It is just 13 games into the new NBA season, but the injury bug has already hit the Phoenix Suns. One player who has benefitted from the absences of his teammates is Josh Okogie. The 26-year-old dealt with an injury of his own to start the campaign but is now playing an extended role. Kevin Durant is the biggest missing piece as he deals with a left calf strain, but he has since been joined on the sidelines by Bradley Beal, who is suffering from a similar injury. Jusuf Nurkic has missed a couple of games with an ankle sprain, whilst Grayson Allen has also sat out with a hamstring issue.
Josh Okogie Emerges as Scoring Threat amid Suns Injury Woes
Taking Advantage Of Absences
The Suns started the season 8-1, but without Durant, they have lost three of their last four. The injuries are piling up, with the return dates for him and Beal unclear. This has allowed other players to step up and make key contributions, but a difficult schedule has led to some tough losses. Their one victory in this stretch came against the Utah Jazz, though they fell in a pair of defeats to the Sacramento Kings and another to the OKC Thunder.
Mike Budenholzer has had to be creative with his lineups, with plenty of pressure on Devin Booker to deliver as the sole star. Despite the Suns’ great start, the guard has struggled and produced some uncharacteristic performances. Budenholzer has turned to other players in the rotation, with increased minutes for Okogie in particular.
Okogie had been on the fringes of the rotation with Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, and Allen ahead of him in the pecking order. The injuries to Durant and now Beal have seen different combinations used, including a starting lineup spot for the former Minnesota Timberwolves player. The absence of Allen has opened up a further lane. He has certainly taken advantage of this unlikely opportunity, averaging 11.4 points per game. In the last two games, he has scored 25 and 15 respectively, which coincides with the games Beal has missed. He was the team’s leading scorer in both.
Improved Three-Point Shooting
Throughout his career, Okogie has been a notoriously poor three-point shooter. He has only finished with a three-point percentage above 30% twice, though they did come in his first two seasons with the Suns.
However, he has seen a huge improvement this season, albeit in a small sample size. In five games he is shooting 6-14 from three which is 42.9%. This includes a 3-4 night during his 25-point outing at the Kings. Should this carry on, it will be a welcome sight for a team actively looking to increase their three-point volume. This season they are seventh in three-point attempts with 40.8 per game, a huge increase from last year in which they attempted 32.6. This ranked 25th in the league.
Of course, Okogie’s main purpose in the lineup is to be a defender. He is an excellent defensive player, amongst the very best on a roster which lacks in that department. If he can continue to be an important offensive asset alongside his defensive responsibilities, it gives Budenholzer some interesting decisions going forward. Dunn, a rookie, has impressed greatly so far, and Allen is one of the best threats from deep in the league. O’Neale has also had a hot start to the year. Once Durant and Beal return, there will not be enough minutes for each player. As it stands, Okogie will likely remain the odd man out, but he is certainly making a case for himself during this stretch.
