Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 16 – NBA Blog

Suns sign Josh Jackson to rookie contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Josh Jackson, the team’s selection with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, to his rookie contract.

Jackson, an intense competitor and athletic two-way player, was a 2017 Wooden All-America selection and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in his lone season at Kansas. At 6-8 and 207 pounds, the 20-year-old utilized his all-around game to help the Jayhawks win a Big 12 title, averaging 16.3 points on 51.3 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks over 35 contests. With the versatility to play multiple positions, Jackson can create for himself and his teammates on the offensive end while possessing the ability to be elite on the defensive end.

During his one season in Lawrence, Jackson broke or tied four Kansas freshman records with 13 double-doubles, 220 field goals made, 429 field goals attempted and 258 rebounds (tying former Suns forward Danny Manning’s mark set in 1984-85). Over the past 25 years, he became just the fourth freshman in Division I to average at least 15 points, five rebounds and three assists while shooting over 48 percent from the field, joining Ben Simmons in 2015-16, James Harden in 2007-08 and Dwyane Wade in 2001-02.

Jackson will make his professional debut as a member of the Suns’ team at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas.

Suns waive Leandro Barbosa

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Leandro Barbosa.

Barbosa averaged 6.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.4 minutes in 67 appearances with the Suns in 2016-17, the first season of his third tenure with the team and ninth overall. A 14-year NBA veteran, Barbosa ranks 13th in Suns franchise history with 6,443 points and first with 4,825 scored when coming off the bench.

Jared Dudley out 3-4 months after surgery

Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley underwent a left toe ligament and bone procedure last Friday. The surgery was performed by Dr. David Porter at Methodist Sports Medicine in Indianapolis. Dudley is expected to return to full basketball activity in approximately 3-4 months.

Dudley averaged 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 64 appearances in 2016-17, his 10th NBA season, sixth with the Suns and first in his second tenure with the team. Dudley ranks third in franchise history by shooting 41.2 percent from three-point range and seventh with 514 three-point makes.

Marquese Chriss named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss has been named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the league announced today.

In his rookie campaign, Chriss averaged 9.2 points (8th among rookies) on 44.9 percent shooting (6th), 4.2 rebounds (5th), 0.85 blocks (3rd), 0.82 steals (7th) and 21.3 minutes while playing all 82 games. Chriss led all rookies in games started (75) and dunks (103). He was one of just two first-year players along with Joel Embiid to finish in the top 10 on the rookie leaderboard in scoring average, rebounds per game, blocks per game and steals per game. Showing his versatility, Chriss joined Jerry Stackhouse and Shane Battier as just the third rookie in NBA history to total at least 65 each of three-pointers made, blocks and steals.

The NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January, Chriss continued to elevate his game after the All-Star break, averaging 12.7 points on 49.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.0 percent from three-point range, 5.9 rebounds, a rookie-high 1.44 blocks and 0.92 steals during the season’s second half. For the season, the 8th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft recorded 29 double-digit scoring games, including six with 20-plus points topped by a career-high 27 points vs. Milwaukee on Feb. 4.

Tyler Ulis undergoes ankle surgery

Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Ulis today underwent a minor surgical procedure on his right ankle. The surgery was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Ulis is expected to return to full basketball activity in approximately 12 weeks.

Ulis averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 assists in 61 games in his first season with the Suns in 2016-17, earning Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for April after leading all rookies with 20.7 points and 6.8 assists per game during the month.

Suns hire Kevin Ray as TV play-by-play announcer

The Phoenix Suns have hired local veteran broadcaster Kevin Ray to serve as the television play-by-play announcer for Suns broadcasts on FOX Sports Arizona starting with the 2017-18 season. Ray has been part of Suns telecasts for the past 15 years, serving as the team’s sideline reporter the last five seasons, and prior to that as host of the Suns pre- and postgame shows.

“This is a position I have aspired to reach for a very long time and to be selected to move into this seat means the world to me,” said Ray. “I’ve had the same passion for this team that the fans do and to now be able to deliver that emotion to them night in and night out is an absolute dream come true. There are a lot of people who have been instrumental in getting me to this place and to all of them I am truly grateful. I can’t wait to tip off the 50th season of Suns basketball in October.”

Ray replaces Steve Albert who last month announced his retirement following an award-winning 45-year broadcasting career. Albert had called the action for all Suns broadcasts on FOX Sports Arizona the past five seasons.

“Kevin has done a tremendous job for us in multiple broadcast capacities over the years. His commitment to our organization, fans and community made him the ideal candidate and we’re excited to welcome him as our new Suns television play-by-play announcer,” said Suns President Jason Rowley. “His knowledge of both past and present members of our organization is an important factor in connecting with our fans, and in his expanded role Kevin will continue to provide the insight, intelligence and passion for Suns basketball that our fans enjoy.”

Ray has also served as the television play-by-play voice of the Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers.

A versatile talent, Ray has covered multiple Super Bowls, NBA Finals, College Football National Championships and has worked nationally for Turner Sports as a sideline reporter for the NBA Playoffs and NBA Summer League. Ray is entering his fifth season as the national play-by-play voice on Compass Media Networks for both the Dallas Cowboys and Top 25 college basketball.

Ray began his broadcasting career in the Valley on KTAR-AM 620, where he became a fixture of the local sports landscape. Throughout a decorated 14 years at the station, he served in a variety of roles from producer, reporter, anchor, program director and sports director.

A graduate of Pittsburg State, Ray resides in the Phoenix area and has three children, Devon, Zachary and Alexandra.

Willy Hernangomez and Tyler Ulis named NBA Rookies of Month

The New York Knicks’ Willy Hernangomez and the Phoenix Suns’ Tyler Ulis today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Hernangomez, the 35th pick in NBA Draft 2015 presented by State Farm, led all Eastern Conference rookies in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and ranked second in scoring (12.5 ppg). He was also fourth in assists (3.0 apg), steals (1.17 spg) and field goal percentage (49.2). The 6-11 center from Spain scored in double figures in four of six games and recorded two double-doubles. On April 9, Hernangomez matched his career highs with 24 points, five assists and three steals and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 110-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Ulis, the 34th pick in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, paced all rookies with 20.7 points and 6.8 assists per game. The 5-10 guard, who shot 48.5 percent from the field for the month, scored at least 20 points in four of six games. On April 2, he registered the highest-scoring game by a rookie this season, finishing with 34 points to go with nine assists and a career-high nine rebounds in a 123-116 loss to the Houston Rockets. Ulis also posted 20 points and 10 assists in a 124-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks on April 9.

Here is a recap of April for Hernangomez and Ulis:

Willy Hernangomez, New York Knicks
April 4 vs. Chicago: Finished with eight points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 100-91 victory over the Bulls.
April 7 @ Memphis: Contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 101-88 loss to the Grizzlies.
April 9 vs. Toronto: Posted 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 110-97 loss to the Raptors.

Tyler Ulis, Phoenix Suns
April 2 vs. Houston: Notched a near triple-double with 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a 123-116 loss to the Rockets.
April 9 vs. Dallas: Recorded a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists in a 124-111 victory over the Mavericks.
April 11 @ Sacramento: Registered 27 points, six assists and four rebounds in a 129-104 loss to the Kings.

Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Brooklyn’s Caris LeVert, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Detroit’s Henry Ellenson, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, New Orleans’ Cheick Diallo, Philadelphia’s Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Dario Saric, Phoenix’s Marquese Chriss and Sacramento’s Buddy Hield and Skal Labissiere.

Suns sign Elijah Millsap

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Elijah Millsap to a multiyear contract. The two-year NBA veteran played with the Northern Arizona Suns this season and was the Suns’ NBA Development League affiliate’s leading scorer in the team’s inaugural campaign.

A 6-6, 215-pound guard, Millsap averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.4 minutes over 67 games in two seasons with the Utah Jazz from 2014-16. Millsap has six double-digit scoring performances in his NBA career with a high of 17 points versus the L.A. Lakers on Feb. 25, 2015.

The 49th GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season, Millsap averaged a team-high 19.7 points in addition to 7.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 50 games (all starts) with the NAZ Suns this season. The 29-year-old led the NAZ Suns with 13 double-doubles and had the highest-scoring game in team history with a career-high 38 points in the season finale at Reno on April 1. This marked Millsap’s sixth NBA D-League season as he also played with Tulsa in 2010-11, Los Angeles from 2011-14 and Bakersfield in 2014-15. A 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, Millsap has averaged 18.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 205 total D-League appearances.

A native of Grambling, Louisiana, Millsap began his college career at Louisiana-Lafayette before playing his final season at UAB where he earned All-Conference USA first-team honors after averaging 16.1 points and 9.5 rebounds in 2009-10. In addition to his time in the NBA and D-League, Millsap has played professionally for clubs in Israel and the Philippines. He is the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks forward and four-time NBA All-Star Paul Millsap.

Millsap will wear number 22. The Suns’ roster now stands at 15

Suns sign Jarell Eddie to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Jarell Eddie (pronounced juh-RELL) to a second 10-day contract. Eddie initially signed with the Suns on March 19.

Eddie has played in five games since joining the Suns and averaged 4.8 points in 12.5 minutes, scoring a career-high 13 points in his debut with the team on March 19 at Detroit.

This is Eddie’s second NBA season as he is a three-year NBA Development League veteran, most recently playing with the Windy City Bulls before being signed by the Suns. Eddie played 26 NBA games with the Washington Wizards last season, averaging 2.4 points and 5.7 minutes with a high of 12 points at Brooklyn on Dec. 26, 2015.

A 6-7, 220-pound forward, Eddie began 2016-17 with the Austin Spurs of the D-League before being traded to Windy City on Jan. 25. He has averaged 14.1 points in 45 D-League games overall this season, scoring 17.8 per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the field and 49.3 percent from beyond the arc in 20 games after joining Windy City.

The 41st GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season, this was the third call-up of Eddie’s career as, in addition to his time with the Wizards, he signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2014-15 though did not appear in a game. In his three D-League seasons, Eddie has averaged 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds, shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 44.2 percent from long range and 87.6 percent from the line in 100 games with Austin and Windy City. The champion of the three-point shootout at the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Game, one of Eddie’s assistant coaches with Austin in 2014-15 was current Suns Head Coach Earl Watson.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Eddie played four seasons at Virginia Tech before going undrafted in 2014. As a senior in 2013-14, he led the Hokies in points and rebounds with a career-high 13.3 points per game in addition to 5.4 boards.

Suns sign Jarell Eddie to 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Jarell Eddie (pronounced juh-RELL) to a 10-day contract. A three-year NBA Development League veteran, most recently playing with the Windy City Bulls, Eddie owns 26 games of NBA experience with the Washington Wizards last season.

A 6-7, 220-pound forward, Eddie has averaged 2.4 points and 5.7 minutes in his 26 career NBA appearances, scoring a career-high 12 points at Brooklyn in his NBA debut on Dec. 26, 2015. After playing this past preseason with the Wizards, Eddie began 2016-17 with the Austin Spurs of the D-League before being traded to Windy City on Jan. 25. He has averaged 14.1 points in 45 D-League games overall this season, scoring 17.8 per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the field and 49.3 percent from beyond the arc in 20 games since joining Windy City.

The 41st GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season, this is the third call-up of Eddie’s career as, in addition to his time with the Wizards, he signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2014-15 though did not appear in a game. In his three D-League seasons, Eddie has averaged 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds, shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 44.2 percent from long range and 87.6 percent from the line in 100 games with Austin and Windy City. The champion of the three-point shootout at the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Game, one of Eddie’s assistant coaches with Austin in 2014-15 was current Suns Head Coach Earl Watson.

Eddie will wear number 31.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 15