Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight wants to see the team get back into playoff contention, and it looks like he’s willing to shift into a sixth man role in order to make that happen.
At Suns training camp on Tuesday, Knight was asked about the possibility of coming off the bench for the Suns in 2016-17.
“I’m here to work hard, be a great teammate, do what I’ve always been as a player,” the former No. 8 overall pick replied, per Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. “That’s to work hard and try to win games. I’m happy to be healthy. I’m happy for a great season. I’m happy to be here.
“As long as we’re winning and as long as that’s our common goal, which it is, that’s the best thing,” Knight concluded.
The 24-year-old averaged 19.6 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and 5.1 assists per game last season before going down with a sports hernia injury. Knight has started 59 of the 63 games he has played so far for Phoenix, along with 315 of 328 for his five-year NBA career as a whole.
Knight has spent virtually his entire Suns tenure sharing the backcourt with another similarly ball-dominant guard in Eric Bledsoe. But with Bledsoe looking like he’ll be healthy in time for the start of the year and youngster Devin Booker better at playing off the ball, Knight’s high-usage play style may actually be best suited in a second unit capacity for Phoenix.
The Suns have some soul-searching to do with their guard rotation after also drafting Tyler Ulis and bringing back Leandro Barbosa over the summer. At least they have Knight’s flexibility and apparent willingness to take on whatever role best facilitates winning basketball working in their favor.
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