If you look at the stats, Grayson Allen is having one of the best years of his career. However, the Phoenix Suns guard said his focus is more on being as available as possible.
The Suns guard shot 45% from 3-point range through the first 13 games, and his field goal percentage was slightly higher (45.5%).
Throughout the season, as Allen battled injuries, his shooting percentages dropped a bit, but he’s still on pace for career-highs in points (17.3), assists (4.1) and steals (1.4) per game this season.
“I think he’s impressed all of us with this season,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said on Friday. “His driving ability, which we greatly need, especially without Jalen (Green) throughout most of the year. His ability to get in the paint and I think he’s taking gigantic leaps, and again, we’ll just keep talking about it, but that’s the way the game is moving.”
In addition to Allen’s scoring proficiency, he has the highest usage rate (24.9) of his eight years in the NBA and most assists per 40 minutes (5.5) of his career.
All the stats are great, but the injuries this season have frustrated the Suns veteran.
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Over the last four years, Allen has played an average of about 70 games per season. This year, he’s played in 45 games with nine remaining.
“At the end of the day, I think the best thing you can do is be available,” Allen said on Friday. “From my position, that’s the most frustrating thing.”
Allen added that coming into the season, he felt the healthiest he’d been to begin a year since 2022.
That adds up because Allen started the season hot.
However, then came the injuries for Allen. He missed seven games before returning for five games during a six-game stretch and then missed another nine straight games.
First, it was a quad contusion, and then it was a knee injury, both of which were injuries Allen felt weren’t preventable.
“Going into it feeling good, it’s really frustrating,” Allen said. “I don’t think I could have controlled having a quad contusion. I didn’t know that could get that bad. (Then), there’s two weird landings that happened with weird twisting knee injuries.”
The second knee injury forced Allen to miss 11 games across February and March, but he’s hoping he is past those injuries now.
“I think mostly past them. I mean, they’re not gonna (go completely away),” Allen said. “Some of the stuff that happened isn’t gonna fully heal until you got like four to six weeks in the offseason.
“So, it’s there, but it’s nothing more than anyone else is dealing with this late in the season.”
Allen did note he’s very thankful his injuries haven’t sidelined him for longer periods of time. But, despite what his numbers say this season, he’d much rather be on the court for every game.
“I completely understand like it’s probably my best season in the league from like a performance wise, but too many games missed to really be happy about it,” Allen said.
Other Suns injury updates
Ott said Friday that Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture) and Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress fracture) have yet to begin playing five-on-five and that is the next step for them both.
Williams’ progression will depend on how much stress his bone can handle.
“It goes no contact, now contact, build it up to five-on-five. Five-on-five with half court, (then) full court. That’s kind of the steps (of) that normal progression,” Ott said. “It’s got to be really diligent on those steps.”
Ott said then it’s a matter of testing the left toe bone, offensively, defensively and it getting hit.
For Brooks, Ott said he’s been able to keep up with his cardio and it’s just a matter of him healing up to be ready to play.
Ott added Ryan Dunn (right groin soreness) is day-to-day and closer to returning than Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) are.
The Suns are back in action on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Utah Jazz.
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