Bright Side Night was a success yet again. Dave King would be very proud of the legacy he left behind.
First off, on behalf of Bright Side, we’d like to thank the Phoenix Suns for making this great event possible. A special thank you to the Suns’ Connor Sprague as well for organizing this.
Dave King has built something beyond basketball or the Bright Side community. Sending nearly 2,000 kids to their first NBA game is quite an accomplishment. His legacy in the Suns’ community goes deep, as he touched the lives of many in this community and beyond.
Another big thank you to all of our donors, and especially to those who were able to make it to the interview in person.
The reason I’m writing this in the first place is because of Dave. He DM’d me on Twitter back in January of 2020 asking if I’d be interested in becoming a contributor for Bright Side and the rest is history. You also may remember I was a co-host on the Solar Panel with him for a little over a year. Man, I wish we could get a classic Dave rant about the state of this current team. I miss the guy.
Here is the t-shirt design for the event. Tilt your head to the side because for whatever reason it would not load in upright.
I had the privilege to step in for John and interview Suns legend Rex Chapman. We talked about the current state of the Suns, his favorite basketball memories, Ishbia’s culture, his favorite restaurant in Phoenix, his take on Ryan Dunn’s upside, and much more.
He also (unintentionally) roasted me for my shoes… HOKA is in, alright. More on that later.
Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
When I asked him what his favorite all-time memory as a Sun was, it came as a surprise that he didn’t pick “the shot.”
Instead, Rex said it was a 4-OT classic against the Blazers on the road in 1997. By time, it was the longest game in Suns franchise history. Rex scored 28 points in that one and drilled some clutch shots. It was a back-and-forth classic with plenty of drama and clutch moments.
I haven’t watched that game, but it’s now on my list after how he described it.
Steve Nash was his favorite Suns teammate of all time, but he gave mentions to Jason Kidd, Danny Manning, and Cedric Ceballos as well.
Rex’s overall perspective on this current Suns team:
“It’s hard. I live and die by every whistle. Injuries and availability have been a bugaboo. We’re searching for the right rotation and guys to make it work. I’m sure we will tweak it again as we move forward.”
He also highlighted that when one (or two) of the big three goes down, it puts the complementary role players into different roles. IE) Royce O’Neale goes from being the 5th or 6th option to being the 2nd or 3rd option in those scenarios.
Everyone deals with injuries, but the Suns’ lack of having the big three healthy has had a domino effect.
He went on to compliment the character of the group in the locker room. Said he’s been impressed with how selfless everyone is.
Since it’s a hot topic, I asked about his take on the game’s current status.
“NBA players right now are so much better now than where we were 20-25 years ago.”
He highlighted how strong hand dominant his generation was and how everyone in today’s game can dribble and shoot now. Rex mentioned that stepbacks weren’t a thing in his day.
He said the depth is much improved, and teams fell off after the top 2-3 players in the old days whereas now the top 5, 6, 7 rotation pieces can all play and there isn’t much of a gap. Rex called the overall talent across the league in a much better place now compared to where it was when he played.
When asked highlighted Jaren Jackson Jr. as one of his favorite players to watch in the league, mentioning he played against his dad in the league. Said his ability to defend and shoot while being a great teammate stands out.
On Mat Ishbia’s culture-building within the organization: “The mood in our basketball building is night and day from where it was two years ago.”
Rex mentioned he’s seen it all and been a part of the organization for all three owners; Jerry, Rob, and Mat.
“He has done an unbelievable job, and he hires extremely qualified people. He knows how to run a successful company, and not only that, but all of these people are good with people.”
When asked about his favorite restaurant in Phoenix his pick was Richardsons. A strong choice.
He mentioned his favorite shoes are Nike Dunks and Airforces. He said, “I guess I’m getting old because I recently purchased a pair of HOKAS.” Without realizing I was indeed rocking a pair of grey HOKAS… look, they are comfortable. Sue me.
Rex also took questions from the top donors and mentioned how vital the G-League affiliate is for the development of players along with the top-notch new facility downtown.
He also spoke about how high he was on Ryan Dunn and said he reminds him of Shawn Marion — not as a direct comparison, but from what he brings to the table defensively and as an athlete.
“He can be really good. I’m hesitant to say Shawn Marion — but he’s that type of athlete he is. His tenacity is really what sets him apart.”
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
That about covers it. Rex gave us some excellent insight across the board on his life, the current Suns, and the overall culture the team is working towards building in Phoenix.
Here’s to another Suns win on Bright Side Night. Long live Dave King.