Diante Garrett — #10 PG/SG
Age:
24
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wis.
Birthday: November 3, 1988
Height: 6-4
Weight: 175
Position: PG/SG
Experience: Rookie
Draft: Undrafted
College: Iowa State
2012-13 Salary: $473,604
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Season Outlook: Garrett’s unique style brings an interesting twist to the Suns. While he won’t see any playing time barring major injury troubles, the fourth point guard on Phoenix’s roster should push lottery pick Kendall Marshall with his rangy defense — he has a 6-foot-9 wingspan — and shifty moves on the offensive end.
Although Garrett is on the thin side and probably not able to finish around the bucket, he has the handles and athleticism to penetrate and find opponents on the perimeter. As was the case when he came out of college, Garrett’s jump shot might be his biggest downfall. He never shot above 44 percent at Iowa State, but with the Suns has proven to be confident with his shot, which he is able to get off because of his length and quick release.
There’s a good chance Garrett will move back and fourth between the NBA and the D-League this season. — Kevin Zimmerman
Biography: Diante Garrett didn’t take the easy route to the NBA, but here he is. The 24-year-old Wisconsin native from Vincent High School in Milwaukee and four-year player for the Iowa State Cyclones made the Phoenix Suns’ 15-man roster for the 2012-13 season because of his energy and improvements that even caused some to pencil him in as a second-round pick before the 2011 NBA Draft.
At Iowa State playing for Fred Hoiberg, Garrett’s NBA stock came to life when he was a senior. With more pressure on him to score, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound point guard’s scoring average jumped from 9.2 points per game to 17.3. He averaged 6.1 assists per game as a senior, the best of his four years with the Cyclones. Garrett averaged at least five assists per game during his final three years in Ames, Iowa.
The Suns worked Garrett out two years ago following his senior season, and they were intrigued by the point guard’s size. But Garrett went undrafted and played for KK Zagreb in Croatia and France’s JSF Nanterre in his first professional season before Phoenix invited him onto its Summer League roster in 2012.
With the Suns in Las Vegas that summer, he played 16 minutes a game and averaged 4.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals an outing. In the preseason, Garrett played 31 total minutes and recorded nine points, eight assists and just two turnovers.
Links to ValleyoftheSuns coverage of Garrett:
Phoenix Suns keep Luke Zeller, Diante Garrett to complete roster