(AP)

Just last week, the Suns picked up the team option on Jared Dudley (a decision Suns general manager Steve Kerr called "a no-brainer"), and it was a convenient reminder that it’s been a little more than two years since the Dudley was the brash overachieving kid from San Diego who wound up winning ACC Player of the Year honors at Boston College.

A year after being taken by the Bobcats with the 22d pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, he was traded to Phoenix along with Jason Richardson and spent the back half of last season fitting in with the Suns. Much like the way Dudley went from being a late sign with the Eagles to making a name for himself in one of the country’s toughest conferences, he’s now trying to carve out his own niche in the NBA using intangibles as his tools.

“I just feel like someone that has to keep on improving,” Dudley said this morning at shootaround. “Usually, underdogs are like that. You’ve always got to show that you can stay in this league and for me, that’s been throughout my whole career, my whole life, and I don’t mind it. I kind of embrace it.”

Dudley knew immediately that he’d have to change his game to fit the NBA, and along with improving his jump shot he has put a huge emphasis on making defense his specialty.

“I knew going from college to the NBA my role was going to change,” said Dudley, who stopped by the Heights yesterday to watch the Eagles practice. “Everybody knew that. You have to be able to hit the outside jump shot consistently in this league for a wing to be able to play. I think one of my roles in this league is to be a spacer. I think defensively, for me to get more playing time and to stay in this league for 10 to 12 years, you have to be able to not only be a good defender but have that be your specialty.”

During the Suns' 104-96 win Tuesday over Miami, Dudley manned up against Dwyane Wade, which for most third year players would be like being thrown to the wolves. Wade, however, missed 11 of his 18 shots and all of his 3s and Dudley was +10 while he was on the floor. Kerr said his defensive effort was “as good a job on Wade as anybody that I’ve seen in a while.”

Kerr compared Dudley more to Shane Battier. Others have compared him to Bruce Bowen this season. Either way, Kerr said, “I like hearing that he wants to take on that kind of role.”

“He’s a very underrated defender,” Kerr said. “What he does, he’s very smart, he tries to keep offensive guys off balance and he does it by moving his hands and his feet and kind of attacking the offensive guy and putting him on his heels. It’s usually the other way around. Guys kind of wait for the offensive guy to make their move. Jared just was a way of bothering people and making them uncomfortable. He’s got a big wingspan, he’s got big hands and he’s got quick feet. So he just gets position and does a really good job of making people uncomfortable.”

Having the Suns keep him on for another year, Dudley said, was definitely a positive, considering the climate around the league.

“As you see a lot of guys in the league, they’re not picking up the team options,” Dudley said. “With this recession, it’s all about producing. I felt early on in the summertime working hard, staying in shape, improving to be able to get that option. You play hard this year and then next year, you never know when an extension comes. You’re always pushing to get to your goals.”

When he arrived in Phoenix, he was still trying to figure out how to fit in on a team that was sort of in flux. He’s averaging 21.4 minutes a night through five games, and he’s one of the main pieces on the second unit,

“He’s a coach’s dream,” said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. “Everybody likes to coach guys like that. We talk all the time about how you can get a stat sheet and look and he can have no points, no rebounds, and he can still be a factor in the game. He’s really worked on his shot.

“He plays so hard. He really is the inspiration for our second team. He gives them the identity that we’re trying to fight for them to have.”