The Phoenix Suns made one of the biggest in-season trades in the NBA this year by landing Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets.
The Suns have one of the best four-man cores in the NBA in Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
That’s a star-studded cast and it’s easy to forget that Josh Okogie has been the fifth starter when that core has been healthy. If Phoenix is going to win a championship, however, the question becomes— is Okogie good enough to be the fifth starter?
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Numbers Hint At Answer
Let’s look at the stats first. In the four games this starting five has played, Okogie has averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. It should also be noted that he has a plus/minus score of a plus-39 during that four-game stretch.
As a starter during the season, Okogie has averaged 11.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 35.1 percent from downtown. While shooting with Durant in the lineup isn’t great, his shooting as a starter in general should be encouraging. Those are the type of averages the Suns will need to have from their fifth option on offense especially with his key ability being his defense.
Don’t believe me? Check the tape.
Josh Okogie continues to be a stellar defenderhttps://t.co/lD4gc2L4JI pic.twitter.com/gLnP5VHAQ0
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 25, 2023
That block was on 6-foot-11 center Domantas Sabonis, who is arguably the third-best center in the NBA. For perspective, Okogie is only 6-foot-4, which is extremely undersized for the small-forward position they have him playing. His seven-foot wing span and his elite athleticism helps make up for his lack of height, however.
Here’s another defensive hustle play that turns into offense.
This is why they call him non-stop. 💨
Josh Okogie just keeps on going! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/yqpcYfcc0J
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 30, 2023
In 20 games as a starter, Okogie has been far from an offensive liability. If his shooting improves with Durant in the lineup, then there shouldn’t be a reason why he wouldn’t be qualified as a fifth starter on a championship-contending Phoenix Suns.
