Midseason report card with second half expectations

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 14: Teammates Elfrid Payton
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 14: Teammates Elfrid Payton
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Jared Dudley

HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 28: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets on January 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 28: Jared Dudley #3 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets on January 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Like Tyson Chandler, Jared Dudley’s role on this roster is to be a veteran bench player who’s job isn’t to play a lot, but instead to guide the younglings as a quasi player/coach, an example of not only how to play the game, but how to practice, how to be a team player, and how to be a leading member of the community.

Dudley has fulfilled this job requirement admirably, and while his statistics are at or near career-lows, he is doing his job as requested, and without hesitation.

He is also a great defender of his teammates and their shared franchise, as noted in his twitter spat with New York’s Enus Kantor.

Grade: A