- The Phoenix Suns have never won an NBA championship
- The Phoenix Suns have had two players win an MVP award in their franchise’s history
- The Phoenix Suns have an overall record of 2,380-2,063, giving them a win percentage of 53.6%
The time has come once again to break down an NBA franchise and its 25 greatest players. I am talking, of course, about our GOAT Pyramid series that has been a huge hit with you, our readers. Today, the franchise we will be breaking down is the Phoenix Suns, who have been in existence since the 1968-69 season. With 56 years of history, it was difficult to narrow it down to 25 players, but we got the job done to perfection.
Having never won an MVP championship, the Suns get a bit more difficult to break down with no players having contributed to the ultimate success. What we did is take into account everything we have used in the past, such as stats, accolades, and impact, but just without the championship addition to the criteria this time. As a reminder, here are the previous franchises we have covered in our GOAT Pyramid series:
– The Brooklyn Nets All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The New York Knicks All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Milwaukee Bucks All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Denver Nuggets All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Los Angeles Lakers All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Chicago Bulls All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Golden State Warriors All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Boston Celtics All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Detroit Pistons All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Miami Heat All-Time GOAT Pyramid
– The Houston Rockets All-Time GOAT Pyramid
It is also important to remember that when we decide which players to include on our GOAT pyramids, we understand there are arguments for other players. Hopefully, our decisions and explanations convince you to be open about the debate and, hey, maybe even change your minds.
This is the Phoenix Suns All-Time GOAT Pyramid.
Tier 5
Jeff Hornacek, Goran Dragic, Paul Silas, Truck Robinson, Gar Heard, Raja Bell
The Suns’ GOAT pyramid gets started off with Tier 5. This is where the less-remembered and honored Suns reside but they all played a pivotal role in their franchise. Jeff Hornacek is mostly remembered for his trips to the Finals with the Jazz in the late 90s but he was a decent member of the Suns as well from 1987 through 1992. In his time with the Suns, Hornacek would average 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He earned an All-Star selection in 1992 as well, with 20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Goran Dragic is also remembered more so for his time elsewhere but still played a pivotal role on the Suns. Dragic had two separate stints on the Suns from 2008-09 through 2010-11 and then again from 2012-13 through 2014-15. In his time with the team, Dragic averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 assists per game. He helped them reach the playoffs once in 2010 and averaged 20.3 points and 5.9 assists in 2013-14 as their full-time starter.
Paul Silas played just three seasons with the Suns from 1970 through 1972 but it was an impactful three seasons. In those three seasons, Silas was a rebounding and scoring machine averaging 14.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. He earned an All-Star appearance with the Suns in 1972 as well, with 17.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Silas grabbed 2,886 rebounds in those three years with Phoenix which has him ranked ninth in franchise history.
Truck Robinson is another player who stayed with the Suns for three seasons from 1980 through 1982. Robinson was a 6’7’’ power forward who averaged 18.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game during that time. He would earn an All-Star selection in 1981 with the team averaging 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Robinson would not leave a mark on the franchise in terms of statistics, but he is still one of the best power forwards to ever don the purple and orange.
Gar Heard made one of the biggest plays in Suns history, and you may not even know it. Heard is another big man that preceded Truck Robinson from 1976 through 1980. Heard’s numbers aren’t anything special at 7.5 points and 7.1 rebounds in his career with Phoenix, but his shot in Game 5 of the 1976 Finals is too big to ignore. Heard hit a turnaround jumper to send the game into triple overtime at the buzzer. The Suns would end up losing that game but Heard had inserted his name into Suns history forever in just one swift moment.
In three and a half seasons, Raja Bell made a lasting impact on the Phoenix Suns, especially on the defensive end of the ball. Bell would play a total of 254 games, with the Suns averaging 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. In 2007 and 2008, Bell earned two All-Defensive Team selections as the Suns headed toward the NBA playoffs. Although he wasn’t the most decorated or celebrated Suns player, he was still immensely important to one of the best eras in team history.
Tier 4
Dan Majerle, Dick Van Arsdale, Larry Nance, Gail Goodrich, Dennis Johnson, Grant Hill
In Tier 4, we will encounter more All-Stars and impactful players in Phoenix Suns history. The first of these players is Dan Majerle who played with the Suns from 1989 through 1995, earning three All-Star appearances and a trip to the 1993 NBA Finals. Majerle averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game over the course of eight seasons in Phoenix and he ranks fifth in team history with 811 steals. He also ranks 10th in rebounds with 2,823.
Dick Van Arsdale was a shooting guard with the Suns from 1969 through 1977. Van Arsdale earned three consecutive All-Star selections with the team from 1969 through 1971 and averaged 21.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game during that stretch. With 12,060 points with the Suns, Dick Van Arsdale ranks sixth in team history in front of players such as Amar’e Stoudemire and Paul Westphal.
Larry Nance is a God in the city of Cleveland, but he was also a celebrated member of the Phoenix Suns from 1982 through 1988. Nance was drafted 20th overall by the Suns in 1981 and would play the next seven seasons with the team. Nance averaged 17.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game during his career with them. In 1985, he became an All-Star with the team for the only time. He is the franchise’s leader in total blocks and is ninth in steals as well.
Gail Goodrich only played two seasons with the Suns between his time with the Lakers, but he was incredible for these two seasons. In 1969 and 1970, Goodrich would play 162 games for the Suns, missing two games in total. Goodrich averaged 21.9 points and 6.9 assists during those two seasons and earned an All-Star selection in 1969. Goodrich’s time in Phoenix was short but memorable, as the time they had one of the very best guards to ever play the game.
Dennis Johnson is a legend to this day in the eyes of SuperSonics and Celtics fans everywhere. Often his three-year stop between those two spots is forgotten. During that time, Johnson was a two-time All-Star who averaged 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He led the Suns to the playoffs all three seasons he was in town.
The final member of Tier 4 is Grant Hill. Now, we mostly remember Hill for his All-Star days with the Pistons and Magic when he looked like he would be the next big thing in the NBA. Hill would end his career from 2008 through 2012. During that time, he averaged just 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Despite his career taking a downward team after injuries, Hill still showed he had enough to perform at a high level in Phoenix.
Tier 3
Alvan Adams, Shawn Marion, Paul Westphal, Tom Chambers, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd
Alvan Adams is one of the greatest big men in Phoenix Suns history. As a rookie, Adams would win Rookie of the Year honors while also helping lead the team to the NBA Finals in 1976. Adams was also an All-Star that season, averaging 19.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Adams would play all 13 seasons of his career with the Suns and ranks second in points, first in steals, fourth in blocks, and first in rebounds in team history.
Shawn Marion is often clowned for having the weirdest shooting form in NBA history. He is also remembered as being one of the most impactful two-way players ever. Marion played with the Suns for eight and a half seasons with Phoenix during the most successful era of the team during the 2000s. Marion was a defensive nightmare for opponents who could also score in bunches. He earned four All-Star selections with the team during this time as well as two All-NBA Team selections.
Paul Westphal is as legendary of a basketball player as he was a basketball coach. Not only did Westphal play for the Suns from 1977 through 1980 and again in 1984, but he also coached them to the 1993 NBA Finals. Westphal averaged 20.6 points and 5.2 assists per game during these seasons and earned a total of four All-Star selections.
Tom Chambers is another legendary big man in the history of the Phoenix Suns. Chambers would be with the Suns from 1989 through 1993, where he would go on to earn three All-Star selections and two All-NBA Second Team selections. Chambers would average 20.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in five years with the Suns and is still regarded as a top 10 player in team history.
Chris Paul was not with the Phoenix Suns for long, but his impact was felt much like it is wherever he goes. Paul played with the Suns from 2021 through 2023, earning two All-Star selections to go with an assists title in 2021 and two All-NBA Team selections. Paul would help the team make a run to the 2021 NBA Finals, where they fell to the Bucks in six games. He would average 15.1 points, 9.5 assists, and 1.6 steals with the Suns in those three seasons.
The final member of Tier 3 is another point guard who spent some time with the Suns from 1998 through 2001. Jason Kidd came over from the Mavericks during the 1996-97 season bringing his All-Star playmaking and defense. Kidd would win three straight assists titles with the team from 1999 through 2001 and averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 2.1 SPG. Kidd would also make three All-Star teams as well as three All-NBA Teams and two All-NBA Teams.
Tier 2
Walter Davis, Kevin Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire, Devin Booker, Connie Hawkins
The final seven players on our list are truly the elite of the elite in Phoenix Suns history. Kicking things off with the franchise’s leading scorer, Walter Davis. From 1978 through 1988, Davis graced the court for the Suns, earning six All-Star selections and making two All-NBA Teams. Davis would average 20.5 points and 4.4 assists in 11 seasons for the Suns, and he ranks first in points and fourth in assists in team history.
Kevin Johnson is hands down one of the most underrated players in NBA history. After a lackluster start to his career with Cleveland, Johnson would come to Phoenix and immediately make an impact. Johnson would become a three-time All-Star in Phoenix as well as five All-NBA Team selections and the 1989 Most Improved Player award. Johnson would help the Suns make numerous Conference Finals appearances, as well as a Finals appearance in 1993. In 11 seasons, Johnson averaged 18.7 points, 9.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Part of what made the Suns so special to watch during the 2000s was the way Amar’e Stoudemire made Steve Nash’s job much easier. Stoudemire was an athletic and strong big who played for the Suns from 2003 through 2010. In those eight seasons, Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He earned five All-Star selections as well as four All-NBA Team selections.
Devin Booker is still in the prime of his career but is still good enough to be placed here at the end of Tier 2. Booker has been with the Suns his entire career from 2015-16 through the present. Since 2018, Booker has averaged at least 24.9 points per game and has only gotten better since. Booker is a three-time All-Star and 2022 All-NBA Team. He has averaged 23.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in his career with the Suns, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
From 1970 through 1974, Connie Hawkins was the best overall player on the Phoenix Suns. Hawkins would make four straight All-Star selections from 1970 through 1973 while putting up some incredible numbers. In his four-and-a-half seasons with the team, Hawkins averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He made one All-NBA Team in 1970, his first season in the NBA. Hawkins was a figure that was larger than life and played like it every time he hit the court for the Suns.
Tier 1
Steve Nash, Charles Barkley
The final two players on our GOAT Pyramid are the two players to win MVP while in a Suns uniform. Steve Nash is the only player to win more than one MVP with the Suns, winning back-to-back awards in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Nash made the Phoenix offense unstoppable during his peak. From 2005 through 2012, Nash would win five assists titles while averaging over 14.5 points per game and recording numerous 50/40/90 shooting seasons. Nash is easily one of the Suns’ GOATs without any question.
The other player I consider to be the GOAT of the Phoenix Suns is none other than Charles Barkley. After coming over in a trade with the 76ers in 1992, Barkley would have one of the greatest first seasons with a team ever. He would go on to win the 1993 MVP and lead the Suns to the NBA Finals. Barkley would play four seasons with the Suns, where he earned four All-Star appearances and averaged 23.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game over those four seasons.
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