Phoenix Suns Sign Iffe Lundberg; Marks First-Ever Dane In NBA

The Phoenix Suns spent Friday night filling their lone available two-way contract slot, which to most people might not seem like that big of a deal.

In the nation of Denmark, however, the signing spread like wildfire, as the Suns chose to sign Gabriel “Iffe” Lundberg, the first-ever Dane to sign with an NBA team. Lundberg, 27, will join the Suns in late March after leaving his former team, CSKA Moscow, on March 11th due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A chance to prove himself in NBA context

Needless to say, most two-way contract players usually don’t receive an overabundance of playing time, and with Phoenix being the championship favorite it might seem optimistic to expect a proper chance.

However, Lundberg isn’t your typical two-way player. Had it not been for the war, Lundberg would have finalized his season in Russia for one of the best international teams in the world, and likely sought guaranteed NBA money in the offseason.

That Lundberg and his agency decided to sign a two-way was more so a result of having time left in the season and needing a place to go, than it was a sign of desperation to cling onto the fringes of the NBA.

At 6’3 and with a 6’9 wingspan, Lundberg is a fairly enormous point guard, who in recent years has developed dramatically as a shooter, fine-tuning his release point and teaching himself to get comfortable shooting off the dribble.

Defensively, Lundberg offers significant upside. Setting aside the wingspan, Lundberg also has a sturdy build of 205 lbs and has shown to be able to absorb contact on drives, even against opposing centers.

Naturally, the NBA is a different beast, but Lundberg is ready for the challenge, even if he isn’t guaranteed anything.

“They haven’t promised me any minutes, but that’s also usually not how things are done over there,” he tells danish Radio4.

“Of course, I am expecting to be given a chance to prove my worth, and to convince them that they made the right decision by signing me.”

What’s worth noting about Lundberg is his continued rise. He started out in the Danish basketball league then transitioned to the Spanish ACB, and finally joined the VTB-league, improving every step of the way and making a concerted effort in reaching the upper echelon of each league.

Making it to the NBA, the Mount Everest of basketball dreams, isn’t the end goal for the Dane. The goal is to stay in the league, and that means adding more and more components to his game.

“I’m not even in my prime yet, because I keep learning every single year,” he says.

“I think my peak will start at 30 or 31.”

Seamless fit with Phoenix

What’s interesting for Lundberg is how his game should translate well not just to the NBA, but specifically the Suns, who rely on crisp ball-movement, positional flexibility, defensive buy-in, and optimized shooting profiles.

Lundberg plays a game that resembles that approach, and his size allows him to switch seamlessly between guard positions, even potentially allowing him to play some small forward when head coach Monty Williams decides to go super small.

The Suns also represent another great learning experience with Lundberg sharing a practice court with the likes of Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Mikael Bridges, all of whom he shares minor traits of.

As for actually making it onto the court, odds should be decent as the season winds down. Phoenix sits firmly in place at the first seed in the Western Conference, sporting a 54-14 record. With the team approaching the playoffs, it makes sense for Williams to play his primary rotation less minutes, as to keep him fresh for the postseason, which they expect to be a long one.

For Lundberg, who will wear #19, it would mean a lot getting to play on April 5th when the Suns take on the Lakers, seeing as he grew up idolizing LeBron James.

Not that the presence of James would in any way deter Lundberg from going after him. In fact, the exact opposite is far more likely.

The Lars Hansen debate

After the signing became official, Internet sleuths discovered the name Lars Hansen, a 6’10 center, born in Copenhagen in 1954, who played with the Seattle SuperSonics for 15 games during the 1978-1979 season.

However, Hansen and his family moved to Canada when he was just two years old. He possesses Canadian citizenship and identifies as such. He further spent time playing with the Canadian national team, which overall adds up to player who cannot be claimed by Denmark.

Lundberg, born in Copenhagen and having spent his entire upbringing in the country, while playing for the Danish national team, is about as danish as strawberry porridge with heavy cream. (Yes, that’s a recipe. You’ll love it.)

Now, he’ll just have to enjoy that dish while spending his time in Arizona.