The Phoenix Suns have officially signed Grayson Allen to a contract extension, the team announced in a press release. The deal is for four years and $70 million, per NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
“Grayson embodies our values and we are committed to him being a key member of our core as we continue to build together into the future,” Suns president of basketball operations James Jones said in a statement. “He has been outstanding for us this season, leading the league in three-point shooting while providing a versatile skillset and competitive spirit on both ends of the floor. Phoenix has become a home for Grayson and his family, and we are thrilled that they want to be part of this community and our winning culture for years to come.”
Allen added a statement of his own.
“I love being in Phoenix and believe in what we can achieve here,” he said. “Thank you to )(Suns owner) Mat Ishbia and the organization for embracing me. I’m excited to make a long-term commitment to remain in this community and continue building with this team.”
Allen and the Suns (49-33) finished sixth in the Western Conference and are gearing up for a first-round matchup with the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. Allen has been a big part of their success while playing alongside bigger names such as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Allen, 28, averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 73 games this season while shooting 49.9% from the field, 46.1% from beyond the arc and 87.8% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage.
He recently said he wasn’t thinking about his contract and instead was remaining focused on the task at hand.
“I haven’t been thinking about it or playing for the contract or anything, but I feel really blessed to be in a position where I’m on a team I fit perfectly on in an important year for me career-wise,” Allen said, via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “Very blessed to be playing this well and given the opportunity I’ve been given to help the team out as much as I have.”
At the time he was asked about a possible extension, Allen stressed that his only goal was for the Suns to finish strong and make an NBA playoff run.
“I try not to think about it too much,” Allen said. “One, because it’s not a done deal until it’s signed. You don’t want to count it, start counting stuff too early before it happens. Another part of is it’s March and we’ve got 11, 10 games left. We’re getting at a time where you don’t want to have stuff like that on your mind cause it’s an individual goal for me and right now, it’s the Suns and team stuff. I don’t want to think about that kind of stuff too much.”
The Suns acquired Allen from the Milwaukee Bucks last summer. Phoenix can offer Allen a contract extension for four years, $75 million up until June 30. Allen would enter free agency if an extension isn’t reached.
“It would be nice to be playing in one spot for the rest of my career, but an extension doesn’t automatically give you stability,” Allen said. “Milwaukee signed me to a two-year extension and I only played one year of that contract there, but yeah, that would be nice.”