Valley of the Suns
Fansided

The 3 most underrated players on the Phoenix Suns’ roster

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Drew Eubanks #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers dunks the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of a game at the Amway Center on March 05, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 05: Drew Eubanks #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers dunks the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of a game at the Amway Center on March 05, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 02: Drew Eubanks of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates his three-point basket. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 02: Drew Eubanks of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates his three-point basket. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

2. Drew Eubanks

It would be a stretch to say new backup big man Drew Eubanks is going to change everything for the Suns, but he joins for 2023-24 as an underrated big man in the league. Career averages of 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds sure don’t look like much.

But this is the player that the Suns’ front office felt could take the minutes of fan favorite from last season, Jock Landale. That is no easy task given the levels of energy and hustle we saw from the Australian, but Eubanks can do all of that and more.

He’s a career 34.1 percent 3-point shooter, and in four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, that number was an even healthier 36.4 percent. Making shots from deep is not why the 26-year-old has been signed, although it is a nice boost to have that Eubanks can make a shot or two while playing with the Suns’ superstars.

That ability to stretch the court is something Ayton for example cannot do. There is a stretch from the 2021-22 season though, that gives us a glimpse into his true potential and mentality. Having been traded from the Spurs to the Toronto Raptors and subsequently been waived, Eubanks initially signed a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

That snowballed into 22 games, all starts, in which Eubanks put up 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes of action. To be clear, he will not see those sort of minutes unless an injury or two occurs, and that is not what the Suns will want to happen. But to go from having no job to fighting his way to a one year deal with the Trail Blazers in 2022-23, shows us exactly who Eubanks is.

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