The Phoenix Suns have been mum on the health of Marquese Chriss who went down with an ankle injury in last Thursday’s Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chriss injured his left ankle early in the second quarter and needed to be helped off the court. Chriss would not return to the game and the Suns have been silent on the extent of the injury.
However, should Chriss be ready for the season opener, barring any major injury or set-back, he is aiming for a big jump in Year #2.
Chriss was impressive in his rookie season being named to the U.S. Team for the 2017 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend and named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in February.
But Chriss is using this offseason to fine tune his game.
“I think I’m trying to work on my post game more, face-up and try to push the ball on the break, ” Chriss said via the Basketball Insiders.
Turnovers still plagued Chriss during the Summer League games even though he mentioned his focus on securing the ball better moving forward.
“I’m trying to take care of the ball a little bit more ,” Chriss said. “I’ve had way too many turnovers the past three games, I think that’s my biggest weakness right now, just taking care of the ball.”
In the Summer League games Chriss appeared to have added more bulk to his frame which was certainly noticeable.
“My numbers right now, I’m going to keep that private so I’m not going to say anything,” Chriss told reporters.
“I think it’s helping a lot, just keeping myself more stable and being a bit harder to move.”
Chris is eager to make a bigger impression on the Suns and the NBA in his 2nd season and the 20-year old seems poised to do just that.
“Just to produce night in and night out,” Chriss said.
“Whatever the team asks me to do, I’m going to do it. Whatever my role is that Earl (Suns head coach Earl Watson) wants me to do, I’m going to try and do it to the best of my abilities.”