Jared Dudley sees Phoenix as his ‘home’
Jul 9, 2016, 7:00 AM | Updated: 8:55 am
Phoenix Suns' Jared Dudley (3) drives against Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Bledsoe (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Phoenix. The Suns won 93-90. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Jared Dudley returned to the Phoenix Suns at a discounted rate when he agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract.
Dudley was a guest on Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and talked about why he decided to return to the Valley of the Sun.
“I say this (Phoenix) is home. I’m from San Diego, but I spent five years here, it’s where I really grew up,” Dudley said. “I had no kids before and when I was in Phoenix I had two kids. My wife loves Phoenix, it’s close to California. I had my most success with my relationship with Robert Sarver. It’s just a perfect fit.”
His first stint with the Suns began when he was traded to Phoenix from the Charlotte Bobcats in December of 2008. Four years later, Dudley was moved to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for current-Sun Eric Bledsoe.
Following one season with the Clippers, he went on to play with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards.
Dudley’s leadership in the locker room will be an essential piece of the growth of the Suns young core, but that is not the only reason the team brought him back.
He’s coming off of a season where he averaged 7.9 points per game — his highest total since his final season with Phoenix — and shot 42 percent from long distance.
Additionally, he has put up the best numbers of his career, an average of 9.8 points per game and a 41.2 shooting percent from three-point range, as a member of the Suns.
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