“What the Suns’ fans will be able to see early with Ryan (Dunn) is his passion and his energy, his defensive prowess and the multiple efforts that he’s going to give.” This phrase of confidence by Virginia assistant coach Orlando Vandross, who trained Ryan Dunn for two years, serves as a benchmark for what NBA enthusiasts can expect from the new recruit going forward. When his name was called as the first-round, 28 overall pick during the 2024 NBA draft, the 6-foot-forward had finally seen years’ worth of his efforts come to fruition. Originating from a family already boasting another sports star, the player knows that the journey to set a memorable mark in the sport of his choosing has just begun. As he stated during his introductory press conference, “But starting this chapter now, there’s a lot more to go. I got to this mountain. Now I got to start climbing it. I’m excited. I have to compete.”

Therefore, without any further ado, let us get to know the new rookie who will handle the ball alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and other stars during the 2024-25 season.

Who is Ryan Dunn?

Early Life

Born and brought up in Baldwin, New York, Ryan is the youngest son of Edmund and Donna Dunn. His elder brother, Justin Dunn, is a professional baseball player who played in the MLB for three seasons. Having represented both the Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds, you can bet that the younger brother certainly has to live up to the standard set by Justin.

Ryan’s father played a significant role in introducing sports to both him and Justin. According to the Richmond-Times Dispatch, Edmund would drive Justin to baseball practice with Dominican players. At the same time, he would have Ryan train with specific basketball trainers who were experts in their field. Edmund took extra steps whenever he could. He convinced his boy to spend a boarding year at the Oak Hill Academy, known for its basketball program that has produced players like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. Edmund believed that “If he (Ryan) wanted to play at a high level, I wanted him to see what a high level looked like.”

Ryan’s tenure at Oak Hill Academy set the foundation for his basketball journey. He continued indulging in the sport after transferring to Long Island Lutheran High School as a junior, averaging 9 points and 4 assists per game. By the summer of 2021, it was time for Ryan to head to college. Having carefully carved his son’s basketball path till high school, Edmund also wanted to play a role in this important process. It was an unusual time, as the recruiting process had gone heavily virtual in light of COVID-19. Edmund wanted Ryan to take the scholarship offer from the University of Virginia without hesitation. However, the future NBA player wanted to explore his options. He made this decision after urging from Justin, who wished that he had explored other options when it was time for him to go to college.

The advice proved harmful, however, as Virginia ended up rescinding its scholarship offer while Ryan was still exploring. Fortunately, even though Justin made it known that he would handle the tuition cost for his brother to go to Virginia, the college came back with the offer, and Ryan took it without any hesitation.

Making a mark during his College tenure

Ryan Dunn spent two years at the University of Virginia. During the same, he averaged 5.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists throughout 68 games. The small forward wasn’t as effective as he wanted to be during his freshman year, scoring only 2.8 points per game. However, things took a turn later on. By March 2024, he was averaging 8.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. Furthermore, he had led the ACC in blocked shots by making 77 of them and even earned a spot in the conference’s all-defensive team. By the time his second year concluded, Ryan became the first Virginia Cavaliers player in the last quarter-decade to add 50 blocks and 40 steals under his name in one single season. On top of that, he accumulated the 11th most blocks in the NCAA, and achieved the 17th overall rank with his 44 steals, immortalizing him in the books of the University of Virginia.

If the player wanted, he could have stayed on for another year and honed his skills. Instead, he decided to go pro and put his name forward for the 2024 NBA Draft. The rest, as they say, is history.

The stats Ryan averaged during his college tenure established an excellent impression on the analysts. In June, ESPN journalists Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released a report, comparing the draft players’ shooting and defensive skills. The same named Ryan Dunn as the ‘best defensive playmaker’. Their reasoning was based on his 7-1 wingspan, alongside the 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals made per game during the sophomore season. It spoke volumes that he could do so alongside the Virginia Cavaliers, known for having a ‘low-possession style’. Named as the 34th prospect in ESPN’s Top 100 Mock Draft Picks, Dunn’s defensive skills combined with his above-par offensive capabilities left no doubt that the player would go on to be a first-round pick.

How do Ryan Dunn and his family feel about the Phoenix Suns as the player’s starting point?

The Phoenix Suns selected Ryan as the 28th overall pick and gave him a 4-year, $12.998 million contract. According to Spotrac, the rookie is guaranteed at least $5.19 million from the deal, while his average pay will be divided into $3.24 million per year.

More than being excited about the choice of the franchise, Ryan was more elated that he got to live his childhood dream. During his introductory press conference, the rookie revealed that “Hearing my name called was very surreal. As a kid, I used to wear a suit when I was young and watch it on TV, and dream of walking across that stage and shaking my mom’s hand. To do it in real-time this time, it was a surreal moment.”

Oso Ighodaro, the other rookie acquired by the Phoenix Suns, certainly made some heads turn after claiming “I didn’t grow up a Suns fan. The Suns weren’t very good when I was growing up, unfortunately.” However, Dunn saw the potential that the franchise held as he highlighted, “They want to win a championship, and they have got great players to do it. I’m going to try to get down there, go to work, and see what I’ve got to get there.” In the end, his overall reaction was summarized in just four words: “I’m excited. Great program.”

Given that he was such a big part in Ryan’s journey to getting to the NBA, it would be remiss if we didn’t get to know whether Edmund Dunn approved. Fortunately, he claimed that he “likes Phoenix a lot”, and that his son can play an essential role on the defensive front while players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal accumulate the scores.

“I thought that this was the perfect fit for him,” Dunn said. “I think that defensively, that is his superpower. So, this was, to me, a perfect spot for him to be able to come into. I don’t think this team needs offensive help. I think they definitely need some strong defensive help, and I think he can shock a lot of people.”

The one thing the modern Phoenix Suns roster gets criticized for is poor defense. While things improved during the recent season, the franchise held a defensive rating of 114.5 by the end of their run. This had them ranking at the 14th spot amongst all other franchises. Whether Ryan Dunn’s inclusion will help to improve this rating is a question that will only be answered in due course.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.