Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn’s interest in the NBA Finals goes beyond the series itself.
He’s from New York, the state.
The third-seeded Knicks can win their first NBA championship since 1973 with a Game 5 road victory June 13 against the San Antonio Spurs.
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“I kind of have a little favor for them, but I’m just watching as a student of the game,” said Dunn in a media scrum June 12. “More mostly seeing what they’re doing, what the physicality is. Just trying to take ways of how San Antonio and how the Knicks are playing and trying to learn how that intensity not only in the finals, but just in the whole playoffs.”
The second-seeded Spurs can extend the series with a win and force a Game 6 June 16 at Madison Square Garden. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for June 19 in San Antonio.
“I hope they close it out on Saturday, but I can’t wait to see more basketball from them,” Dunn added.
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Phoenix swept the home-away series over the Knicks in its surprising 45-win season that ended with a first-round loss to then-defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward (3) Dillon Brooks reacts after being called for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the floor after their 131-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing out the playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.
(Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (left) watches the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) slam-dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Jan. 7, 2026, in Memphis.
(Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll (left) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) prepare for the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27, 2025.
(Rob Gray/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Jan. 13, 2026.
(Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) battle for a loose ball in the first half at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2025.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Brooklyn Nets’ Zeng Fanbo, Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker react at Venetian Arena in Macau, China, on Oct. 10, 2025.
(Tyrone Siu/REUTERS)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Nov. 29, 2025.
(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) looks to pass the ball back inbounds against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Dec 27, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Stephen Lew, Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena on Sept. 24, 2025.
(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) complains to an official during a game against the Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker, left, and Dillon Brooks chat on the sidelines during their game against the Miami Heat at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 25, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic)
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Knicks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 9, 2026 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107.
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Dunn has since reflected on the season as the Suns won just 36 games his rookie year in 2024-25.
“As a team, we exceeded expectations,” Dunn said. “Going into this offseason now, it’s trying to do the same thing, maybe even a little better. Not focusing on what the outside noise is saying. Focus on how individually we can get better. For me, it was going back and seeing what I’ve done well, what I can improve on. That’s kind of my whole focus this offseason. Trying to improve in areas I know need to be better at.”
Dunn is taking time to relax, too.
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The 6-foot-8-inch forward spent June 12 at the organization’s youth basketball camp at ALA Gilbert North as he signed autographs and interacted with the kids.
“That’s exactly why I do it, I was one of them back home in New York,” Dunn said. “I remember Tobias Harris would come to the camps and I was so excited to see him, being a kid that wanted to dream where he is.”
Now playing for the Detroit Pistons, Harris is from Islip, N.Y.
“To have the opportunity to come back in here and give back to the kids is what I do it for, the next generation of kids coming up,” Dunn continued. “They aspire to be us.”
Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns stands with head coach Jordan Ott during the first half of the NBA game against the Washington Wizards at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 11, 2026, in Phoenix.
The Suns continue their camp at ALA Gilbert next week and it concludes the week after that at Thunderbird High School in Phoenix.
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“This is really great of us,” said Sarah Krahenbuhl, executive director, Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation. “It’s all across the Valley. We have more than 1,100 kids that come out in a month and our players love coming out. This is really where their passion lies.”
Dunn has established a checklist for improvement going into his third NBA season after averaging 5.8 points on 45.3% shooting and 4.2 rebounds in 70 games.
“For me, reading the game a little better,” Dunn said. “Playing more aggressive, being more physical. Being able to make plays defensively, watching more film on guys. Defending without fouling. Just the whole game in general.”
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Dunn improved on his 3 from his rookie year, shooting 33.1% after connecting on 31.1% in 2024-25.
“Obviously shooting, getting better at that, being more consistent there, but just playing, getting a better feel for the game and expanding on all aspects,” Dunn added.
Dunn said he and head coach Jordan Ott have had offseason conversations about what’s next for the athletic forward.
“He gave us some time off, but we came back in the gym and talked about different areas to improve that he’s seeing, that we see and we just come up with a plan throughout the whole season and the offseason and get better in each of those aspects,” Dunn said.
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“He’s transparent with us in every way, which I appreciate. He’s in the gym working with us, teaching us, giving us tips as well. A guy with his background and what he’s done in this league, is someone you have to respect and as our coach, you believe in him.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn has improvement checklist for Year 3