Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie Ventures into Photography While Preparing for Competitive Season
Phoenix Suns guard Josh Okogie is widely recognized for his defensive prowess and relentless energy on the basketball court. This summer, however, he has found a new outlet for his passion: photography. Okogie’s journey into the world of cameras began during a vacation in Milan, Italy, coinciding with Fashion Week. Inspired by a friend, he picked up a Sony a7 III camera and began to explore this new form of expression.
"I'm still not good. I'll say 90-95% of my pictures are BS, but I feel like I've gotten better—slightly—each day I've taken pictures," Okogie candidly remarked. His humility does not undermine the tangible progress he has made since he first started. "I've kind of figured out how the camera works, how to do the settings, how to do the white balance and all that. So it's been pretty cool."
Okogie took his camera skills to the next level by photographing live basketball games. His efforts include capturing moments from the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game, the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets summer league game, and his very own Phoenix Suns’ matchup against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas.
"It's very fast. Every time somebody dunks, by the time I take a picture, he's already done finished the dunk and he's already playing defense," he explained. The speed of the game poses a significant challenge, but Okogie is determined to improve. "I feel like the biggest improvement I have to make is adjusting to the speed of the game and not only anticipating, but also about being at the right angle to get the best picture."
Okogie highly respects seasoned photographers such as David Sherman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of the Phoenix Suns. "That's my guy. He films the Wolves and he also films a lot of other NBA-sanctioned events. So I've always paid close attention to David," Okogie noted. His ultimate goal in photography is to capture the emotions behind each moment, making them resonate even with those who were not present. "Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there," he pointed out.
Amid his newfound hobby, Okogie remains fully committed to his primary role with the Phoenix Suns. Recently, he signed a two-year, $16 million extension, signaling both his value to the team and his dedication to contributing on both sides of the floor. "My mentality is just to go out there and just try to give this team the energy that they need on both sides of the floor," he emphasized. The guard sees himself as the ‘motor’ of the team, a catalyst to excite and motivate his teammates. "We have a lot of talent on this team, but I want to be the battery of this team, if that makes sense. The motor of this team, to get people going, get people excited to play, get people moving."
Okogie has also begun dialogues with the Suns' new head coach, Mike Budenholzer, discussing objectives and expectations. Looking ahead, he believes the Western Conference will be extremely competitive in the upcoming season. "The West is going to be really competitive next year. I feel like we can be as good as we want to be. I feel like our ceiling is as high as we make it. I'm excited. I feel like if we get a good training camp and we start to jell, the sky's the limit for us."
Okogie's multifaceted dedication, combining his competitive edge on the court with an artistic pursuit off it, paints a picture of an athlete who is not only versatile but also driven by a passion to continually improve. With his determination, both Phoenix Suns fans and photography enthusiasts have much to look forward to.