Nick Richards goes 100% real on Suns debut

It was quite a spectacle when Nick Richards made his own Phoenix Suns debut on Saturday. The former Charlotte Hornets big man excelled off the bench and had 21 points, 11 rebounds and one steal in Phoenix’s 125-121 win over the Detroit Pistons. Much of his excitement comes from coaches, teammates and many others around the league.

After that The Suns traded Josh Okogie for Richardsit instantly boosted team morale. A new physicality, bounce and inner presence is just what the Phoenix doctor ordered. Also, placing a 20 and 10 double-double is impressive, let alone off the bench.

However, it was just another game for Richards. After the victory, he explained his thought process and approach to his first Suns game against AZCentral’s Duane Rankin. “I’m excited,” Richards said. “At the end of the day, it’s basketball.”

At its most basic, basketball is a game. People can take it too seriously where they criticize every detail, good or bad. Even with players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on the roster, they have that childlike approach to the game.

Although they are critical of every detail of their games, they recognize that it is a sport. They have fun on the field. Richards’ perspective is no different from the Phoenix stars. Moreover, the head coach Mike Budenholzer was excited about Richards being traded to the Suns.

So far, that excitement remains as the team picked up its first win with the newly acquired big man. After only nine games for the Hornets, he returned to his bench. Regardless, the team has to be impressed with his performance. They outscored the Pistons 50-43, a score they haven’t had against a team in quite some time.

Nick Richards’ debut gave the Suns a boost

Again, one player won’t define the rest of the Suns’ season. However, Richards’ attributes can quickly reverse a team’s impact on the glass. Even after the trade, the team is alone 25th in the jump with 42.5 team jumps per game. The defeated center Jusuf Nurkić does not help the situation at all.

Throwing in Richards instead of Nurkic could negate the returning disparity, or even improve it. After all, the former Hornets great is more of an athlete than Nurkic. He’s a lob threat, something point guard Tyus Jones hasn’t had much of all season. Not to mention, he’s not afraid to get dirty in the paint against other centers.

Even Durant reacted to the Suns’ trade for Richards in a positive way. The team gathered around a new face in the place. Despite playing with three All-Stars, Phoenix’s newest center understands the task at hand. “Just being myself,” Richards said. “Rebounding. Color defense. Running in transition. Being able to get guys open on screens.”

Fortunately, guys like Durant, Booker and Beal are three of the best shooters in the game. They can catch fire at any moment and are some of the most effective marksmen in addition. In addition, they have shown a clear ability to play off-screen. That concoction, mixed with the threat of a lob, could allow Richards to put on a Thanksgiving-like feast every time he’s on the court.

After all, this is only a sample size for one game. It’s important to temper expectations for the rest of the season, especially with Phoenix playing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, the Cavaliers are in the middle in rebounding on the season, ranking 17th in that area.

Monday could be a game where Richards’ physical strength and rebounding could make the difference in a tough road game.