Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight is entering new ground as he is set to become a sixth man for the first time on his career.
The Kentucky product had started 315 of the 328 games he’d played during his five-year career and with Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker forming the Suns' starting backcourt, he'll be forced into an entirely different role.
“I mean, we’ll see, I can’t predict the future, I don’t how it will be,” Knight told Bryan Gibberman of Arizona Sports after Tuesday’s practice at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “Like I said, I’ll do my best to stay warm, figure it out. You have to be professional about it and remain positive.”
Knight got his first taste of the experience in Phoenix’s first preseason game on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs. He tallied eight points on 4-of-7 shooting with two assists, two rebounds and four turnovers in 17 minutes of action.
“We are going to be ourselves no matter who’s on the court,” said Knight, whose lost his role as a starter to the 19-year-old Booker. “You’re not going to not do a certain thing or do something that you wouldn’t do. No matter who you’re on the court, whether starters or non-starters, I think you’re gonna play your game and be yourself.”
While Knight is slated to see much more than 17 minutes during a regular season game, coming off the bench will provide him the chance to be the first option on offense without worrying about getting the ball to Bledsoe or Booker until they come back in the game.
The 6-foot-3 guard was appreciative of the way head coach Earl Watson handled his decision. Watson had let Knight and the team know of his starting lineup decision before the preseason had started.
“I respect Earl. Earl did an excellent job of letting me know ahead of time,” said Knight. “He’s (a) straightforward, honest guy and I love him for that. That’s the reason I want to play for Earl, ’cause a lot of coaches wouldn’t handle it that way. I appreciate the way Earl handled it and I respect him a lot for that.”
Brandon Knight's minutes likely won't change that much, if at all, as he's likely to see 30 to 35 minutes a night playing at either guard spot. His scoring punch will be much needed as a sixth man of the team.
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