Jalen Green offers explosive athleticism and scoring upside, but Collin Gillespie’s record-breaking perimeter shooting and half-court stability present a compelling case to reshape Phoenix’s projected backcourt.
Less than two months remain until the Phoenix Suns usher in the 2026-27 regular season.
The Suns - entering year two of the Jordan Ott era - have largely figured out what the core roster will be in the 82-game slate.
However, there are a few pointed questions that need to be raised, including if the starting lineup is completely set in stone.
The starting five is featuring guard Devin Booker, wings Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges, as well as center Mark Williams. While sixth-year guard Jalen Green is presumably going to start, there are questions surrounding whether Collin Gillespie should be considered himself.
The arguments for Green starting are very clear. The 2021 lottery pick provides high-stakes athleticism in a lineup that already features Bridges. This arrangement - in theory - has potential to send the Suns to the free throw line at a higher clip. Green's scoring upside is still tantalizing as well, as seen by performances - including a 34-point effort against the Toronto Raptors in March that featured eight three-point knockdowns.
The most crucial crux of information is that the Suns are still investing a great deal into Green's development. Green is a player Phoenix heavily coveted in the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. The coaching staff and management truly believe in his trajectory - continuing to support his growth is likely the wisest route to take here.
Gillespie has a relatively strong case to start in his own right. The Villanova product is exactly the player that Phoenix needs in the lineup from a floor-spacing perspective. Gillespie earned a single-season franchise record for three-point makes in a season in 2025-26, all while shooting north of 40% on said attempts. One of the most glaring questions facing Phoenix's projected starting unit is three-point consistency, and Gillespie would provide just that.
The other key arguments rest in stability and fit. Gillespie is a low-turnover, risk-averse player that has the ability to execute numerous tasks in the half-court game. Perhaps most important is that Gillespie is a relatively low volume player. This likely fits alongside Phoenix's high-volume starting five in a more seamless manner in comparison to Green.
While Green is likely to start, questions should be raised about whether his optimal role this season is as one of the best players coming off of the bench across the entire NBA.
