'No hard feelings': Phoenix Suns finally add Drew Eubanks years after 2018 pre-draft workout
Drew Eubanks’ pre-draft workout with the Phoenix Suns in 2018 didn’t lead to him immediately joining the team.
That only fueled the 6-10 undrafted big to go hard against them, like when he posted 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and 13 rebounds April 17, 2021, in helping San Antonio romp the Suns, 111-85, in Phoenix.
The Suns made it to the finals that season, but Eubanks got the best of them that night.
“That’s kind of the player I am, especially if I know a team is interested or I get slighted in some way back in the day, I tend to hold on to that stuff and try to show out,” Eubanks said.
The Suns finally got around to signing Eubanks to two-year deal this offseason.
Better late than never.
“It’s all good now,” Eubanks continued with a laugh. “I’m on the team. So, no hard feelings.”
The Republic talked with Eubanks about his role with the Suns, what he’s been working on going into the 2023-24 season and the idea of playing alongside Deandre Ayton in a big lineup in Part 2 of a Q&A.
In what ways are they looking for you to contribute this season?
“I’m not going to have as much responsibility on the offensive end as it will be on the defensive end. Like I said, we have three elite scorers. I’m going to benefit from them scoring. Getting them open on screens and rolling to the rim. They’re all great passers. They know how to play the right way. They’re going to find me. Really where my mark is going to be made is getting them open, rebounding, defending, blocking shots. If you look at the end of the season last year, that’s what I was doing.”
Eubanks averaged 10 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his last 10 games last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, capped by a season-high 23-point performance at San Antonio in the regular-season finale. He also grabbed nine boards and blocked five shots.
More: Part 1 Q&A: Playing with Damian Lillard helps Drew Eubanks prepare to work with Phoenix Suns' Big 3
“I’ve got another year under my belt. I know a lot more than I did last year. It’s just going to be playing my role and making those guys look good. I’m ready for that. I’m excited.”
Are you doing anything specifically to prepare for this season?
One thing (player development coach) Vaughn (Compton) and I have been working on a lot this year is working out of pick-and-roll and hitting guys in the corner on time, on target. Being able to dribble the ball a little bit more. Being able to be comfortable with pressure when I DHO (dribble handoff) over and pitch it to guys and just really being more of a playmaker out of these scenarios. Book, KD, Beal, those guys are going to get double teamed. If I can put the ball on the floor and make plays out of the pocket, I know I keep harping on that, but that’s honestly going to be one of the biggest parts of my game this year. It’s something (Suns coach Frank Vogel) has talked to me about how great of a passer I am and being able to hit guys. So that’s mainly what we’ve been working on."
The Suns hired Vogel to replace Monty Williams, who was fired after the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in six games last season.
“You watch my workouts, I don’t shoot a lot of 3s, but I’m a good 3-point shooter (shot 7-of-18 from 3 last season). If the opportunity presents itself, right time, time and score, all of that stuff, I’ll be able to shoot it, I’ll be able to put the ball on the floor. Get to the rim. I’m not looking to do too much different from what I did last year. I had my best year of my career last year so far. I just want to keep capitalizing on that and just keep playing good basketball.”
Do you see yourself more as a power forward or a center?
“I feel like there’s kind of a gray area nowadays between the two, especially with small ball and everything. I see myself as a skilled center. A lot more skilled than a lot of people give me credit for. I don’t try to do too much when I’m out there. So a lot of people chalk that up to, oh he can’t do these things or he can’t shoot it or he can do all these things. Like no, I can, but who would you rather have shooting? Devin Booker or Drew Eubanks. I know my role like when to get guys the ball. I know when to take shots. One of my favorite players growing up was Blake Griffin.
“I liked watching his career. He was a power forward. I liked how as his career went on, he started to slowly expand his game. He’s always had a good dribble. He’s always been able to kind of shoot a little bit, but I think there was a culmination of that with his last two years with the (Los Angeles) Clippers and when he was in Detroit those years. His two good years in Detroit when they made the playoffs before he got hurt. That’s kind of how I see myself in a way. Just slowly keep adding things every year and getting more comfortable and understanding the game.”
Last season, Deandre Ayton and Jock Landale talked about playing together. Ayton played power forward in college at Arizona. Could you see yourself playing the five with Ayton at the four in situations?
“I’d be down for that. I think the biggest problem a lot of times when you try, with say Ayton, he’s traditionally been a five (in the NBA), is the spacing isn’t always there because those fives who turn fours sometimes kind of clog up where the five is generally supposed to be. If that’s how we win games and that’s the best lineup, then I would be all for it. I don’t mind who I play with. I just try to fit in a role and try to make other guys around me better. If that’s something we can do, I’d be down for it. I don’t know if there’d be a bigger starting five in the league. Between me, Ayton and KD (Kevin Durant) and then Book (Devin Booker) is a big guard.”
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Part 2 Q&A: 'Skilled center' Drew Eubanks ready to contribute for Phoenix Suns
