"Jason Richardson worked harder in the off-season than he ever has during his career.

And then he had to sit at home as the Suns won their first two games, serving a two-game suspension for a DUI conviction last season.

"I felt a little like a fan, yelling at the refs through the TV," Richardson said.

On Sunday night, he finally got a chance to put all that off-season work to use, making his season debut for the Suns against Minnesota.

Richardson said he came to training camp 10 pounds lighter than last season after spending the off-season working with a personal trainer to improve his conditioning.

"It was good last year, but this year I want to have the energy for both ends of the court," he said. "I'm trying to improve my defensive intensity. I'm definitely in the best shape of my career. I wanted to have an impact on both ends and never take a play off. I definitely turned it up a couple of notches."

Coach Alvin Gentry said he has seen it in practices and saw it during training camp.

"The guy was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (at Michigan State)," Gentry said. "And he's playing against some of the same guys in the NBA. There's no reason he can't guard anybody he wants to. We've seen it. He's big enough and strong enough to do it. Now, those guys will get their points. But he can make them work for them.""