Phoenix Suns Guard Josh Okogie’s Weaknesses
I must say that Josh Okogie is the addition that I am most excited to see in a Phoenix Suns jersey. He has 4 years of NBA experience under his belt and is known around the league, especially in Minnesota, for his effort.
His former teammate in Minnesota, Tyus Jones, referred to Okogie as “Nonstop” for a reason. There is zero doubt that the Suns acquired another junkyard dog.
T'Wolves rookie Josh Okogie absolutely smothered James Harden ... 😳 pic.twitter.com/fpsznUPK2v
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2019
When looking at Okogie, the first thing that catches your attention is his defense. He has size, a good motor, and is strong enough to effectively guard any position 1-3 at just six-foot-four. However, his shooting leaves a lot to be desired.
Perimeter players in the NBA need to be playable in crucial minutes and Okogie’s inability to shoot led to his benching by Chris Finch. Okogie has never shot above 30 percent on triples for a single season of his NBA career. That is the definition of a red flag.
I do not know if the Suns’ coaching staff can unlock his potential as a shooter; only time will tell. He will get playing opportunities though and will surely bring the effort required to get better. He just needs to put it all together.
I am hopeful that a fresh start with a better team will elevate Okogie’s game to a new level. As I stated earlier, I am most excited to see Okogie this season, the reason being that he has the most potential in my book.
He already has shown elite effort and elite effort is a valuable and rare skill in the NBA. Look at Gary Payton Jr. and his incredible season with the Golden State warriors. He was a spark plug for his team as a defender and is now being handsomely compensated by the Portland Trailblazers.
If Okogie works on his shooting like a madman, he could carve out a niche for himself like Gary Payton Jr., Alex Caruso, or Marcus Smart.