Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough: Alex Len showing glimpses of his future potential
Nov 6, 2014, 3:27 AM | Updated: 3:27 am
Alex Len’s NBA career did not get off to the greatest of starts last season.
Hindered by a partial stress fracture in his left ankle before the 2013 NBA Draft, Len needed his second ankle surgery in three months after the Phoenix Suns selected him fifth overall.
Len played no Summer League games in his rookie campaign, and just 31:09 during the 2013 portion of the 2013-14 season. He finished the season averaging 8.2 minutes per game in 42 games.
The start to this season has been far more kind for the 21-year-old center.
Suns GM Ryan McDonough told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday that fans are, “starting to see what he can be, and hopefully starting to see glimpses of what he will be in the future.”
His skill set is what sets him apart from other NBA big men.
“He’s got pretty unique length combined with athleticism,” McDonough said. “There aren’t many 7-foot-1 guys that can slide like that laterally to kind of corral guards on the perimeter.”
Len leads all Suns in blocks this season, despite playing the seventh-most minutes on the team.
“He’s doing a really nice job of not only blocking shots — I think he gets about 2.5 blocks per game for us and he’s playing a little over 20 minutes – but he really alters a lot of shots,” McDonough said.
The Ukraine native has excelled at rebounding the ball as well. His 10-point, 11-rebound game against the San Antonio Spurs in which he played more than 31 minutes may be the best game of his young career.
The Suns hope Len can continue to dominate the boards as he enters his prime.
“With his length and his defensive instincts and timing, he can really be a big factor for us and a presence protecting the rim, getting defensive rebounds and outletting the ball to the guards and starting the fast break,” McDonough said.
“As he’s gotten stronger, he’s more equipped to bang now down low — he’s not getting overpowered in the post like he was last year.”
McDonough stressed that it is important to remember that Len is still a young guy — the age of many college students. He will continue to improve with time.
Should Len continue to steadily progress, the Suns may have found their big man of the future.
