Jordan Goodwin
The Suns started this season without a true point guard. Aside from Booker, who occasionally handles the facilitating job for the team, players have taken turns being a point guard. Luckily for the team, they have Jordan Goodwin, who's been exceptional as the primary ball-handler for the second unit.
It’s worth noting the game Jordan Goodwin is having.
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) December 6, 2023
In a game with some added pressure, a lot of the role players have not stepped up to the task.
He has.
Goodwin is the player that the Suns need right now. Many have overlooked the acquisition of Goodwin when the front office traded for Beal. The third-year guard out of Saint Louis has provided the right tempo Phoenix needs. Defensively, he has the best defensive net rating in the team. Which means his impact lies more on the defensive end. Head coach Frank Vogel applauded the young guard last month for how he's impacted the team's defense.
""We've been challenging him as a coaching staff to be better on both sides of the ball. He competes defensively but staying within the framework of what we're asking him to do from a scheme standpoint,""Frank Vogel
Offensively, he's helped control the ball. Goodwin is averaging fewer turnovers than Booker and KD, averaging 3.2 and 3.6, respectively. He also has been reliable from the three this season, making 35 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
In the rebounding department, he's been an important player. The 25-year-old guard is averaging more rebounds than assists, a testament to his tenacity on the court. He's averaging 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists.