Suns’ Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin rewarded for helping set culture

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie remembers battling against his future teammate Jordan Goodwin in G League games long before they became established players in the NBA.

Neither were drafted, and they both had to get run in the G League before making moves up the NBA ladder.

On Tuesday, the Suns announced the re-signings of both Gillespie and Goodwin to multi-year contracts as key members of the rotation and the culture that Phoenix is looking to grow from last season’s turnaround.

“You come to reflect on your journey and you’re just extremely grateful for every kind of benchmark that you hit,” Gillespie told reporters on Tuesday. “Obviously coming up from the G League, I remember those first games that I played and then I remember my first couple games up with the Suns. Just continue to work hard and never get satisfied. I’m extremely grateful to be here for this opportunity and I know Goody is, as well. I feel like we both always believed that we could be in this position and now we’ve got to continue to grow and continue to improve and prove that those contracts are worth it.”

 

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Gillespie first signed a two-way contract with the Suns in 2024, while Goodwin was claimed off waivers for a second stint in Phoenix last summer. There was no guarantee Goodwin would even make the team at that point.

The Suns locked up Gillespie for four years and $48 million this offseason, while Goodwin returned on a three-year, $19 million contract.

Suns general manager Brian Gregory pointed to Goodwin winning the annual Dan Majerle Hustle Award and suggested that Gillespie should have received more consideration for the league’s Most Improved Player honor. How they personified the grit Phoenix led to their swift returns in free agency.

“When we talk about the blueprint for what we wanted to start building last spring, (Goodwin) fits it perfectly,” Gregory said. “Unbelievable effort. Unbelievable competitiveness. When you think about it, he went into camp last year as a non-guaranteed player fighting for that 14th spot. Number one, there’s not a lot of guys that would put themselves in that position and would accept that challenge. Number two, he not only accepted that challenge, but within a month, five weeks of the season, all of a sudden he was in the playing group and making a huge impact for us.”

“(Gillespie) had the best season of his career,” Gregory added. “Saved us many times when we were banged up early and then throughout the year. He played banged up. He fought through a lot of stuff and just kept going. His toughness, his grit, everything that we’re all about.”

Goodwin and Gillespie are now in a spot they have never been in before.

They have substantial guaranteed money coming their way after grinding for every opportunity just to stay within the league’s doors.

Gregory said there is no concern whatsoever about any of their edge softening with the comfort of having a contract, especially considering they are already back in the gym working this summer.

“If you’re worried about would they get fat and sassy, you don’t have to worry about that with those guys,” Gregory said. “I think the two things that happens in situations like this is there’s a comfort level that comes from the player. That he knows as an individual that the franchise, the owner, the general manager, the head coach believes in them. Or you don’t do this. I think that’s important. But those guys with the mental toughness that they have, I think the most important thing that they kind of both have is no contract, no accolade is ever going to make them feel like they’ve made it. … Their core values are completely opposite of getting comfortable.”

 

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“I battled through a lot in my five years in the league, so just having that mindset to stay with it and just keep going every day,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin noted that it was crazy to think about coming into the league on an Exhibit 10 contract and all the stops along the way from the Capital City Go-Go to the Washington Wizards to the Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Hustle, Los Angeles Lakers and back to Phoenix.

The Suns made some changes to the roster, most notably with the controversial Miles Bridges trade, but in free agency, the team leaned on continuity with Gillespie and Goodwin, along with center Mark Williams and two-way player Koby Brea.

Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson contributed to this report. 

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