The subtle brilliance of Mason Plumlee is on display in Phoenix

Mason Plumlee moved to the Suns after spending a season and a half with the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that continually presented challenges. Facing the Clippers meant preparing for their starting center Ivica Zubac, but the task didn’t get any easier once he took his seat. When Plumlee walked onto the court, it wasn’t a moment of relief or celebration. He was a reliable backup built on strong fundamentals and was more than capable of outplaying our big backup in one-on-one games.

Now that Plumlee is with the Suns, he may not be making any more highlight-reel plays, but he’s doing exactly what most of the roster has done so far: He’s embracing his role.

Drew Eubanks was a below-average backup player last year, there’s just no other way to put it. The role of backup center doesn’t necessarily have to be a world beater. But it must be characterized by stability. The suns were worse when he was on the ground. Last season he was -106, the worst on the team. All we needed was for him to be 75% of what Nurkic was and he would be fine. However, Nurkic led the team with +404.

Eubanks is now in Utah and ironically leads the 1-7 Jazz with +14 +/-. Replacing him for Phoenix will be 11-year veteran Mason Plumlee.

Plumlee has brought much-needed stability to the Suns’ backup center position. Thanks to his strong understanding of the position, he is not hurts the team. While the offense may not be as fluid or dynamic, the Suns remain competent on both ends of the court when Plumlee is on the court.

So far, his stats are modest: an average of 16 minutes per game, 4.2 points on 65.2% shooting and 4.4 rebounds, including 1.2 on offense. He ranks fourth on the team with 11 offensive rebounds and is second with a +28 plus/minus. He also has the fourth-best net rating on the team at +6.0.

These numbers are partly due to his shared minutes with his substitute, Royce O’Neale. In their 80 minutes together this season, they have an impressive offensive rating of 138.3, a defensive rating of 114.6 and a net rating of +23.7.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer relied on Mason Plumlee when Jusuf Nurkic struggled. In the Suns’ second game against the Clippers at the Intuit Dome, Nurkic appeared rushed and unfocused, scoring -14 in just 8:47 of the first quarter. Budenholzer benched him for the remainder of the half and turned to Plumlee to provide stability at the center position and help stabilize both the offense and defense.

Mason Plumlee’s physical limitations, particularly his lack of elite athleticism, could place limits on what he can accomplish on the court. However, his intellectual approach to the game was a welcome addition to the Suns. His basketball IQ, combined with a keen sense of positioning and decision-making, allows him to make contributions beyond mere athletic ability.

This smart play was a crucial part of his seamless integration into the team system. By embracing his role and executing it effectively, Plumlee became a quiet catalyst for the Suns’ early season success. His constant presence has helped stabilize the team, contributing to their impressive seven-game winning streak and propelling them to the top of the Western Conference with an 8-1 record.

Oh, and he shoots free throws with his left hand.