Luke Kennard's 20-Point Preseason Spark: The Suns' New Grayson Allen?
Kennard dropped 20 on 15 shots with Booker and Bridges out. The Suns may have quietly found their next shot-making safety valve.
Deep-league stash who only matters when Booker or Bridges sit.
- Kennard: 20 pts on 15 shots vs Spurs, 10 of them threes
- Took just 4 threes across first two preseason games
- Allen posted 29.3 FPTS/G last season (2025-26, actual)
- Booker is our #31 overall, 40 FPTS/G in 2025-26 (actual)
- Suns still splitting center reps: Ighodaro vs Maluach
With Devin Booker and Miles Bridges both sidelined, Luke Kennard grabbed the wheel of the Suns' offense Saturday and dropped 20 points on 15 shots in a win over the Spurs — including 10 three-point attempts. That volume came out of nowhere: across Phoenix's first two preseason games, Kennard had hoisted a grand total of four triples. One night without the top scorers, and he flipped the switch.
The comparison writing itself here is Grayson Allen, who filled exactly this role before Phoenix shipped him to Charlotte. Last season (2025-26), Allen averaged 16.5 points and 29.3 fantasy points per game, and he had a knack for exploding when Booker sat — see his 28-point comeback night against the Lakers in late February with Booker and Dillon Brooks unavailable. Kennard looks like he's auditioning for the same job.
Why Kennard Fits The Mold
Kennard's résumé is built for the backseat-to-front-seat swing. He's shared floors with LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard, meaning he knows how to disappear into a complementary role and then take over when the lineup thins out. That's precisely what Allen gave Phoenix — a shooter who could absorb usage on the nights the stars rested, then shrink back when they returned.
The frontcourt question is still open, too. The Suns are running a genuine competition at center between Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, splitting starts through three preseason games. Ighodaro flashed playmaking with five assists against the Spurs; Maluach answered with 15 rebounds. Neither has pulled ahead to replace Mark Williams, which tells you Phoenix either hasn't decided or isn't tipping its hand.
The Fantasy Fallout
Across the West, there are reasons for Phoenix to sweat — Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg put up a 23-10-6 line, Fred VanVleet returned from an 18-month ACL layoff, and Kyrie Irving logged his first action since tearing his ACL in March 2025. But for your roster, the Suns' internal picture matters more. Phoenix wraps the preseason with a Spurs rematch in San Antonio on Wednesday and a home date with the Jazz on Friday.
For fantasy managers: Kennard is a watch-list name, not a draft-day priority. His value is entirely conditional — he only pays off on the nights Booker (our #31 overall, 40 FPTS/G in 2025-26) or Bridges sits. If you're in a deep league and want a cheap source of threes, stash him and track the injury report. In standard formats, let it play out and pounce only if Phoenix's rotation gets thin.
