The Phoenix Suns were widely expected to have one of the worst records in the NBA, but Jeff Hornacek has managed to get his roster to overachieve.

“They’ve all done something more than they’ve done last year,” Hornacek said.

Seven veterans on the Suns are averaging career highs. 

“They felt like this year they’re going to get a real opportunity,” Channing Frye said of his teammates. “We all do something different and so they’re flourishing in that role. When you have a coach like Jeff, even though you make mistakes, you’re still going to get opportunities if you put in work outside the court. With some teams, they go in as the one piece and that piece is interchangeable and they don’t feel like they’re important. But everybody on this team is important. Everybody is doing the best they can and staying ready every night.” The reason we’ve been successful is, at any moment, somebody could get their chance so they’re staying ready. That is really the pressure for everyone to constantly get better and be ready and to really embrace what we’re trying to do.”

“The coaches have really done a great job of putting us in places to be successful,” Gerald Green said. “Everybody gets an opportunity to go out there and play. Jeff has confidence in everybody. A lot of coaches don’t do that. He’s just so positive and has so much energy and faith in us.

“I still feel like I’ve got a lot to learn and a lot to prove. I still have so much that could get better.” I could get better at my ball-handling. I could get better at my defense. I could get stronger. I feel like my decision-making could get better. My pick-and-roll could be better. I’m blessed to have the season we’re having but to me, if we don’t make the playoffs, this season means nothing to me.”