If you were to ask any Phoenix Suns fan at the beginning of the year who Jamaree Bouyea was, they would tell you they had no idea. Well, that sentiment has quickly changed, as the two-way guard has impressed in stepping up for this Suns team while dealing with injuries this year.
Similar to a situation that happened last year with Collin Gillespie, Bouyea is making the most of this opportunity and getting the most out of it. For the Suns this year, he is having his best year: in just 15 minutes across
19 games, he has 7.6 points, two rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on (56/41/69) shooting splits.
This has impressed many of the fans and even the city as well, with him being represented on the banner outside the stadium after being a mid-season add.
Since he has performed so well, he deserves an article detailing his play.
So I reached out to someone who I thought would know him best, a good friend, Finn Keuhl. See Finn writes for BrewHoop, the Bucks SBNation site, and also has a site called Two-Way Talents. As we all know, Bouyea came from the Bucks after he was waived by them this season and is also a two-way player for this team. So I knew my guy Finn would be the perfect one to ask and get some insight for all of us on how Bouyea has played in the past and how that has translated into his outstanding play so far here in the Valley.
To do that, I asked him seven questions and aim to show you two different perspectives on a great story that is developing for Bouyea and his career. So, with a huge thank you to Finn for providing his excellent knowledge, let’s dive in!
1. What was your initial reaction to Jamaree Bouyea being waived for Alex Antetokounmpo?
Finn’s Answer: I didn’t like it from an on-court basketball standpoint at all. Over the summer, I felt like Bouyea really locked up his two-way spot with the way he played in Summer League, knowing this team was/is thin on on-ball scoring. I don’t think Alex Antetokounmpo is an NBA player to any capacity. But, the move wasn’t made with on-court stuff as the main consideration at all, so with keeping Giannis happy in mind I understood and accepted the move.
My Reaction to his answer: That would make sense, as I personally only saw it as a stint to keep Giannis happy as well when it happened. Sadly, with how the Bucks’ season has been going, it does not look like it really helped, and a player like Bouyea could have been another spark like Ryan Rollins for this team, who needs wins to keep them afloat.
2. Did you think this was the right move after seeing him play for the Wisconsin Herd?
Finn’s Answer: Simply put, no! Again, Antetokounmpo isn’t an NBA-caliber player, and Bouyea was impressive at all lower levels.
My reaction to his answer: Understandably, I agree as well. Looking at Bouyea’s previous years, he bounced around G-League teams and won some awards there as well in 2023. This would prove that he could be a spark for this Herd team and a bright piece for a franchise that has struggled to draft in recent years as well. Seems like a missed opportunity, especially when the player they signed is not living up to that for them now.
3. When the Suns signed Bouyea, what was one thing from his Bucks tenure that you knew would translate?
Finn’s Answer: Definitely the ball handling. Bouyea’s crafty and smart, I believed he could be a reliable point guard off the bench and that’s exactly what he’s been for Phoenix.
My Reaction to his Answer: Again, Finn is on the money here. Bouyea has been smart and a solid creator for this team off the bench. His minutes with guards like Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen have shown he can work with both on and off the ball for this team, which is nice for his growth in this system, too.
4. What has been one aspect of Jamaree Bouyea’s game that he has improved on since joining the Suns?
Finn’s Answer: Three-point shooting! The dude’s killing it from beyond the arc in the Valley, and that hadn’t been one of his major strengths at all in the pros before this season.
My reaction to his answer: This is true, as Bouyea struggled in that department early on. Looking at his last year with the Bucks, even though it’s only five games and limited playing time, he shot 20% from three-point range. This year, he is doubling that, shooting 41% from three on 2.1 attempts a game. In both his career-high games this year, with 18 points, he had multiple threes. If he can continue to thrive in his three-point shooting and work off the ball as well to get more comfortable, he could be an even bigger steal.
5. He has clearly shown to be the best Suns two-way player. Would that still be the case if he were on the Bucks?
Finn’s Answer: Well, Bouyea has joined the five-star club on Two-Way Talents, and Milwaukee’s highest-ranked guy is currently Pete Nance with four stars, so from that angle, yes. But, before the season, Bouyea was a three-star prospect while Nance still had four, and Doc Rivers doesn’t seem to enjoy playing his two-way guys so I don’t think Bouyea would have had the chance to prove he’s this good if he was still in Milwaukee.
Check out Finn’s Rating on TwoWayTalents here https://twowaytalents.com/player/jamaree-bouyea
My reaction to his answer: I am glad that he has risen to that five-star club; he has definitely deserved it. I have not watched many Bucks games, but Bouyea is making a bigger impact than their two-way guys, even with the Bucks’ rollercoaster of a season going on. I especially like what you say at the end, Doc does not play two-way guys. So Bouyea’s opportunity to rise in this system, even if the circumstances were worse, seems like they would have been harder to overcome to compete for a spot.
6. Do you think he has shown off enough to get a guaranteed roster spot for Phoenix?
Finn’s Answer: Absolutely.
My reaction to his answer: Thank god we agree, and on the most important one too. I have been advocating that he deserves a spot, especially since the Suns have one roster spot open. In his short time with the team, he has provided valuable offense, and if injuries continue to linger, they will need him as an extra guard in the playoffs. If he is on a two-way, then he cannot be playoff-eligible, and to me, that would be disrespectful to him, as he has given it his all this year to make an impact and find a home.
7. Do you think the Milwaukee Bucks regret letting him go for nothing?
Finn’s Answer: Probably not, because again, two-way players haven’t been an emphasis for the Bucks at all this season (which is lame because we’ve had success with them, developing AJ Green and Ryan Rollins). I do think his presence would have been helpful for this team though, especially with how Cole Anthony has underperformed.
My reaction to his answer: That is sad to hear, as I feel like he could have been a fun young guard for this team to believe in. Since they have not hit on their latest draft picks, they could develop some prospects through the G League. If that is not a priority, that may show the push to get all in on Giannis staying happy is working double overtime right now. As Finn states, they can develop these pieces with two guys who are mainstays in their rotation, so this should become a priority even if you are trying to win with Giannis.
Final Thoughts
A huge thank you to my guy Finn, who provided these great answers to try to show you Suns fans what Bouyea was and how he ended up here in Phoenix. Please check out Finn’s work as he does a fantastic job covering the Bucks over on BrewHoop, but works especially hard on his NBA coverage.
Earlier, I mentioned his site’s way talents, which is linked here. On this site, he provides an analysis for every two-way player in the NBA and updates it whenever a transaction occurs. He also has his own player grades and reviews for everyone on there, giving you more insight into guys who may get deals converted, like Bouyea might in Phoenix. Here it is for all of you to enjoy as I do, and let me know your thoughts down below! https://twowaytalents.com.
