From growing up in Phoenix and watching the Suns to playing basketball at the highest level, TyTy Washington Jr. was able to fulfill a young kid’s dream of representing the hometown NBA team he cheered for.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 22-year-old spent his first two years at Cesar Chavez High School and transferred to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler for the latter two before heading to college. As a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school, Washington Jr. played for Kentucky.
Going undrafted and flipping through multiple G League organizations, he returned to the Valley on a two-way contract and received his first NBA call-up of the year.
Against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Washington Jr. provided eight points, one assist and one rebound in the Suns’ 127-104 loss. Off the bench, he shot 2-for-3 (66.7%) from 3 and 3-for-6 (50%) from the field.
When talking about being able to play for the Suns, Washington Jr. was grateful for the chance to show what he can do and is not taking it for granted.
“It meant a lot, it just shows the work that I’m putting in is starting to pay off a little bit,” Washington Jr. said postgame. “Most importantly, I am just blessed to be in this position, blessed to be called back up and be with the team. Going in there and trying to contribute to help us is always cool and fun.”
Video Credit: Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
"It just shows the work I'm putting in is starting to pay off a little bit."
TyTy Washington Jr. 8 points in Suns loss.
Wasn't told before the game whether he'd play or not.
"We're all professionals here. We know at any given moment we can all get thrown into the game." #Suns pic.twitter.com/QeP3bEVTog
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 14, 2024
This promotion came off the back of Washington Jr. making the most of his opportunity with the Suns’ NBA G League affiliate, the Valley Suns. In three games to begin the year, the 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 24.3 points, 8.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game in the G League.
Making a mental switch from playing in the G League to the NBA, Washington Jr. knows what it means to be in the NBA and needs to make the proper adjustments to be successful whenever he plays.
“We’re all professionals here. We know at any given moment we can all get thrown into the game,” Washington Jr. said. “One thing about being called up is that I have to shift my mentality that I have a game tonight, I am not in the G League, I gotta get focused with the Suns. That’s pretty much what I did. I just waited for my number to be called and did what I could do.”
The No. 29 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was traded twice on draft night and ended up with the Houston Rockets. Washington Jr. split time with both the Rockets and the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2022-23 before playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and its affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, last season.
Coming back home and playing for the local team is something that is very rare, so Washington Jr. is taking advantage of his situation and all of the perks that come with it.
“It’s Year 3 for me now, so the first two were kinda rocky with me battling with myself and my confidence,” Washington Jr. said. “Since me being at the crib, at home, my confidence is at an ultimate high. Both programs, the Valley Suns and the Phoenix Suns, believe in me, encourage me to be who I am and tell me to play how TyTy plays, you didn’t get here by mistake. I just keep that in the back of my mind.”
Arizona natives Oso Ighodaro, TyTy Washington Jr. excited for chance to play for hometown Suns
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
