Phoenix Suns Watching Alex Len Develop With Huge Smiles
Let’s take a look back to the 2013 NBA Draft, when the Phoenix Suns decided to take the very raw 7-foot-1 center out of Maryland, Alex Len. At the time, eyes were raised, because it appeared as if Len was a project (with an ankle injury) and the Suns needed a shooting guard. Now, Suns management can look back and smile. Len is developing right before their eyes.
Remember — when Len was drafted, Marcin Gortat was still under contract with the Suns.
Considering that the Suns passed on the more athletic Nerlens Noel and the guy who fit their needs better in Ben McLemore, it looks like they made the right choice. While the shooting guard position is the weakest it’s been — maybe ever — the center position is just as thin.
Len came out of Maryland as a young man from the Ukraine who was still very early in his basketball life. In his two seasons with the Terrapins, Len didn’t show that he’d be a dominant anything in the NBA. His sophomore season was solid but unspectacular, with averages of 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.
FALSE START
The Suns took him with the No. 5 pick, knowing that he’d be somewhat of a project, but not knowing that his ankle injuries would end up essentially rendering his rookie year a waste. Sure, you can learn by watching, but in the NBA you can’t truly get a feel for the game unless you’re out there playing.
In Len’s last 10 games, he’s averaging 6.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 21.7 minutes.
Len played just 362 minutes in 2013-14 as he dealt with that ankle injury that required two surgeries in the span of two months. When Len was out on the court, he was ineffective, shooting just 42.3 percent from the field, managing just 8.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and an ugly 6.8 fouls per-36 minutes.
Rookie bigs often struggle with foul trouble, but combined with Len’s uncomfortable offensive game and his quiet, reserved demeanor on the court, he wasn’t able to crack coach Jeff Hornacek‘s regular rotation and often found himself out there during junk time.
ROARING BACK
What a difference a summer makes. Despite a minor scare early in the year with a pinkie injury that made us start to wonder if Len was going to be one of those injury-prone players who can’t stay on the court, Len has begun to blossom.
He’s still quiet and reserved in the lockerroom, but he’s coming into his own for the Suns on the court. Last night in a solid 112-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Len helped the Suns set their season high of 12 blocks, by swatting six of his own. That was a career best for Len, who had previously blocked five in a game two weeks ago against the Sacramento Kings.
Len didn’t light up the scoring column — as in, no lights at all — but his contributions go far beyond what shows up in the box score.
I talked to Eric Bledsoe about Len and Miles Plumlee and how having a rim protector behind them allows the perimeter guys to play more aggressively. Bledsoe beamed in talking about how he can do more to pressure the ball handler. When I asked if he could take more chances, he grinned and said he can be more aggressive.
After not scoring in double digits once last season, Len has done it eight times, with a career best 19 points back in November against the Celtics. He’s eclipsed 10 rebounds three times and in his last 10 games, he’s averaging 6.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 21.7 minutes.
STILL ISSUES, BUT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Despite playing just 19.2 minutes per game, Len leads the league with 112 fouls. It’s because of that he hasn’t been able to play more. The bright side is that per-36 minutes, he’s brought it down from his 6.8 last season to 6.0 this year.
Also, while the team trusts him, they’re not quite ready to feed the big man. There was one noticeable spot last night when Len had his man pinned deep in the paint on a mismatch. Bledsoe had Noel out on the perimeter and instead of dumping it into Len, Bledsoe waved him out of the paint.
Len was visibly frustrated as he watched Bledsoe fire up a step-back 3-pointer that airballed. After the game, Len acknowledged that there are so many options on the team that he isn’t going to be much of an offensive threat.
Maybe that should change, as Len’s 54 percent shooting and solid mid-range game would be of great use.
Ultimately, Len is turning out to be worthy of his No. 5 selection in the draft and although he’s still got a ways to go to be considered an elite center, he’s moving in the right direction and arguably is the greatest key to the Suns success on the defensive end.