Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks not bowing down to LeBron
Dillon Brooks discusses his on-going back-and-forth with LeBron, including their game vs. Lakers on Dec. 1.
It took nine games for the Phoenix Suns‘ G League team, Valley Suns, to get its first victory, 124-119, over the Golden State Warriors’ affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors at home on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
After the game, The Valley Suns’ first-year coach Paul Jesperson took just five steps into the locker before his players gave him a celebratory water spray and the game ball after finally getting in the win column.
“They were throwing water everywhere at Coach PJ,” Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming said during their practice Thursday. “They threw a bottle at his head, I think, by accident, but they were wildin’ in there. It got crazy. I stayed in the corner.”
Suns rookies Khaman Maluach and Fleming, dominated with double-doubles in their third G League assignment. The former Duke one-and-done big Maluach and St. Joseph’s product Fleming tied for the game-high 27 points each, plus added 15 and 13 rebounds, respectively.
Maluach and Fleming both have spent time with the Phoenix Suns but have periodically been sent to the G League team, as their time has been limited with the NBA club.
Maluach, nicknamed “ManMan” by his teammates, was efficient on both ends of the floor. He shot a stellar 10-of-14, swatted a game-high four blocks and committed just one turnover in 35 minutes. He was acquired by the Suns as the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft as part of the Kevin Durant trade with Houston.
“I think that we’ve challenged ManMan to be up in pick and rolls, keeping everything up front and have his presence felt as ball handlers come off of them,” Jesperson said after the game. “He answered what we’ve asked him to do.”
The 6-foot-9 Fleming, who was drafted at No. 31 overall earlier this year and traded from Minnesota to Phoenix as part of a draft-day deal, shot 11-of-18, including four 3s, plus snared three steals on the other end of the floor in 43 minutes.
“They all instill confidence in me and tell me to make sure I’m shooting the ball,” Fleming said about his Suns teammates. “Make sure I’m making the right plays and doing everything because that’s my time going down there to the G is like for development and obviously you want to win games.”
The Suns’ other rookie and two-way shooting guard, Koby Brea, contributed 14 points in the Valley Suns’ win. Valley Suns’ other top player against Santa Cruz was guard Damion Baugh, who put up 26 points with game-highs eight assists and four steals.
Santa Cruz’s top players were starters L.J. Cryer, (27 points), Jack Clark (24 points, game-high six 3s made) and Marques Bolden (22 points) in their loss.