2. Keita Bates-Diop
Phoenix had a decent signing this summer after they brought Keita Bates-Diop to the squad. While there are those who could be clueless as to who he is, there’s no need to worry as he’s spent a good amount of time in the league already.
KBD spent the last three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, where he slowly developed into a reliable wing player. In his first season with the Spurs, he averaged 2.6 points and made 29.4 percent of his shots from deep. His point production slowly increased, together with his efficiency from beyond the arc.
“I feel very comfortable with it. It’s a progression.”
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) October 6, 2023
Keita Bates-Diop talked about his length setting him apart on the defensive end like Josh Okogie’s speed does, so I followed up and asked how comfortable he is guarding the point-of-attack: pic.twitter.com/PrXTV0Hkd7
Last season, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists while making 39.4 percent of his threes. Bates-Diop also became one of the best perimeter defenders, thanks to his size and strength. His role with the Spurs wasn’t major, however, many believe that losing him was the team’s biggest loss of the offseason.
Looking at it, he could be one of the Suns’ most reliable role players. KBD doesn’t try to do too much, which is what the team needs. Phoenix needs players who know their role and execute it to perfection.