Phoenix Suns’ Marquese Chriss: I’m disappointed in myself
Feb 5, 2018, 4:12 PM
Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss, left, keeps the ball away from Sacramento Kings forward Skal Labissiere during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
PHOENIX – As forward Marquese Chriss began to address his recent absence from the Phoenix Suns, center Tyson Chandler walked over.
Smiling, Chandler reached over the small group of reporters who had gathered outside the practice court on Monday, patted Chriss on the shoulder and shouted, “We’ve moved past it, he’s doing well.”
And with that, the team officially turned the page on an unfortunate incident last Friday night following the loss to the Utah Jazz.
According to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro, his one-game suspension came following an argument with a weight training coach.
In a statement to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, general manager Ryan McDonough said Chriss violated a team rule. The Suns did not formally suspend Chriss. Rather, they sent him home.
Chriss was not at practice on Saturday or in the arena for the Charlotte game on Sunday.
“That was their decision. I embrace it, I take responsibility for what I did and we’re just trying to move on from it and just keep the season going,” he said. “Consequences come with learning. The things that happen, you continue to learn from them and grow from them.”
Chriss chose not to get into details about what happened.
“What happened with me was my problem,” he said.
Chriss practiced Monday and then traveled with the team to L.A., where the Suns play the Lakers on Tuesday. Chriss will be available, though interim head coach Jay Triano was weighing whether to reinsert Chriss back into the starting lineup.
In 40 starts this season, Chriss is averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in nearly 22 minutes compared to 4.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.8 minutes in six games coming off the bench.
“He knows what the rules are, the team rules are, and what we expect,” Triano said, “It’s unfortunate, but he’s a young kid, he’s going to learn and he’s going to have a long career and he’ll be better because of this experience.”
Chriss, 20, is in his second NBA season.
“I’m disappointed in myself,” he said, adding about watching the game from home, “Obviously, I wish I could be out there and help my teammates play, especially with a loss. They played well. I think the game just didn’t finish the way we wanted it to finish. Obviously sitting at home not being able to help my brothers play in the game is painful. It made me mad at myself.”
