PHOENIX SUNS

Dudley: Steve Nash is more valuable than Kobe Bryant

Apr 5, 2011, 3:22 PM | Updated: 5:49 pm

Anyone who thinks the Phoenix Suns don’t need Steve Nash has obviously watched the last two games, and a majority of the season, with their eyes closed. For most people the question isn’t if they need him but just how important he is to the franchise.

If you ask team president Lon Babby he’ll tell you he’s the celestial bodies of the Suns solar system. If you ask forward Jared Dudley he’ll take it one step further and tell you he’s more important than one of the league’s biggest stars.

“Steve Nash is more valuable to our team, and I’m honestly saying this, than a Kobe Bryant is to the Lakers,” he told Sports 620 KTAR’s Doug and Wolf. “With the triangle they still have [Pau] Gasol who you run it through. We don’t have that person to run it through. When he’s not going to be there, the scoreboard might not look like we’re playing hard but we were out there as a team trying to grind it out. It’s just difficult.”

More important than Kobe? Those are strong words for a NBA player to say about anyone let alone about a 37-year-old guard who’s team failed to make the playoffs.

Although the statement seems brash, the statistics back up Dudley’s assertion.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minneso...

Kellan Olson

What Suns have to replicate, fix to avoid 3-0 hole vs. T-Wolves

The formula for the Phoenix Suns to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves is there. The doubt is in their ability to achieve that.

6 hours ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before the start of game one of the Western Conferenc...

Kellan Olson

Kevin Durant preaches execution over ‘rah-rah speeches’ for Suns

Kevin Durant did not choose to emphasize communication much as a key for the Suns to stay consistent and instead focused on execution.

20 hours ago

Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the second half in game one of the We...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ Grayson Allen questionable after re-injuring ankle vs. T-Wolves

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen is questionable for Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday after re-injuring his ankle.

21 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is Kyler Murray in the Danger Zone with Marvin Harrison Jr.?

With there being widespread speculation that the Arizona Cardinals will take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the 4th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wolf & Luke wonder if he would be the right piece to help propel quarterback Kyler Murray to an explosive season.

23 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Suns’ superteam is failing ‘spectacularly’

With the Phoenix Suns in a 2-0 hole to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first round playoff series, Dan Bickley wonders if the team can even the series up and take it back to Minnesota.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Do the Phoenix Suns have any fight left?

Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Subscribe to the Arizona Sports daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/3QWcj1x Read articles from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/ Download the Arizona Sports app: https://arizonasports.com/the-arizona-sports-98-7-fm-app/ Sign up for texts from Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/text-alerts/ Listen live to Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/listen-live/ Follow the team: https://bit.ly/3R0PIAJ ARIZONA SPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaSports/ X: https://x.com/azsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arizonasports987 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizsports/ ARIZONA SPORTS PODCASTS: https://arizonasports.com/category/podcasts/

2 days ago

Dudley: Steve Nash is more valuable than Kobe Bryant