Suns Rookie Ryan Dunn Shines in NBA Rising Stars Tournament
Phoenix Suns rookie Ryan Dunn had a night to remember in the NBA Rising Stars tournament, making his mark in the semifinals and helping his team, led by honorary coach Chris Mullin, secure a spot in the final showdown. Playing at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Dunn made an impact despite limited minutes, scoring two points and dishing out three assists in his team’s 40-34 semifinal victory over Team T, coached by Tim Hardaway.
Dunn’s standout moment came when he showcased his court vision, setting up a perfect assist for Dalton Knecht, who finished with an easy bucket. The 6-foot-8 rookie, a product of Virginia, displayed his versatility, backing down Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski before delivering a slick pass to Knecht. His contributions were crucial as Team C held on to win and advance to the championship round.
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While the final was played under a different format—first to 25 points—Dunn’s impact wasn’t diminished. Checking in with his team trailing 12-8, he confidently drained a three-pointer to give Team C the lead, marking their first three of the game. From that point, they never looked back, dominating Team G League en route to a 25-14 win. Though he wasn’t the top scorer, Dunn finished with three points, two rebounds, and a block, proving his ability to step up in big moments.
With this victory, Team C, now renamed Candace’s Rising Stars, will take on Team Shaq on Sunday as part of the expanded NBA All-Star tournament. This matchup will be particularly exciting for Dunn, as he’ll go up against his own Suns teammate, Kevin Durant. The rookie acknowledged the surreal experience of facing Durant, calling it a "training camp-like" challenge.
At the All-Star break, Dunn has been averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists over 49 games, but his minutes have dipped recently. Still, his strong Rising Stars performance might help him regain momentum for the second half of the season. Now, all eyes will be on Sunday’s matchup, where Dunn and his Rising Stars teammates will try to prove they belong among the league’s elite.
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