Undrafted Guard Turns Two-Way Grind Into $48 Million Suns Deal
Collin Gillespie's reported return to the Phoenix Suns is a pretty wild reminder of how quickly things can change in the NBA when a player finally gets the right opportunity.
Not long ago, Gillespie was still trying to carve out a stable place in the league. He was not a lottery pick, not a hyped young prospect, and not someone teams were building marketing campaigns around. He had to take the harder path after leaving Villanova undrafted, moving through short-term situations and proving himself one stretch at a time.
Now, Phoenix is making a real commitment to him. Shams Charania confirmed the deal on X saying, "Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal."
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/HIBFG0dDMU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2026
The reported four-year, $48 million deal is a huge reward for a guard who turned himself from a fringe roster piece into someone the Suns clearly see as part of their core. That kind of jump does not happen just because a player has a good few weeks. Gillespie earned it by becoming dependable over a full season, especially on a team that needed steady guards around Devin Booker.
His rise was one of the better stories in Phoenix's season. The Suns were trying to reshape themselves after moving away from the big-name era built around Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and Gillespie fit the new version of the team perfectly. He played hard, spaced the floor, competed defensively, and gave them the kind of edge that can matter over 82 games.
The shooting obviously stands out. Gillespie became a serious threat from deep and gave Phoenix another player defenses had to respect beyond the arc. But the bigger reason this deal makes sense is that he was not just a shooter. He handled the ball, made smart decisions, battled on defense, and played with the kind of toughness that coaches love because it travels from game to game.
For Gillespie, this is a life-changing moment. For the Suns, it is a bet that what they saw last season was real. And for every undrafted player grinding through two-way contracts, it is another example that the long road can still lead to a serious payday.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 7:47 PM.