Few NBA players know Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat better than the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, who teamed with Gortat in Orlando since Gortat entered the NBA in 2007. They battled countless times in practice over the course of three-plus seasons. Now that Gortat is settling into a sixth-man role with the Suns, Howard has some advice for his former protege, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:
↵↵↵The biggest thing for him is to not get satisfied with what he’s accomplished with his new team and stay humble and don’t let the success that he’s had in games change who he is as a person and as a player. So, I just challenge him to remain that same person he was when he was trying to get the big contract, play big minutes and stuff like that.
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Since joining Phoenix in a December trade from Orlando, Gortat is indeed trending upward, averaging 11.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks; with the Magic, those numbers were 4, 4.7, and 0.8, respectively. It's hard to argue Howard's point that Gortat can only get better, but that's contingent on his continuing to work hard. The mid-range jumper he's flashed in Phoenix is evidence he's not giving up on his game.
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