Kris Dunn has been the much-needed piece to the puzzle for the Utah Jazz as of late. While the addition of Collin Sexton has helped the team find their stride offensively, the defense has been much improved because of what Dunn brought to the table.
He's a hard-nosed, defensive-minded stopper who has proven to have a bit of versatility beyond just being a lockdown type of guy. While he's struggled over the years to score the ball, since arriving in Utah his ability to hit his shots has improved and he's no longer a liability on that end of the court. He's still not an efficient scorer but he's greatly improved from where he used to be as a player.
His recent stretch of games this year, as well as his stretch last year, remind us that he can be the type of player the team needs. Despite only getting the go of it as of late, the Jazz are much better with him in the starting lineup. One example of this is the improved defensive metrics around Collin Sexton. Sexton was near the bottom of the league, let alone the team before he took up space next to Dunn in the starting five.
And while Sexton's numbers are great, they're significantly better than where they were. His play on the court is also much improved, as he's no longer being hung out to dry by other teammates. Dunn's impact is evident but it isn't only limited to the defense. He's shown to be an exceptional passer and someone who can pull up and hit a shot every now and then.
Dunn deserves not only the starting position but more minutes ahead of the likes of Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson, as well a new contract. He should be the team's starting point guard next to Sexton (the team's new starting shooting guard), for the foreseeable future. Lock him down, as he does to the opponents each night.