The Jazz are guaranteeing Kris Dunn‘s $2,586,665 salary for the 2023/24 season, league sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The move was expected, Jones adds. Dunn’s early salary guarantee date was October 23, but now he knows a couple days early that his contract — which was previously non-guaranteed — will be fully guaranteed.
Dunn has played the best basketball of his NBA career since joining Utah late last season. He averaged 13.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, 4.5 RPG and 1.1 SPG on .537/.472/.774 shooting in 22 games (25.8 MPG) with the Jazz in ’22/23. He also had a 3.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, a strong mark for a point guard.
In five preseason games this fall (15.2 MPG), Dunn averaged 8.0 PPG, 2.8 APG and 1.6 SPG while shooting a remarkable 85.7% from the floor (18-of-21). Head coach Will Hardy recently praised the 29-year-old’s “tenacity” as well as the “fight and hunger” he shows on the court.
It’s been a remarkable career turn around for Dunn, who spent most of last season in the G League and only played 18 NBA games with the Hawks and Trail Blazers from 2020-22 (part of that was due to knee and ankle injuries while with Atlanta).
The former No. 5 overall pick was always a strong defender, but struggled to score efficiently, which has changed dramatically over the past year. He turned a couple of 10-day deals with Utah into a two-year contract worth $3.3MM+.
Dunn is set to his unrestricted free agency next summer, and should be coveted on the open market if he continues his strong play again in ’23/24.
Love to see it
Is he the starting PG though? Dunn has some rare skills for my fantasy waiver wire and I need to know if I should pick him up
Someone who clearly worked hard for a chance to keep playing. Wish him nothing but the best.
Such fluid handles. Great to see him doing well. Right place right time and a good fit for the Jazz.