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[Saba Sports News] The Phoenix Suns made waves in the NBA trade season by acquiring center Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, addressing their need for frontcourt support.
Richards didn’t just debut with the Suns; he made history. In his first game on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, Richards accomplished a feat never before seen in NBA history, according to StatMuse.
Richards recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds while shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from the field. He became the first player in league history to debut for a new team with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 85% or better from the field, and committing zero turnovers. He added one assist and one steal to his stat line, while going 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
The Suns have struggled with inconsistent center play, but Richards’ dominant performance could reignite their season. Coming off the bench, Richards logged 29 minutes compared to starter Mason Plumlee’s 13 minutes, highlighting his impact.
His addition also takes one of the top available big men off the trade market—a blow to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, who were reportedly interested in acquiring him.
Richards had already boosted his trade value with a productive start to the season while filling in for an injured Mark Williams on the Hornets.
Over 21 games, including nine starts, Richards averaged 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 56.1% from the field and 67.8% from the free-throw line.
Originally selected 42nd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Hornets via a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, Richards spent four seasons in Charlotte before joining the Suns.
His debut performance is a promising sign for Phoenix, now 21-20 and sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference standings after two consecutive wins.