Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Phoenix Suns veteran forward Frank Kaminsky is having the time of his life in the Valley this season.
The sixth-year professional is thriving of late on the court, registering double-digit scoring numbers in three of his last six games.
He’s also been at the center of the team’s four-game win streak, pulling down five or more rebounds in each of those games, along with dishing out eight assists in the team’s 125-124 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Kaminsky didn’t mince words when asked about the Suns’ 15-9 start on Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Thursday.
He described the Suns’ recent streak as the net result of the team having solid chemistry and having a cast of players that are ready to do whatever it takes to win ballgames.
“I’ve always just wanted to be a factor in winning. Whether that’s playing two minutes a game,” Kaminsky said. “Whether that’s playing the minutes that I’m playing right now and doing whatever I have to do … Whatever I’m asked to do I’m going to try to go out there and try to do it to the best of my ability.
“And I’m just comfortable with the guys on the team. I think we’ve got good chemistry going right now and it’s just been fun. These last few weeks have just been some of the most fun that I’ve had playing basketball in my entire life, it’s really just been special.”
The former Wisconsin Badger said the team’s turnaround point came on Jan. 28, when the Suns snapped a three-game losing streak in a 114-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
“The couple games before that, we’d struggled with turning the ball over, not moving the ball enough, our offense was dipping,” he said. “We were doing the things that we needed to do on defense, but our offense wasn’t really there.
“So [Monty Williams] challenged us to stick with what we were trying to run and to run out there and play with the offense that we have kind of installed this season.”
Kaminsky said he took Williams’ challenge to heart, which helped him gain the confidence he needed to excel on the court in recent weeks.
“I took that as a challenge to go out there and show what kind of playmaker that can help connect the offense, move the ball from side to side and we did that against Golden State,” Kaminsky said.
“And that gave me the confidence to know that I am a passer and a playmaker and somebody with the second unit that can keep the ball moving when Chris (Paul) and Devin (Booker) aren’t on the floor.”
All roads lead to Phoenix
Kaminsky described his circuitous path in free agency, from Phoenix to Sacramento and back during the offseason.
He was signed by the Kings to a one-year deal in November, before being waived by the team a month later.
He eventually found his way back to Phoenix, after telling his agent that he only wanted to play for head coach Monty Williams and company.
“Essentially, I went there this free agency, and it wasn’t very fun to say the least,” Kaminsky said. “I went to Sacramento, basically on a training camp deal. At the end of training camp they were essentially like, ‘We don’t have room for you.’
“That was frustrating, but I wanted to be in Phoenix the whole time. So when that happened and I went on waivers, I called my agent and said, ‘I want to go back to Phoenix’ and it happened and I’m very thankful that it happened.”
The main reason why Kaminsky wanted to return to Phoenix is the root cause of the team’s success of-late: the level of on-court chemistry.
“I know the staff, I’m comfortable with the team, I’m close with a lot of guys on the team,” he said. “So, I knew I had a chance in Phoenix to be a part of something really special with a team that’s hunting a playoff spot.
“…I wanted to be a part of something really for the first time of my career. So that was the allure of it all. And the fact that I love living here. That definitely helps too.”
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Frank Kaminsky on Suns’ run: ‘It’s really just been special’ - Arizona Sports
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