Colorado forward George King drafted by Suns 59th in NBA Draft
Jun 21, 2018, 9:22 PM | Updated: Jun 22, 2018, 2:01 am
Arizona State's Mickey Mitchell, left, covers a drive from Colorado's George King during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. Colorado defeated Arizona State 97-85. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Maybe the Phoenix Suns didn’t necessarily want to use all of their 2018 NBA Draft picks to add to their 2018-19 roster.
But at the end of the day, they closed Thursday night with four rookie additions, the last of which came with the selection of Colorado wing George King at the 59th pick.
The 6-foot-6, 219-pound King averaged 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists as a senior in 2017-18. He shot 45 percent overall and 40 percent from three-point range for the Buffaloes, but as a sophomore shot a blistering 46 percent from deep at nearly the same volume of field goal attempts per game (4.4).
At the combine, King came in third with 15 bench press reps and projects as a strong defensive presence with his near 7-foot wingspan and 39-inch max vertical.
RELATED STORIES
“(I wanted to prove) that I can defend multiple positions,” King said after working out for Phoenix prior to the draft. “I’m a consistent shooter, competitor and high-energy, I do a lot of the little things. Also, I bring character to a team.”
King joins Arizona center Deandre Ayton (first overall), Villanova swingman Mikal Bridges (10th overall via trade with the Sixers) and French-born point guard Elie Okobo (31st overall) as the Suns’ draft picks on Thursday.
The additions will create stiff competition at the wing position, where Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Davon Reed and Bridges could vie for playing time next season.
