TEMPE — Only hours removed from signing a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns , forward CJ Huntley made his presence once again known on the court with the Valley Suns on Monday night.
March 2, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Valley Suns forward CJ Huntley dunks against the Salt Lake City Stars. Mandatory Credit: Valley Suns PR
The 24-year-old has proven to be a threat on both sides of the ball, slowly going from prospect to potential NBA rotation piece.
In the Valley, Huntley has averaged 14.8 points with 8.4 rebounds. In Monday's game against the Salt Lake City Stars, the rookie came in hot, crashing the glass and dunking in shots — much to the delight of the home crowd.
Huntley racked up 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Valley, continuing to showcase his extensive skill set.
Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko (10) against Phoenix Suns forward CJ Huntley (22) during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Originally waived after signing his first two-way contract, Valley Suns head coach Paul Jesperson said that Huntley had two options: either let it get to him or work on becoming a developmental piece. The forward chose the latter, with Jesperson noting his hard work during the year.
"I think you guys saw the steps he's taken throughout the course of the season," said Jesperson postgame. "And for him to get rewarded like that, we shared it with the entire group. Everybody was, I don't want to say anybody was shocked, but everybody was super supportive of him."
Oct 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward CJ Huntley (22) against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA preseason game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Huntley's contract, the final two-way space for the Phoenix Suns, gives the organization not only depth but flexibility with their roster when they see fit. Going to an internal option that has developed in their system proves that Huntley has made enough of an impact that NBA minutes could prove valuable to them.
With added depth and the Western Conference getting tighter as the regular season winds down, the Phoenix Suns have seen the rookie's emergence and believe he can play a part down the stretch.
