PHOENIX SUNS

Suns nab French guard Elie Okobo with 31st overall pick in NBA Draft

Jun 21, 2018, 8:00 PM | Updated: Jun 22, 2018, 2:02 am

Joonas Tahvanainen of Finland, left attempts to block Elle-Frank Okobo of France during the basketb...

Joonas Tahvanainen of Finland, left attempts to block Elle-Frank Okobo of France during the basketball FIBA U20 European Championship Tournament game Finland vs France in Helsinki, Finland Tuesday July 19, 2016. (Martti Kainulainen/Lehtikuva via AP)

(Martti Kainulainen/Lehtikuva via AP)

After nabbing two rookies ready to contribute immediately in Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges, the Phoenix Suns went the other direction to start the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft, selecting fast-rising French point guard Elie Okobo with the 31st overall pick.

Okobo will join the Suns for the 2017-18 season despite being a candidate to be a draft-and-stash prospect, reports 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound lefty who played last season for Pau-Lacq-Orthez in France’s Pro A league was one of the fastest-rising prospects in the last month after a 44-point outburst in late May.

Okobo, who worked out for Phoenix, said he has a buyout in his contract and is ready to make the jump to the NBA.

“Well, if you saw him a few years ago, he wasn’t a guy who passed it a ton,” said Suns assistant general manager Pat Connelly after a June 4 workout. “This year at Pau, he got the opportunity to be a point guard. His playmaking got a lot better, especially on the pick-and-roll. He’s got a good pace, he can really score, obviously, as evidenced by that 44-point game against Monaco … he’s had a nice year.”

At a big 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Connelly said Okobo had showed improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

“I’m trying to show them that I can pass the ball, too, play as a point guard and then bring energy in defense and offense,” Okobo said after his workout. “(Scouts and NBA executives) say they like the way I am on the court. They say I am very mature because I play against pros. They like my passing game, my scoring ability.”

Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Thomas...

Dan Bickley

Isaiah Thomas signing is a wild swing for Suns in desperate times

Isaiah Thomas is a born fighter. He’s beaten the odds. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to rally around a player like him.

9 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Are the Phoenix Suns superstars done with Frank Vogel?

On Monday's Bickley Blast, Dan Bickley asks the question if the Suns' superstars have had bad body language recently and if it's because they want Frank Vogel gone.

14 hours ago

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should be watching during March Madness

The Phoenix Suns are slated to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could select one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix ...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ shocking lack of urgency continues in loss to Bucks without Giannis

The Phoenix Suns are playing like they have been afforded the luxury of time. But they are just about to run out of it.

1 day ago

Josh Okogie #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footp...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Josh Okogie out for matchup vs. Bucks, Antetokounmpo also out

Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie is out for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain.

2 days ago

Isaiah Thomas...

Damon Allred

Isaiah Thomas to return to Suns on 10-day contract, per report

Nearly two years since his last NBA minutes, point guard Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.

2 days ago

Suns nab French guard Elie Okobo with 31st overall pick in NBA Draft