Valley of the Suns
Fansided

One stat for every Sun to average a career-high in 2017-18

By Adam Maynes

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 11: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Derrick Jones Jr.

PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 1: Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 1, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 1: Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 1, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Minutes per game

This one too is almost too easy, but is a must for the team this season. Derrick Jones Jr. will set a career-high in minutes played per game, and hopefully  in games played as well.

Obviously with Brandon Knight tearing his ACL forcing him to miss the entire season, minutes were going to open up for Jones Jr. at a clip that he likely would never have had not Knight gone down. But then couple that with Reed’s injury and the fact that he will probably be out beyond Christmas, and Jones Jr. will have to carry a much heavier burden at shooting guard than anyone could have ever imagined.

The beautiful part about this is that he is a fan favorite so those unfortunate injuries will come with the pleasant side effect of seeing more of Jones Jr. and his high-flying acrobatics. But, if he can improve his overall offensive game, especially his outside shooting which actually weighed down his 56.2% field goal percentage last season, he will earn his minutes without hesitation, and then some.

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