Shawn Marion set for induction into Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor

One leg of what Shawn Marion knows he so richly deserves occurs Friday night when he will be inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring Of Honor during that team’s game against the New York Knicks.

The Suns made Marion the ninth overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft. He played for the Suns from 1999-2008, and was selected to the All-Star team in 2003, ’05, ’06 and ’07.

During the 1999-01 seasons, one of Marion’s teammates was point guard Jason Kidd. Marion also  teammates in Phoenix with point guard Steve Nash from 2004-08.

“I think it’s a great accomplishment for him to be inducted,” Kidd said. “There’s a lot of great Phoenix Suns on the Ring Of Honor, so he’s well deserved to be there.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity tomorrow night to see his name go up there. He got to play with two pretty good point guards to help his career.”

Marion and Kidd were also teammates with the Dallas Mavericks from 2009-12, and were key figures when the Mavs captured the 2011 NBA title.

In his career Marion scored 17,700 points and grabbed 10,101 rebounds. The 6-7 small forward averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in his career, was considered one of the best players in the league at his size, and also was a fierce defensive player.

And that begs the question: A third team All-NBA selection in ’05 and ’06, did Marion do enough in his 16-year career to warrant a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame? Kidd, who was enshrined in the Hall Of Fame in 2018, definitely think so.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Kidd said. “Sometimes you have to be patient. I think Shawn’s numbers speak for themselves.

“He’s a great player, but also a great person. I think it’s just a time thing that he’s fighting against, or being patient. But I think one day he will be in the Hall of Fame.”

FINCH ON DEFENDING DONCIC: Without giving up any secrets, Minnesota coach Chris Finch believes he has the ideal strategy to slow down Mavs point guard Luka Doncic.

“Make life as hard as possible for him in every way that you can,” Finch said. “Show him as many bodies. Fortunately, we have a bunch of guys that we feel can move over and guard him at times so we can stay fresh on him.”

Finch also said it’s imperative for teams, when defending Doncic, to give him different looks.

“All these great players — and he’s at the top of the list – you can’t give them a steady diet of one look defensively,” Finch said. “You try to play with physicality.

“He’s a physical player. You’ve got to match is physicality without fouling. It takes everything you’ve got.”

Apparently, whatever strategy the Timberwolves utilized against Doncic during Thursday’s game, it was up for debate. Doncic tallied 16 points in the first quarter on 6-of-10 shots, added 10 more in the second quarter on 3-of-5 attempts, was 3-of-5 from the field for seven points in the third quarter, and 3-of-7 from the floor with six points in the fourth quarter.

Overall, Doncic finished with 39 points, six rebounds and 13 assists, proving that there hasn’t been a defense designed to stop what he can accomplish.

BRIEFLY: The Mavs played Thursday’s game without guard Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion), guard Josh Green (right elbow sprain), guard Seth Curry (illness) and forward Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation). . . Minnesota coach Chris Finch said Mavs rookie center Dereck Lively II looks “way more comfortable” now than he did when the Mavs played their first two preseason games this season in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. against the Timberwolves. Of course, those were also Lively’s first two games in an NBA uniform. “Of course, (his first time in) the league and going against players and the physicality, it was so long ago,” Finch said. “Not much you could take from it back then. He just feels way more comfortable in his role (now). He and Luka (Doncic) have a great chemistry. I think they lead the league in lobs, which is a big part of what they try to do here. So, I think he’s a perfect compliment.” In the two preseason games against the Timberwolves, Lively scored four points, collected nine rebounds and was 2-of-4 from the field in 38 minutes. On Thursday, Lively finished with 15 points and six rebounds, and was 7-of-9 from the field in 32 minutes, and the Timberwolves prevailed, 119-101. . .The Mavs will hot the road for games Saturday in Portland and Monday in Denver before returning home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Mavs and Minnesota are tied with the NBA’s best road record at 8-4.

X: @DwainPrice