While one may wonder what the Phoenix Suns were thinking having Larry Fitzgerald sit in on GM meetings, the team might be onto something.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver had Arizona Cardinals All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald sit in on interviews when discussing a senior advising role with prospective job candidates.
About a month ago, per Arizona Sports, Fitzgerald was seen at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with many members of the Suns upper management, “scouting” top draft prospect Ja Morant.
These reports have brought a lot of negative remarks on social media, which is not a strange occurrence when talking about any news or rumors that come up about the team. People will talk, people will joke and at first glance it doesn’t make any sense for a current NFL player to have any part in this NBA team’s duties.
However, Michael David Smith with NBC Sports worded it best.
"Arizona’s most respected pro athlete is helping a struggling local team get back on track."
Fitzgerald and Sarver are known to be friends and this idea might just be crazy enough to work. Every one knows the owner makes some dumb decisions and is too hands on to really let certain members of the team do what they need to do.
You have heard of that friend that tags along to make sure you don’t do something stupid or to step in when you say something that shouldn’t have come out of your mouth, right? This is usually that same friend that has your back and says good things about you when bad things are swirling around. Maybe that’s part of Larry’s job. Maybe he’s helping Robert’s reputation and it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
"“He’s drastically misunderstood. I love Mr. Sarver,” Fitzgerald said in an Arizona sports radio interview last year. “I spent a lot of time with him. I can’t think of anybody who I trust more than him. He’s one of those guys, he’ll look you in your eye, he’ll shake your hand. He would go out of his way to help anybody he knows. Once you know him . . . it’s easy to love him.”"
Who really knows this side of Sarver? It’s a good thing to hear and there are a lot worse things that could happen than one of the most respected sports players in Arizona history trying to do what he can to help the team get back to being a loved and respected winning franchise.
Any thing that Fitzgerald can do to help this team is welcome. Yes, him having the presence that is being reported is weirdly interesting, but it makes fans hopeful. He’s a big time Suns fan and loves basketball. He’s well revered, loyal and represents this state with pride.
Is there any one else you can really think of that could sell a player on wanting to have a career in Phoenix than Larry Legend? There’s a reason why he’s stayed and he can help recruit players to the valley.
Dan Bickley said it very well in his recent article on Arizona Sports.
"So maybe Fitzgerald can do us all a favor, using his polished image and wonderful reputation to help make Phoenix a destination city once again."
The Phoenix Suns are in need of a lot of help and there isn’t a single thing wrong with having Fitzgerald do whatever he can to assist. This coming summer is a big one and the team needs to turn it around.
Maybe the presence he has that’s being ridiculed like it is right now ends up having a great effect in making the Suns special again. How much more appreciated and loved would Fitz be in AZ if he is a big factor in helping make the Suns a winner again?