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Drew Timme, a forward for the Phoenix Suns, offered a candid explanation for why he's already on his sixth NBA team in just three seasons and has yet to solidify his place in the league. 'I mean, honestly, I'm an undersized white guy,' Timme said following a morning shootaround at the team's practice facility on October 24. 'I don't pass the eye test, I would say, but I know how to hoop and play and make people better, and I think that's a skill that's undervalued and something that maybe doesn't always show up in the stats sheet, but something that's impactful and you really have to be around to see it.' He added, 'Just finding where you fit because I'm not going to fit every style of play.'
Phoenix acquired the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Timme off waivers after the Minnesota Timberwolves released him ahead of the 2026-27 season. He is currently on a two-way contract with the Suns. 'I love their style of play,' Timme said of Phoenix. 'Just their movement. The coaches have been great. The trust that they give the players from what I've seen and stuff. It's a great spot. It's a team that wants to win and needs to win. I just want to be able to help them in any way possible.'
Frontcourt Depth Tested
With Oso Ighodaro sidelined due to a right oblique strain and Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery) expected to miss multiple months, the Suns are without their usual depth at the center position. Suns coach Jordan Ott is viewing Ighodaro's injury as day-to-day. Ighodaro, who played every game last season, suffered the injury late in the first half of the team's 41-point road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the season opener for both teams. Khaman Maluach starts at center, with two-way player Duop Reath as his backup, but the physical and versatile Timme can play both the four and the five.
'I can kind of just be a plug-and-play kind of guy,' Timme said. 'I've been around the league a little bit and stuff and pretty experienced. So, kind of just filling any gap that needs to be filled. Any role I can, whether it's a four, five, maybe a little pressure release and stuff like that, be a connector. So just kind of anything in that role.'
Career Journey and Growth
Timme, 26, appeared in nine games (two starts) with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024-25 season, averaging 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. He then joined the Los Angeles Lakers last season on a two-way contract, seeing action in 27 games (one start) and averaging 3.4 points. Before his stint with Brooklyn, Timme was on Exhibit 10 deals with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 and the Sacramento Kings in 2024, but was waived by both organizations. Now with Phoenix, his sixth NBA team, Timme feels optimistic about his situation.
'I feel like I'm in a great spot,' Timme said. 'College was great, great time, and then my first (year in NBA), came in, learning the ropes, changing the game a little bit, and now I've shot, not on high attempts, but I shot pretty good last year. Just trying to continue to build on that, the confidence, the reps and the growth in that, especially my shooting. I think that's something that could really help kind of establish myself more in this league.' Timme shot 44% from 3-point range (11-of-25) last season with the Lakers.
'Also just being an everyday guy, and like I said, being a guy that can fix any problem, or kind of just plug and play anywhere,' Timme continued. 'I think that's something that really can help establish myself.'
With each stop, Timme believes he has learned a great deal that has factored into receiving opportunities with different NBA teams. 'Just watching from guys that have been in the league and seeing their habits and stuff,' Timme said. 'Obviously, you got guys like Book (Devin Booker) and even like Luke (Kennard), who I was with last year. Just seeing how their daily habits and how they approached the game, it's great to learn from.' Timme and Luke Kennard were teammates last season with the Lakers.
'When you're a guy who's on the fringe and like really trying to establish himself, it's like, it's watching guys like that,' Timme said. 'Whether I was watching Bron (LeBron James) last year (with the Lakers). Try to be as good of a learner as you can.'
Timme credited Ighodaro for helping him adjust to his new team. 'Oso has been great,' Timme said. 'I've only been here two or three days, and he's just been in my ear constantly helping me with the plays, the terminology and stuff. It's great because it's tough coming to do a new spot just quickly and already in season and stuff, because I didn't get training camp with (the Suns). He's been great, especially another front court guy. It's great.'
A native of Richardson, Texas, Timme (pronounced TIM-ee) was a three-time All-American at Gonzaga, where he became the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,307 points over four years, but he went undrafted in 2023. He spent three seasons in the G League, averaging 15.9 points on 56% shooting and 6.9 rebounds in 48 career games.
Originally reported by yahoo.