Collin Gillespie has completed a significant career turnaround, signing a four-year, $48 million contract to remain with the Phoenix Suns. The deal marks a major financial commitment from the club, rewarding the guard for a breakout 2025-2026 season where he established himself as a reliable contributor.
Gillespie’s path to this contract was unconventional. After going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022, he began his career on a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. An injury prevented him from playing in his first season. He appeared in 24 games for Denver in 2023-24 before joining Phoenix on another two-way deal for the 2024-25 campaign. He then played the 2025-26 season on a $2.2 million qualifying offer, a decision that proved financially astute.
His performance during that contract year forced the Suns’ hand. Inserted into a much larger role, Gillespie played in 80 games and saw his minutes increase to 28.5 per game. He responded by averaging 12.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds. His primary value came from his perimeter shooting, where he connected on 40.1% of his three-point attempts, providing essential floor spacing for the Suns’ offense. His usage rate increased, and he proved capable of handling secondary playmaking duties.
This production continued into the postseason, where he averaged 10.5 points and shot 40.0% from deep across four games. By securing Gillespie at an average of $12 million per year, Phoenix locks in a key backcourt player but adds a notable salary to its books, impacting the team’s flexibility under the luxury tax as it builds its roster for future championship contention.
