Phoenix Suns Wiretap

Kerr Plays Mitchell Report Hoax On Hill

A fake news release was delivered Sunday to Suns' forward Grant Hill, who paused briefly on his first read of the headline.

It said, "Hill becomes the first NBA player named in Mitchell Report."

It was a practical joke by Kerr, but people might start grasping at such straws to explain Hill's season. All it took' Coach Mike D'Antoni's preseason All-Star optimism for him.

In November, Hill averaged 14.8 points, 2.9 assists and 0.5 blocks and shot 46.4 percent from the field and 30.8 percent on 3-pointers. In December, entering Sunday's game, Hill was averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.1 blocks with 56.6 percent shooting and 38.5 percent on 3-pointers.

"I'm more comfortable and getting more comfortable at both ends of the court," Hill said. "It's more instinctive. I'm developing that trust with teammates. I think it can get even better. December has been a lot better."

Via Arizona Republic


P.J. Brown Unlikely To Join Phoenix

Once the end of the year came, P.J. Brown supposedly was going to be more ready to return to play after spending Christmas with his family.

With two months of the season behind them, the Suns were going to be able to show Brown, 38, how much they could use his veteran post play.

But between Brown's reluctance to leave the retirement recliner and Brian Skinner's emergence in the role of Suns reserve big man, the signing that Phoenix chased this summer appears as doubtful as ever.

"I've had no indication that P.J. is interested in playing," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "It sounds as if he's retired. It's obviously less urgent with the way Brian has played. This is around the time we thought we could convince P.J. into play for us.

"That said, if he's interested, we'd still be interested in him. We don't have a lot of bigs. You'd always love to have depth inside and playoff experience."

Via Arizona Republic


Nash Receives Order Of Canada

On Thursday, Steve Nash was named one of the 2007 recipients of The Order of Canada – the country’s highest civilian honor. He was selected not just for his fame but also for his many humanitarian efforts through his Steve Nash Foundation and the Canadian school system.

Other recipients included Walter Gretzky, father of Phoenix Coyotes' coach Wayne Gretzky, and United Nations human rights commissioner and former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour.

“None of my friends got it when I was growing up, so I didn’t know much about it,” Nash said with a smile. “I’m just blown away and just extremely excited. It’s the highest honor in our country, and it’s just incredible to be recognized in that way. That puts me in some incredible company.”

Now 23rd on the all-time NBA list for assists (6,260), Nash’s 10 assists on Friday gives him 3,341 as a Phoenix Sun. That passes Walter Davis for third place on the all-time Phoenix franchise list. Only Alvan Adams (4,012) and franchise leader Kevin Johnson (6,518) have more helpers in a Suns' uniform.

Via East Valley Tribune


Suns Dec 2007 Archive