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Grayson Allen wins over Phoenix Suns fans after Deandre Ayton trade: 'I was dead wrong'

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
·4 min read
31

The Deandre Ayton trade brought a lot of strong reactions among Phoenix Suns fans and media members when it went down, with Grayson Allen's inclusion in the deal bringing some dismay.

Allen came to Phoenix with a reputation as a "dirty player" who was not liked by many NBA fans, including some Suns fans, who wondered how they could root for the player, who had become somewhat of a villain in NBA circles known for some flagrant fouls involving tripping players and other antics.

But times certainly have changed.

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After initially being hesitant about Grayson Allen, many Phoenix Suns fans would now like to see the team re-sign him.
After initially being hesitant about Grayson Allen, many Phoenix Suns fans would now like to see the team re-sign him.

In his time with the Suns, Allen has won over many Phoenix fans, who lobbied on social media for the team to not trade him when his name was brought up in NBA trade rumors at the NBA trade deadline and who now openly support him as a part of the Suns' success this season.

And Allen has been a vital part of Phoenix's success. He is averaging 12.8 points per game this season while shooting 51% from the field, being the perfect complement to the team's Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

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Suns fans were initially hesitant to support Grayson Allen after trade: 'Can't stand him'

Social media was flooded with negative thoughts about Allen's trade to Phoenix when the deal went down in late September.

Here are just a few comments from X about how hard it would be to support Allen, based on his less-than-sterling NBA reputation.

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Grayson Allen has won over Phoenix Suns fans during his time with the NBA team this season.
Grayson Allen has won over Phoenix Suns fans during his time with the NBA team this season.

Suns fans support Grayson Allen now: 'Love the dude'

The Suns recently posted a video of Allen and his wife, Morgan, talking about being happy together in Phoenix.

The post attracted a completely different reaction about Allen with the Suns now, with many expressing a desire for the team to re-sign him.

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Deandre Ayton trade has become 'The Grayson Allen trade'

When Phoenix traded for Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic was considered the main piece they were getting in the deal and Nurkic has been good in Phoenix (11.8 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, 51.9% shooting).

But many have now started calling the Suns' offseason blockbuster "The Grayson Allen trade."

Times certainly have changed, indeed.

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grayson Allen wins over Phoenix Suns fans after Deandre Ayton trade