In the days before the NBA trade deadline, Royce O’Neale became one of the biggest targets on the market and a player that multiple teams were hoping to sign.
Yet, the 30-year-old star wasn’t paying attention to all the trade talk.
When asked on Run It Back where he was when he found out he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns, O’Neale responded with a very honest and relatable answer.
“I was actually playing Call Of Duty,” O’Neale said.
Despite being in his video game, he soon found out he was traded, threw his gaming controller down, and felt shocked before he became excited for “another opportunity to keep playing.”
.@MichelleDBeadle "How did you find out you were traded?"@BucketsONeale00 "I was actually playing Call Of Duty." 😂
📺: https://t.co/oxMs3CAEGu pic.twitter.com/NhcUxPvjT7
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 1, 2024
O’Neale then packed his bags and moved to the Suns, where he has been quite successful so far.
During his seven games with Phoenix, O’Neale has averaged 9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
He has become an important part of the team’s bench, adding help with offense and spacing the floor.
So far, O’Neale has delivered exactly what the Suns have wanted.
During his six years in the NBA, O’Neale has played for both the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, but his time with the Suns might end up being the most important.
The team is fifth in the West which means they have plenty of room to grow, but they are still considered one of the most competitive teams in their conference.
They have a few of the most dominant players in the league but the Suns will only find serious postseason success if the rest of the roster performs well.
So far, O’Neale has looked like the sort of role player that Phoenix needs.
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