Shawn Marion, the starting small forward, will play a key role as the main (and only) defensive stopper in the starting lineup. Oftentimes the best players have modest rookie seasons and break out a couple years down the line, whereas superstar-level rookies can struggle to build on or even match their early productivity. While the team ultimately came up short in the 1993 Finals, Chambers' skills and leadership played a key role in getting them there. Gar Heard's 6.7 PPG and 6.9 RPG are not the stuff of legend. His 3.2 defensive win-shares per season are a major reason why the Suns made the playoffs every year with Robinson on the roster, and his appearance on the 2000 NBA All-Defensive team is a testament to that. Warriors vs. Kings prediction, odds, time: 2023 NBA playoff picks, Booker is now entering his eighth season with the Suns to make his tenure longer than most other names on the list despite now entering his prime. Ranking the Top 25 Players in Phoenix Suns History Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 Rookie of the Year, five-time assists champ, 2011 NBA champion. As the greatness level rises, the "what could have been" level rises with it. "only" comes in at No. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, 1988 Finals MVP, three-time NBA champion. Tom Chambers was another offensively talented big man, and Alvan Adams, one of the great passing centers ever, rounds out the bench. He made the All-Defensive team with Phoenix twice, and as a result, helped lead the Suns twice out of Round 1 and once to the Western Conference finals. Phoenix Suns Historical Statistics and All-Time Top The first star of the Suns, Dick Van Arsdale spent nine years in Phoenix. Unfortunately, Phoenix has not yet been able to break through, twice losing in the Finals. Phoenix ended up finding huge success with Stoudemire as the teams best scorer when Steve Nash joined the franchise. Suns Team Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 1950-51 rebounding champ, 1955 NBA champion. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1994-95 MVP, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, 1989-90 Rookie of the Year, 1993-94 scoring champ, 1990-91 rebounding champ, 1991-92 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 17.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG in 11 seasons with Boston Celtics (1970-71 to 1979-80) and Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83). Kidd achieved more playoff success with the New Jersey Nets to make that the place fans first think of with his career, but the Suns had some of his best years. Like Johnson, Bell was a deadly outside shooter, and in fact drained far more threes (578 to 335) at a higher percentage (41.9 to 39.6). RELATED: 10 Best Players In Oklahoma City Thunder History. Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA, 2012-13 scoring champ. Even though Nash and Mike DAntoni were more responsible for the fast-paced innovative offense, the Suns needed Amare to step up scoring for it to work. The Phoenix Suns trusted Kevin Johnson to be one of the most important figures in franchise history. But among these stars, who shines the brightest? Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1980-81 to 1992-93). RELATED: 10 Best Players In Boston Celtics History. Regardless, all the names involved have been synonymous with Suns basketball. Stats: 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG in 14 seasons with Los Angeles Lakers (1960-61 to 1973-74). This career year facilitated a trade that netted the Suns Kevin Johnson, Mark West and Dan Majerle, all three of whom appear on this list. The starting backcourt consists of the dynamic combination of Steve Nash and Paul Westphal. Additionally, he made six All-Star teams (1978-1981, 1984, 1987) and two All-NBA teams (1978, 1979).. Accomplishments: 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive team, 2007-08 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, four-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champ, five-time NBA champion. 3. time His 11.6 defensive-win shares during his four seasons are phenomenal considering his minutes. It has been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which tipped off a season-long celebration of the NBA's 50th anniversary in 1996. LeBron James has become the player with the most playoff series won in NBA history, tied with Derek Fisher at 40. It's only fitting that "The Matrix" spent the prime of his career with the Suns. Accomplishments: 13-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive team, 1974 Finals MVP, eight-time NBA champion. Stats: 24.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.5 APG in 11 seasons with Golden State Warriors (2009-10 to 2020-21)*. Time will see these numbers go up, but Booker currently has three All-Star appearances and one all-NBA selection. Suggestions? Copyright 2023. landofbasketball.com - All rights reserved. Stats: 22.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG in 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia Warriors (1950-51 to 1961-62). One of the earliest expansion teams in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns have been around since 1968.In their fifty-five year history, they have appeared in three NBA Finals (1976, 1993, 2021), but they have yet to take home the title.Despite their lack of a championship, the Phoenix team still has had some outstanding players over the years. Stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG in 19 seasons with Utah Jazz (1984-85 to 2002-03); NBA's career leader in total assists and steals. LeBron James has become the player with the most playoff series won in NBA history, tied with Derek Fisher at 40. Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG in 19 seasons with Dallas Mavericks (1994-95 to 1996-97; 2007-08 to 2011-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-97 to 2000-01), New Jersey Nets (2001-02 to 2007-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). His limited offensive game and minutes led to averages of only 6.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.6 minutes with Phoenix, but he did shoot an outstanding 62.5 percent from the field (in contrast to Heard). On the Suns all-time leaderboards, Davis ranks number one in points scored (15,666), number five in free throws made (2,557), number four in assists (3,340), number three in steals (1,040), and number two in games played (766).Davis also helped the Suns reach the playoffs in seven straight seasons, twice losing in the Conference Finals (1979, 1984).While he may not have made it into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Davis helped to bring some success to the Suns and helped set them up as a great team going forward. Charles Barkley only spent four total seasons with the Phoenix Suns, but he was a superstar for the entire stint. Barkley's Suns never won a title, but that's a burden that every player on this list sharesand one that his 26.5 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.0 BPG in the postseason essentially free him fromand that he is one of only two Suns players to hold a claim as the NBA's best player throughout a season. Any longtime Phoenix fan will ultimately think of Westphal among the most important figures for having two drastic levels of success. Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.0 BPG in 14 seasons with San Antonio Spurs (1989-90 to 2002-03). Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006-07 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP, 2011 NBA champion. The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over What happens when you give Gar Heard more offensive talent and more minutes? Until then, voteor rerank this list according to who you think is the greatest Phoenix Suns player in franchise history. All-Time Phoenix Suns, Top 10 Lists Greatest and Worst of All Time. Stats: 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG in 13 seasons with New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-78 to 1979-80). A player who really took off once he got to Phoenix is Kevin Johnson.Johnson was initially drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers but was traded to Phoenix during his first season in 1988.He went on to play all twelve of his NBA seasons in Phoenix (1988-1998, 1999-00).His first full season in the desert, he won the 1989 MVP Award, increasing his point production from around 9 per game to over 20 per game.Furthermore, he made five All-NBA teams (1989-1992, 1994) and three All-Star teams (1990, 1991, 1994).. 1st Team Guard: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns 2 of 10 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images Devin Booker has been flat-out amazing this postseason. The seed of the rivalry between both franchises traces back to the 1980s when the Showtime Lakers controlled the NBA matches. Kerr is the all-time NBA leader in career 3-point percentage (45.4), and holds two of the five best single-season 3-point shooting percentages in league history (52.4 in 1994-95 and 51.5 in 1995-96). Top 10 Best Phoenix Suns Players of All Time - rookieroad.com They've made 29 trips to the postseason, and their all-time winning percentage is .552.That's the fourth-best in NBA history, behind the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs.That isn't to say that Phoenix has the history of those three teamswho have won a combined 37 titlesbut so much consistent winning over decades and decades means that this is one of the most competitive top 25 lists in the league.In order to select the greatest Suns of all time, I used the following primary criteria: seasons spent with the Suns, statistical averages and playoff success. Paul Westphal is a rare instance of someone having successful stints with the Phoenix Suns as both a coach and a player. For his Suns career, he had a cumulative .606 true shooting percentage. Booker was the thirteenth overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, and that pick has turned out to be a steal.In his eight seasons thus far, all with the Suns, Booker has made the 2016 All-Rookie First team, three All-Star teams (2020-2022), and was named to the 2022 All-NBA First team.Additionally, he played a major role in the Suns reaching the NBA Finals in 2021, where they ultimately lost to Giannis Antetokounmpoand the Milwaukee Bucks. Why have they not been able to win it all? Even on a franchise that has seen so much incredible two-way play and do-it-all-ness, Shawn Marion's versatility stands out. NBA's 75 greatest players of all time - The complete list - ESPN 1 as one might think. That didn't stop Suns.com's Matt Petersen from picking the Suns Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 10-time All-Defensive team, 1994 All-Star MVP, 1994-95 steals champ, six-time NBA champion. Tom Chambers, All-Time Phoenix Suns Team - BBallHistory.com He won six NBA championships, six MVP awards and Stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.6 APG in nine seasons with Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 to 2020-21)*. He also shot an unparalleled 51.0 percent from the field, 43.7 percent from deep and 91.2 percent from the line. NBA NBA 75: Top 75 NBA players of all time - The Athletic Who are the best Phoenix Suns of all time? Phoenix Suns Roster | NBA.com Dolph Schayes held the record from 1958 to 1964. Stats: 16.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 2.9 APG in 12 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1962-63 to 1968-69) and New York Knicks (1968-69 to 1973-74). Accomplishments: Two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive team, 1977-78 MVP, 1977 Finals MVP, 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year, 1976-77 rebounding champ, 1976-77 blocks champ, two-time NBA champion. Stats: 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG in 13 seasons with Boston Celtics (1956-57 to 1968-69). Top-20 Biggest NBA Rivalries Ever He made six All-Star teams (2005-2008, 2010, 2012), five All-NBA teams (2005-2008, 2010), led the league in assists five times (2005-2007, 2010, 2011), and won two Most Valuable Player Awards in 2005 and 2006.. Stats: 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG in 14 seasons with Detroit Pistons (1986-87 to 1992-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-94 to 1994-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-96 to 1997-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99) and Dallas Mavericks (1999-2000). Accomplishments: Nine-time NBA All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 1980 All-Star MVP, four-time NBA scoring champ. At his peak, Stoudemire was one of the best offensive players in the league. Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA, 1966-67 Rookie of the Year, 1976 All-Star MVP, 1967-68 scoring champ. NBA Checkout the latest and historical year by year stats of Phoenix Suns along