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Four Standout Players From Suns' Opening Summer League Game

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Suns
By Donnie Druin | Last updated 7/9/22

Phoenix Suns basketball is back, at least in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

The Suns began their 2022 Summer League season on a high note with a 104-84 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Stars such as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were in attendance to take in the action, and if you're a Suns fan, there was plenty of action.

Headlines, per usual, were dominated by the Lakers heading into the game. Scotty Pippen Jr. (who indeed led Los Angeles with 19 points) made his debut with the team, and to be fair, L.A. did indeed have actual draft picks that were about to participate on the court.

Yet when the ball was tipped at center circle, the Suns managed pull an impressive opening night victory over their rivals.

Phoenix shot a superb 50.6% from the field and held the Lakers to just 6-23 (26.1%) in three-point shooting on the night.

"We shared the ball so great tonight," said Suns assistant Steve Scalzi after Phoenix registered 25 assists on 39 buckets. "We really shared the game. it was so much fun."

While the Suns will look to improve to 2-0 on Sunday afternoon, let's reflect on four players who made the difference for Phoenix on Friday.

*Note: Yes, these performances are against other Summer League players and does not guarantee an All-NBA appearance for anybody next season*

Four Standout Players From Suns' Opening Summer League Game

McKinley Wright IV

Wright was a stat-sheet stuffer on Friday, generating a 8 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in just over 27 minutes of action. He also had two steals and one block.

Wright was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection before going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. He signed a two-way deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and appeared in five NBA games last year.

Another strong performance on Sunday may be enough to get the wheels turning on a possible roster spot. The Suns will likely covet bench scoring in their backcourt, although the defensive abilities (and all-around play) was on display against the Lakers.

Wright looked every bit of the player he was at Colorado, and that's a good sign for Phoenix early in the Summer League.

Louis King

If you expected the 2021 Summer League MVP to have his way yet again: You were correct.

Louis King's 20-point performance paced Phoenix on Friday, although his numbers came from a high volume of shots (17, which led both teams).

However, there were certain points of the night where King took over, helping push the Suns to a lead the Lakers were never able to fully recover. His ability to finish through contact and play inside was on display.

Should his three-point shooting recover (made only two of nine attempts), King may very well find himself having another dominant stretch in the summer.

Ish Wainright

Let's be real: We all expected Ish Wainright to play well.

The fact that his three-point shooting was quite good (five-of-nine attempts, the best on either squad who shot multiple times) only adds to his muscular frame that once saw him signed as a tight end with the Buffalo Bills.

He's already a fan-favorite in Las Vegas, and if he can turn into a consistent player from downtown...

Wainright's 17 points trailed only King on the night, although he did have the highest +/- out of any player on the court with a +16.

He didn't slam the stat-sheets full like Wright, nor really impose his will on Los Angeles like King, yet Wainright's night can't be overlooked. He'll likely play a similar amount to the 45 games next season, although his status as a free agent leaves his future in Phoenix open.

Olivier Sarr

Sarr was almost added as an unofficial fourth player on this list, as his night may not match the overall production and/or glamor that accompanied the three aforementioned players.

However, his eight points and ten rebounds was a solid output in the paint. He also sank all four of his free throws on the night.

His first quarter was quite fun to watch, which involved a solid defensive effort to disrupt an alley-oop before sprinting down the court and faking a pass in transition to earn a bucket that Magic Johnson would be proud of.

Less than a minute later, Sarr made an emphatic block on the defensive end, which prompted another transition bucket for Phoenix.

Could Sarr see more of the spotlight on Sunday? The French international player played in 22 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. Sarr only played 13:36 and made two-of-three shots on Friday.

If he's able to produce more highlight plays as a center, count us on the train.

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