Jordan McRae makes most of opportunity in NBA debut
Jan 29, 2016, 7:59 PM | Updated: Jan 30, 2016, 10:51 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Jordan McRae (52) is fouled while shooting against New York Knicks forward Lance Thomas (42) and forward Carmelo Anthony during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
With Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Ronnie Price all injured, there are plenty of minutes available at the point guard position for the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns have used three shooting guards at the position in the past week, with Archie Goodwin, Sonny Weems and Devin Booker all seeing time there.
That opened up some playing time for new addition Jordan McRae, who got some looks at running the offense and did not disappoint in his NBA debut Friday in the Suns’ 102-84 loss to the New York Knicks.
The rookie scored 12 points and had four assists in the loss.
McRae looked comfortable reading the defense while attacking the basket and was able to find the open man. He started his NBA career in the first quarter with three straight assists and a steal.
Known as the “Orange Mamba” at Tennessee, McRae has a scoring pedigree and that showed with the way he beat his initial defender. The Suns continued to run ball screens for McRae when he ran the offense, which allowed him to establish a midrange game and find teammates when he got in the key.
McRae, a four-year player at Tennessee and the 58th selection in the 2014 draft, was signed by the Suns to a 10-day contract after scoring a D-League record 61 points earlier this week.
The shooting guard got an extended look in the game, totaling 25 minutes and spending time on the floor with starting point guard Archie Goodwin late in the second half.
With Knight due to return from a groin injury in the near future and Goodwin playing well in his absence, it’s unlikely for McRae to play this many minutes on a consistent basis. The rookie made an impact, however, something a lot of players on a 10-day contract fail to do.
