Welcome home, Nick Richards.
The Phoenix Suns‘ new starting center dominated the paint with 20 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in a 119-109 win over the Washington Wizards at the Footprint Center on Saturday.
It was Richards’ Phoenix home debut, and his fourth game with the Suns since he was traded from Charlotte for Josh Okogie on Jan. 15.
“Rebounding, for sure, is one of the things that coach (Mike Budenholzer) emphasized with being on our first meeting, trying my hardest,” Richards said after the game.
Richards’ 19 boards are the second-most in franchise history for a new Suns player’s home debut. The record is held by Charles Barkley, who snatched 21 (and dropped 37 points) during the Hall of Famer’s first Suns home appearance in a season-opening win on Nov. 7, 1992.
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Similar to Richards, the Round Mound Of Rebound’s 21 came after he was traded from Philadelphia. Richards could’ve gotten closer to Barkley’s record by grabbing a 20th rebound in the Suns-Wizards game’s closing seconds, but he literally fell short.
The Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma (game-high 30 points) missed a shot from deep at 27 seconds left. But as Richards boxed out the Wizards’ top rookie Alex Sarr, the ball bounced off Richards’ hand, then he tripped and fell as Devin Booker (18 points, team-high seven assists) tried to get out of his way to chase it down. Booker picked up the loose ball before it went out of bounds and milked the shot clock to seal the win.
“I tried, man,” Booker jokingly said as he stared at Richards in the Suns’ locker room after the game.
“He ain’t want it, let the ball go off his hand, falling all over the floor. He’ll get it, though. He’ll get it soon, too,” Booker added about Richards’ next chance at getting 20 boards.
Richards, 27, has wasted no time getting comfortable with the Suns — averaging 13.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 67.7% shooting in the past four games. Those are spiked numbers from his 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 56.1% averaged in 21 games for Charlotte this season.
The 7-foot Richards was spectacular in his 21-point, 11-rebound outing in a 125-121 win at Detroit on Jan. 18. Richards grabbed 15 rebounds in a 108-84 rout at Brooklyn on Wednesday, and 15 during the first half against Washington.
“He’s got a personality where I think he just, he wants to be there for his teammates,” Budenholzer said after beating Washington. “He wants to be there for his team. He’s trying to learn everything quickly. So, I just think there’s an unselfishness to him that’s been really good for us. And you know, his length on the glass, you know, to get 19 is impressive, and big free throws down the stretch, impressive.”
But Richards still feels like a nomad without a physical address.
During his first team practice at the Suns’ training facility on Friday, Richards giggled in response to a question about joining.
“I don’t think I have the feeling of being home right now,” Richards said with his Jamaican accent. “I’m still living out of a suitcase in a hotel room.”
Richards added the Suns organization has embraced him — desperately to fix rebounding issues, needing more size, youth, and athleticism in the middle. That’s especially on the offensive glass to extend possessions.
“We’ve got to keep encouraging him,” Kevin Durant (Suns’ high 29 points against Wizards) said. “It’s going to be him trying to learn on the fly, trying to come to a new team, and learning on the fly like this can be tough. But he’s picking up things pretty quickly, so he just needs to keep on working and keep getting better.”
Budenholzer benched former starter big Jusuf Nurkic entering their Jan. 6th win at Philadelphia and took him out of their center rotation. Mason Plumlee briefly replaced Nurkic as the Suns’ starting big until Richards got the nod in his second game at Cleveland.
The Suns ranked 25th in rebounding, 22nd on defensive boards, 28th in second-chance points, and 20th in second-chance points allowed before they acquired Richards, per NBA Stats. They improved to fifth, second, eighth, and 16th in those categories during Richards’ four games with the team.
Phoenix outscored Washington 23-7 in second-chance points and won the rebounding battle 53-37, including 12-5 in offensive rebounds. Richards got half of those on the offensive glass.
“I think everybody’s just making my job really easy,” Richards said. “From the jump coach, all the players, all the staff just tell me, just be yourself. Do what you do best, and you’re going to fit in right away.”
In a thrilling matchup against the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns’ forward Jalen Richards put on a rebounding clinic, coming just shy of tying Charles Barkley’s franchise record. Richards’ dominating performance on the boards was a key factor in the Suns’ victory, showcasing his tenacity and skill in the paint.
With his aggressive play and relentless pursuit of the ball, Richards finished the game with an impressive rebounding total, inching closer to Barkley’s legendary record. His ability to control the glass and create second-chance opportunities for his team was crucial in securing the win for the Suns.
As the season progresses, Richards’ rebounding prowess continues to impress, earning him a well-deserved reputation as one of the top rebounders in the league. With performances like this one, it’s clear that he is a force to be reckoned with on the boards and a valuable asset for the Suns’ success.
Stay tuned to see if Richards can break Barkley’s record and continue to dominate the glass in future games. Suns fans have a lot to look forward to with a player of Richards’ caliber leading the charge.
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