Kevin Durant revealed that new teammate Nick Richards wasted no time in helping his fellow players understand his playing style.
After the Suns’ 119-109 victory over the Wizards, Durant spoke about Richards’ proactive approach. He mentioned that Richards had already discussed with him and Devin Booker how he sets screens and how the team could position themselves to maximize effectiveness.
“Just keeping it simple, we’re not planning to make the game too tricky,” Durant explained. “We can dive deep into the angles of the pick-and-rolls, and where I want you to set it for me, which angle is the best for me, but we’re trying to adapt around him…
“We try not to overthink it too much and let that stuff happen naturally. The nuances of the game, that’ll happen naturally, he’ll figure that stuff out. He’s already coming to me and Book with suggestions and the guards on how he wants to set screens and where he wanna roll.”
Richards had an impressive game against the Wizards, recording 20 points (7-12 FG), 19 rebounds, one assist, and one block. This performance marked his best showing in a Suns jersey, with a career-high in rebounds for Phoenix and his second-highest scoring total since the trade.
Since joining the Suns from the Charlotte Hornets, Richards has played four games, averaging 13.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks. During this stretch, the Suns have gone 3-1, and Richards has proven to be a valuable addition. As he gets more playing time, the team hopes he can develop into a consistent 15-point, 10-rebound contributor before the playoffs.
Richards Secures Starting Spot
Nick Richards seems to have cemented the starting center position shortly after his arrival. The Suns had been struggling in this area, with Jusuf Nurkic underperforming and the team slipping to the 12th seed before the trade.
Coach Mike Budenholzer opted to bench Nurkic and Bradley Beal during the team’s slump, and Nurkic has now missed nine consecutive games since early January. Speaking recently, Nurkic admitted that he had no relationship with Budenholzer, signaling significant tension between the player and the franchise.
With Nurkic’s future uncertain, the Suns may explore trade options. If he remains on the roster, he’ll likely have to accept being a third or fourth-string center.
