There’s no doubt that Collin Gillespie has quickly gained a cult following among Phoenix Suns fans. A combination of having a man who really cares every night, with just a hint of Steve Nash around him, reminding us of all the glory days of years gone by. Gillespie can play too, and at this point we need to have a conversation about whether or not he should start.
The front office was smart to make the 26-year-old G League player a full-time member of their roster this season, but it’s becoming clear the organization missed a trick with Gillespie. The backup point guard has signed a minimum one-year contract and is already outperforming his contract and isn’t looking back.
Suns risk losing Gillespie for nothing next summer.
That’s why they should have looked at signing him to a longer contract because at the rate he leaves, this could be his last season in The Valley. In defense of the front office for a moment, the Suns were in the second platform for much of the offseason until Kevin Durant was traded and Bradley Beal was bought out.
The Collin Gillespie change we’d love to see is here (✍️ @LucaLockheart)https://t.co/uu2rqZbaWy
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) November 2, 2025
It’s also worth pointing out that even the biggest Gillespie fan didn’t see this jump coming. The Suns were right to sign him for at least one year because the alternative was being stuck with a glorified G League player that no one else wanted. Gillespie rightly wants a lot more money and job security next summer, and the Suns may not be able to provide that.
They must decide what to do with center Mark Williams, who is eligible for an extension on his own rookie deal, while Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks will make a combined $56 million in 2026-27. That’s somehow still less than Devin Booker, who will make $57 million. Add to that the new deal Williams is likely to get, and the money is already running out.
However, if there is a reason for Gillespie to stay, he only has to look at former Suns floor general Tyus Jones. He was considered one of the best backups in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies, and had a great year with the Washington Wizards. He gambled on himself by going to Phoenix to try to win a championship – and he flopped badly.
That has continued this season with the Orlando Magic, proving that the grass is not always greener. Gillespie will likely never be as beloved or as important as he is in The Valley, which is worth considering when planning his future. But if he could get even the mid-tier to move elsewhere, he’d be crazy not to go for it. Suns were right not to overpay for him, but it has now had an adverse effect on how well he plays.
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