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Bismack Biyombo and the Phoenix Suns found each other at the perfect time. For the Suns, they were dealing with a rash of injuries and COVID-related absences that saw Jalen Smith starting at center. For Biyombo, after turning down multiple offers and taking some time away from basketball to process the death of his father, the Suns represented a triumphant return to the league on a championship contender.
But unlike Phoenix’s other short-term additions playing on hardship exceptions, Biyombo signed with the team for the rest of the season, quickly proving himself with and without a healthy Deandre Ayton on the floor. He’s only suited up for the Suns nine times, but his impact has been immediate.
“Bismack has been a tremendous asset for us, not only on the floor but as a human being,” head coach Monty Williams said. “He’s an unbelievable worker, he’s a pro’s pro, and he’s just a good dude. And he’s helped us win games. There’s no other way to explain it.”
But exactly how has Biyombo been able to plug himself into the Suns’ system so seamlessly after being off any NBA court since last May? We’ll start with the numbers on the latest Bourguet Breakdown.
Though nine games is a small sample size, Biyombo’s career-high 10.8 points per game represent a significant leap from his previous career best of 7.4 points a night. It’s entirely possible those numbers drop a bit with a healthy Ayton returning soon, but his ability to produce in limited or extended minutes has helped Biyombo supplant Jalen Smith in the pecking order at the 5-spot.
“He’s a true vet, plays so hard, man, and like I said, from day one when he was here, it felt like he was with us for months,” Mikal Bridges described. “So he fit right in and it’s just great to have him out there.”
In just 21.4 minutes a night, Biyombo is also putting up 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, the latter of which would be tied for 19th in the league if he had played enough games to qualify. He’s shooting 70.2 percent from the floor, which would rank fifth among players who have played in at least half of their team’s games. And Biyombo’s per 36 minutes numbers — 18.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks — are reminiscent of JaVale McGee, the per 36 minutes god.
He’s been a massive help on the glass too, providing the Suns’ top-five offense with additional opportunities thanks to his 3.2 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks ninth in the league. His 14.6 offensive rebounding percentage ranks 11th, trailing only Steven Adams (15.2 percent) among all qualified players.
“I keep saying it, playing hard is a talent,” Chris Paul said. “And he does that, so when you play hard, good things happen. He’s been a huge addition to our team.”
Biyombo’s individual success sticks out, but he’s actually having an impact on a winning team in his minutes off the bench too. His +9.2 point differential is a team high. Phoenix’s offensive rating drops from 119.2 points per 100 possessions to 114.6 when he sits, and the team’s defensive rating spikes from 98.7 with him on the floor to a team-worst 105.9 when he’s out.
“He’s a professional,” Devin Booker said. “Starting there, he knows what it takes and he’s a leader. He fits right into what we do. He’s setting screens, he’s rolling, he’s talking on defense. He’s the loudest man out there a lot of times, and to be the anchor of a defense, that’s what you have to do. So it’s been a big help for us in many ways.”
For Biyombo’s perspective, playing for a title contender has forced him to elevate his game, which just so happens to fit in nicely with Phoenix’s system.
“You have to be demanding of yourself,” he said. “You have to lower your mistakes because you’re a veteran. You understand. But when we’re on the floor, I think we’re trying to complement each other, whether it’s defensively or offensively, trying to stick to the game plan. I think the way we play and our style of play, it fits in perfectly. For us bigs that play this way, it’s perfect.”
But what way is “this way,” exactly?
It’s been alluded to already here, and many times in the past whenever Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee or even Jalen Smith have come up, but we’ll say it again: The “Feed DA” crowd must not be paying attention, because there is a very easy path to success for centers in Phoenix.
Set a good screen. Roll hard. And finish. (Or kick it out to open shooters.)
That’s an oversimplification, but Bismack Biyombo is the latest Suns big to follow that basic blueprint and yield eye-opening results.
“Offensively, our bigs, if they play within the box of setting hard screens and diving and making plays in the pocket, you can have some success with our guards,” Williams said. “He just has a high IQ and he understands if he frees up a guy, he’s probably going to be free or he’s going to have a chance to offensive rebound. And he plays extremely hard. He lays it all on the line every time he steps on the floor.”
None of this is to say the Suns did the right thing in failing to extend Ayton, or that they’d be just fine without him. Playing the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and shorthanded Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz teams in January is NOT the same as what Phoenix will encounter in the playoffs.
But it’s fairly revealing to see yet another Suns big step into this 0.5 offense a produce. Entering Monday’s game against Utah, Biyombo was averaging 1.59 points per possession on pick-and-roll plays as the roll man, which ranked sixth in the entire league, per NBA.com.
Among players averaging at least 2.0 pick-and-roll possessions per game, that figure led the league, with McGee (1.51 PPP) and Ayton (1.35 PPP) not far behind, in third and fifth place, respectively.
It’s not just simple, straight-line dives to the rim either. He’s shown an aptitude for relocating after his initial roll is covered:
He seals pretty effectively when a shorter or smaller player gets switched onto him, unleashing his ball launcher of a hook shot for an easy bucket:
And he’s even building chemistry with the Suns’ guards to where this kind of backdoor connection is possible:
“I think it’s part of the veteran-ness,” Cam Johnson said. “He’s been in the league 10-11 years, he’s seen a lot of things.”
Biyombo’s seen plenty of defensive coverages during his time in the NBA, but even for a seasoned vet, he’s suddenly making plays and reads on the short roll that indicate Phoenix’s “we score” mentality has already sunk in.
“We try to simplify it,” Booker explained. “People have been trying to trap us with a hard hedge, and we hit him in that pocket and he has to make a play. The times they don’t step up, he gets a wide-open dunk, so you have to rotate, and we have shooters weakside also. So it’s kind of a pick your poison.”
Against the Pacers last week, Biyombo tied his career high with 5 assists. Not all of the rim-running assists below were out of pick-and-rolls, but he’s still displayed the vision to locate open shooters on the perimeter and punish collapsing defenses in the process:
That trust he already has in those shooters is notable, and when opponents decide to trap Chris Paul or Devin Booker out of pick-and-rolls, that extra layer of playmaking becomes another weapon in the Suns’ arsenal.
“I kind of figured that if they start blitzing, we gotta start finding guys open,” Biyombo said. “Just go one, and then you find the other guys open, and then at the end of the day, you gotta make them make a decision, whether they’re gonna guard me or stay with the shooter. And we have a lot of shooters on the team, that opens up the floor too.”
Keeping your role simple when joining a team with an established culture and a high-powered offense is typically the best strategy. Then again, so is simply playing with Chris Paul. We saw this exact same show play out with Stix just a few weeks ago.
“I think what probably helped those two guys more than anything was having Chris and Devin and Cam Payne facilitate in pick-and-rolls, getting those guys the ball where they could be effective,” Williams said. “Biz is a guy that’s been in a number of systems and played well, and we felt like his screening and diving and ability to score around the basket was something that could really help us.”
So far this season, the Point God has assisted on 15 of Biyombo’s 40 made field goals. The next-closest player on that list is Cam Payne, with 5 assists.
“One, [Biyombo] knows how to play his position and he stays in his box,” Williams said. “He’s not out there taking jump shots or crazy shots around the basket. He either has something around the rim, his jump hook, or he finds guys on the second side. And then the other side is he’s playing with Chris. I think with a guy like Biz, Chris is going to enhance all of his skills, and that’s what you’re seeing when those two are in pick-and-roll.”
The Suns’ Net Rating skyrockets when Biyombo shares the court with CP3. Although Paul’s known Biyombo for years thanks to his role in the players union, he’s never had the chance to play with him until now. Paul said he’s talked to Biz’s former Toronto Raptors teammate, Kyle Lowry, who consistently calls him “solid.”
For the Point God, being “solid” and playing hard is really all he needs to work with.
“Ain’t too much to see, it’s an easy game,” Paul said of their pick-and-roll synergy. “It’s an easy game, I tell Biz that all the time. I might not make shots all the time, but I know how to make two people guard me. So his energy and rolling, either he gonna be open or somebody else gonna be open. And Biz knows what to do with it: Put it in the basket.”
Bismack Biyombo’s big minutes won’t continue once the Suns get DA back, but even their star center is loving what he’s brought to the table.
“I love Biyombo already,” Ayton said. “I’ve been playing against him. Dude’s loud on defense, man. He can tell, he knows he’s in a good position, and the guys, we embrace him. The dude just plays hard. He works hard as well. He’s vocal like he’s been a part of the team, he’s been a part of our culture. So he fits right in. It’s perfect.”
After nearly a year out of the NBA, taking time to process family trauma and waiting for the right offer to come along, Biyombo joined the Suns at the perfect time for both parties. He’s been the ideal fit, an alternative for Monty Williams on the nights where McGee struggles with foul trouble, and a failsafe in the event of injury in the frontcourt.
Small sample size or not, Biyombo has rarely looked this good in his career. And now he’s having a blast trying to help the Phoenix Suns win their first ever title in his most promising season yet.
“I think with with our team, when I got here, these guys are believers,” Biyombo said. “They don’t have wishes, they have will to get out there and get it done. So when you’re in environments like this, where guys are just believers and they have the will to get out there and do it, it’s fun.”
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