Alex Len throws loop at practice
Nov 12, 2015, 7:25 AM | Updated: 10:43 am
Phoenix Suns' Alex Len (21), of Ukraine, dunks as Utah Jazz's Jeff Withey, left, and Trey Lyles (41) watch during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Over the course of a long NBA season players need to break up the monotony of the journey.
Practice, shootaround, game, weight room, recover, travel, hotel room — it’s the same cycle over and over again.
That’s how you end up with ideas like this, from Phoenix Suns center Alex Len:
Suns using a football gun to help Alex Len work on his hands pic.twitter.com/xs6fbAZdy6
— EmpireOfTheSuns (@EmpireOfTheSuns) November 11, 2015
We know why Alex doesn’t play QB pic.twitter.com/bO4HTfc44D — EmpireOfTheSuns (@EmpireOfTheSuns) November 11, 2015
There’s two parts to this — the fun and the useful.
Len bought the Jugs Machine on eBay and purchased the footballs. The first time the native Ukrainian held a football was while he attended college at Maryland. His first time ever watching a full game was when the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Just have fun,” said Len on Wednesday. “Just switch it up a little bit after practice, mess around with it.”
The more serious perspective is how it’s a unique way for Len to improve his hand/eye coordination.
“They say it helps, actually,” said Len. “All the wide receivers that play football, they do that.”
Len came up with the idea watching videos of wide receivers on the internet. He wants to use it as a way to get better with his catching.
Asked about who would be the best football player on the roster, Len mentioned Archie Goodwin’s claims to be a starting quarterback on a state championship team in high school, but also doesn’t believe him.
No proof exists on the internet, but further reporting will be done on this serious issue.
