Phoenix Suns: Grayson Allen embraces reserve role; Bol Bol 'unique player'

Grayson Allen has no issues with Tyus Jones pushing him out of the Phoenix Suns ' starting lineup this season.

He was complicit with the Suns' plan for that and helped convince his former Duke teammate to a one-year deal during free agency in July.

“In the beginning he said don’t worry about me starting. ‘We need you to come here to be the starting point guard. That’s what we’re missing,'" Jones said at the Suns' media day on Monday. "That says a lot about his character, him as a player. He wants to win. He’s team-first. But he’s also looking out for me as well. That’s my brother. He was like, ‘I know this will be the perfect spot for you to succeed, be the best version of you.’”

Signing Jones, one of the NBA's most sought-after point guards since last season's trade deadline, was also part of Mike Budenholzer's plan entering his first year coaching the Suns.

Jones had a career year last season in Washington. He posted career-highs 12.0 points per game, 41.4% shooting from deep, 12 games with double-digit assists, and was the league's ninth-best at 7.3 assists per game. Jones also set league records with his career-best 7.35 assist-to-turnover ratio, the single-season best in league history for players with at least 100 assists, as well as his sixth consecutive seasons leading the league in that category.

That should help the Suns' turnover troubles from last year and adapt to Budenholzer's space and high-pace offense, after being 25th in turnover percentage and 15th in pace.

Allen moving to the bench could help impact their dead-last bench scoring average. Jones led Washington's top-ranked pace offense, which finished second in fast-break points.

“He’s all about the right things. I feel fortunate to kind of reunite with him, pull him into the recruiting of Tyus," Budenholzer said about Allen at the Suns' first day of training camp Tuesday. "At the end of the day, it’s probably to bring somebody in to take his spot in the starting lineup. I think all Grayson cares about is winning.”

Budenholzer coached Allen as Milwaukee Bucks' starting wing from 2021-23. After Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks in 2023, Allen was dealt to Phoenix in the blockbuster three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee just days before training camp last September. That three-team deal also dealt Deandre Ayton to Portland for Jusuf Nurkic.

Allen noted there was much discourse last season about whether the Suns needed a bona fide point guard. He was among those who didn't think so, but he said there are “not a lot of point guards who play like Tyus.”

Some NBA players take exception or go to the distance seeking a trade to another team when they realize they're losing their starting spot. Not Allen, who last season had career-highs 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks through 75 games. He set Suns single-game records for 3s made multiple times last season, and finished as the league's leader in 3-point percentage (46.1).

Allen signed a four-year, $70 million extension with Phoenix in April.

Three months later, he's on the Suns' second unit with Royce O'Neale, Bol Bol, Jones' fellow PG Monte Morris, and center Mason Plumlee. The latter two signed as free agents this summer after they left Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers, respectively.

During the offseason, there was speculation about whether the Suns' third-best scorer and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal should come off the bench to keep Allen among the starters. Beal is a two-guard like their All-NBA star Devin Booker. Both shared primary ball-handling duties last season.

Budenholzer revealed last week he'll have a three-guard lineup among Jones, Booker, Beal, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic as his starters.

Budenholzer likes the prospect of the 7-3 Bol as a floor spacer, a threat from deep, rim protector and playmaker off the dribble. Bol signed a one-year deal during free-agency to remain with the Suns.

"You look at some of the analytics when Bol and Nurk play together were probably some of the best combinations for the team last year," Budenholzer said. "So I think he’s a really unique player and shot blocker with his length and how he can change the game defensively, and offensively a unique skill set. Obviously, an ability to shoot and make 3s, but make plays that guys at that height normally can’t make."

Beal echoed Budenholzer's thoughts on Bol, a Suns fan favorite who averaged 5.2 points, 3.2 boards and had splits of .616/.423/.789 through 43 appearances last year.

"Bol did tremendous things for us. We all seen it. His ability to be able to space the floor, impact rebounding, alter shots at the rim, but also put it on the floor and be versatile really helped us," Beal said. "His size and ability at the rim, nobody else has that. We thrived in those situations."

The pensive Bol fell out of the rotation in the playoffs last season when Phoenix was swept in the first round by Minnesota. But the Suns are looking to rise with Allen and Bol together off the bench.

“We haven’t really gotten to speak about, necessarily, roles. Honestly, all our conversations has just been like getting to know each other," Bol said. "But I know I just gotta come in and work in training camp and do what I’m supposed to do, then I’m sure everything else will fall in line for me.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns: Grayson Allen embraces reserve role; Bol Bol 'unique player'