Kris Dunn · Powered by a fired-up crowd of 17,927 bellowing one of his favorite words — “DEFENSE” — Kris Dunn found himself challenged to a high-consequence head-to-head against a Hall of Fame-bound talent with matching initials, but unmatched offensive gifts. Compensating for the eight-inch height difference through tenacity, Dunn shadows the Phoenix Suns superstar step-for-step, ultimately acquiescing his new crowd’s demands through the type of steal reserved for only the NBA’s elite defenders. Joined by a blue-jerseyed calvary on the ensuing, seemingly-guaranteed four-on-one transition run, Dunn again plays hero, quickly returning his teammate’s missed layup through for an arena-inciting putback. Spirited would be among the words used to describe Dunn’s shorthanded L.A. Clippers as they fell in a back-and-forth overtime thriller on October 23, 2024. Bringing the effort that made him a respected presence throughout his nine-year, six-team career, Dunn recorded five points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer. · State of Mint · State of Mint