Suns All-Time Top 10

[The Bobster]

So rather than argue about Deadre Ayton for another couple of months, I'm wondering who's your Suns All-Time Top 10, considering only their games played with the Suns? And when did you watch your first Suns game?

I'll go with -

First game I watched - 1975-76 season

Top Suns -

1 Charles Barkley
2 Steve Nash
3 Kevin Johnson
4 Devin Booker
5 Paul Westphal
6 Amare Stoudemire
7 Walter Davis
8 Larry Nance
9 Shawn Marion
10 Connie Hawkins

- I might be inclined to put Hawkins higher on the list, but he's the only one I never saw play for the Suns.
- I lean a bit more toward peak value over longevity
- Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tom Chambers, Dennis Johnson, Charlie Scott and Alvan Adams probably would be next on my list

[LazarusLong]

That's a good list.
I've been watching the Suns since the first season.
I might find a way to put Chambers in there, but I don't know who he'd replace.

Hawkins meant so much in the franchise's early days, because fans came to games to see him.
Van Arsdale and Goodrich were very good players, but not spectacular.
Hawkins was a highlight real, with his uncanny knack of making special plays on offense.
He was this word-of-mouth legendary players, and had been a Globetrotter when that team was still cool.
Withouth Hawkins, the Suns might have met the same fate as the San Diego Rockets ...

[The Bobster]

That's a good list.
I've been watching the Suns since the first season.
I might find a way to put Chambers in there, but I don't know who he'd replace.

Hawkins meant so much in the franchise's early days, because fans came to games to see him.
Van Arsdale and Goodrich were very good players, but not spectacular.
Hawkins was a highlight real, with his uncanny knack of making special plays on offense.
He was this word-of-mouth legendary players, and had been a Globetrotter when that team was still cool.
Withouth Hawkins, the Suns might have met the same fate as the San Diego Rockets ...

They were very fortunate to land Paul Silas and Hawkins. They were as good a pair of forwards as there were in the league.

[LazarusLong]

Silas for Gary Gregor proved to be a one-sided trade, with Silas having a long career and Gregor out of pro ball by age 28.
Silas had been stuck behind Bill Bridges and Zelmo Beaty (two very good players) in the Hawks lineup.

[SunsRIt]

Looks like a good list. I have been watching the Suns since the early ‘80s.

[Kryptonic]

Great idea! Thanks for starting it up!

Hmmm my list would be heavily favored towards the times I’ve been a fan…. Is that ok? I became a fan in the late 80’s during the rambis, chambers, Johnson and Johnson time.

Props to your lists you guys have created and have a lot of respect for your dedication for so long. I’m afraid my list would insult yours lists.

[3TheHardaway]

Hard to argue with the initial list, though my age tells me I have to trust those who actually watched during the 70s and early 80s rather than rely on counting stats.

If Booker leads us to the franchise first title he automatically leap frogs the list, but lets just say hypothetically getting to the Finals is as far as he gets, will longevity alone land him above Barkley?

[Superbone]

So rather than argue about Deadre Ayton for another couple of months

I see what you did there though. Isn't Deadre a woman's name?

I'm pretty sure I must have watched before the 75-76 season but that is the first I remember. I became a huge fan that year. I remember watching the Finals in my parents living room with long red shag carpet and flipping out when Gar Heard hit the shot Heard around the world.

I like your list. I'd probably move Book above Kevin Johnson now. As far as what it would take for Booker to achieve top status, there are various scenarios. Becoming league MVP like Barkley did his first year with us. Winning the Suns first NBA championship. A few more years of stellar top 10 play for the Suns to name a few.

[LazarusLong]

Suns career leaders based on Win Shares. This places some value on longevity with team.
(source: www.basketball-reference.com)

1. Shawn Marion 93.2
2. Kevin Johnson 90.9
3. Steve Nash 82.7
4. Alvan Adams 73.5
5. Amar'e Stoudemire 67.9
6. Walter Davis 66.4
7. Dick Van Arsdale 63.6
8. Larry Nance 53.6
9. Dan Majerle 52.0
10. Paul Westphal 51.5

Career leaders based on VOPR—Value Over Replacement Player.
Again, longevity factors in …

1, Shawn Marion 38.7
2. Kevin Johnson 36.8
3. Steve Nash 33.1
4. Alvan Adams 33.0
5. Walter Davis 23.0
6. Larry Nance 21.9
7. Charles Barkley 21.3
8. Paul Westphal 20.0
9. Dan Majerle 19.2
10. Jason Kidd 18.3

[SunsRIt]

I like seeing my all-time favorite Sun Dan Majerle mentioned on these lists. Its hard to put him in place of anyone on your original list.

[Superbone]

This isn't part of the topic but all my years of fandom reminded that I got to attend the Phoenix Suns basketball camp as a kid. I remember well John MacLeod (the longest tenured Suns head coach ever; 1973-1987) in a camp talk telling us attendees to double sock which I have now done for my entire life when playing basketball. RIP Coach MacLeod (1937-2019).

[LazarusLong]

Majerle probably would be high on the list of most popular Suns.

I heard an interview with Tom Chambers once wherein TC said that Majerle had ridiculously strong wrists, which made it easy for him to toss up 28-30 foot three pointers ...

[SunsRIt]

Majerle probably would be high on the list of most popular Suns.

I heard an interview with Tom Chambers once wherein TC said that Majerle had ridiculously strong wrists, which made it easy for him to toss up 28-30 foot three pointers ...

Majerle was interviewed on one of the Suns podcasts a couple of years ago. When he came into the league he was a slasher type player, but when he heard that Barkley was coming to the Suns he knew the key needed to open up. he shot thousands of 3s that summer getting ready for where he was going to be needed. That’s what I hope Okogie and Wainright are doing this summer.

[The Bobster]

So rather than argue about Deadre Ayton for another couple of months

I see what you did there though. Isn't Deadre a woman's name?

I'm pretty sure I must have watched before the 75-76 season but that is the first I remember. I became a huge fan that year. I remember watching the Finals in my parents living room with long red shag carpet and flipping out when Gar Heard hit the shot Heard around the world.

I like your list. I'd probably move Book above Kevin Johnson now. As far as what it would take for Booker to achieve top status, there are various scenarios. Becoming league MVP like Barkley did his first year with us. Winning the Suns first NBA championship. A few more years of stellar top 10 play for the Suns to name a few.

No, that's just my legendary typing sklls! But some people here will love it, I'm sure!

[Superbone]

I like seeing my all-time favorite Sun Dan Majerle mentioned on these lists. Its hard to put him in place of anyone on your original list.

One of my all-time favorites too. Here's my list of favorite Suns over the years in no particular order:

Majerle (All out hustle and defense in the early years. Great 3 point shooter later. I remember going to a game against the 76ers where Majerle totally frustrated then 76er Charles Barkley with his tenacious defense.)
Barkley (League MVP first year with Suns; Finals appearance first year with Suns; A top all-time player; Tells it like it is.)
Nash (Came on like gang busters after returning to the Suns. Took the league by storm. 7 seconds or less. Incredibly imaginative with his passes and incredibly fun to watch. Maybe my all-time favorite Sun.)
Stoudemire Unbelievably powerful. Came straight out of high school and shocked the league. Incredible power dunks through his competitors. Unbelievably fun to watch. Nash and him together were a powerful force. Similar to Stockton/Malone but on another level aesthetically.)
Nance (Extremely graceful and powerful dunker; A pleasure to watch; Great all-around guy.)
Ronnie Lee (Fan favorite. I remember white knee pads and headband. All-out hustle and diving on the floor frequently.)
KJ (Just talking basketball, folks. One of the all-time great Suns PGs. Finals appearance in 93.)
Dick Van Arsdale (The Original Sun. Hard worker at all times. Skilled too but nothing fancy. Long time Sun in the early years of the franchise. Consistently very good over many years.)
Paul Westphal (Westy was ambidextrous. He was a gamer and always brought his A game. Extremely fun to watch and always very competitive.)
Walter Davis (Sweet D. Silky smooth high jump shot release. The Greyhound. Transitioned from small forward to guard. Put up buckets.)

[Split T]

I have very vague memories before Barkley, but trading for Barkley and the 92-93 season is really the first I have specific memories of. I was 6. My list would be:

1. Barkley
2. Nash
3. Booker(I almost put him 1, but I’ll wait a year or 2)
4. Marion
5. KJ
6. Amare
7. Westphal
8. Hawkins
9. Davis
10. CP3

I never saw 7-9, so hard to rank them and I’m certainly probably wrong haha

[Superbone]

Majerle probably would be high on the list of most popular Suns.

I heard an interview with Tom Chambers once wherein TC said that Majerle had ridiculously strong wrists, which made it easy for him to toss up 28-30 foot three pointers ...

Ah. Forgot Chambers from my all-time favorites. He's on there too. First FA. Made a great impact when he came to the Suns for many years.

[Superbone]

Ha! And Devin Booker! I don't have to tell you all why.

[Superbone]

I didn't include Hawkins because I don't remember watching him play. Big fan though. Read his early biography, Foul! as a kid. Everybody loved the guy. He lived out his life in Phoenix. Saw him at an AZ casino once. I've only seen highlights. Loved how he would palm the ball and wave it around before making a play. A pass or swoop to the hoop.

[LazarusLong]

Elvin Hayes, at that time with the Rockets, said that if Hawkins tried Globetrotter moves in an NBA game, Hayes would personally shut him down.
Sure enough, in the Suns first game against the Rockets, Hawkins isolated on Hayes, made one of his patented one-handed fakes and glided by Hayes for a finger roll. Teammates said Hawk winked at Elvin after the basket ...