Suns G Ty Jerome recalled to Phoenix after game with NAZ
Mar 5, 2020, 10:47 AM
Ty Jerome #10 of the Phoenix Suns watches on before their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on December 02, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Ty Jerome will rejoin the Phoenix Suns on Thursday after a one-game assignment with the G League’s Northern Arizona Suns.
The rookie guard played Wednesday in a 138-131 loss to the Iowa Wolves in Prescott Valley, Ariz., scoring 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting. Jerome added nine assists and four steals.
The outing marked his third game with Northern Arizona, and in those he’s averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Phoenix sent the 2019 NBA Draft’s 24th overall pick to the G League as head coach Monty Williams has recently committed to second-year point guards Elie Okobo and Jevon Carter as rotation pieces. Behind them, Jerome has averaged 8.6 minutes per game this month.
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The 22-year-old is averaging 3.6 points, 1.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game with Phoenix. While an ankle injury set him back to start the year, he’s struggled to gain a footing in 25 NBA outings — be it athletic limitations or the lack of consistent playing time.
Jerome, touted for his shooting coming out of Virginia, is hitting just 27.5% from three-point range and 35.4% overall for the Suns. Playing both as the lead guard and off the ball, he’s struggled to create his own opportunities off the dribble but has flashed his vision making plays for others.
Even Wednesday in the G League, the speed of the game caught up to him.
Once, already squared up against a defender, he attempted a three-pointer that was blocked from a standstill. Later, Jerome shook his own man on a pick-and-roll but on a scoop layup attempt was swatted from behind. Four blocks were credited against him.
The Suns, however, need healthy bodies for their next game Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Starting guards Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio played over 35 minutes each on Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors, and Okobo (14) and Carter (22) were the only guards used off the bench.
The rotation could be even more stressed with center Deandre Ayton questionable to play with an ankle injury.
