. It was a stark reminder that in games like these, when the pressure mounts and the margins tighten, the Suns need more from everyone. Not just their stars.
“They were putting two guys on Book and K and blitzing on their ball screens,” Gillespie told The Arizona Republic’s Duane Ranking after the game. “Other guys had to make plays and play off those guys.”
"They were putting two guys on Book and K and blitzing on their ball screens. Other guys had to make plays and play off those guys."
Two-way player Collin Gillespie on his career night (22 points, 10 assists to one turnover and 5 rebounds in 26 minutes) in Suns loss to T-Wolves.… pic.twitter.com/qLm1PbEAch
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 29, 2025
Gillespie is one of those “other guys” the Suns desperately need to step up. And last night, he delivered.
He was poised, efficient, and fearless, knocking down 9-of-11 shots from the field, drilling 4-of-5 from deep, and racking up 22 points alongside 10 assists. It was a stellar performance, the kind that doesn’t just fill a box score but earns the trust of teammates. And judging by their reactions, they saw it too.
“Super proud of him. Super efficient,” Devin Booker stated.
“Collin was great tonight. Wish we could’ve got a win for him. That would’ve been even better, but it’s a good stepping stone. Build more confidence,” said Durant.
So what now? Do the Suns make room for him on the roster? Do they ensure that he is signed to a standard contract, ensuring that they have hoim next year as well? Does he care about that?
“Nah, man,” he informed Rankin. “I’m just thankful for every day that I’m playing and I’m blessed to be in the position that I am. If something where to happen, that would be great, but I’m just focused on taking it day by day. If that needs to happen, that will happen at some point, but I’m not really focused on it. I’m taking it game by game and try to win as many games as we can.”
His play is infectious, especially during this six-game stretch as a starter. The Suns have played harder around him, sometimes embodying the same grit he brings to the court. He’s been a life raft of sorts, keeping hope alive that they can still survive.
With eight games left, there’s still time to clear a roster spot for Gillespie. If the Suns were to make the move on the final day of the season, he’d still be eligible for the postseason. If they make it that far.
It’s been a brutal stretch, but at least CG12 is showing real promise. Small victories, right?
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