Basketball New Zealand

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Phoenixs Suns centre Sean Marks blocks a shot during the intra-squad scrimmage

Kiwi centre Sean Marks emerged as a star of the show as the Phoenix Suns warmed up for their NBA pre-season with an intra-squad scrimmage attended by 7500 fans.

The former NZ Tall Black contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds to Team Whiteís 97-91 win and provided the individual highlight of the night. When forward Rawle Marshall soared towards the basket for a tomahawk dunk, Marks met him about a metre above the rim to block the shot, then sprinted the length of the court to finish the fast break with a dunk of his own.

Marks (32), now in his seven year in the league and his second in Phoenix, potentially moved up the depth chart when the Suns traded veteran Kurt Thomas to Seattle. He and injured starter Amare Stoudemire are now the tallest members of the roster at 2.08m.

ìMarks will surprise some people this year,î says Suns general manager and five-time NBA champion Steve Kerr. ìHe can really shoot the ball and may get more of an opportunity to play given our roster makeup.î

The Rangitoto College product has averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 108 NBA appearances.