Former UNC basketball standout Nassir Little released by the Phoenix Suns
By Luke Sugar
It’s back to the drawing board for UNC basketball alum Nassir Little, as the Phoenix Suns released him and teammate EJ Liddell on Wednesday.
The Phoenix Suns are waiving forwards Nassir Little and EJ Liddell, per sources. By releasing both, the Suns open up a roster spot and create flexibility for signings and trades during the season. Suns will stretch the three years and $22 million remaining on Little’s deal. pic.twitter.com/UTsuimA2yX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2024
This past season, Little averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game for the Phoenix Suns. He only played 45 games while battling a knee injury.
Little’s best season came in 2021-2022, where he averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game for the Portland Trail Blazers. Little spent his first four seasons with Portland, before being traded to Phoenix as a part of the Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Deandre Ayton blockbuster deal on September 27, 2023.
Little’s physical gifts — like his impressive athleticism, 7-foot-1 wingspan, and fast-twitch explosiveness — have always shined in his game. Little is a respectable defender, and on the other end of the floor, he attacks the basket with a vengeance, making defenders think twice before stepping in his path.
Unfortunately, Little’s five-year NBA career has been plagued with injuries and inconsistent shooting. He’s never played more than 54 games in a season, and his career injury log is full of knee and ankle injuries and concussions. It’s difficult for a player to get in a rhythm when constant health issues keep them off the floor.
Little’s streaky three-point shooting has been an Achilles heel. He’s a career 33% shooter from beyond the arc and shot just 30% from deep last year. The NBA, as we know, is a three-ball driven league. So, as a wing, it’s difficult to make an NBA roster without a consistent three-point shot in your arsenal.
While being released from the Suns is certainly a set-back for Little, I expect him to fight his way back onto an NBA roster. Little has time to get plenty of shots up, work on his consistency and nurse any lingering injuries this offseason. As long as he can stay healthy, this won’t be the last of Little in the NBA. We’ll stay tuned for the next chapter in Little’s basketball career.
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