Suns Rookies and Sophomores Review Weeks 16-17

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 16: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 16, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 16: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 16, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Dragan Bender

OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors on February 12, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Dragan Bender #35 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors on February 12, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

51-48-88 shooting. 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 28.4 minutes.

After being hyped by his teammates and being talked so many times about increasing his confidence, Dragan is breathing some fire lately. It’s like that little fire when the baby dragon is still learning how to make it but it’s still thrilling. In his first five games of February he lit it up with a 54-52-88 shooting line along with 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. In a start against Denver, he outplayed big man Nikola Jokic shooting 60% from the field, making three treys and posting 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. That’s what we want to see. He can do it. He just needs to realize his potential.