Colin Gillespie gets a big shout out from Jalen Brunson after the game winner
Colin Gillespie emerged as a hero for the Phoenix Suns on Friday night in their 114-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Cup action. In the waning heat of the game, Gillespie took the ball in the teeth of the Timberwolves defense and fired a close-range shot past Donte DiVincenzo, a devastating shot from which Minnesota could not recover.
Gillespie has been a bit player throughout his NBA career heading into the 2025-26 season, but this year was different. Bolstered by the opportunity created by Jalen Green’s injury, Gillespie has become a legitimate NBA rotation player. It’s been quite the journey for the Villanova product, who went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft.
But as is the case when the Villanova Wildcat steps into the spotlight, there’s no one happier for him than a fellow alum. After his game-winner gave the Suns their 10th win of the season in 16 tries, the former Wildcat Jalen Brunsonwho was Gillespie’s teammate in the 2017-18 season, they shouted at him on his official account on X (formerly Twitter).
“I see you @Colling1021 !!!!” Brunson wrote.
Gillespie was a freshman during Brunson’s final season at Villanova, so the New York Knicks star has to be very proud of how far his former backup has come. Villanova continues to produce productive NBA players by the dozen, and Gillespie appears to be building a long career for himself if he continues to play like this.
It won’t be a surprise if the Knicks bring him in in the future, as they tend to do with former Wildcats.
The Suns need help in the backcourt and Colin Gillespie is coming to the rescue
With Green gone to start the year, there was a void that needed to be filled for the Suns in the backcourt. Grayson Allen has also been out the last few games with a quad injury. Gillespie has been up to the task of filling that void, averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists on over 40 percent shooting from deep this season.
For someone plucked from nowhere, Gillespie has become key to this Suns team which played with so many good vibes.
2025-11-22 07:00:00
