The Suns' offseason has included kind of activities any regular Joe wishes he could fit into a schedule with his buddies. Paintball. The beach. Hiking. A trip to Las Vegas.
Although fun-filled, those off-the-court adventures have a purpose, however, one that point guard Eric Bledsoe explained on the Bickley & Marotta Show (Arizona Sports 98.7 FM) this week.
"This offseason we've done a great job of a lot of team bonding: climbing the mountain, San Diego, doing spinning classes," Bledsoe said. "We've been doing a lot of stuff and everybody's getting along. Once the season comes, everybody can keep each other accountable without everybody thinking they're just getting on them."
Accountability accompanies the confidence that new Head Coach Earl Watson has instilled in his players. The 13-year point guard, Bledsoe said, has invested personal and sincere attention into each and every athlete and staff member on the team. That in turn has led to each of them wanting to give maximum effort on the Suns' behalf.
"Earl, he's related to us, all the guys on the team," Bledsoe said. "Not just the players, but the staff, the video guys and everybody. Helping me reach my full potential and everybody else on the team as well. He just gives everybody the confidence and the motivation to reach your full potential. Whatever he's doing, he's doing a great job."
Already Back at Work
Bledsoe has tried to do likewise. For a second consecutive summer, the 6-1 sandwich of strength and speed has spent the vast majority of his offseason in Phoenix, working out with any and all teammates who do likewise. The number of his gym partners has increased greatly, with Alex Len, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker and others joining the 26-year-old in his early preparation for next season.
Bledsoe could have plenty of personal motivation if he needed it. He was enjoying an All-Star caliber season (20.4 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 spg) before a torn meniscus cut short his 2015-16 campaign.
Now considered a veteran leader on a team full of youngsters, Bledsoe is using a team perspective to fuel his offseason fire.
"We only have one goal, and that's making the playoffs," he said. "Once you see the leader of the team, the point guard of the team who has the ball pretty much the whole time in the game directing everybody, I think it just rubs off on everybody. It makes everybody say 'Let's come together and try to make this push.'"