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You can call him a journeyman, you can call him a role player, you can even call him just another guy on the bench.
But one thing is for sure: Someone's always calling on George McCloud.
The versatile forward can shoot the 3-pointer (he's ninth in the league, hitting almost 42 percent), slash to the basket and score from the free throw line (better than 86 percent). He's averaging 15 points and 2 1/2 steals off the bench for the Suns -- which, unfortunately for both the Suns and McCloud, hasn't been good enough against Portland thus far.
Still, there are some in the NBA who figured McCloud would never make that kind of contribution.
McCloud started his career with the Indiana Pacers, the seventh pick overall in the 1989 NBA Draft. But a slow start and injuries hurt his chances with the Pacers and sent him on an eight-year odyssey that has seen him do stints with the New Jersey Nets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, a team in Italy and the CBA.
He landed with the Suns last season and has become a key bench player for them. He scored seven straight points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the Trailblazers as the Suns took the lead. Portland eventually won, 95-85.
McCloud's contract is over after this season, making him a free agent once again.
You can be sure someone will give him a call.
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