Tyler Ennis is learning, developing at a quick pace
Many jaws dropped when the Phoenix Suns drafted Tyler Ennis with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. The element of surprise wasn’t due to an unexpected drop or a high reach, but rather for the position of the player.
Point guard was the last position experts thought they would draft, and that was before they signed point guard Isaiah Thomas away from the Sacramento Kings. The Suns achieved their goal of making a strength from 2013-14 stronger, and I would say that they have the highest amount of depth among any team at the guard spot in the NBA.
It’s easy to say that when the team’s first round pick and maybe their smartest player, according to Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, will more than likely spend the year in the D-League or see scrap minutes. That isn’t an insult to Ennis, but goes to show how strong this team is at the guard position.
“Tyler is a very good player and he knows how to play the game,”Hornacek said. “Out of all the point guards, he is the guy that can just make the calls and calling different things.
“A lot of the guards just call the same stuff. He knows all of the playbook and he really thinks the game.He is going to get stronger, has long arms, can shoot the three and is pretty athletic.”
Ennis realizes that he has work to do if he wants to see the court, and he is just looking for whatever edge he can gain to help him achieve playing time.
“When we were in Summer League I spent my time watching tape of Eric (Bledsoe) and Goran (Dragic) from last year,” Ennis said. “I just have to get an edge whenever I can, so if I can know my plays and the other teams plays then that is what I am going to do.
“Coming off the bench you have to be ready. If you get into the game and mess up a play you may never go back in. So I want to be 100% ready whenever I get onto the floor.”
Hornacek praised his rookie for staying above the learning curve in training camp, where Ennis is growing more comfortable by the day.
“It is going well,” Ennis said of his first NBA training camp. “I think with how the guys have taken in the new guys, it has been a good adjustment on and off the court for me.
“There are definitely a lot of things to learn just how NBA basketball is played, but also how we like to play. Training camp got me ready and in shape. I just have to continue to work on my body and be ready to play.”
The 20-year-old out of Syracuse simply loves the game of basketball and has succeeded at every level. He grew up in a basketball family in Brampton, Ontario, located right outside of Toronto. His older brother Dylan Ennis is a redshirt junior at Villanova and his father is a coach for a club basketball program in Canada.
Ennis attended high school at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey where he won the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year as a junior, averaging 14.6 points and 7.1 assists per night in 2011-12. During his senior season he led the school to a 31-2 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the USA Today poll.
After high school, the Canadian helped Team Canada to a 6th place finish at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship, which was the squad’s best finish. He led the tournament with a scoring average of 20.8 with a game high of 42 points coming against China.
Syracuse was the next stop for Ennis, where he earned All-ACC Second Team as a freshman, scoring double digits in 26 of 34 games. Despite his scoring ability, the point guard’s reputation is for his suburb passing and decision ability. He finished with a 3.60 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranked sixth in the nation.
Ennis has yet to fail at any level, but he knows he has work to do if he is to succeed in the NBA.
“One of the things I want to work on is my body, getting bigger and stronger,” Ennis said. “I think that is going to help when guys try to post me up. On this team we play more than one point guard at a time, so being able to guard shooting guards would come if I get stronger.”
He knows that playing off the ball on offense is something he needs to learn. The ability to shoot is there for him and he also has some experience having played a little bit of the two spot in high school.
Ennis appreciates the fact that his teammates have been so helpful to his development and is soaking up as much knowledge and information as possible.
“They tell me what to do better and what to look for and have welcomed me with open arms,” Ennis said of the help he has received from his fellow guards. “They have each gone through what I am going through as far as being a rookie and playing behind a really good point guard, so I am just following. If I can get to the level they are at then I am going to listen to everything that they say.”
Dragic had to wait his turn behind Steve Nash. Bledsoe had to wait his turn behind Chris Paul. Patience has worked out well for both of them, and very well could be the same for Ennis.
The rookie also has something else in common with Bledsoe and Gerald Green as well. They were all drafted 18th overall in their respective drafts. Patience has been the key to Bledsoe’s and Green’s success. Ennis could follow a similar path.