Dragan bender – Cronkite News

Slug: Sports-Suns Bender, 685 words
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By Logan Newman
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Center Tyson Chandler spent the early summers of his NBA career getting a close up look at former Bulls forward Toni Kukoč as his teammate in Chicago.

Some 5,000 miles away in Croatia, young Dragan Bender was just learning the game along with his older brother Ivan, and the brothers carefully studied Kukoč’s NBA highlights from afar.

Now, Bender is a 19-year-old rookie forward with the Phoenix Suns playing alongside Chandler, who is in his 16th NBA season. And Chandler sees similarities in the two players.

Continue reading “Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender plays his own way”

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By TAMSYN STONEBARGER

Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender have a lot more in common than opening night jitters against the Sacramento Kings Wednesday. The Suns’ rookies step onto the Talking Stick Resort Arena court for their first NBA regular season game.

The Bond

All three live in the same Tempe complex, along with second-year veteran Devin Booker, making it easier for them to bond on a level other than basketball.

“It’s fun,” said Chriss, a 6-foot-10 forward. “We always hang out. It’s easy for us to talk to each other and kind of grow as young players.”

Continue reading “From pancakes to ping pong, Suns rookies build bond as season begins”

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Tag: Dragan bender

Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender plays his own way

From pancakes to ping pong, Suns rookies build bond as season begins