Phoenix Suns rookie Ryan Dunn has burst onto the scene in the 2024/25 season. He was drafted with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. With the Suns underperforming in the 24/25 NBA season, Dunn’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots in their campaign. 

Dunn played college basketball for Virginia and was an important role player in his first season there. He was drafted by the Suns right after his sophomore year. But what kind of contract was he offered to get on board with the team? Let’s find out.

 How much does Ryan Dunn earn from his NBA contract?

Ryan Dunn joined the likes of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal at the Phoenix Suns on a 4-year rookie-scale contract worth nearly $13 million. This contract comes with an average annual salary of $3,249,588, with Dunn earning $2,530,800 for the 2024/25 season. This makes him the 361st best-paid player in the league.

Not bad for a rookie!

Dunn’s salary will increase marginally in the following seasons. After earning $2.53 million in his first season, he’ll see his salary rise slightly to $2.66 million in the second year and $2.78 million in the third. By the time he’s 25, his salary is projected to nearly double, potentially surpassing $5 million annually.

However, the Suns hold a club option for the final two years of his deal, giving them flexibility in their decision-making. If Dunn continues to develop as expected, he’ll likely remain a key part of the team before entering restricted free agency in the 2028/29 season.

Why did the Phoenix Suns draft Ryan Dunn? 

Although Ryan Dunn has time to prove himself fully in the NBA, many fans wonder if the Suns hedging their bets on him is the right call. Well, it seems Dunn has the trust of the Suns’ squad and coaching staff at the very least. After all, he even replaced Bradley Beal as a starter for their game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Now it’s one thing for the players or fans to respect him, but why does the management also seem to adore Dunn? Well, a lot of it has to do with the fact that Suns GM James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein were the ones who were eager to pick him in the draft. This was because of the information they received that Dunn was working with skills trainer Phil Beckner in the offseason to refine his jump shot. 

Beckner, renowned for his work with Damian Lillard—one of the greatest long-range shooters in NBA history—had also trained Suns center Jusuf Nurkić over the years. With such a strong connection to Beckner and plenty of insight into Dunn’s work ethic, the Suns were confident he was serious about improving and an ideal fit for Coach Budenholzer’s system.

Moreover, even Dunn’s teammate, Devin Booker had high praises for the rookie’s rapid development. “I usually look at form and mechanics, and everything looks [like it’s] there… We need him shooting those shots,” said Book about Dunn’s shooting.

Receiving praise from a player of the caliber of Devin Booker shows how Dunn deserves the hype surrounding him. If he can continue to improve at the rate he is right now, the Suns’s future looks as bright as their name. And signing him was absolutely the right call.

Suns fans, do you feel the same? Let us know what you think!