Suns’ Holmes brings intensity
New acquisition beefs up depth at power forward
Richaun Holmes got tired of that little brother stuff at age 12, but when you have three older brothers, that doesn’t matter.
“They beat up on me a lot,” Holmes said.
So Holmes got tougher. More intense. Three years later, he started getting the best of his big brothers on the basketball court.
“They haven’t beat me in a while,” a smiling Holmes said.
Phoenix acquired Holmes in a trade with Philadelphia for cash considerations last July. What they’ve gotten in return is a rebounder, defender and finisher around the rim who carries that same fire from when he battled his siblings in Lockport, Ill.
"I love to play with intensity,” Holmes said. “That’s how I play the game. Be a presence on defense. Try to affect shots around the rim, help my teammates out. Just always being active on defense. I’m always going to play with activity. I’m always going to play with intensity.”
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound power forward out of Bowling Green isn’t a scorer. He’s averaged 7.4 points in his three NBA seasons.
In Phoenix’s two preseason games, Holmes has scored a total of 10 points, but grabbed five boards in each one. He’s worked to set multiple screens, rolled hard to the basket and delivered ferocious dunks.
“He brings a lot of energy,” Suns point guard Isaiah Canaan said. “He’s very athletic. He works hard. Plays hard and you always need somebody like that on your team and on the floor at all times.”
Holmes said Phoenix has made his transition from Philadelphia easy. In turn, he came into the Suns’ first preseason game with that energy first-year Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov likes.
“Energy is a talent,” Kokoskov said. “There’s a misperception about talent. You’ll have people say he has a soft touch. We always talk about young guys, older guys. Talent is everything.”
With so many wing or perimeter players, Phoenix could use someone outside of rookie 7-footer Deandre Ayton and 17-year veteran Tyson Chandler to defend the paint and rebound.
Holmes showed against the Kings he could be that guy for Phoenix.
“Just wanted to go in there and kind of affect the game the way I affect the game,” Holmes said. “Play my game. Thought I did alright for the first preseason game.”
With 124 career blocks, Holmes swatted three shots in Wednesday’s 91-86 win over the New Zealand Breakers. He also found himself on the wrong end of 5-11 Jarrad Weeks’ two-handed dunk, but Holmes is willing to protect the rim — something Kokoskov has made a point of emphasis after Phoenix ranked last in the NBA in defensive rating last season.
“He moves well, is a live body, good defender,” Kokoskov said. “Very athletic. He's got to help us defensively, protect the paint. Runs the floor and he fits in well with what we’re doing here.”
Time to show and prove
Before training camp started last week, 7-foot Dragan Bender had the look of someone who could fit into Kokoskov’s system.
Shooter. Can stretch the floor. Skilled offensive player.
However, Kokoskov has been preaching defense, which is not Bender’s strong suit. He’s had some bad moments on defense in the two preseason games and hasn’t even done well what he does best — shoot.
Bender is just 1-of-9 from the field, missing five of his six 3-point attempts.
“We’ll talk to him,” Kokoskov said after Wednesday night’s game. “Basketball players play the game. We’re not here to bury anybody. The last two games, he hasn’t had an impressive performance by any means, but he’s got to fight through.”
Kokoskov closed by saying he and the coaching staff must determine if Bender is a player they believe he can be. How the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft plays the remainder of the preseason will likely impact his future with the Suns.
Phoenix will follow up Friday's final home preseason game against Portland with two more on the road next week against Golden State and the Trail Blazers.
The Suns face the Dallas Mavericks in their season opener Oct. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena.