Brandon Knight came off the bench for the Phoenix Suns in Monday's preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. In 17 minutes, he scored eight points on 3-for-7 shooting, with two rebounds, two assists, a steal and four turnovers. This was his first experience as the Suns' sixth man, and on Tuesday, he told reporters he'd try to make the best of his new role under coach Earl Watson.
From Arizona Sports 98.7's Bryan Gibberman:
"I mean, we'll see, I can't predict the future, I don't how it will be," said Knight 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."
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"We are going to be ourselves no matter who's on the court," explained Knight, whose starting role was given to second-year guard Devin 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."
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"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."
Just two seasons ago, Knight was considered a fringe All-Star with the Milwaukee Bucks. In the summer of 2015, he signed a five-year, $70 million contract. Players of his caliber never like being demoted, but coaches hope that they'll handle it professionally. It appears that Knight is doing exactly that, and it's notable that he's being this effusive with his praise for Watson.
Going into training camp, the Suns' backcourt logjam was by far the biggest story surrounding the team. Credit Watson for shutting down the speculation before preseason even began. If Knight buys into the idea that he can win Sixth Man of the Year, then perhaps Phoenix will be able to exceed its modest expectations.
