Josh Okogie Battles on Court and Behind the Lens
Phoenix Suns guard Josh Okogie is renowned for his relentless defensive prowess and infectious energy on the basketball court. This summer, however, he has channeled that same passion and enthusiasm into an unexpected hobby: photography.
It all began when Okogie picked up a Sony a7 III camera during a vacation in Milan, Italy, coinciding with the vibrant scenes of Fashion Week. Encouraged by a friend to test his skills, Okogie quickly found himself captivated by the art form. "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 admits candidly.
With a commitment to improvement both on and off the court, Okogie has been immersing himself in the nuances of photography. "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," he notes. His journey hasn't been without challenges, particularly when it comes to capturing the fast-paced action of live basketball games.
In Las Vegas, Okogie put his budding skills to the test, photographing events like the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game, as well as summer league matchups between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, and his own team, the Phoenix Suns, against the Golden State Warriors. "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," Okogie reflects on the difficulty of keeping up with the game’s speed.
Understanding the technical aspects of photography is one thing, but capturing the essence of the moment is another. "Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there," Okogie explains. He looks up to seasoned photographers like David Sherman from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of Phoenix, who have mastered the art of encapsulating emotion through their lenses.
Despite his self-confessed inexperience, 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." His dedication to photography mirrors his commitment to basketball, where he aims to be a transformative presence on the court.
Recently, Okogie solidified his future with the Suns by signing a two-year, $16 million extension. His goals are clear: to provide relentless energy and serve as the team's "battery" 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 shares. "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."
Under the guidance of new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, Okogie has high hopes for 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," he says with a sense of optimism. "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."
In the offseason, Okogie plans to expand his photographic repertoire by shooting WNBA games, continuing to capture the intense emotions that unfold on the court. As he balances his dual pursuits, Okogie's story is a testament to how passion and dedication can transcend boundaries, whether on the hardwood or behind a camera lens.