Josh Okogie Eclipsing Expectations in Starting Lineup
Seizing an opportunity is extremely important in any profession especially when it comes to the NBA. That is exactly what Josh Okogie has been able to do over the past four games for the Phoenix Suns.
After the Suns traded for Kevin Durant on Feb. 8, the opportunity arose for Okogie to increase his minutes due to the absence of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson.
Since then, Okogie proved he was more than capable of taking on a big role for Phoenix.
It's Okogie’s mindset to treat each and every game like it is his last that has made him so successful during this short stint.
“I kinda look at it as a day-to-day basis,” Okogie said. “Coach decided to start me last game or two days ago, that day I was like okay, I am going to do what I can this game. Do what I can the game after that, and today I was going to do what I can today. I don’t really like looking toward the future, sometimes we do that and forget to be in the present.
"I just take each game day-by-day. Coach has to make his decision, but I can control what I can control by going out there playing free to the best of my ability.”
Over the three games that Okogie has been in the starting lineup for, he is averaging 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Before all of this, Okogie was sometimes not even cracking 15 minutes a game but over the past three games he has been averaging 38.6 minutes.
Opposing teams must realize that Okogie is indeed a threat on the offensive end as he is continuing to take advantage of his open looks.
“Unbelievable man, just stepping up big,” Devin Booker said on Okogie’s play as of late. “Teams are trying to force the ball to him, and he is making them pay every single time. We are going to stick with that, we are all healthy going into the break and we are going to do what coach says, fill our cup up and get ready for the last stretch of the season.”
Okogie has scored over 15 points in each of the last four games, a major reason why Phoenix has won three out of the last four. What is even more impressive is that Okogie has been nearly unstoppable from behind the arch, shooting 40% from three over the last month.
“100%, sometimes I start doubting myself after missing some,” Okogie said. “Coach told me, ‘I don’t care if you miss eight in a row, shoot the next one. I won’t take you out for missing, I will take you out for not shooting.’ So I am like I better get to shooting.”
Phoenix has been running plays where Okogie takes up the ball on many occasions through the past few games so it should be interesting to see if he takes that sort of role on the second unit once Durant returns from his MCL sprain.
Whether Okogie continues to start or takes a bench role going forward, it is clear that he could be a major piece for the Suns for the rest of the season.
