PHOENIX SUNS

Jared Dudley steps into leadership role

Sep 14, 2012, 11:55 PM | Updated: Sep 15, 2012, 1:21 am

The Phoenix Suns underwent a considerable roster makeover this summer.

Gone are veterans like Steve Nash and Grant Hill, leaving not only a void with talent, but also leadership.

Enter Jared Dudley, who is now the longest-tenured member of the team at three-and-a-half years.

A guest of Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Friday, the 27-year-old small forward said he’s always thought of himself as a leader.

“But just a different type of leader,” Dudley said of his time when Nash and Hill were around. “Steve is a positive guy, where he’s always positive, high-fiving.

“I’m more of a vocal leader. During the timeouts I talk more than Steve and Grant. On the plan, on the bus, I’m just more talkative as a person.”

Dudley said he’ll have to change things some now that he’s going to be looked at as the leader.

“Doing stuff the right way 100 percent of the time,” Dudley said. “Come in to practice early. Grant Hill used to get to practice three hours before, I would get there an hour.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before the start of game one of the Western Conferenc...

Kellan Olson

Kevin Durant preaches execution over ‘rah-rah speeches’ for Suns

Kevin Durant did not choose to emphasize communication much as a key for the Suns to stay consistent and instead focused on execution.

8 hours ago

Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half in game one of the We...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Grayson Allen questionable after re-injuring ankle vs. T-Wolves

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen is questionable for Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after re-injuring his ankle.

8 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is Kyler Murray in the Danger Zone with Marvin Harrison Jr.?

With there being widespread speculation that the Arizona Cardinals will take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the 4th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wolf & Luke wonder if he would be the right piece to help propel quarterback Kyler Murray to an explosive season.

10 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Suns’ superteam is failing ‘spectacularly’

With the Phoenix Suns in a 2-0 hole to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first round playoff series, Dan Bickley wonders if the team can even the series up and take it back to Minnesota.

13 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Do the Phoenix Suns have any fight left?

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizsports/ ARIZONA SPORTS PODCASTS: https://arizonasports.com/category/podcasts/

1 day ago

Aircorg the corgi predicts the Phoenix Suns to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games....

Haboob Blog

The TikTok corgi is here if you are a Suns fan in need of hope

If you want to grasp at a final hopeful straw regarding whether the Phoenix Suns can extend their playoff run, the TikTok corgi is here.

1 day ago

Jared Dudley steps into leadership role