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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/05f95bedad7ede47db798225cf52e9f50588aeb1444f93d777a9fe1509d3a1a7.jpg)
Dragan Bender
Minutes per game
For sophomore Suns, and especially for Dragan Bender, it’s pretty easy to assume that every stat will be a career-high this coming season – especially like in Bender’s case last year’s were generally bottom of the barrel low.
So while it’s easy to say he’ll reach a career-high in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks, yadda, yadda, yadda, the one stat that I want to see a career-high in above all others is minutes.
Averaging only 13.3 per game last season, it is important that Bender is productive enough to remain an important part of the team’s rotation and push his minutes up towards 20 per game. This will then of course mean that all other stats will reach career-highs, which means he is on his way to fulfilling the potential that the Suns believed he had when selecting him fourth overall in 2016.