Kobe Sanders was a 5-8 high school freshman in California just hoping to go to college.
The NBA wasn’t even a thought.
Sanders now stands 6-9 (measured 6-7 without shoes at the NBA Combine) and has been on an NBA pre-draft workout tour, showing teams, including Phoenix, he’s good enough to play in the league.
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“It’s been a busy time,” Sanders said. “It’s fun. Probably traveled to more states this last three weeks than I have in my whole life. It’s a fun time and just being able to enjoy every moment, meeting all my peers. People you go up against and you get to chat it up in the locker room and share experiences. Obviously meeting all the front offices and the coaches. It’s a great experience. You got to take every day as a blessing.”
Sanders played his fifth and final season at Nevada after spending his first four at Cal Poly. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 2024-25.
Feb 4, 2025; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack guard Kobe Sanders (8) gestures in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
He’s visited 11 teams to date with the Golden State Warriors being the latest Thursday, June 12.
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A reporter challenged him to name the previous 10.
“You’re asking a lot now,” a laughing Sanders said.
The Phoenix Suns were on the list, which also included the Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers.
Sanders has a connection with NBA twins Cody Martin and Caleb Martin as the twins played at Nevada. Cody Martin finished the 2024-25 season with the Suns as Phoenix acquired him in a deal before the 2025 trade deadline that sent Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte.
Caleb Martin changed teams as well. He began this season with the Philadelphia 76ers, which dealt him to the Dallas Mavericks before the trade deadline. Sanders believes he has skills that are comparable to the Martin twins and Mavs guard Max Christie.
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“Versatile defender, always makes the right reads,” Sanders said about Christie.
And to think, Sanders was only 5-8 as a high school freshman just hoping to attend college.
“I was blessed to have people by my side who always believed in me,” Sanders said. “My trainer told me my junior year in high school I’m going to play in the NBA. It’s good hearing that, but you don’t always believe that. Just putting all the work in, the time in, believing in myself.”
Sanders said he likes watching 2024-25 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and fellow All-NBA teammate, Jalen Williams.
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“Bigger guards, being able to get to that mid-range area,” Sanders said. “Being able to make the right play, use angles. Not the quickest guys, but good at using angles and getting downhill are guys I like to watch and take a little thing from.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns draft prospect likes watching NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander