PHOENIX -- The Suns selected Alex Len with the fifth overall pick in Thursday’s draft, and the 7'1" center from Maryland expects to be able to show immediate improvement in the NBA based on one simple fact that applies to basketball played at the college level.
“In college, the spacing sucks,” Len said at his introductory press conference at the US Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday. “Every time I got the ball, there was a double team, and coach wanted me to just kick it out to my teammates, so that’s what I did.”
That seems to be the key point in Len’s mind when discussing the differences between the professional game and the one he played in Maryland. He mentioned it Thursday night via conference call, and elaborated on it a bit on Friday in person.
“In the NBA, there’s better spacing,” Len said. “It makes it easier on the big guys because we have more space to work on the block. But I know I can contribute right away on the defensive end of the floor -- I have size, I can alter shots, I can run the floor. And on offense, we’ll see what coach wants me to do.”
Jeff Hornacek, the new head coach of the Suns, was in attendance for Len’s presser on Friday, and seemed excited by the offensive possibilities that will ultimately be presented with the rookie center in his team’s lineup.
“We’re going to be pushing the ball, but if we get into some quick swing actions, he’s either going to be the first one down to get into that post-up area, or he’s going to trail the play, swing it, and go into some quick pick and rolls,” Hornacek said. “He’s got a great pick and roll or pop action where he can make that 15-17 foot shot. There’s a variety of ways that we can use him.”
It was pointed out to Len that the spacing may similarly “suck” in the NBA at times, but he seemed to have a calm approach in terms of how he’d handle things at the professional level.
“If you get double teamed, you’ve just got to kick it out to your players,” he said. “But it’s the same thing as what I did in college. You get position, get the ball, and do whatever you can do.”
