Suns center Aron Baynes, as explained by Bruce Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town
By Ian Milliman
There is a new Santa in the Valley and he plays center for the Phoenix Suns. His name is Aron Baynes, and you better watch out or you might run into one of his picks. That’s the opposite of jolly.
Maybe it’s the bushy red beard, or maybe it’s his larger than life stature, but Aron Baynes seems to be the perfect avatar for a Phoenix Suns Santa Claus.
This is a warning. Consider yourself warned.
Oh, you better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Not the jolly old fat man, who’s belly shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly. No. Not this Santa. This is Santa the enforcer.
He’s making a list
He’s checking it twice
He’s gonna find out
Who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
But he’s not all stern and serious, this Aron Baynes. He’s capable of smiling. In fact, he seems to enjoy putting smiles on the faces of Suns fans as we watch him out there giving up his body for the good of the team. He takes joy, in not his success, but the team’s. Like Springsteen turning the stage to Big Clarence for his saxophone solo, Baynes is comfortable with others having the spotlight.
Baynes plays the game with a harsh, workman-like joy, just as Springsteen sings it. It’s not flashy, or in-your-face. Springsteen’s not trying to hit every note on the scale and Baynes is not trying to make the spectacular play.
On face value, his game might look plain, simple even. But there’s nuance out there on the court and up there on the stage. Baynes is trying to make only the right plays just as Springsteen is trying to hit only the right notes, scanning the court…watching.
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So you better be good for goodness sake
Always looking to improve on his game, Baynes came into this season ready to unleash a new weapon on unsuspecting opponents–the 3-bomb. In a time when unicorns roam the courts, and the need to shift and stretch opposing defenses is paramount, Baynes came out bombing from beyond the arc.
He’s taking over four 3-pointers a game now. That’s over three per game more than he’s ever taken before. Even better, he’s hitting on 44% of those shots, and averaging close to 15 points a game. That is almost 10 more than his career average. He’s become Splash Mountain, not only punishing teams on the defensive end, but now on the offensive end as well.
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Next. Devin Booker as explained by Sinatra's Jingle Bells. dark
That’s right, Santa Claus is coming…but opposing teams aren’t excited about it.