Ranking the greatest Phoenix Suns players of all time
Standing (L-R) Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa (10), center Amare Stoudemire (1), guard Steve Nash (13), and forward Shawn Marion (31) wait for a fouls shot to be completed. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)
May 12th, 2021
The Phoenix Suns were founded in 1968 and have fielded some of the most fun teams in NBA history. From the Mike D’Antoni-coached "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns to the squads led by Charles Barkley in the 1990’s, Phoenix has produced plenty of players whose greatest moments stand the test of time.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the five greatest Suns in franchise history.
5. Paul Westphal
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|
15.6 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Position: Shooting guard
Years active: 1973-1984
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA
Westphal was an integral part of the 1976 Suns team which improbably made that year’s NBA Finals. He made four consecutive All-Star Games in the late-1970’s while part of the Phoenix organization and averaged nearly 23 points per game from 1976 to 1980.
4. Kevin Johnson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|
15.6 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Position: Point guard
Years active: 1988-2000
Accolades: 3x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 1988-89 Most Improved Player
Johnson may have been the most underrated player of his era. From 1989 to 1992, the guard averaged 21 points and 11 assists per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 84% from the foul line.
Some of Kevin Johnson’s best games with the Phoenix Suns
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 16, 2020
16 PTS, 25 AST
30 PTS, 21 AST
37 PTS, 20 AST
27 PTS, 20 AST
21 PTS, 19 AST, 7 STL
42 PTS, 17 AST
44 PTS, 10 AST
pic.twitter.com/Ytlx2Lgx7m
He played his entire career with the Suns, made three All-Star teams, and was a five-time All-NBA selection.
3. Amar’e Stoudemire
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|
15.6 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Position: Power forward
Years active: 2003-2016
Accolades: 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 2002-03 Rookie of the Year
Stoudemire was an ultra-athletic power forward who made six All-Star teams (five in Phoenix, one while part of the New York Knicks). His run in the late-2000’s saw him average more than 22 points and nine rebounds per game from 2007 through 2010. He may have been even better in the playoffs. Most notably, in five games against the Spurs in 2005, Stoudemire averaged 37 points per contest going up against the likes of Tim Duncan.
Amare Stoudemire in his prime 😳 pic.twitter.com/Ax8KGzrhMy
— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) March 3, 2020
2. Steve Nash
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|
15.6 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Position: Point guard
Years active: 1997-2014
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 2x MVP
Nash started his career in Phoenix, became a star in Dallas, and returned to the desert to run one of the most fearsome offenses in the NBA.
Two-time | @SteveNash pic.twitter.com/XzQzG2BZ86
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 8, 2019
He led the NBA in assists five times as a member of the Suns, won a pair of MVP trophies, and built a resume that earned him a place in basketball’s Hall of Fame.
1. Charles Barkley
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|
15.6 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Position: Power forward
Years active: 1985-2000
Accolades: Hall of Fame, 11x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 1992-93 MVP
Barkley gets the top spot on this list because he did something Nash never did: He led Phoenix to the NBA Finals. The Suns couldn’t get past Michael Jordan’s Bulls, but they took them to six games during a season where Barkley won the MVP award, and that matters.
Charles Barkley's best games with the Phoenix Suns
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 20, 2020
1994 Playoffs GM3 vs Warriors
56 PTS (27 in the 1st quarter) 14 REB
1993 Playoffs GM7 vs Sonics
44 PTS (12-20 FG) 24 REB pic.twitter.com/g4gCn8U27t
It also matters that Barkley had four of the best years of his career while a Sun, averaging better than 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists per game between 1993 and 1996.
ADVERTISEMENT
