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Phoenix Suns: 4 Reasons Mirza Teletovic Will Be A Fan Favorite

By Gerald Bourguet

May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (33) advances the ball during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 104-90. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (33) advances the ball during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 104-90. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic (33) goes up for the shot against Sacramento Kings forward Derrick Williams (13) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. He’s A Comeback Story

One reason the Mirza Teletovic signing didn’t draw more praise is that a quick look at his stats from 2014-15 indicates that he’s not going to be much of a difference-maker. After averaging 8.5 points on 32.1 percent three-point shooting last year, the term “stretch-4” seemed to be applied a bit too generously to Teletovic.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story here, since Teletovic spent the majority of his season at far less than 100 percent. According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, Teletovic had problems catching his breath and when he upped his conditioning exercises, he began to see two rims when he shot the ball. In that frame of mind, 32.1 percent from downtown doesn’t sound so bad.

As everyone discovered not long after, Teletovic had blood clots in his lungs, which sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season when they were discovered in January. Teletovic returned for three playoff games with the Brooklyn Nets, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.

“I feel more joy,” Teletovic told Coro. “I really enjoy what I do. My longtime coach in Spain used to tell me, ‘You run until your heart comes out and we’ll all go catch it and give it back to you.’ I want to give my heart to this team.”

If Teletovic is able to return to the healthy player we saw in 2013-14, it’ll be hard NOT to get behind a comeback story like that. Everyone loves an underdog, and that goes double for the new guy who’s going to leave it all on the floor after missing 42 games last year.

Next: No. 2

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