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Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. takes a lot of pride in his defense and he wants to see some results this upcoming season. Per Evan Sidery of Bright Side of the Sun, Oubre reportedly has his sights set on winning Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot of the All-Defense Team.
“I’m a defensive-minded first player,” Oubre said. “I take pride in being a two-way athlete. Just not somebody who is a one-dimensional player. So, defense is my first bread and butter that got me where I am today. … I’m just going to continue to hone in on that and try to be the best defender I can. My goal is definitely first-team All-Defense multiple times in my career, Defensive Player Of The Year, stuff like that.”
This is great to hear if you're a Suns fan.
Oubre definitely has a lot of upside on both ends of the floor. His ability to knock down the three and put the ball on the floor make him a solid option on offense. Moreover, his length and great defensive instincts make him a nightmare match-up defensively.
Oubre had a breakout campaign when he was traded to Phoenix last season. The 23-year old forward saw increased opportunity with the Suns, something he was never really able to get with his former team, the Washington Wizards.
He played 40 of his 69 games with the Suns. In his stint with Phoenix, Oubre averaged career-highs across the board. He posted all-around numbers of 16.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.0 BPG, and shot 45.3 percent from the field, also a career-best.
The Suns locked up the two-way player to a two-year $30-million deal this past summer. With that hefty price tag, Phoenix has made it clear that Oubre will be part of their future for the foreseeable future.
