Peter Jok signs partially guaranteed contract with Phoenix Suns

IOWA CITY — Peter Jok learned a lot about the business of professional basketball this summer.

The Iowa grad and leading scorer in the Big Ten last season agreed to a partially guaranteed contract with the Phoenix Suns on Monday, which gets him into an NBA training camp and guarantees him at least a spot on a G-League roster this season with Phoenix's affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns.

Despite offers from multiple teams in Europe, Jok chose this route — one his former teammate Jarrod Uthoff took as well — because he's dedicated to pursuing an NBA job he said he can get.

'I had some good offers in Europe, but personally I feel like I belong in the league,' Jok said. 'I feel like everybody has a different path. I'm going to stay here. If going to the G-League is what it takes for me to play in the league, then that's the route I'll take. That's what made me wait so long to make a decision. It came with this opportunity to earn this spot or a two-way contract.

'And the G-League is not bad at all. It would give me a chance to develop. I've also got a chance to get a call-up, and next year I would be ready.'

Jok said he had offers from four NBA organizations, including the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and the Suns.

His choice of Phoenix was partially for fit basketball-wise, but one of the most attractive parts of the deal was familiarity. Former Iowa Energy assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren now is part of the Suns organization as an assistant and player development coordinator, and Jok said he used to work out with Bjorkgren in Des Moines.

When Jok gets to Phoenix for camp, he'll be working with Bjorkgren to develop his game further, and said, 'that's what made me go with them, pretty much.'

Should Jok not make the Suns roster after training camp, he said he'll be guaranteed $50,000 for this season in the G-League. While more money might be available in Europe, this job security while playing in the U.S. and with a direct connection to an NBA franchise was too good to pass up, he said.

Jok had plenty of people close to him to lean on for advice about it, too.

Several players he played with and was close to at Iowa have gone through this in the last few years, Uthoff the most recent — and who followed the path Jok has laid in front of him last year. Uthoff's 10-day contract with the Mavericks, after signing a partially guaranteed contract, got him NBA minutes and Jok said that's proof enough to him it's possible.

He leaned on Uthoff a lot through this process, as well as guys like Anthony Clemmons — still affectionately known as Sapp to his former teammates and friends — and Aaron White, among others.

'I talked to Jarrod a lot; he's one of my best friends,' Jok said. 'Jarrod was in a similar situation and said you've just got to be ready for your opportunity. He said it's all about being ready. He said wherever I end up, take it as a positive and a chance to work on your game so you can be ready for whenever they call you up.

'I talked to them because they went through it.'

Jok's wait to make a decision on his professional future came following a frustrating NBA Summer League after going undrafted in June. He signed with the New Orleans Pelicans for six games in Las Vegas, and only played three, averaging 9.0 points and was 42.9 percent from 3-point range (6 of 14).

What made it so frustrating, Jok said, was his sparse minutes didn't match how the group had prepared for Summer League. He said he was with the starting group during workouts before Summer League among guys 'I felt like I was better than.'

Jok learned quickly, though, the NBA is a zero-sum game.

'This is what it's like at the next level,' Jok said. 'I'm going to have games where I'm not going to play. It's more mental than physical. I'm kind of glad (Summer League) happened like it did because it showed me what it's like at the next level. I just have to stay positive. People like Jarrod and Sapp kept telling me to stay positive and when my opportunity came, I tried to show what I could do best. It was frustrating, but it was a great learning experience.'

Jok said he doesn't have to report to Phoenix for training camp until mid-September, but plans to go there next week to 'start working out with the guys and get to know everyone down there."

Phoenix opens its season Oct. 18 against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Northern Arizona Suns and other G-League teams' schedules have not been announced.

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