Suns sign four ahead of training camp
8 HRS AGO - The roster now includes 19 names. The Phoenix Suns announced the signing of four players on Expand
8 HRS AGO - The roster now includes 19 names. The Phoenix Suns announced the signing of four players on Sunday, bringing the total number of players on the roster to 19.
Joining the Suns at training camp will be Gracin Bakumanya, Derek Cooke, Jr., Shaquille Harrison, and Derrick Jones Jr.
Suns have signed Gracin Bakumanya, Derek Cooke Jr., Shaquille Harrison & Derrick Jones Jr., bringing roster to 19. https://t.co/HBrWoAUwHs— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 25, 2016
Bakumanya is a 19 year-old, 6-foot-11, 220 pound center who went undrafted this summer as an international early entry candidate. He played last season with Antibes Espoirs in France’s top basketball league.
Derek Cooke Jr. competed with the Bakersfield Jam last season. The University of Wyoming product is a 6-foot-9, 220 pound forward and averaged 4.8 points and 7.0 rebounds with the Jam.
Shaquille Harrison is a 6-foot-4, 185 pound guard and played his college ball at Tulsa. Last season he was named to the All-AAC Second Collapse
Suns talk on Drive-and-Dish Podcast
15 HRS AGO - The guys on the Drive and Dish Podcast were kind enough to invite me on the pod. In case you’re Expand
15 HRS AGO - The guys on the Drive and Dish Podcast were kind enough to invite me on the pod. In case you’re jonesing for some Phoenix Suns season preview type talk, listen to me talk to the guys for more than 30 minutes about the Suns last weekend.
We talk about
Who will start - Brandon Knight or Devin Booker?
Will Booker be an All-Star?
Will Booker play any small forward?
What’s the future of Archie Goodwin?
Can Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss play together?
and much more...
Next Up
Suns Media Day tomorrow at 10am. Kellan, Sean and I will be on hand to cover the whole event and get tons of “we are going to win a lot of game this year!” quotes. Collapse
Jefferson brings NBA title trophy to Moon Valley
2 DAYS AGO - It's hard to believe it's been 18 years since Richard Jefferson put on a show inside Phoenix Moon Expand
2 DAYS AGO - It's hard to believe it's been 18 years since Richard Jefferson put on a show inside Phoenix Moon Valley's gym, dunking, scoring, swatting away shots, leading the Rockets to the 1998 state championship with five epic matchups against big man Chad Pre
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Former Suns’ PG KJ beats man to a ‘bloody pulp’ after a pie in the face
2 DAYS AGO - It wasn’t a celebratory pie in the face. It’s physical comedy at its peak. As timeless as a kick Expand
2 DAYS AGO - It wasn’t a celebratory pie in the face. It’s physical comedy at its peak. As timeless as a kick in the crotch. It’s the pie in the face, and it’s hilarious.
Kevin Johnson doesn’t think so.
The former Phoenix Suns point guard extraordinaire and current mayor of Sacramento was on the receiving end of a protestor’s pastry pounding on Wednesday night. Johnson was speaking at the Seeds of HOPE dinner at Sacramento Charter High School when the assailant approached the Suns legend, removed a pie from his bag, and shoved it in Johnson’s face. KJ wasn’t amused.
Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson hit with pie in face, fights attacker https://t.co/Lqe4AeOCmj— 12 News (@12News) September 22, 2016
Eyewitnesses state that Johnson tackled Sean Johnson, who was later arrested on suspicion of assaulting a public official, and landed 5 to 10 punches to his face. One person said that KJ beat the man to a “bloody pulp.”
Kevin Johnson is no saint, we know that. What do you think, Suns fans? Did KJ Collapse
Jared Dudley calls Devin Booker the “next star” of the Phoenix Suns
3 DAYS AGO - We won’t disagree. Jared Dudley is back in a Phoenix Suns uniform. So far he is saying and doing Expand
3 DAYS AGO - We won’t disagree. Jared Dudley is back in a Phoenix Suns uniform. So far he is saying and doing all the right things.
As a guest on the Doug and Wolf show recently, Dudley made clear that his new teammate Devin Booker is the next star of the Suns.
“You need to stars to win in this league. When we won, we had Amar’e and Steve,” Dudley said. “So they’ve done a good job drafting Devin Booker. That’s their next star. And I’ve seen him. He has the work ethic and the talent for that.”
“That’s why I’m here not just as a player, but to help these kids develop into stars.” - Dudley via @DougandWolf987. https://t.co/AEwhOmn45R— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 21, 2016
The outspoken Suns forward is pragmatic, and knows that if the Suns are to recapture the glory of the Nash/Stoudemire era, and if Booker is going to continue to evolve into the face of the franchise, Phoenix will need to find success with at least one of its picks from this summer’s NBA Draft.
“Now they’ve had two top-10 Collapse
Ouch! Suns pegged better than only Lakers, Nets
5 DAYS AGO - Devin Booker is an emerging star.
Phoenix Suns shouldn’t be afraid to enter restricted free agency with Alex Len
5 DAYS AGO - With Oct. 31 deadline looming, news is scant on rookie-scale extension for Len The deadline to Expand
5 DAYS AGO - With Oct. 31 deadline looming, news is scant on rookie-scale extension for Len The deadline to sign rookie-scale players to contract extensions is fast approaching, with Giannis Antetokounmpo the latest to agree to a deal (4 years, $100 million). The Phoenix Suns have two players who fit that category in Alex Len and Archie Goodwin, and while it would be a massive surprise if the Suns extended Goodwin before the Oct. 31 deadline, Len is another matter.
Len’s frequent vacillation between budding star and fringe NBA talent surely has flummoxed Phoenix’s front office as much as it has fans, and that complicates placing a monetary value on him as a player. Will he always be this way? Or is his confidence issue something that can be corrected as he matures? These are the questions general manager Ryan McDonough must grapple with as he decides whether or not to extend Len in the next month and a half.
If Len and the Suns do not reach an agreement by Oct. 31, then Len will enter the summer Collapse
Sign up quick! Jared Dudley and other Suns host teen shooting clinic next weekend
7 DAYS AGO - Registrations cap off at 100 attendees aged 13-17 years old for Dudley’s shooting clinic on Expand
7 DAYS AGO - Registrations cap off at 100 attendees aged 13-17 years old for Dudley’s shooting clinic on September 24-25 Just before Media Day and training camp kicks off a busy season for new/returning Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley, he and his good friend and trainer Ryan Read will host a shooting clinic for young teens.
The clinic, which runs $150 per person, is open for both boys and girls aged 13-17 years old and covers eight hours of shooting instruction over two days, next Saturday and Sunday from 9am-1pm.
To register, email readrd100@gmail.com. The sooner the better, because registrations are capped at 100 kids.
PHX! sign up for Thrive Training Shooting clinic feat some of your favorite @Suns players!! Ages 13-17 next sat-sun pic.twitter.com/9UXmPKP5GF— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) September 14, 2016
“I’m getting ready for the season and these kids aged 13-17 in high school are getting ready for the season,” Dudley says. “What can I pass along to this generation? Shooting. Collapse
Phoenix Suns add names to training camp roster
9/17/2016 - I think these are names you’ll know. Mike Moser, Shaquille Harrison, and Derrick Jones Jr. That’s Expand
9/17/2016 - I think these are names you’ll know. Mike Moser, Shaquille Harrison, and Derrick Jones Jr. That’s the three guys who will be joining the Phoenix Suns when they open training camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
The #Suns have added a still-budding trio for training camp and a likely stay in the D-League, reports @paulcoro. https://t.co/Z0oecvHYkC— azcentral sports (@azcsports) September 15, 2016
Moser, 25, is likely a familiar name for basketball fans in Arizona. In 2008 he dropped his committment to the University of Arizona following Lute Olson’s retirement, and instead committed to Pac-12 rival UCLA. A forgettable season with the Bruins led to a two seasons at UNLV where he was named All-American honorable mention as a sophomore. After graduating at UNLV he played a season at Oregon. He’s a 6-foot-8, 225 pound power forward who shot 38 percent from three while with the Ducks. He last played in Israel.
Jones played one season at UNLV before the NCAA opened a case Collapse
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Suns add Congo project big man to camp roster
8 HRS AGO - The Suns added a 6-foot-11 Congo project to take part in training camp and then likely join their Expand
8 HRS AGO - The Suns added a 6-foot-11 Congo project to take part in training camp and then likely join their D-League affiliate.
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SunsRank: Ranking the best Phoenix Suns players for 2016-17
18 HRS AGO - The Bright Side staff present to you our preseason SunsRank, ranking each player on the roster Expand
18 HRS AGO - The Bright Side staff present to you our preseason SunsRank, ranking each player on the roster from best to worst. It’s a football Sunday, so I know you are not in the mood to spend the whole day thinking and talking about the Phoenix Suns.
Today, we are just going to drop a bunch of collective group-think on you and let you react.
I asked the BSotS writing team to rank each Suns player to open the 2016-17 season, and here’s how we did. The only rule we all followed was to provide a SunsRank for EARLY in the season.
SunsRank - September 2016
Clear #1
Clearly, the BSotS staff all agrees that Eric Bledsoe is the Suns best player entering the 2016-17 season. Assuming good health, the bowling ball point guard has the most impact of any Suns player because he not only runs the offense but plays hard-nosed defense as well.
Bledsoe grew into a 20-points per game player last year while dishing 6 assists per game and pulling down 4 rebounds per game. He also held opposing Collapse
Four points or less: Updates on T-Dot, Supercool, Plumbledore and more
2 DAYS AGO - Former four-points-or-less Phoenix Suns players make the news this offseason. Pining for the good Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Former four-points-or-less Phoenix Suns players make the news this offseason. Pining for the good ol’ days, Suns fans? Well then you’ll have to look beyond this here bit of news.
It’s always interesting to see what happens to former Phoenix Suns after they leave the team, and today’s story will focus on deep bench level players on recent teams. No, this isn’t about Marcin Gortat, Luis Scola, Isaiah Thomas or Goran Dragic leading their respective teams into the playoffs.
This is about guys like Jordan McRae, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee, Chase Budinger and Michael Beasley.
Professor Plumbledore
I have no idea how that nickname stuck in my head all these years, but the former double-double threat for a surprising 2013-14 Suns team who was later a throw-in to a deadline trade in February 2015 just got rich.
Brother Mason, a year away from restricted free agency himself, is smiling ear to ear about Miles’ $52 million, four-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, every rotational big Collapse
Phoenix Suns release WeArePHX 'Momentum' video
3 DAYS AGO - The Phoenix Suns released a new video on Thursday night, promoting their WeArePHX 'Momentum' Expand
3 DAYS AGO - The Phoenix Suns released a new video on Thursday night, promoting their WeArePHX 'Momentum' campaign.
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Sacramento mayor, former NBA player Kevin Johnson attacked with pie
3 DAYS AGO - Johnson was hit in the face with a pie at an event on Wednesday and the former NBA player got into Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Johnson was hit in the face with a pie at an event on Wednesday and the former NBA player got into a physical confrontation with the assailant.
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The Madhouse - 13 Days to the Phoenix Suns’ Preseason Countdown
5 DAYS AGO - Hey, y’all! Late Madhouse as I was traveling back from a wedding yesterday.
I’m pretty excited. Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Hey, y’all! Late Madhouse as I was traveling back from a wedding yesterday.
I’m pretty excited. We’re only 13 days away from the first Phoenix Suns pre-season game. THIRTEEN DAYS. That’s nothing.
So here’s 13 things I’m looking forward to seeing:
Dragan Bender getting serious minutes. I’m probably higher and Bender than most, but I’m more excited to see his skills on display than Marquese Chriss.
Marquese Chriss getting serious minutes. I’m not so excited for Bender that I’m not looking forward to the 8th pick doing work. They can both get some as far as I’m concerned.
Devin Booker vs. The Hype Machine. The bar keeps getting raised for the second year player with articles out there comparing him to Lebron James and Kevin Durant. Hopefully the kid comes into his own while tuning out the noise.
Purple courts. More purple and less black makes Mike a happy boy.
How the Bright Side handles a maybe less than Bright Side season. We’ve seen garbage seasons here before, but hopes Collapse
WATCH: Phoenix Suns national anthem audition tapes
6 DAYS AGO - You be the judge. September 12th the Phoenix Suns held auditions for those interested in singing Expand
6 DAYS AGO - You be the judge. September 12th the Phoenix Suns held auditions for those interested in singing the national anthem at 2016-17 home games. Plenty of hopefuls showed up to Talking Stick Resort Arena. Who’s the best of the bunch? Be nice.
Arizona's got talent: Check out auditions to sing the national anthem at Phoenix Suns games https://t.co/QjD6UKoXEA #aznews— Arizona News Updates (@AZnewsmonger) September 12, 2016
What do you think Phoenix Suns fans? Do we have a winner? Collapse
Dudley says healthy Suns are winning team
7 DAYS AGO - Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley predicts a winning season for the young Suns. During the Expand
7 DAYS AGO - Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley predicts a winning season for the young Suns. During the lightning round of an exclusive Bright Side interview with Jared Dudley yesterday, the new/old Suns forward made some bold predictions for the upcoming Suns season.
The boldest was predicting that the Suns could be a winning team.
“I think that this team, when healthy with Eric Bledsoe, is a .500 or better ball club,” Dudley said.
To be more specific, JD predicted 43 wins on the year.
“I’m going by the best case scenario,” he said. “Where everyone’s healthy, everyone’s playing well.”
Dudley has been playing pickup with the entire team for two weeks now, even including the rehabbing T.J. Warren and Eric Bledsoe who were fully cleared for five-on-five scrimmages last week.
Last year, 43 wins in the Western Conference would have earned the Suns the 6th seed, ahead of the 42-win Mavericks and injury-decimated Grizzlies, while knocking out the 41-win debacle Rockets.
The best time of year to predict Collapse
Devin Booker thinks the new Kentucky Wildcats uniforms are garbage
9/16/2016 - You be the judge. The Kentucky Wildcats will be showing off some new uniforms when they take the Expand
9/16/2016 - You be the judge. The Kentucky Wildcats will be showing off some new uniforms when they take the court this season. Check ‘em out.
The new @KentuckyMBB uniforms have arrived! Only 30 days until Madness!!! #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/GoG6O1o64m— UK Equipment Staff (@UKequipment) September 14, 2016
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who spent a season at Kentucky before being selected 13th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, wasn’t too fond of the new threads.
New UK basketball jerseys — Devin Booker (@DevinBook) September 15, 2016
And it all fairness, the guys does know something about fashion. Check out his throwback of choice earlier this week.
My mans✊ pic.twitter.com/DnF2ML9iWk— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) September 13, 2016
It’s also worth mentioning that the Suns guard was not alone in his distaste for the new Wildcat look. Trey Lyles of the Utah Jazz, who also left Kentucky after one season and was selected a pick before Booker in the 2015 Draft, voiced his opinion on Collapse
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5 key topics to open Suns training camp
12 HRS AGO - The Suns head to training camp in Flagstaff with a young team, a new coach, a fresh slate and key Expand
12 HRS AGO - The Suns head to training camp in Flagstaff with a young team, a new coach, a fresh slate and key issues to address.
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On the dance between players and media, as the 2016-17 NBA Media Days approach
1 DAY AGO - The players need the media. The media need the players. So why is there so much angst over media Expand
1 DAY AGO - The players need the media. The media need the players. So why is there so much angst over media scrums? As the final weekend before Phoenix Suns Media Day approaches to kick off another season, NBA players and head coaches are reluctantly forced to dust off their interview game for another grueling 6-7 months of answering the same questions over and over again.
Players have this final weekend out of the spotlight, where they can go to the gym, work out, play a little ball and go home without having to explain to anyone why they had a good shooting day or a bad shooting day.
Media Day on Monday ends all that. After Media Day, there’s post-practice or post-game interview sessions on 90% of the days between September 26 and the mid-April (or later, if you’re any good) exit interviews.
The players’ gloriously quiet summer is over.
Today and tomorrow, a small handful of Suns players are helping Jared Dudley out with his shooting clinic for teens. Don’t be surprised to see some snippet Collapse
Leandro Barbosa’s offseason workout
2 DAYS AGO - New Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa details on twitter how he’s staying in shape during the off Expand
2 DAYS AGO - New Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa details on twitter how he’s staying in shape during the off season. The only guy who has not joined his Phoenix Suns teammates yet is staying in shape down in Brazil.
Leandro Barbosa, who signed a two year contract only partially guaranteed after this season, was told by the Suns to get some rest after the Olympics. He will be returning to the Valley over the weekend just in time for training camp, almost a month after the rest of the team gathered for daily pickup games on the Suns practice court at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
But if you thought LB was lounging around drinking fruity concoctions and playing beach volleyball... well, you may be right... but at least some of the time he was working on getting in shape.
#BrazilianCamp #BeepBeep pic.twitter.com/tIArs2tmFt— Leandro Barbosa (@TheBlurBarbosa) September 22, 2016
That sacred training place!!! Let it Burn, burn, burn!! #BeepBeep #JustDoIt #TheBlurCamp Collapse
#Throwback Thursday - The Crushing Disappointment of Oliver Miller
3 DAYS AGO - Oliver Miller and Charles Barkley might have been the widest frontcourt in NBA history. The Big O Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Oliver Miller and Charles Barkley might have been the widest frontcourt in NBA history. The Big O and the Round Mound of Rebound both struggled with weight issues during their NBA careers. While one of them was blessed with Hall of Fame talent and charisma, the other one couldn’t get out of his own way. This is the sad legacy of Oliver Miller.
College Career and Draft
Before being drafted with the 22nd overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in 1992, Miller had been a standout player in four years at the University of Arkansas. Despite standing a mere 6 foot 9 inches, Miller was regarded as one of the best centers in the NCAA, including a dominant 22 point, 14 rebound, 6 assist, 6 block effort against the #1 (and eventual) UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. There’s video of the complete game here on YouTube. It’s a microcosm of all that was tantalizing and troubling about the Oliver Miller Experience: deft touch around the rim, soft hands, toughness… as well as fatigue, late-game laziness and a dash Collapse
Phoenix Suns Jared Dudley in his own words, on being a stretch four
4 DAYS AGO - Dudley talks to Bright Side about how he has been successful at power forward despite only being Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Dudley talks to Bright Side about how he has been successful at power forward despite only being 6’7” and a poor rebounder. Before training camp for the Phoenix Suns gets started and theories become realities, the off season is filled with speculation and uncertain certainties.
When it comes to the idea of Jared Dudley playing most of his minutes at the power forward position this coming season, speculation is more like skepticism. Full-on skepticism.
It seems like the only people in the nation who believe the 6’7” Dudley will be successful in his purported role as the Suns’ starting power forward this season are his General Manager, his coach, his teammates and Dudley himself.
I cannot stress after doing extensive Wizards video review last year how bad an idea Dudley at 4 at this point is. https://t.co/fDZ5wJD86w— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) September 17, 2016
Dudley actually played most of his minutes at the four position for the 41-41 Wizards last year, but his success Collapse
Brandon Knight has a new jersey number
5 DAYS AGO - So you’re going to need a new Brandon Knight jersey. Update your wardrobe, Phoenix Suns fans. Expand
5 DAYS AGO - So you’re going to need a new Brandon Knight jersey. Update your wardrobe, Phoenix Suns fans. Guard Brandon Knight decided it was time for a uniform change. He’s going back to a familiar number.
No. 3 ➡️ No. 11 pic.twitter.com/fyy92j9rdh— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 19, 2016
This is not the first time the fan favorite has donned number 11. Knight wore 11 for the 124 games he played with the Milwaukee Bucks between 2013 and 2015. Prior to his time in Milwaukee he wore number 7 with the Detroit Pistons for two seasons. He has worn number 3 since joining the Suns via trade in February of 2015.
Any similarities to the player seen in Milwaukee would likely be welcomed by most Phoenix fans. The two seasons spent with the Bucks were arguably the best of Knight’s six years in the NBA. He shot 43% from the field, and averaged 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals, all career highs.
The 2016-17 regular season gets underway October 26th when the Suns welcome the Sacramento Kings to Collapse
The annual BSotS feedback poll: Tell us what you think!
6 DAYS AGO - As Bright Side of the Sun approaches our 10th anniversary this winter, I want to know what you all Expand
6 DAYS AGO - As Bright Side of the Sun approaches our 10th anniversary this winter, I want to know what you all think we are doing well, what we might have stopped doing that you miss, and what we should start doing that we've never done before?
This is always a dangerous proposition, but I like to do it every year anyway.
Sure, we're going to get some trolls in the poll and/or comment section who are so unhappy with themselves they get off on trying to bring anyone and everyone else down to their level, especially when there's 0 personal repercussions involved. But I'll take that chance.
Mostly, we get constructive feedback in these posts that I can use to inform my decisions and suggestions throughout the season.
So let me know what you think!
I'm asking anyone and everyone who reads this here blog - from the 50 or so individuals who log in and frequent the comment section every day to the 200,000 other unique readers every month who hail from 200 different countries around the globe!
For those Collapse
Suns top aide Jay Triano fits team's vision
9/17/2016 - Suns associate head coach Jay Triano left a good situation in Portland to bring his experience to Expand
9/17/2016 - Suns associate head coach Jay Triano left a good situation in Portland to bring his experience to a similar situation.
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