When mom calls, you answer.
Suns center Alex Len knows the rule well, but he doesn't follow it out of obligation. After all, it was his mother who enabled his basketball career to flourish. He left his home at the tender age of 13 to pursue his basketball career, with Yulia Len supporting him through the sports academy, college, and him being drafted by the Suns in 2013.
Yulia was planning a visit back to Ukraine, but she had much more in mind than simply visiting her own friends. This, she thought, was the perfect opportunity for one of Ukraine's successful sons to give back through the foundation they had jointly founded: Len-D A Hand.
The Suns' 7-1 center promptly responded by donating basketballs and posters to children from his home country.
It's the latest gesture by the Alex Len foundation, which has also helped Phoenix area kids with movie nights, free bikes, helmets and haircuts.