"It was pretty cool!": Grayson Allen reacts to his NBA 2K 3-point shooting rating, Suns reunion with Coach Budenholzer, fatherhood (Exclusive)
As someone who has prioritized winning an NBA championship over retaining his starting role, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen expressed relative apathy about trying to win the NBA’s sixth man of the year award.
Allen willingly embraced a reserve role so that the Suns could sign Tyus Jones on a team-friendly deal. But after shooting a career-high 46.1% from 3-point range last season, it meant plenty to Allen that NBA2K25 ranked him as the league’s second-best 3-point shooter behind Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
“It was pretty cool. I always used to, when I was a kid, create myself in the game,” Allen told Sportskeeda. “I think they put me at a 93. When I used to create myself when I was a kid, I would have a 99 3-point shooting rating. So we’re getting close.”
Grayson Allen interview (Exclusive)
Allen talked to Sportskeeda about NBA2K rating, reuniting with Suns coach Mike Budenholzer after playing for him in Milwaukee, recruiting Tyus Jones and the Suns’ Big 3 in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Allen also shared his excitement for he and his wife, Megan, recently welcoming their first child (Emslie May).
Editor’s note: The following one-on-one conversation has been edited and condensed.
Congratulations! What have the last few days been like for you?
Grayson Allen:
“I left early. We were in LA, came home and then we were in the hospital for two days. I was only away from the team for those 2 ½ days, but it felt like it was a week long. It felt like forever. But it was an awesome moment. Everyone is healthy. Everything went well. My wife and I are very excited to have our baby girl. Day three, I was in the gym that morning for shootaround. It was a quick turnaround.”
What was it like just to jump right back to basketball?
Grayson Allen:
“It felt a little strange considering being in the hospital and experiencing that in the last two days. I was pretty much awake the whole time. That’s why it felt like it was five days that I was gone or a week just because it’s so in the moment. Everything feels very drawn out. But it was awesome. It was very much worth the little sleep.”
How are you holding up physically after managing your Achilles during preseason?
Grayson Allen:
“Good. I was pretty much all the way back when that happened. It’s not really 48 hours off if you’re running around and not sleeping. But it was 48 hours of nothing physical. I feel like it’s all good now, and I don’t have to worry about it.”
I read you devoted a lot of your offseason to strength training in light of your ankle injuries and even before that with your hip injuries. What did that entail?
Grayson Allen:
“A couple of weeks after we lost [in the first round of the playoffs], I was pretty much in the gym for four days a week in the summer. It has been working for me. Last year, I played 30 plus minutes a game in 75 games. It was my healthiest year so far. My body felt great. So this summer, I just wanted to have that and keep that base of strength going. So that when I started up basketball midsummer that I felt good and everything was good going into training camp. This pre-season in training camp, I felt like I was in a much better place to start the year than I was than last year. Physically with my body, the little muscle soreness and aches and pains weren’t there because I felt like I had that good base of work from the summer.”
When you started this four years ago, in what ways did it help your game?
Grayson Allen:
“It’s a good question. I think a lot of it is having that lower body base of strength. It helps in a lot of places. I think having that base as a shooter is important, too. But the majority of it, the way I think about it isn’t just for improving skill work or basketball. It’s more just improving longevity and the ability to play 30-something minutes per night for the whole season if I’m needed to.”
You and Bud have history. What does it mean to reunite with him?
Grayson Allen:
“It’s really cool I’m glad he’s here. I liked his personality and his coaching style in Milwaukee. So I’m happy to have him here. We kept in touch the year he was out last year when I was here. I like Coach Bud. I’m glad he’s here.”
It’s early. But during training camp and this 4-1 start, what impact has he had on the group so far?
Grayson Allen:
“He’s infusing his coaching style and personality into the team. We had a lot of good things last season, but some things we need to work on. Not trying to rewrite everything we’re doing, but we’re mixing in some of his stuff and concepts and hammer in the strong points he wants our team to have and the identity he wants our team to have. He wants us to be a team that plays fast, moves the ball and gets up a lot of 3s. That’s always been his thing. That’s what he said in Milwaukee, and that’s what he’s said here. That’s what he drove home during preseason and training camp.”
That’s your wheelhouse….
Grayson Allen:
“Yeah, I’ll take it (laughs).”
After your strong season last season and finishing with a career-high in 3s, how do you build off of that?
Grayson Allen:
“In terms of what I’m doing on the court, keep doing more of the same and find ways to get up more 3s off, whether it’s off the dribble or off the move. Whatever it is, keep being aggressive from the 3-point line. All of the other parts of the game – screening, rolling, passing, slipping, defending, all of those other things that I feel like that I’ve done well and keeps me on the floor, keep improving those.”
I remember last season talking to you about getting open shots because you’re playing with the Big 3, but you have to be ready for them. You said about knowing how to fill the gaps. What’s the key to do that?
Grayson Allen:
“It’s all about the mindset of hunting an open 3 or hunting an open spot. When one of them shoots, if I’m not crashing, I’m looking to see if someone is going to tip the ball out. Or if we get an offensive rebound, run to an open spot in transition. Or run to an open gap or get to the corner. So my guy has to make a decision on guarding the ball or guarding me. I’m constantly sliding and moving off-the-ball. I feel like a lot of it is just keeping the mentality offball that you’re still in the play. I’m never just standing still. Even if I’m spotting up in one spot, I’m still sliding back and forth trying to find that passing angle.”
Did you see NBA2K25 ranked you second for player ratings for 3-point shooters?
Grayson Allen:
“Yeah, I did see that (smiles).”
What was your reaction?
Grayson Allen:
“It was pretty cool. I always used to, when I was a kid, create myself in game. I think they put me at a 93. When I used to create myself when I was a kid, I would have a 99 3-point shooting rating. So we’re getting close.” (smiles)
(laughs) What was your ‘create-a-player like?
Grayson Allen:
“When I was a kid, I created my Dad. My Dad is 6’4.” So I created a 6’4” shooting guard, a 99 overall 3-point shooter, 99 dunk, 99 athleticism. All of that. I wasn’t coming up short in any area for that.”
(laughs) Is that a real goal you can do that on the court?
Grayson Allen:
“Maybe I can get to a 99. We’ll see.” (laughs)
You played a key role in recruiting Tyus and know him well, and shared about your willingness to come off the bench. What was that conversation like in your recruiting pitch to him?
Grayson Allen:
“I mentioned to him once about starting. But I really didn’t make a big deal about coming off the bench or anything. I knew that I wanted him to come here and play. I knew that I was 99% sure he would start if he came here. I knew that it was going to make our team better. That’s really all I wanted. I want to be in Phoenix. I want to be a Phoenix Sun. I want us to have the best chance possible.”
What is your foundation that explains your thinking that way instead of wanting to protect your starting spot?
Grayson Allen:
“I feel like I’m secure with who I am as a player and my ability. Starting doesn’t justify my ability as a basketball player or the numbers I put up. I really want us to have the best team we possibly can and go out and win. If I’m playing well and playing like I know I can, then I’m going to be a part of that, regardless of how many guys we have or if I’m starting or coming off the bench. So I didn’t worry about it for a second. I knew it would make us better, so I was open for it.”
On the flipside, Phoenix showed its commitment to you with that extension. How does that shape your perspective?
Grayson Allen:
“It meant a lot. We obviously have the same goal. I’ve wanted to be in Phoenix when we were going through this at the end of the season. Me and my family would love to be in Phoenix long term. So we’re very happy about that. We’re very happy about having another year here.”
Given your role change, what would it mean to win 6th Man of the Year?
Grayson Allen:
“That’ll be cool. But I haven’t really been thinking about it at all, really. With Tyus coming in, my only goal with that is to win. It’s not to move to the bench and get an individual award. I’m at a point now where I just want to put the best group out there and have the best chance to win.”
Well you have Book, KD and Beal helping with that. How have you seen them try to build off of things from last season?
Grayson Allen:
“We had a lot of good things going last season, especially toward the end when we had a lot of games and guys were healthy for an extended period of time. This year, Coach Bud has thrown some new different things offensively with small screening, random actions and cutting and movement. All three of those guys can do a little bit of everything. They thrive in any type of advantage that they can create. Or somebody else can create with them. They’ve done a great job with it.”
KD has gotten so much praise for how they set the tone with their work habits. What jumps out to you with how they set that example?
Grayson Allen:
“I think the biggest thing is KD is in a full sweat pre-practice and going at it at game-speed reps. For his work ethic, I have no idea what year this is for him, but it’s a lot (it’s Durant’s 18th season). The way he approaches it and gets after the game is a good way to lead the group. The rest of the people will follow when you have someone like that doing it.”
Beyond the injuries last season, what were the lessons you take away from the early playoff exit?
Grayson Allen:
“I felt like last year we had a really good group. But there were some clear places that we needed to clean up with our turnovers and taking advantage of close games down the stretch. I thought we put together some good basketball, especially when we had everyone healthy. I thought we were in a really good place. It’s unfortunate how we went out. I think the group last year and the additions we have this year made us even better. That could’ve helped us make a really good run. So with the additions we have with Tyus and Ryan [Dunn], I feel like we have a deeper and even better team. So I’m excited about that. I feel like we’re improving on what we didn’t do well last year.”
To what extent do you have what-ifs about your ankle injury during the playoffs?
Grayson Allen:
“A little bit, man. I would’ve loved to have given it a chance with our last group. I feel like we were in a good spot at the end of the year. But it was the most unlucky thing to have that happen two games in a row. I try not to. There’s not much I could’ve done to control landing on someone’s foot twice.”
Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Sportskeeda. Follow him on X, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.