Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From Season Opener

2. The Kids Are All Right

That 20-4 run from an unexpected bench unit didn’t get the Suns a W, but it was impressive nonetheless for 18-year-old Dragan Bender, 19-year-old Marquese Chriss and 20-year-old Tyler Ulis.

Not only was that lineup able to turn a 26-point deficit with 2:43 left in the third into a 10-point disadvantage with nine minutes to play, but it was sparked almost chiefly by Ulis and Bender getting their first NBA minutes.

“The momentum changed everything,” Watson said. “Our second unit, we just played young guys, let them play aggressive, let them have fun, be creative. They played with a lot of passion. It was fun to watch.”

Dragan Bender was the big surprise, especially after looking so timid during the preseason. The youngest player in the NBA scored eight of his 10 points during that 20-4 run, knocking down two threes.

He finished the game 4-for-5 from the field, and his odd little dance to celebrate his three-pointers helped get the crowd back into the game.

In a span of minutes, Bender made a nice cut and finish set up by Alex Len to score his first NBA basket, banked in a three-pointer that brought the crowd to its feet, confidently drilled another corner three and even threw his hands up to celebrate a slick two-handed dunk for Len.

That kind of energy and enthusiasm is infectious, scoreboard be damned.

Chris and Ulis only had two points apiece during the run, but they were active on the defensive end as Watson switched things up with a trapping press to increase the tempo and force some mistakes.

Ulis finished with two points, one assist, one rebound, one steal and one block in 14 minutes, while Chriss added seven points, four rebounds and one block in 22 minutes.

“I think the biggest surprise out of the second unit was Tyler,” Watson said. “His defense on the ball was aggressive and we need that energy. We need that energy, we need those steals, deflections, and we need that purpose. So those guys kind of earned minutes now.”

“I’m getting a chance,” Ulis said. “This is a shot, this is something that I always wanted to do. He threw me in the game, we’re down 20, but you have to play like it’s 0-0. That’s something Devin [Booker] talked to me about and we just had a conversation at dinner about that. I just come in and try to do what I can.”

Len and Knight added four points apiece during the run, meaning all 20 points were scored by players 24 years or younger.

Speaking of the younger guys, the more polished Devin Booker had a relatively quiet night…and still finished the game with 18 points in 25 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting.

Sure, he missed all three of his three-pointers, and yes, a couple of his baskets came in garbage time late in the game, but the whole second half was essentially garbage time. If he can put up 18 points in such an underwhelming performance, just imagine what he’s going to do as the season progresses.

If there were any positive takeaways from a 19-point loss to the lowly Kings in Phoenix’s season opener, it’d be that the youth movement still looks promising.