Dragan Bender has found ways to make this season not feel so doom and gloom.

When coming out of timeouts for home games, he takes a Gatorade sweat towel and puts it over the game monitor at the scorers table to mess with Suns director of game presentations, Brett Samet.

“I just like seeing him get mad,” said a laughing Bender. “They just got a new (screen) last week so it’s pretty fun. Just having fun with them and trying to be positive.”

Bender’s season started deep on the bench after playing all 82 games last season and Phoenix (17-60) didn’t pick up the fourth-year option on his rookie contract.

Instead of sulking, Bender, 21, continued to work and now finds himself finishing the season as a starter.

“This sounds kind of strange, but I think it was good for him not to play early in the season,” Igor Kokoskov said. “He kind of hit a wall. It was like, I’ve got to earn this. Keep working. Keep building. Gained confidence.”

Bender has only played in 42 games this season, but he got an opportunity to start when Deandre Ayton suffered a left ankle sprain at Charlotte in late January. He responded with consecutive double-doubles in back-to-back games against Minnesota.

He’s now started 23 games and reached double figures in scoring in seven of those games as he had 12 points and 10 boards for his third double-double of the season in Monday’s 122-113 win over Cleveland at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

“It’s just good to be out there and being on the court, trying to contribute and win the games,” said Bender, who is averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds this season.

“That’s what is for us right now, and me personally,” he continued. “Go out there and close the season strong. Get some more wins. We were on the right road, the right path after All-Star break. Kind of fallen down a little bit, but we have to get back on that winning side.”

Bender also started his ritual of placing a sweaty towel over the monitor to irritate Samet about three weeks ago.

“It’s just my guy working in front of the screen,” Bender said. “Pretty much the first day I got here, we’ve been close. Just messing around. He’s messing around with me. I’m messing around with him.”

It’s all good.

“He’s a funny guy,” Samet said. “As far as players go, he’s always been great about saying hi. So every time he sees me at the table, he always tries pulling a fast one on me by putting on top so I can’t see the monitor. We always get a good laugh.”

Bender had a rough outing in Saturday’s loss against Memphis as Jonas Valanciunas had his way with him in the paint in posting a monster double-double of 34 points and 20 rebounds.

With Ayton missing the fourth with a left ankle sprain Valanciunas had 14 points and six rebounds in the quarter.

Bender has shown he can play solid positional defense, but still has had trouble defending bigger foes in the paint. Coach Igor Kokoskov said Bender was playing out of position at center against Memphis, but being 7-foot-1 lends him to guarding players his height even if they substantially outweigh him.

Valanciunas is listed at 7-0, 265 pounds. Bender is an inch taller, but weighs just 225.

“We needed more muscle, physicality,” Kokoskov said after Saturday’s game. “I won’t call names, but they were more physical, stronger than we were.”

Bender responded to that game with more physicality and 10 boards against Cleveland without Ayton, who didn’t play Monday, and got help on the glass from Josh Jackson and Richaun Holmes, whom each had 10 rebounds as well. 

“I’m glad we had those three guys in that department,” Kokoskov said after Monday’s game. “Help us get the rebounds.” 

Bender is shooting just 23.3 percent from 3 after knocking down 36.6 percent of his 3s last season. That’s clearly a huge drop off, but Bender has passed on shooting the 3-ball this season.

“Everybody wants to shoot the ball, but it’s about the situation,” Bender said. “If a guy is closing hard, I’ll put it on the floor and try to create for myself or try to get it someone else involved. Pass the ball out for an open shot. It’s just me personally trying to find the best available shot on the court. Not necessarily just jack the ball up and hope for the best. If I’m wide open and I have space, I’m definitely going to take that shot.”  

Since Phoenix didn’t pick up Bender’s fourth-year option, there’s a chance he won’t be back with the Suns, who picked him fourth overall in the 2016 draft as a 17-year-old out of Croatia.

Bender hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being a lottery pick, but he’s persevered and is now starting.

“You get out there and you play your ass off and you just want to show everybody that you deserve that spot,” Bender said. “Not necessarily that you’re going to be the starter for the next month of the season, but show people that you work hard and didn’t give up.”

So Bender is far from giving up on basketball.

“For me, it was about getting out there and helping the team, but at the same time, showing people that I still care no matter if I don’t play or sit on the bench,” he continued. “I still care about basketball. I still care about this team. I still care about playing. That was huge thing for me and it’s just built from that point on. Just go out there each and every day and prove myself.”   

Bender will find out this summer if he’s shown enough for a team to give him a shot for 2019-20 and beyond.

“Who knows,” Bender said. “You never known until the last minute when you sign the contract or you’re having a conversation with people, but it is what is. Just go out there and play the game the right way. I’m not playing for my contract or playing for the future. It’s for me to go out there and try to help the team win the games. That’s the most important thing for us right now.”

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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