Each day, we’ll focus on a different player from the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns roster, exploring their contributions and potential role for the upcoming season as we approach training camp and the preseason.
Guard/Forward | 6’3″ | 215 lbs | Age 28 | Entering 6th NBA season
The 2025-26 season was full of surprises for the Suns. Few predicted a playoff appearance, Dillon Brooks achieved a career-best scoring average, and Jordan Goodwin emerged as a dependable rotation player despite initially entering training camp as a long shot. After rejoining Phoenix this summer with a three-year, $19 million contract, Goodwin is set to remain a key piece of the team moving forward.
Goodwin posted career highs across nearly all statistical categories last year, earning the coaching staff’s trust as a playoff starter. In the game when Phoenix clinched a playoff berth against Golden State, he contributed 17 points, four three-pointers, and nine rebounds.
Building off his breakthrough season and now secured on a long-term deal, Goodwin is expected to solidify the Suns’ defensive schemes, help maintain the gritty identity the team embraced last season, and offer versatility by playing multiple positions as needed.
Last Season Recap
| GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | STL | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | OFFRTG | DEFRTG | +/– (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 22.5 | 8.7 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 41.3% | 37.1% | 69.6% | 113.4 | 110.1 | +93 |
Goodwin’s roster spot was uncertain entering last season; he signed late in August and edged out Jared Butler to secure one of the final places.
Mostly coming off the bench, he became a vital part of the rotation thanks to his improved shooting and ability to guard multiple positions despite being somewhat undersized. He frequently played critical minutes late in games, highlighted by his role in the Suns’ stunning comeback against the Timberwolves, where Phoenix erased an eight-point deficit in the last 50 seconds to win.
He missed some time due to a calf strain after a double-overtime game versus Orlando but remained healthy enough to appear in 70 games overall. Toward the season’s end, as Collin Gillespie struggled and the team faltered, Goodwin stepped into the starting lineup, starting both play-in games and the first playoff game against Oklahoma City until an early calf injury sidelined him for the remainder of the series.
His season-best performance was a 26-point game against the Thunder in January, fueling a comeback against the defending champions.
Contract and Roster Details
In June, Goodwin signed a three-year, $19 million contract with a player option for the third year, marking the largest and longest deal of his six-year career. The contract’s value gradually increases each year, beginning at 3.55% of the salary cap and rising to 3.72%, a critical detail given the NBA’s current salary cap structure. Notably, he cannot be traded before January 15, 2027.
Strengths
Toughness.
Goodwin is Phoenix’s version of gritty, versatile defenders like Alex Caruso or Josh Hart. He embraces any role assigned to him and can competently play from shooting guard through power forward. Defensively, he takes on the opposing team’s top perimeter scorers, helping to preserve the energy of stars Devin Booker and Jalen Green on offense. Offensively, he excels at securing rebounds at a remarkable rate for his size—ranking 42nd league-wide in offensive rebounds among all players, ahead of all but two guards (Amen Thompson and Dyson Daniels).
Another major asset: his increasingly consistent three-point shooting. Last season, he shot over 37% on nearly 4.5 attempts per game, peaking at 40% during his busiest shooting month in February. This floor spacing ability makes him significantly more valuable than during his first Suns stint when his three-point percentage was 29%.
Areas for Growth
It would benefit the Suns if Goodwin could become a steadier ball handler and facilitator. With Grayson Allen now with Charlotte, there is a clear need for reliable playmakers off the bench apart from Collin Gillespie. The addition of sharpshooter Luke Kennard signals the second unit’s focus on maximizing three-point attempts, a task Goodwin could help manage given his point guard background.
Although officially listed as a point guard, Goodwin has rarely served as the primary ball handler during his second Phoenix stint, instead shifting between the two and four positions. However, his prior experience with Washington and his first Suns tenure prove he can handle point guard duties when called upon.
Outlook
Expect Goodwin to replicate or slightly improve upon last season’s performance, but with increased playing time. He averaged around 22.5 minutes per game last year; that figure may rise to between 25 and 27 minutes, reflecting the team’s growing confidence in him. Anticipate modest statistical gains alongside a bigger overall impact on both ends of the floor.
Projected stats: 74 games, 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game, shooting 43% FG / 39% 3PT / 71% FT.
Conclusion
Jordan Goodwin embodies the Phoenix Suns’ desired style of play: hardworking, versatile, and reliable. Once doubted by many—including the Suns themselves—he has proven his worth and earned a contract extension. With heightened expectations and secured compensation after a career year, the time has come for Goodwin to elevate his influence on the team even further.
Fan Take: Jordan Goodwin’s rise showcases how determination and adaptability can reshape a player’s career and become foundational for a team’s culture. For basketball fans, his growth story exemplifies the value of role players who can impact the game beyond just scoring, highlighting a trend toward versatile, defense-first players shaping modern NBA success.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
