Posted: Nov. 1, 2010
The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Jared Dudley to a multi-year contract extension, the club has announced.
“Jared Dudley is a valued member of what makes this franchise special,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “The uncertain future made these discussions challenging; but in the end, good will prevailed and we are delighted to have reached an agreement.”
Winner of the team’s 2009-10 Dan Majerle Hustle Award, the 6-7, 220-pound Dudley has established himself as one of the team’s best defenders and one of the league’s premier three-point shooters while becoming a fan-favorite in Phoenix. The fourth-year performer enjoyed a break-out year in 2009-10 in his first full season with the Suns, averaging a career-high 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and career-best 1.4 assists while seeing action in all 82 games. Dudley also led the Suns with a career-high 81 steals last season.
In addition to his defensive tenacity and trademark hustle, it was Dudley’s improved long range shooting that made him indispensable to the Suns’ attack. On a team that shot the second-best three-point percentage in NBA history, Dudley connected on a team-best and career-high 45.8 percent of his three-point attempts, fourth-best in the NBA. “JD” made 120 threes overall, 116 of which came in a reserve role, third-most of any NBA bench player (2010 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith). Dudley entered last season with 38 career three-pointers.
Originally selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 22nd overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Boston College product and 2007 ACC Player of the Year was acquired by the Suns along with Jason Richardson and a 2010 second-round pick (used to select Gani Lawal) on Dec. 10, 2008. He owns career averages of 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 223 games (23 starts), including 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 130 games (one start) with Phoenix.