Teams across the NBA are known for hosting themed nights throughout the season. Part of it is fan engagement, complete with some pretty cool giveaways like bobbleheads, while organizations also use these opportunities to recognize different walks of life, career paths, and communities that make up their fan bases.
Wednesday night in San Antonio felt like Developmental Night for the Phoenix Suns.
Nobody from their projected starting five was available, leaving a collection of second- and third-stringers
to compete against a Spurs starting unit that played for two and a half quarters. And while the circumstances certainly weren’t ideal from a competitive standpoint, there’s value in having nights like this. It gives younger players an opportunity to test themselves against the starting unit of one of the NBA’s elite teams while providing us with a better understanding of where they currently stand in their development. And for this version of the Phoenix Suns, player development is going to be an increasingly important part of the organization’s future.
With a cupboard filled with middle-to-late first-round picks and some hopeful second-round selections, opportunities like Wednesday night provide a glimpse into what these players might eventually become. The hope is that some of them can develop into meaningful contributors who play an important role in the future of the franchise.
What Wednesday night’s developmental showcase demonstrated is that plenty of these players still have a long way to go. Of course, many were being asked to operate in roles they likely won’t occupy at this stage of their careers once the regular season begins. That makes it difficult to put too much stock in the performances themselves, particularly when evaluating offensive production or overall efficiency.
But there are still instinctive aspects of the game that reveal themselves regardless of the circumstances. How does a player react when his initial move gets taken away? Where do his eyes go when the ball is in the air and he’s tasked with securing a rebound? How quickly does he recognize what’s happening around him, and how effectively does he respond? Those are the details worth paying attention to in games like this. And while there were certainly some bright spots on Wednesday night, there were, as expected, plenty more areas where improvement is needed.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Luke Kennard went for 20 against the Spurs, and he received plenty of love for it. But it was the 10 and 15 from Maluach that took down the Bright Sider Baller.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Preseason Game 4 against the Spurs. Again. Here are your nominees:
Jamaree Bouyea
15 points (7-of-11, 1-of-2 3PT), 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -12 +/-
Ryan Dunn
15 points (6-of-6, 0-of-0 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +2 +/-
Koa Peat
10 points (5-of-8, 0-of-0 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -15 +/-
Kennedy Chandler
10 points (3-of-6, 0-of-0 3PT), 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, -4 +/-
Pat Spencer
9 points (3-of-6, 1-of-2 3PT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -13 +/-
Koby Brea
7 points (2-of-3, 2-of-3 3PT), 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -3 +/-
Another game against the Spurs. Who gets the BSB?
