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Phoenix Suns: Alex Len Just Scratching The Surface Of His Potential

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) guards Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) guards Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Oct 30, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) dunks the ball in the first half of the NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 110-92. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

The Potential

Those who take a look at the season numbers might see Len averaging fewer minutes per game than he did last season. They might see that he’s only shooting 46.4 percent from the field, that his Player Efficiency Rating of 14.5 is subpar, or that he still hasn’t emerged as a future star-in-the-making in his third NBA season.

And it’s true that Len still has plenty to work on. His 4.5 fouls per 36 minutes ranks fourth in the league among players who have started as many games as Len has (23), he’s shooting 33.3 percent on all shots outside of five feet, and he’s still prone to having games where he simply disappears or can’t find his rhythm.

But Len also arrived at training camp looking brawnier than ever before and it’s clear he’s been putting in the work to improve every facet of his game. From being more confident on his midrange looks to using his strength to attack the basket to something as simple as catching the ball in traffic, all that extra work is starting to pay off.

“I’m sure the weight helped him and also just the experience,” Watson said. “It’s something where you can do drill work all day, but until you actually get hit by Z-Bo [Zach Randolph] or Birdman [Chris Andersen] and they foul you hard and you have to shoot free throws and finish in the post, jump shots in the paint, key jump shots out of timeouts, that’s the experience he needs.”

Len is going to get plenty of that same experience down the stretch of the season, and it’s encouraging that in 23 games as a starter this season, he’s averaged 10.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. If he can stay on the court, we might see Len finally take those steps toward becoming a more dominant two-way big.

“It’s what we’ve been seeing, he’s just been healthy,” Tucker answered when asked about Len’s recent play. “He’s getting better every single year, he’s continued to get better. His confidence has skyrocketed and we’re putting that confidence in him. I think he hasn’t even scratched the surface.”

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Cutting down on foul trouble, staying healthy, improving his perimeter shot and being groomed into a defensive anchor will take time. But if Alex Len continues to take these smaller steps, it won’t be long before we look back and realize he’s made one giant leap forward.

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