**Ryan Dunn’s Rise with the Phoenix Suns: Confidence Fuels Rookie’s Breakout Season**
PHOENIX – If you had told Ryan Dunn he would start 44 of his 74 games with the Phoenix Suns during his rookie season, he’d likely have felt honored and grateful – but not exactly surprised.
Playing alongside stars like Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant isn’t for the faint of heart. Competing with potential Hall of Famers and being challenged every day can be exhausting. However, it’s a challenge the Virginia standout has taken great pride in.
### A Rookie Who Didn’t Play Like a Rookie
Guys like Durant and Beal have praised Dunn for his enthusiasm, defensive intangibles, and contagious energy. Booker noted that Dunn was one of the rookies who didn’t play like a rookie.
During media day, Dunn revealed how he unlocked his next level of success with the Suns: confidence. Fast forward nine games into the current season, and his answer remains the same.
“Like we talked about before, from last year going to this year and training camp, just trusting the work I put in and being able to grow and just trust in the process of what I’ve been doing and not living in what’s either good or bad,” Dunn said in an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints before Thursday’s game. “Just honing in on trying to get better every single day. I think that’s been good. This season starting off, I had some ups and downs, but it’s still trusting myself, coming out here. These guys in this locker room helped me a lot.”
### Confidence That Doesn’t Go Unnoticed
One of the first to witness Dunn’s growth in confidence was Devin Booker. Throughout the tumultuous 2024-25 season, Booker consistently pointed to Dunn as one of the Suns’ foundational pieces. Even if his offensive game wasn’t fully developed, his defense, hustle, and sheer willpower more than made up for it.
Importantly, Dunn was routinely matched up against the opposition’s best offensive player. This was highlighted during a recent Sunday game against the San Antonio Spurs, where Dunn raved about matching up with Victor Wembanyama. Though he wasn’t guarding the Spurs’ star center for the entire game, there were moments where this second-year player more than held his own.
The physicality, smart positioning, and communication with his teammates on help defense stood out. Perhaps the biggest leap, however, has been Dunn’s offensive assertiveness. In the third quarter, he challenged Wembanyama at the basket and drew a foul — something that might not have happened a season ago.
While this growth surprises some, Booker saw it coming. “He’s more aggressive,” Booker said after the Suns’ 130-118 win over the Spurs. “I think tonight felt good for him from 3. He’s pretty alert. He was here all summer, he and all the young guys. I came back, and I wasn’t ready for what I walked into. It was like he didn’t take a day off, it seemed like. So, I was excited to see him get out here and showcase that.”
### Relatability and Camaraderie Fuel Growth
The Suns’ locker room vibes reflect a healthy camaraderie and a shared sense of growth and understanding. Players like Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Mark Williams, and Collin Gillespie occupy unique roles. Some, like Williams, have battled health setbacks, while others, including Gillespie and Ighodaro, have been waiting for legitimate opportunities.
Dunn fits right in. During the season, he and teammates like Ighodaro and Williams have grown close, both on and off the court. For example, moments before a recent game interview, Dunn was joined by the starting center, highlighting their friendship and the relatability among the group.
“It’s cool because we’re all the same age, which is really fun. We all kind of went through the same stuff; people who might have been in the league for three or four years or people who have been here for like nine or ten years – we can all talk about stuff,” Dunn said.
“For me, it helps having that line between us, asking questions with the veteran guys, the older guys, being able to help the younger guys along the way. It’s been something me and Oso (Ighodaro) have been looking to do this year.”
### Jordan Ott Shows Pure Trust in Dunn
Unlike former head coach Mike Budenholzer, there is a high level of trust between first-year coach Jordan Ott and the budding star Dunn. Yes, Dunn still makes occasional offensive and defensive mistakes — as all players do — but that characteristic might be exactly what helps unlock his true potential as a two-way player.
Last year, teammates gave Dunn the confidence. Dunn developed self-confidence through reps. However, at times, he seemed to lose trust in Budenholzer when offensive struggles surfaced. Now, with Ott, who helps Dunn piece together the mental puzzle, there’s a newfound dynamic that has become an underrated element of his progression.
In fact, Ott anticipated a breakout from Dunn and continues to commend how his confidence instills belief in everyone around him.
“The greatest way to enhance your confidence is to prepare, and he’s put the work in,” Ott said after the Sunday game. “You can fake it for a while, but in this league, when you’re out on the floor, mano-a-mano every night, if you haven’t put the time in, the work in, good chances are it’s not sustainable.”
“Not only do you have to prepare to grow your own confidence, but when a teammate like that (Devin Booker) throws the ball, that means he’s confident in him too.”
—
Ryan Dunn’s journey with the Phoenix Suns is a testament to hard work, mentorship, and the power of confidence. As he continues to develop both offensively and defensively, the Suns are undoubtedly getting a rising star ready to make an even bigger impact.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/exclusive-ryan-dunn-honing-in-confidence-level-year-2-with-suns