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The Phoenix Suns today signed forward Jared Dudley, a nine-year NBA veteran who played five of those seasons with the Suns, to a multiyear contract.
“We are excited to welcome Jared back to the Phoenix Suns family,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “Jared’s work ethic, professionalism and knowledge of the game will provide a great example for our young players to try to emulate.”
Dudley’s deal is reportedly a $30 million dollar contract over three years.
Dudley returns to Phoenix where he previously played five seasons with the Suns from 2008-2013, averaging 9.8 points on 47.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent from three-point range in 356 games. One of the best three-point shooters in Suns history, he comes back to the team ranked seventh on the franchise’s all-time three-point makes list with 437 and third with his 41.2 percent mark from behind the arc, trailing only Steve Nash and Raja Bell.
Initially acquired by the Suns in a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 10, 2008, Dudley averaged double-digits scoring in each of his final three seasons with the Suns, including career-highs of 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds with Phoenix in 2011-12. In addition to his shooting ability, the 2009-10 Dan Majerle Hustle Award winner and versatile defender led the Suns in steals in three of his four full seasons with the team. One of the league’s most durable players, the 6-7, 225-pound forward played in 356 of a possible 381 games during his first tenure with the Suns and is one of only three players in the NBA, along with David West and Luis Scola, to play in at least 65 games in each of the past nine seasons.
In 81 games with the Washington Wizards last season, Dudley started 41 and averaged 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists while ranking seventh on the NBA leaderboard by shooting 42.0 percent from three-point range. For his career, the nine-year veteran holds averages of 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from three-point range and 73.6 percent from the free throw line in 676 games (253 starts) with the Bobcats (2007-08), Suns (2008-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14), Milwaukee Bucks (2014-15) and Wizards (2015-16).
The 22nd overall selection of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Bobcats, Dudley joined the NBA following a standout four-year career at Boston College where he was named ACC Player of the Year in 2006-07. A San Diego native, Dudley represents his hometown’s area code in his Twitter handle (@JaredDudley619) and has earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s most entertaining players to follow.
Dudley will wear uniform No. 3, the same number he wore during his first five seasons with the Suns. Rookie forward Dragan Bender will now wear No. 35
