Okogie has the hustle. He has the grit. Now, he has the money.
Welcome to the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns Season Preview series, where we embark on a comprehensive journey through the roster. In this series, we’ll break down individual player previews, offering a detailed look at each member of the Suns’ lineup. We’ll recap their performance from last season, highlighting key moments and areas of growth, and analyze how their skills, experience, and roles will contribute to the team’s championship aspirations.
Whether it’s the seasoned veterans or the rising stars, each player has a unique role in what could be a defining season for the franchise. Join us as we explore the potential and challenges that lie ahead for the Suns in their pursuit of basketball glory.
Josh Okogie
Shooting Guard/Small Forward, 6’4”, 213 pounds, 26 years old, 6 years of NBA experience
Josh Okogie. You love him. You’re frustrated by him. When things go wrong, you wish he was in the game. When he’s in the game, you see why he shouldn’t be.
Every team needs high-energy players, and JO certainly brings that. What he lacks in physical deliverables, he makes up for with hustle and grit. Players like Okogie will always have a place on a team, and will always be beloved by the fan base for the traits they display on the hardwood.
His nickname is “Call Me Non-Stop”, and he lives up to that moniker in every sense of the word. If only he could hit the three-ball.
2023-24 Recap
We wondered how Josh Okogie would fit into the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns’ lineups, seeing as James Jones made numerous additions last summer. Keita Bates-Diop, Chimizie Metu, Nassir Little, Grayson Allen, Jordan Goodwin, Yuta Watanabe; this time last year we had no idea what to expect relative to rotations and playing time.
Okogie played plenty last season, posting minutes in 54 of the Suns’ first 60 games. But his averages and contributions were mundane, scoring 4.9 points on 41.7/29.7/74.0 splits. As the season progressed, head coach Frank Vogel slowly moved away from Okogie. And once the trade for Royce O’Neale occurred, his minutes were all but gone.
Okogie appeared in all four of the Suns’ postseason games, though for the first three, it was only after the outcome was already determined. It wasn’t until Game 4 that Vogel gave Josh a meaningful opportunity, and in his 14 minutes on the floor, he contributed 4 points and 3 rebounds.
Contract Details
JO signed a two-year deal this offseason after declining his player option. The contract is for $16 million, and he’s slated to make $8.3 million of that this year.
The contract may seem unusual, but it’s a clear example of James Jones playing the long game. When the time comes for a potential trade, since the Suns can’t stack contracts like last season, moving Okogie for a couple of players that other teams are looking to offload becomes a smart option still in James’ arsenal.
Strengths & Weaknesses
His hustle is what plays in his favor. For someone who is only 6’4”, his offensive rebounding is ridiculous. When you factor in his Offesnive Rebounding Talent and his Offensive Rebounding Crashing Skill, he is one of the best in the league.
Okogie knows how to maneuver among the bigs on the offensive glass. He was third on the team with 1.2 offensive rebounds per game, behind Jusuf Nurkic, Drew Eubanks, and 10 games of Thaddeus Young.
JO was fifth on the team in deflections per game (1.6), fourth in loose balls recovered per game (0.8), and third in charges drawn per game (0.05). He simply does the dirty work, and these intangibles are so very valuable to the team.
But then there is his shooting.
Despite his hustle, if you can’t pose even a minimal threat on offense, you’re bound to lose minutes. Opposing teams can easily double-team offensive threats, knowing that if they leave you open in the corner, the chances of you hitting a shot are slim. It’s a risk defenses are more than willing to take, and it cost Okogie valuable playing time.
One Key Factor
It’s the same factor as it has since he joined the team: shooting.
If Josh Okogie can find a rhythm — the same rhythm he had in January and February of 2023, when he shot 28-of-66 from three (42.4%) — he becomes a game changer. He becomes someone who is worth $8.3 million this season.
We know what we’re going to get from him in nearly every other aspect of the game. It’s his shooting, most notably his performance from beyond the arc, that will determine his success in the NBA.
Prediction Time
I don’t think it’s far-fetched to go out on a limb here: I predict Josh Okogie will be traded by February.
As the season progresses, the Suns will undoubtedly be in evaluation mode, closely analyzing their roster for any weaknesses that could hinder a championship run. With Okogie’s limited offensive impact and expendable role, I believe the front office will see trading him as a key solution to address those deficiencies.
His hustle and defensive prowess may be valued by other teams, making him a prime trade piece when Phoenix looks to fine-tune its lineup for a deep playoff push. And if they can provide the Suns with players who can fill their gaps, it’s an easy trade to execute.
Final Thoughts
I’m a fan of Josh Okogie. I love what he brings to the team. Anyone who focuses on defense, crashes the boards, and does the little things to make a team better is invaluable. These are the heart-and-soul players every team needs.
But is trading him the right move? Do you really trade away your heart and soul? In this case, it’s both yes and no. Moving him could bring in players who are more well-rounded and able to contribute on both ends of the floor. The bigger question is, what impact would this have on the Suns’ identity…a team some might already describe as “boring”? We won’t know until the deal goes down.
Read other 2024-25 Player Previews right here: