With just a few preseason games under his belt, former Virginia basketball forward and Phoenix Suns rookie Ryan Dunn is already being called the steal of the NBA Draft. His defensive prowess and athleticism are translating well as expected, but Dunn has shocked those familiar with his game with a stunning display of three-point marksmanship.
After making just seven three-pointers in 34 games at UVA last season, and only 12 career threes in 65 games at the college level, Dunn has knocked down 12 three-pointers in his first four preseason NBA games, most recently splashing six triples against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. In those four preseason games, Dunn is averaging 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game and is shooting a blistering 44.4% from three.
The biggest concern on Ryan Dunn’s draft profile has seemingly become the biggest reason why he might be in for a fantastic rookie season in the NBA. Read more on Dunn’s great start to the NBA preseason here: Ryan Dunn is Being Called the Steal of the NBA Draft After 4 Preseason Games
While Dunn’s college tape is noticeably lacking in the three-point proficiency he has so far displayed at the NBA level, it is full of thunderous dunks, emphatic blocks, and other memorable highlight plays from his two years at UVA. Watch some of Ryan Dunn’s best college highlights from his time with the Virginia basketball program below:
Starting with what is probably the best dunk of college career, Ryan Dunn threw down this poster dunk against Texas Southern early in the 2023-2024 season. We included a couple of different angles just for good measure.
RYAN DUNN WITH THE POSTER 😱
(via @UVAMensHoops)pic.twitter.com/AXt39wIbPW
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 17, 2023
THAT’S MEAN 🤬🤬🤬 Ryan Dunn PUNCHED this.
(via @UVAMensHoops) pic.twitter.com/OnFo0zOL6O
— SLAM University (@slam_university) November 17, 2023
Everything was coming up Virginia in its ACC matchup with Miami, including this alley-oop from Reece Beekman to Dunn to extend UVA’s lead to 40-19. Yes, you read that score right.
Reece Beekman ➡ Ryan Dunn for the alley-oop 🔥@UVAMensHoops | #ACCMBB pic.twitter.com/vNNrOwbYDH
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 6, 2024
Earlier in that game, Dunn got the backdoor pass from Beekman and soared to the rim for a dunk.
Normal heart rate:
⠀ /\⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /\
__ / \ __/\__ / \ _
\/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ \/Heart rate : When Ryan Dunn goes for a dunk
⠀/\ /\⠀ /\
_/ \ /\_/ \ /\_/ \ /\____ pic.twitter.com/s8Tbxcbvda— Virginia Men’s Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) February 6, 2024
While he had a smaller role, Dunn also delivered a number of highlights in his freshman season in 2022-2023, including a sky-high alley-oop from Kihei Clark against Syracuse, a couple of big dunks and a chase-down block against JMU, and an impressive block against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament:
UP TOP to Ryan Dunn!@UVAMensHoops | #ACCMBB
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/In4KvLaODM
— ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) January 31, 2023
Don’t jump with Ryan Dunn!! @Almighty_ry3 | @UVAMensHoops
— ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) December 7, 2022
HUGE BLOCK! 🖐️
Ryan Dunn said NO SIR!@UVAMensHoops | @Almighty_ry3 pic.twitter.com/bUAdLtJ5Ga
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) March 10, 2023
At home against NC State last season, Dunn had big chase down block and then a huge slam dunk to seal the win:
Forget the block (which is spectacular but something we’ve come to be able to expect with Ryan Dunn) but I love the intensity from him chewing out Blake Buchanan, presumably for not getting back on D. pic.twitter.com/HVfUSAjdKV
— Jon (@j0nzzzz) January 29, 2024
RYAN DUNN SEALS IT WITH THE SLAM! @Almighty_ry3 | @UVAMensHoops
— ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) January 25, 2024
In UVA’s game at NC State, Dunn slammed home a two-hand jam through contact plus a foul:
Ryan Dunn ✨ 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧’ 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮 ✨ pic.twitter.com/LH9lNJJdyn
— Virginia Men’s Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) January 6, 2024
See the video below for five+ minutes of Ryan Dunn playing defense at Virginia from League Him on Twitter:
5+ Minutes of Ryan Dunn Defense pic.twitter.com/AQ8bivKKK9
— League Him (@League_Him) May 22, 2024
Here’s “The best of Ryan Dunn” from the official UVA men’s basketball Twitter account:
🎬 The best of Ryan Dunn!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/swi3WkqG8Q
— Virginia Men’s Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) April 18, 2024
Finally, the ACC Network posted a 10-minute highlight reel of Ryan Dunn’s best plays from the 2023-2024 season on YouTube:
We’re looking forward to seeing Ryan Dunn make even more highlights as he embarks on his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.
