Phoenix Suns guard Josh Okogie has made a name for himself with his relentless energy and defensive prowess on the court. However, this summer, Okogie has found a new avenue to channel his passion: photography.
Okogie’s interest in photography sparked during a vacation in Milan, Italy, where he attended Fashion Week and picked up a Sony a7 III camera. Encouraged by a friend to test his skills, Okogie began capturing live basketball action, a task that has proven to be both challenging and rewarding.
“I'm still not good,” Okogie candidly admits. “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.”
The learning curve has been steep. Adjusting to the speed of the game and finding the right angles to capture the perfect shot is no easy feat. “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 explains.
Despite these challenges, Okogie has shown notable improvement. “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 shares.
During his time in Las Vegas, Okogie seized the opportunity to capture live action at various events, including the NBA Creator Cup celebrity game, the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets summer league game, and the Phoenix Suns vs. the Golden State Warriors game. These experiences have not only honed his skills but also deepened his appreciation for the craft.
Aspiring to capture the emotion behind moments, Okogie respects seasoned photographers like David Sherman of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Barry Gossage of Phoenix. “That's my guy. He films the Wolves and he also films a lot of other NBA-sanctioned events. So I've always paid close attention to David,” he says.
Looking ahead, Okogie aims to shoot WNBA games during the offseason, set on improving his craft and capturing those emotive moments on the court. “Because you want the picture to replicate the feeling of the play for those who weren't there,” he notes.
Off the court, Okogie’s commitment to the Phoenix Suns remains unwavering. Recently signing a two-year, $16 million extension with the team, he is dedicated to contributing energy on both ends 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 states.
With a new season on the horizon, Okogie has discussed his objectives with new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer. He is optimistic about the team's potential in a highly competitive Western Conference. “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. 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,” Okogie asserts.
As he takes on the dual challenges of basketball and photography, Okogie exemplifies the relentless pursuit of improvement. Whether through energizing his teammates or capturing the essence of a game moment, his passion drives him to excel. “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,” he elaborates.
In both arenas, Okogie’s journey is ongoing, marked by a drive to perfect his craft and a determination to make every effort count. With each click of the camera and every defensive stand, he’s setting the stage for a season and a future filled with potential.