Royce O’Neale: The unsung hero for the Phoenix Suns

It’s time to show some love to Royce O’Neale.

The Phoenix Suns acquired Royce O’Neale from the Brooklyn Nets in a 3-team last season for three 2nd round picks and a pick swap. It was never just a rental.

He quickly made a positive impression in Phoenix during his time here and earned a well-deserved four-year, $44 million extension.

That extension was a no-brainer for Phoenix, as it allowed them to retain a rotation piece that they would otherwise not be able to afford in the open market. The early returns have been great for the Suns, with O’Neale providing toughness and relentless energy.

Writing this after a game where he went 1 for 6 from the field is a perfect example of his impact and value. Despite the rough shooting, he provided valuable minutes and had some terrific defensive possessions. He posted 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal in 23 minutes.

Early Impact

O’Neale is among the NBA leaders in plus-minus at +64 through six games. That statistic is absurd regardless of how small the sample size is. He has been a major reason the Suns got off to this 5-1 start. He is averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 steals in 25.8 minutes per game. His shooting splits are 46/42/100.

It’s not just the numbers he brings to the table, but his intensity and toughness. The defense has been noticeably impactful. Phoenix is fifth in the NBA in defensive rating at 109.1, and the Suns’ defensive wings are a major reason why.

They’ve had some extended periods of excellent defense, playing connected as a team and forcing tough, contested shots. Sure, they’ve had their collapses as well on that end, but you won’t find many of them coming with Royce O’Neale on the court.

He guards whoever he is asked, he dives for loose balls, he boxes out, and he consistently plays hard, even when the shot isn’t falling. That is the type of energy the Suns need out of their wing/forward group.

Royce O’Neale and Ryan Dunn are the Suns’ secret weapons, as our John Voita dove into. The duo has wreaked havoc with their anticipation and instincts on the defensive end. When the three ball is falling (for either of them) it’s a bonus with the rest of what they provide on a nightly basis. 0 and 00.

His career-high of 21 points the other night was impressive for two reasons. First, his play on the court, but second, the fact that he has not scored more than 20 in his career. He had hit the 20-point mark exactly five times (twice with the Suns) in his career. He finally broke through in a thrilling comeback win.

Entering the season, there were concerns about the Suns’ wing/forward depth outside of Kevin Durant. O’Neale and Dunn are proving to be rotation pieces who can impact winning basketball. They have quickly turned a question mark into a… dare I say, strength?

Devin Booker has played the three a lot and will continue to with how loaded they are at the guard position. Phoenix going small to close games or for extended stretches has mostly gone well, but last night’s 4th quarter collapse was an exception.

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

One thing is clear, Royce O’Neale is a dog and the Suns will rely on him to bring that same energy and effort all season long.