Paul Coro

azcentral sports

During summer pickup games in Phoenix, Suns rookie Marquese Chriss’ initial instinct was to set screens for his new teammates and then float to open space on the perimeter.

Dive to the rim, they told Chriss repeatedly.

Once he started taking that 6-foot-10, 230-pound athletic frame toward the rim, they never stopped looking for him there. It is getting to the point that they entrust his leaping ability to snatch 50-50 lobs like a receiver on an end-zone fade.

“I would say it’s more like 75-25,” Chriss said.

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The 19-year-old looks like he belongs on an NBA court, whether he is heading to the rim on alley-oops and dunk follows or off his go-to lightning spin move in the post. Through three preseason games, Chriss is averaging 12.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game after a 16-point, eight-rebound outing in 25 minutes off the bench Friday night at Portland.

“I feel extremely comfortable with what I’m capable of doing,” Chriss said. “I think it’s starting to show. It’s still preseason but I think a lot of people are coming out to try to prove themselves and I’m just trying to play hard.”

Chriss has a rare combination of fearless, aggressive power around the rim and a confident, soft shooting touch on the perimeter. He did not play an organized basketball game until high school but he did play pickup games at the park, where he stuck to jump shots and ball-handling. Those skills helped entice the Suns to trade for the No. 8 draft choice in June to get the power forward.

Just as he hammered an alley-oop pass and a teammate miss for dunks, got fouled on another alley-oop and barely missed a one-handed slam follow attempt on Friday, Chris also dribble drove for a score and took a pair of trailing, long jump shots.

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“When he gets bigger, he can be that enforcer-like bully guy that has a finesse game to him and play above the rim, which is very rare,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “Usually, bullies or enforcers can’t really jump but you get the guy who can jump above the rim.”

There are flashes of youthfulness too. Portland’s Noah Vonleh scored on Chriss on three game-deciding, late-game consecutive trips Friday. He posted up Chriss twice and then nudged Chriss away to create room for an open jumper as Chriss looked at the official.

Chriss was criticized for rebounds and fouls as a Washington freshman but is faring somewhat better in both departments this preseason. He seeks opponents for box-outs, keeps missed shots alive for teammates and has 11 fouls in 74 minutes.

“I’ve never really been scared of contact or hitting people,” Chriss said. “I think I’m used to it already. I’m just getting adjusted to try to play to the referees’ standards and work around that.”

Free throws

* The Suns waived training camp invitees Gracin Bakumanya, Derek Cooke Jr. and Shaquille Harrison, a trio expected to play for D-League affiliate Northern Arizona. The roster is at 16 with undrafted rookie Derrick Jones Jr. still aboard with 14 guaranteed players and non-guaranteed guard John Jenkins.

* Center Tyson Chandler rejoined the Suns for Monday’s practice after missing two preseason games and a practice last week for personal reasons.

* Suns broadcaster Tom Leander and senior editor Tommy Arguelles won a Rocky Mountain Emmy for producing the one-hour documentary, "Sunderella Suns," commemorating the 40-year anniversary of the Suns' 1976 NBA Finals team. Suns Productions executive producer Bob Adlhoch also won in the live sports producer category for the 2015-16 season's broadcasts.

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him attwitter.com/paulcoro.