Grayson Allen was a solid role player for the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons, mostly as a perimeter shooter and surprisingly tough defender. In the early going with the Suns this season, the former Duke Blue Devil has taken his game to new heights. Where was this guy in Milwaukee, or for that matter, in Phoenix last season? This version of Allen appears to be a different player altogether.
Allen flourishing in role he never had with Bucks
Overreacting to six games isn't advisable, but his early volume as a scorer and playmaker jumps off the page. Putting up consistent numbers night to night, he is averaging 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on over 13 shot attempts per game. The efficiency isn't there yet (40 percent from the field and 35 percent from distance), but given his track record, it will likely improve.
By comparison, Allen has career averages of 10.6 points and 2.1 assists, identical to what he did last season in Phoenix. So far in 2025-26, he hasn't had a game with fewer than 12 points or four assists. His 21.3 percent usage rate is his highest since his rookie season. In Milwaukee, it hovered between 14.8 and 14.9.
A ceiling as an offensive creator didn't even seem compatible with the limited, if useful, player Allen was as a Milwaukee Buck or at any previous point in his career. It's even more eye-catching coming off a down year, which by on-off rating was Allen's worst since his days in Memphis. Currently, his rating stands at +11.5.
Part of the reason for Allen's upswing is, of course, the state of the Suns' roster. Injured guard Jalen Green has not taken the court this season. Dillon Brooks has missed the last several games. Phoenix still doesn't have a true point guard, which, combined with injury absences, creates an opening for someone to fill the role.
Still, it wasn't clear that Allen could be the guy to take advantage. Even before Brooks went out, Allen was getting his shots and racking up assists. The lack of a true point guard probably has more to do with conjuring up "point Allen" than teammates' injuries.
That element of his apparent transformation has little reason to drastically decline. Neither Brooks nor Green is a passer, preferring instead to hunt their own shots. With the Suns at full strength, Allen should see slightly fewer shots, but if he improves his efficiency, his scoring average might not suffer much.
Maybe making a big deal of Allen's growth will age poorly. Maybe it's misplaced in the context of the Suns' roster situation. He has had scoring outbursts before, particularly in his first season with the Suns after the Bucks traded him in the Damian Lillard deal.
What he hadn't shown in seven NBA seasons is the ability to function at this level of usage and combined involvement as both a scorer and passer. Only time will tell if this new-look Allen is simply a product of temporary circumstances.