Suns' lethal three-point shooter receives monster contract extension

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen. Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Suns' lethal three-point shooter capitalizes on career year with monster contract extension

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/15/24

Grayson Allen was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Phoenix Suns in September as part of a three-team blockbuster deal that landed eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard in Milwaukee.

The shooting guard just finished the best regular season of his career, helped the Suns avoid the play-in tournament with the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and earned a monster contract extension on Monday.

Allen’s had a career-year leading the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (46.1) and avoids free agency with a deal that’ll cost Suns $79M in salary and luxury tax in 2024-2025.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2024

On one of the most loaded rosters in the NBA, including 14-time All-Star Kevin Durant, four-time All-Star Devin Booker and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, Allen fit perfectly into the starting lineup and was one of the leaders on both offense and defense.

Grayson Allen this season:

3rd in PTS for Suns
2nd in STL for Suns
1st in 3P for Suns

Led the NBA with 46.1 3P% https://t.co/Yhit10HzZJ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 15, 2024

The former Duke star was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 21st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft but played just one season with the team, averaging 5.6 points and 10.9 minutes over 38 games (two starts).

Allen then played two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and was traded to the Bucks in August 2021. Allen became a full-time starter during his first year in Milwaukee and averaged what had been career highs in points (11.1), rebounds (3.4) and minutes per game (27.3) during the 2021-22 campaign while posting a three-point shooting percentage of .409.

The 28-year-old shattered nearly all of his career highs during his first season with Phoenix, including points (13.5), rebounds (3.9), assists (3.0), blocks (0.6) and minutes per contest (33.5). Allen also recorded high marks in games played (75) and started (74), as well as field goal (.499) and three-point percentage (.461).

The Suns begin their first-round playoff series against the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. Phoenix has their "Big Three" of Beal, Booker and Durant, while Minnesota counters with Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Coming off a career year and a huge payday, Allen could be one of the Suns' X factors.

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