After a record-breaking shooting campaign, the sharpshooting guard aims for stardom by refining his drive-and-kick game while challenging for a spot in Phoenix’s star-studded starting rotation.
One of the key key fixtures holding the present iteration of the Phoenix Suns organization together is guard Collin Gillespie.
Gillespie, 27, is now heading into 2026-27 as a definitive piece of the Suns' present and future, fresh off of a four-year, $48 million contract that will keep him with the organization through 2029-30.
The guard might not be the flashiest ball handler or most polished athlete in the NBA, but he is an advanced shooter, disruptive off-ball defender, and timely playmaker - having proved this over the last year.
Below is a key profiling of Gillespie in the season ahead below, including what to expect of him, an area he needs to improve in, and a key storyline that will shape his experience in the season ahead.
Reasonable Expectations for Gillespie in 2026-27
Gillespie is coming off of a season where he knocked down the most three-point attempts (232) in a single season in franchise history.
Another 200+ three-point knockdowns, another tangible leap forward as a playmaker, and playing in 70+ games should be the general baseline for expectations this season.
Even through this, there is a world in which the Villanova product can take an even larger leap forward into stardom with more volume.
Area of Improvement for Gillespie is Clear
The second season of being a full-on roster member of the Suns comes with a clear task to accomplish on Gillespie's end - getting to the free throw line more frequently.
While the 6'3" guard tends to be an extremely well-rounded guard, he gets to the free throw line at a very low rate relative to the rest of the league.
An increase in drives into the lane, utilizing the pick-and-roll game more frequently to his advantage, and drawing fouls utilizing precision timing on self-created jumpers.
Will Gillespie Receive Opportunity to Start?
The widely held expectation is that Jalen Green will start at guard alongside Devin Booker.
This makes sense at the surface and adds up to Phoenix's unwavering commitment to Green's development, but Gillespie is a stronger fit in the starting five on paper.
In a world where Green plays a vast majority of games, is there a place for Gillespie to start an extended amount of contests?
This remains to be seen, but it wouldn't come as a shock to see head coach Jordan Ott seek ways to tinker with Phoenix's rotation if the team gets off to a slow start.
