Phoenix Suns to Call Up Bryce Cotton from NBA D-League

Marc Stein of ESPN reported on Twitter Wednesday afternoon that the Phoenix Suns were calling former Friar Bryce Cotton up from the NBA D-League. The Tucson, AZ native will have some extra things to be thankful for this year on Thanksgiving. Cotton went undrafted after a very productive career at Providence. He was signed to a partially guaranteed contract by the San Antonio Spurs and ultimately ended up with the Spurs’ D-League affiliate in Austin, TX. Cotton’s wife just moved from Rhode Island to Austin for an internship while she pursues her law degree.

[vine url=”https://vine.co/v/ezhFvAZTK0q”]

Cotton has played in 15 NBA games — all at the end of the 2014-15 season — with the Utah Jazz after a late-season call-up. He averaged 5.3 points/game and 1.0 assists/game in 10.6 minutes/game with Utah. Cotton was in training camp with the Jazz this summer but he was ultimately waived before the NBA season began and ended up back with the Austin Spurs of the D-League. In 4 games with the Austin Spurs this season, Cotton averaged 22 points/game, 4.5 assists/game, 1.5 steals/game and was shooting 61.9% from beyond the arc. His D-League career averages are 22.4 points/game, 4.6 assists/game, 4.5 rebounds/game and 1.3 steals/game. He has played 38 total games in the D-League.

A poll of NBA D-League coaches and General Managers by RidiculousUpside.com from a couple weeks ago revealed those polled thought Cotton was the second-most NBA-ready player in the D-League behind only Ronnie Brewer. Brewer was a late-lottery draft pick of the Utah Jazz in 2006 and has played 8 season in the NBA. The same poll showed Cotton as the favorite to win the league’s MVP award, by far — 55% with 22% being the next highest. Cotton was also voted — by the same 55% — as the best guard in the D-League.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE3jHXs1fWg]

The Suns are averaging nearly 18 turnovers/game this season, which is second to last with only the hapless Philadelphia 76ers being worse at taking care of the ball. Eric Bledsoe missed their last game due to knee stiffness and that left Brandon Knight to handle the point guard duties. Bledsoe and Knight are the only two ball-handlers on the team currently so Cotton will have a real shot at some backup point guard minutes if Bledsoe continues to miss games.

Follow me on Twitter @pcbb1917

About Author

2 responses to “Phoenix Suns to Call Up Bryce Cotton from NBA D-League”

  1. Mike Saburn Avatar
    Mike Saburn

    Good for him..
    Such a classy nice guy

  2. […] ICYMI – Phoenix Suns to Call Up Bryce Cotton from NBA D-League […]

pcbb1917

FREE
VIEW