Ryan Dunn is a 6-foot-7 elite defensive wing for the Phoenix Suns, drafted 28th in 2024 (via Denver) out of Virginia — regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in his draft class. A long, athletic stopper who earned an immediate rotation and starting role as a rookie, his central development project is his jump shot.
Model lines Dunn at 5.8 pts (range 3.1–8.5) vs a 6 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (48%).
Model favors Philadelphia 76ers (63%), projected 113–116, ~228 total at 96.8 pace.
A long, athletic elite defensive wing — perimeter defense and upside for the Suns.
An ACC All-Defensive wing at Virginia, Dunn was drafted 28th in 2024 and traded to Phoenix.
A long, athletic stopper, he earned an immediate rotation and starting role.
He posted a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds as a rookie.
His jump shot is the central development project for his ceiling.
A long, athletic elite defensive wing — perimeter defense and upside for the Suns.
Ryan Dunn was born in Baldwin, New York into a sports family (his brother is an MLB pitcher) and starred at Virginia under Tony Bennett, earning ACC All-Defensive honors as one of the best perimeter defenders in college. Denver drafted him 28th in 2024 and traded him to Phoenix on draft night.
A long, athletic wing with a huge wingspan and shot-blocking ability, he earned an immediate rotation and starting role as a rookie on the strength of his defense. His jump shot — long a question mark — is his central development project as a pro.
Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.
Dunn's story is one of resilience — he didn't make his high-school team as a freshman, then a late growth spurt and a showcase dunk transformed his profile from a baseball-oriented household (his brother Justin is an MLB pitcher) into a Division I recruit and NBA first-rounder. He worked with Damian Lillard's skills coach to rebuild his jump shot and confidence.
His on-court identity is elite perimeter defense — a long, athletic 6-foot-7 wing who guards multiple positions (from point guards to bigs), blocks shots, and disrupts, already NBA-caliber on that end. His offense and shooting are the swing skills; if his jumper stabilizes, he projects as a long-term starting two-way wing for the Suns.
An elite defensive wing — length, athleticism, multi-position defense, and shot-blocking.
Elite perimeter defense
Dunn's value is elite defense — a long, athletic 6-foot-7 wing with a huge wingspan who guards multiple positions (point guards to bigs), blocks shots, and disrupts, already NBA-caliber on that end as a rookie starter. That defensive floor makes him a genuinely useful two-way wing for Phoenix from day one.
Shooting the swing skill
The central development project is his jump shot — inconsistent in college and as a rookie (settling around 31-32% from three). His defense keeps him valuable regardless, but if his jumper stabilizes, he projects as a long-term starting two-way wing; that shot is the swing skill for his ceiling.
Per game
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 70 | 19.4 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 | .453 | .331 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.
Where he sits in history
Hardware
A long, athletic elite defensive wing — perimeter defense and upside for the Suns.
Dunn is a high-floor 3-and-D wing whose defensive value is already NBA-caliber. His ceiling hinges on becoming a reliable outside shooter; if the jumper stabilizes, he projects as a long-term starting two-way wing for Phoenix. His length and athleticism give him a valuable role now.
Contract
A long, athletic elite defensive wing with already-NBA-caliber defense — a high-floor two-way piece for Phoenix, with his jump shot the swing skill for his ceiling.
Elite perimeter defense — a long, athletic 6-foot-7 wing who guards multiple positions and blocks shots, regarded as one of the best defenders in his draft class.
His jump shot — long a question mark, it's his central development project; if it stabilizes, he projects as a starting two-way wing.
Denver drafted him 28th in 2024 and traded him to Phoenix on draft night.