PHOENIX SUNS

Suns draft PG Kendall Marshall with 13th pick

Jun 29, 2012, 12:48 AM | Updated: 1:46 am

The Phoenix Suns have found their point guard of the
future — and possibly present, depending on what Steve
Nash decides to do.

Phoenix selected point guard Kendall Marshall with the
13th pick in Thursday’s 2012 NBA Draft, addressing the
team’s need for a player at the position.

“We are ecstatic,” Suns GM Lance Blanks said of the pick.
“That was the guy we were targeting all along.”

The 6’4″, 195-pound Marshall played two seasons at the
University of North Carolina, averaging 8.1 points, 2.6
rebounds and 9.8 assists per game while shooting 46% from
the field last year.

He worked out twice for the Suns during the process, and
impressed the Suns each time.

“He represents everything we want to be about as a player
and a person,” Blanks added. “Most importantly, if you
look in his background, in his history, he’s a winner.

“And that’s exactly what we want to be here.”

Marshall has been regarded as the best pure point guard in
the draft. Last season, the 20-year-old tallied 311
assists, setting the all-time ACC record in a single
season. He also recorded 17 games with 10 or more assists,
preferring to distribute rather than score.
Marshall ranked second in the nation in assists per game,
behind only Scott Machado of Iona.

Marshall is coming off a fractured wrist suffered during
the NCAA Tournament, and there are concerns about his
ability to score and defend in the NBA, as well as his
athleticism.

But that doesn’t matter to the Suns.

“I can tell you now, we did not get Kendall for his
athleticism, and Kendall knows that,” Blanks said. “We got
him for his brain, his ability to make people better, who
he is off the court for our locker room.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

12 hours ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

1 day ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

1 day ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

Suns draft PG Kendall Marshall with 13th pick