With training camp less than a week away, new Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer named the team’s starting five in an interview with NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The starting five will consist of new free agent addition Tyus Jones at point guard alongside Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkić,
Jones had said he would be the team’s starting point guard after he signed, which was a big reason why he came to Phoenix on a veteran-minimum over other teams. He started all 66 games with the Washington Wizards last season after being a backup point guard in Minnesota and Memphis his first eight years in the league.
“Certainly we feel like Tyus has established himself as a great starting point guard in our league and he will be our starter,” Budenholzer said. “When you put him out there with Kevin, Brad, Book and Nurk, we feel like we’ve got a strong starting five. And a really strong bench behind them.
“Tyus can help us play faster. He’s great with the kick-aheads, he’s great with getting teammates involved in transition. But then also in the halfcourt. He’s a guy who has always been a high assists guy, low turnovers. He can get us organized. Everyone talks about how much talent we have. Hopefully he can put them in positions to be their best.”
The Wizards led the league in pace last season, and Jones has the best assist-to-turnover ratio in NBA history. Aschburner asked Budenholzer if Jones “has the clout to tell one of those guys ‘No’ in key moments or on a given night?”
“Hopefully the whole team can feel who’s got it going,” Budenholzer said. “But to have a point guard who’s got the IQ, the experience, the leadership, the ability to communicate, with everyone trusting him – his coach and his teammates – yes, we feel like Tyus has got that in him. He’s got that DNA.
With this said, Grayson Allen, who Budenholzer already has a good relationship with from their time with the Milwaukee Bucks, will be coming off the bench after starting 74 of his 75 games in his first season with the Suns last year and leading the league in 3-point percentage.
Royce O’Neale, new backup center Mason Plumlee, new backup point guard Monte Morris and Bol Bol figure to be the other top options off the bench.
Budenholzer also discussed how he can tap into the talents of his three stars in Booker, Durant and Beal and the team’s potential overall.
“Putting the players in position to play together,” Budenholzer said. “Play fast. Compete at a high level. We need to compete defensively. And offensively, it means doing all the little things for each other. We have a ton of talent. It’s just finding ways for them to be their best selves.”
Suns media day is on Monday, Sept. 30 beginning at 11:30 a.m. MST, where we will find out much more about the team. Burn City Sports will be in attendance, so make sure to follow @BurnCitySports on all social medias to stay up to date.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
