They deserve more recognition than they are given, and that’s for sure.
This season has been a wild ride for the Phoenix Suns. Almost everyone on this roster has been injured, if not multiple times, which has limited the team’s ability to gain cohesion and garner a winning streak lately. This has brewed some frustration from the fans, as they sit at a record of 15-17 heading into 2025. While seeing all this unfold in front of our eyes, certain players have been given restricted play time when the role they present is needed for this team.
Monte Morris Introduction to Phoenix
The Suns needed point guard help last season and addressed it this offseason by bringing in two of the best in assist/turnover ratio, something the Suns lacked the previous year. Tyus Jones and Monte Morris were signed to one-year deals and have been impactful this year. Tyus has been starting and getting most of the run, which is expected, but Monte has also been solid in his limited play.
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Morris is averaging 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on shooting 41.9% from the field for the Suns. Even though those numbers do not scream out important, he plays a vital role in this secondary unit. Monte is that facilitator who can truly set up the offense and find key shooters on the wings like Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie, Ryan Dunn, or Royce O’Neale. He is also a scrappy defender who will always fight for the steal and try to keep the play alive.
Coach Mike Budenholzer has rewarded Morris by seeing his impact and giving him more minutes each month throughout the year. This has led to Monte becoming more acclimated into the lineup and producing better results. Even though his shooting numbers were down in December compared to the previous two, he averages the same points but with better averages in rebounds and assists. His averages went up from 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in November to 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just four more minutes of play.
Yes, Monte has gotten more runs with the Suns battling injuries, but this play has been impactful. If he continues to fight with the second unit, he could keep the 15-20 minutes he deserves per night.
Josh Okogie’s Impact
One of the Suns’ better two-way players this year was one of the last they signed. Josh Okogie was brought back late into free agency by the Suns on a two-year deal, and man, are they lucky that he is back. Okogie has had one of his best seasons this year, and Phoenix needs any bright light they can get.
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Okogie has been a sharpshooter this year for the Suns, as his shooting percentages are insane compared to his career numbers. Josh is shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.5% from three. That is nearly 10% in FG shooting and over 10 percent in three-point shooting compared to his career. He is still playing that fantastic defense that we all know him for. His stats are 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
Josh has only been present in games for the Suns in November and December. In those months, we saw him get his season high of 25 in November vs. the Sacramento Kings. In this game, Okogie fully showcased his shooting potential on this team as he shot 75% from three. Not only that, though, he has hit his career high in offensive rebounds twice this season with 6. Josh’s role, in my eyes, is determined by the hustle he gives, and we see that at 100% every night he plays.
The Final Scoop
Ultimately, I believe that both Monte and Josh are more impactful for this team than many lead on. They may not average the most points or make the flashiest plays, but they do all the dirty work. Both are fighting not only for playing time but against second units across the league. With limited time to prove their role, they have showcased how truly impactful they are for this team and why they are needed if the Suns want to compete with this roster.