Phoenix Suns forward Drew Timme didn’t sugarcoat why he’s with his sixth NBA team in three seasons and has yet to fully establish himself in the league.
“I mean, honestly, I'm an undersized white guy,” he said after morning shootaround at the team’s practice facility on Oct. 24.
“I don't pass the eye test, I would say, but I know how to hoop and play and make people better, and I think that's a skill that's undervalued and something that maybe doesn't always show up in the stats sheet, but something that's impactful and you really have to be around to see it. Just finding where you fit because I'm not going to fit every style of play.”
Phoenix claimed the 6-9, 235-pound Timme off waivers after the Minnesota Timberwolves let him go heading into
the 2026-27 season.
Timme is on a two-way deal with the Suns.
"I mean, honestly, I'm an undersized white guy. I don't pass the eye test, I would say, but I know how to hoop and play and make people better and I think that's a skill that's undervalued."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 24, 2026
Suns two-way player Drew Timme on why he hasn't been able to fully established him as a… pic.twitter.com/5s8Ga1DQgk
“I love their style of play,” Timme said about the Suns. “Just their movement. The coaches have been great. The trust that they give the players from what I've seen and stuff. It's a great spot. It’s a team that wants to win and needs to win. I just want to be able to help them in any way possible.”
With Oso Ighodaro sidelined (right oblique strain) and Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery) expected to miss multiple months, Phoenix lacks its normal depth at the big position.
Suns coach Jordan Ott is viewing Ighodaro’s injury as a “day-to-day.” Playing every game last season, Ighodaro suffered his injury late in the first half of the 41-point road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the season opener for both teams.
Khaman Maluach starts at center, two-way player Duop Reath is his backup, but the physical and versatile Timme can play both the four and five.
“I can kind of just be a plug-and-play kind of guy,” Timme said. “I've been around the league a little bit and stuff and pretty experienced. So, kind of just filling any gap that needs to be filled. Any role I can, whether it's a four, five, maybe a little pressure release and stuff like that, be a connector. So just kind of anything in that role.”
Duop Reath X Drew Timme = for 3 post shootaround. #Suns pic.twitter.com/XpUlMhp5RG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 24, 2026
Timme, 26, played nine games (two starts) with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2024-25 season and averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.
He joined the Los Angeles Lakers last season on a two-way contract. He saw action in 27 games, starting one, and averaged 3.4 points.
Before his stint with Brooklyn, Timme was on Exhibit 10 deals with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 and the Sacramento Kings in 2024, but he was waived by both teams.
Now Timme is with Phoenix, his sixth NBA team.
“I feel like I'm in a great spot,” Timme said. “College was great, great time, and then my first (year in NBA), came in, learning the ropes, changing the game a little bit, and now I’ve shot, not on high attempts, but I shot pretty good last year. Just trying to continue to build on that, the confidence, the reps and the growth in that, especially my shooting. I think that's something that could really help kind of establish myself more in this league.”
"Personally, that's probably what I'm best, reading and reacting based off what the defense presents. Did that a bunch in high school and then at Gonzaga, Coach (Mark) Few trusts, especially his bigs, to make plays and reads and stuff. I feel really comfortable with that." Suns… pic.twitter.com/OS71TQZiZh
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 24, 2026
Timme shot 44% from 3 (11-of-25) from distance last season with the Lakers.
“Also just being an everyday guy, and like I said, being a guy that can fix any problem, or kind of just plug and play anywhere,” Timme continued. “I think that's something that really can help establish myself.”
With every stint, Timme believes he learned a great deal that’s factored in receiving opportunities with different NBA teams.
“Just watching from guys that have been in the league and seeing their habits and stuff,” Timme said. “Obviously, you got guys like Book (Devin Booker) and even like Luke (Kennard), who I was with last year. Just seeing how their daily habits and how they approached the game, it’s great to learn from.”
Timme and Luke Kennard were teammates last season with the Lakers.
“When you're a guy who's on the fringe and like really trying to establish himself, it's like, it's watching guys like that,” Timme said. “Whether I was watching Bron (LeBron James) last year (with the Lakers). Try to be as good of a learner as you can.”
Timme shouted out Ighodaro for helping him with adjusting to his new team.
“Oso has been great,” Timme said. “I've only been here two or three days, and he's just been in my ear constantly helping me with the plays, the terminology and stuff. It’s great because it's tough coming to do a new spot just quickly and already in season and stuff, because I didn't get training camp with (the Suns). He's been great, especially another front court guy. It's great.”
From Richardson, Texas, Timme (pronounced TIM-ee) was a three-time All-American at Gonzaga, where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,307 points in four years, but he went undrafted in 2023
He spent three seasons in the G League, averaging 15.9 points on 56% shooting and 6.9 rebounds in 48 career games.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is Suns big Drew Timme failing to pass the eye test in NBA?
