Oso Ighodaro and Collin Gillespie (12) embrace during the final seconds of the Valley Suns win against the San Diego Clippers on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Mullett Arena in Tempe. (Photo by Anthony Chiu/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – In July 2020 the Phoenix Suns organization, under owner Robert Sarver, sold its G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns, to the Detroit Pistons organization. This created a void in the Suns’ organization that would take years to fill.
At the time of the purchase, 42% of all NBA players had G League experience. Fast forward to 2023, and the Phoenix Suns were the only NBA team without a G League affiliate. This put Phoenix at a disadvantage, hindering the team from offering young players the opportunity to develop in the G League on two-way contracts.
“In some organizations, it’s the foundation of player development,” said Brandon Rosenthal, who spent three seasons with the Suns, including the 2016-2017 season in Prescott as an assistant coach with the Northern Arizona Suns in their inaugural season. “Having an affiliate creates a location for players to develop that’s under the direction of the organization’s leadership and coaching staff.”
That hole was filled in 2024 with the addition of the Valley Suns.
“The Valley Suns (are) the community’s team and will provide fans an energetic and family-friendly atmosphere while developing aspiring talent on and off the court,” said Josh Bartelstein, CEO of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Valley Suns.
Bartelstein’s vision for the Valley Suns was on full display Monday at Phoenix Suns Night. In addition to the Valley Suns game against the San Diego Clippers, the celebration at Mullett Arena included a free bobblehead giveaway of a mystery Suns player (the three options were Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker), as well as appearances from the Phoenix Suns’ in-game host, dance team and the Suns’ Gorilla mascot.
Joining in on the celebration were Dick Snyder, a double-digit scorer on the inaugural Phoenix Suns team in 1968-69, and Suns Ring of Honor member Alvan Adams.
Dick Snyder, a member of the inaugural Phoenix Suns team, acknowledges the crowd after being honored during a timeout in the first quarter of an NBA G League game between the Valley Suns and San Diego Clippers at Mullett Arena in Tempe, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Photo by Anthony Chiu/Cronkite News)
The festivities and giveaway contributed to drawing a respectable crowd for the matchup, where fans saw a prime example of the on-court benefits of having a G League affiliate.
Developing tomorrow’s talent
Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro epitomize the advantage of having a G League affiliate. Both players are on two-way contracts and working for a consistent NBA role.
Gillespie is a G League superstar. In 2023, he earned an invite to the NBA G League Up Next Game that takes place on All-Star Weekend. He’s averaging 20.2 points, 10.3 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game this season for the Valley Suns. His play has rewarded him with eight NBA appearances this season, despite missing over a month due to an ankle injury.
Collin Gillespie (12) passes the ball to Oso Ighodaro (4) during an NBA G League game between the Valley Suns and San Diego Clippers on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Mullett Arena in Tempe. (Photo by Anthony Chiu/Cronkite News)
For Gillespie, his role on an NBA floor and G League floor are very different. Time in the G League gives him a chance to expand his game in a way he can’t at the NBA level.
“I think everything is different when you go there (NBA) and here (G League),” Gillespie explained. “You try to work on things a little more down here, be a little more assertive with the ball in your hands, try to play-make a little bit more, just whatever the game calls for really.”
Ighodaro, on the other hand, is a rookie who has already made an impact in the NBA. He has made 41 appearances in the NBA this season, and Monday was only his second appearance in the G League.
In December, Ighodaro averaged 19.8 minutes per game with Phoenix. In February, that total has shrunk to an average of 6.3 minutes per game in three appearances.
The Valley Suns offer him a place to stabilize and play while he searches for his NBA role.
“Oso’s back and forth. When we get opportunities for him to play, he’s gonna play here or he’s gonna play there (NBA),” Valley Suns coach John Little said. “We’re just trying to provide enough opportunities and we want to make sure we’re in line with what’s going on. That’s the nature of the G League.”
Oso Ighodaro finishes a fast break slam dunk during the final minutes of a win against the San Diego Clippers on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Mullett Arena in Tempe. (Photo by Anthony Chiu/Cronkite News)
Ighodaro and Gillespie are two very different players, benefiting from their G League time in different ways. On Monday, the two connected for the game-sealing play, securing a victory in poetic fashion in front of the rowdy Suns crowd.
With 1:41 left in the fourth quarter and clinging to a seven-point lead, Gillespie fought off a pair of desperate pressing San Diego Clipper defenders. The former Villanova standout masterfully pivoted and maneuvered while being trapped in the corner, prevailing against the pressure.
“I saw a purple jersey but didn’t know who it was, and then I saw the last guy (Key) was in between whoever was at halfcourt,” Gillespie said after the game. “So I just turned and threw it.”
With his back turned to his defenders he launched an almost hook-shot-like pass down the court to a wide-open Ighodaro. The rookie out of Marquette took one dribble before skying in for a one-handed-dunk.
Ballgame.
The heave was Gillespie’s 18th assist on the night, a season-high. The two-way player finished with 19 points, 18 assists, and a season-high 13 rebounds, his first triple-double of the season.
Gillespie and Ighodaro’s 20 points and 16 rebounds powered the Valley Suns to a 119-107 victory.
The Gillespie-to-Ighodaro connection was on full display, energizing a passionate environment and community atmosphere. One that featured kids playing on an inflatable basketball game behind the Mullett Arena court, and plenty of fans leaving the game with a bobblehead and the sight of a victory.
“Anytime we have the opportunity and we can get enough people in here like we’ve had,” Little said. “It’s fun.”
