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2007-08 Phoenix Suns season
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns logo
ConferenceWestern Conference
DivisionPacific Division
Founded1968
HistoryPhoenix Suns
1968-present
ArenaUS Airways Center
CityPhoenix, Arizona
Team colorsPurple, Orange, White, and Gray
OwnerRobert Sarver
General managerSteve Kerr
Head coachTerry Porter
D-League affiliateAlbuquerque Thunderbirds
Championships0
Conference titles2 (1976)
Division titles6 (1981, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Official websitesuns.com

The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams and organized in three divisions of five teams each The Pacific Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment Arena located in Phoenix Arizona. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, Robert Sarver (born 1961 in Tucson Arizona) is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr (born September 27 1965 in Beirut, Lebanon) is a retired American professional Terry Porter (born April 8 1963 in Milwaukee Wisconsin) is a retired American professional Basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association 's officially sponsored and operated developmental Basketball organization The Albuquerque Thunderbirds is the name of an NBA Development League minor league Basketball team based in Albuquerque New Mexico, United States The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1992–93 NBA season was the 47th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1994–95 NBA season was the 49th season of the National Basketball Association. The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. Professional sports, as opposed to amateur Sports are those in which athletes receive payment for their performance Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacific Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams and organized in three divisions of five teams each Their home arena is the US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix. US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment Arena located in Phoenix Arizona. Downtown Phoenix is the Central business district of Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

The Suns have been generally successful since they began play as an expansion team in 1968. See also Relocation of professional sports teams An expansion team is a term used for a brand new team in a sports league The 1968–69 NBA season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball Association. In forty years of play they have posted seventeen fifty-win seasons, and made eight trips to the Western Conference Finals, advancing to the NBA Finals in 1976 and 1993. The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season. The 1993 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1992-93 NBA season, featuring the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan and the Phoenix Suns, winners Despite their successes they have yet to win an NBA title.

Contents

Franchise history

The early years: a Tucson connection

Original Phoenix Suns Logo (1968-1992)
Original Phoenix Suns Logo (1968-1992)

On January 22, 1968, the NBA awarded expansion franchises to an ownership group from Phoenix and one from Milwaukee. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The primary investors in the Phoenix franchise at its inception had close ties to Tucson, Arizona's second largest city. Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast They were:

All four men were alumni of The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona (also referred to as UA, U of A, or Arizona) is a Land-grant and space-grant public institution According to the history section of the Suns website, other investors in the Suns included Block's entertainment law firm Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman, along with several of their prominent entertainer clients, including Andy Williams, Henry Mancini, Bobbie Gentry, Ed Ames and others. Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams (born December 3 1927 in Wall Lake Iowa) is an American pop singer Henry Mancini ( April 16, 1924 &ndash June 14, 1994) was an Academy Award winning American Composer, conductor Roberta Lee Streeter (born July 27 1944, Chickasaw County Mississippi) professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is an American Singer-songwriter Ed Ames (born Edmund Dantes Urick on July 9, 1927) is an American popular Singer and Actor. The original logo was designed by Stanley Fabe, owner of a Tucson printing company, for $200. [1] The new Suns ownership group hired former Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Colangelo to be general manager (he was 28 years of age when he took the position). The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul. The Suns began their time in Phoenix at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix Arizona, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair Colangelo in turn hired Johnny "Red" Kerr (as of this writing a broadcaster with the Bulls) to be the first head coach of the Suns. John G “Red” Kerr (born July 17, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who now works The Suns finished their first season with a humiliating 16-66 record. Kerr was forced to resign midway through the 1969-70 season, and Colangelo himself coached a few games. The 1969–70 NBA Season was the 24th season of the National Basketball Association. Cotton Fitzsimmons replaced Colangelo as Suns coach for the 1970-71 season. Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons ( October 7, 1931 &ndash July 24, 2004) was a college and NBA Basketball The 1970–71 NBA season was the 25th season of the National Basketball Association. He took the team to their first winning season, with a final record of 48-34.

Fitzsimmons would return to the head coaching job in the late 1980s; he would go on to be greatly loved by Suns fans, wildly popular (and successful) as a coach, broadcaster and executive with the Suns organization.

In the 1970s the Suns experienced mild success, combining the talents of such players as Dick Van Arsdale (The Original Sun), his twin brother Tom Van Arsdale, Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, Leonard "Truck" Robinson, Alvan Adams, and center Neal Walk. Richard Albert (Dick Van Arsdale (born February 22 1943 in Indianapolis Indiana) is a former professional Basketball player and coach Thomas Arthur (Tom Van Arsdale (born February 22 1943 in Indianapolis Indiana) is a former professional Basketball player Cornelius "Connie" Hawkins (born July 17 1942 in Brooklyn, New York is a former National Basketball Association (NBA Leonard Eugene Robinson (born October 4, 1951 in Jacksonville Florida) was a power forward for the Washington Bullets (1974-77 Atlanta Alvan Leigh Adams (born July 19 1954, in Lawrence Kansas) is a retired American professional Basketball player Neal Eugene Walk (born July 29, 1948 in Brooklyn NY) is a 6' 10" retired American professional Basketball player formerly In 1976, the year the movie Rocky was released, the Suns proved to be a real-life basketball version of Rocky. Rocky is a 1976 Film written by and starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Robert "Rocky" Balboa Sr (born July 6 1945 was a fictional boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone who has appeared in the ''Rocky'' series from They finished the season with 42 wins and 40 losses, but shockingly they beat the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the playoffs and went on to play the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, giving the Celtics a tough battle before falling in 6 games. The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June Game 5 was a triple-overtime classic that is considered by many to be the greatest game in NBA history, with Suns forward Gar Heard hitting a buzzer beating rainbow jump shot ("The Shot") to send the contest into the third overtime at Boston Garden. Overtime is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a Sport in order to bring the game to a decision and avoid declaring the contest a tie or draw Garfield (Gar Heard, (born May 3 1948 in Hogansville Georgia) is an American former professional Basketball player and coach is a Manga series by Takehiko Inoue. The series debuted on the web and was later published in print format by Shueisha, being serialized in its Garfield (Gar Heard, (born May 3 1948 in Hogansville Georgia) is an American former professional Basketball player and coach The Boston Garden was a famous Arena built in 1928 in Boston Massachusetts. [2]

Currently, the Suns franchise owns the fourth-best all-time winning percentage among NBA teams (55. 8 percent; all-tine win-loss record listed below). They trail only the Los Angeles Lakers (. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. 613), San Antonio Spurs (. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. 595; not counting their win-loss percentage in the original ABA), and the Boston Celtics (. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the 587) in win-loss percentage. The Suns are also the winningest franchise without an NBA championship, despite their two Finals appearances. The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June

Drug scandal; Colangelo takes control

In the late '70s and early '80s, the Suns enjoyed several successful seasons, making the playoffs for 8 seasons in a row. Problems arose however, on and off court, in the mid '80s. In 1987 the Maricopa County Attorney's Office indicted 13 people on drug-related charges, three of whom were active Suns players (James Edwards, Jay Humphries and Grant Gondrezick). Maricopa County (ˌmɛɹɨˈkoʊ̪pə is located in the central part of the U James Franklin Edwards (born November 22 1955, in Seattle, Washington, U John Jay Humphries (born October 17 1962 in Los Angeles California) is a retired American professional Basketball player in the These indictments were partially based on testimony from star player Walter Davis, who was given immunity. Walter Paul Davis (born September 9 1954, in Pineville North Carolina) is a retired American Basketball player No defendants ever went to trial: two of the players went into a prosecution diversion program, while another received probation. Nevertheless, the scandal, although now perceived in many respects to be a witchhunt, tarnished the reputation of the franchise both nationally and within the community. "Witch trial" redirects here For the song by Rush, see Fear series. The scandal did provide an opening for general manager Jerry Colangelo to lead a group that bought the team from its owners for $44 million, a record at that time. Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul.

With a drug scandal and the loss of promising young center Nick Vanos, who was killed in the crash of Northwest Airlines Flight 255 after taking off from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the franchise was in turmoil on and off the court. Nicolaas (Nick Vanos ( April 13 1963 &ndash August 16 1987) was an American professional Basketball player for the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 was a flight that originated in Saginaw, Michigan, United States 's MBS International Airport and was scheduled Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, sometimes called Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit Metro Wayne Airport, Metro Airport, or simply The Suns' luck began to turn around in 1987, however, with the acquisition from the Cleveland Cavaliers of Kevin Johnson, Mark West, and Tyrone Corbin for popular power forward Larry Nance. The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4 1966 is a retired American Basketball Point guard who played for the NBA 's Cleveland Cavaliers Tyrone Kennedy Corbin (born December 31 1962 in Columbia South Carolina) is a retired American Basketball player who played Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" Larry Donnell Nance (born February 12, 1959 in Anderson, South Carolina) is a retired American professional Basketball In 1988, Tom Chambers came over from the Seattle SuperSonics as the first unrestricted free agent in NBA history, Jeff Hornacek a 1986 second round pick continued to develop, "Thunder" Dan Majerle was drafted with the 14th pick in the draft, which they obtained from Cleveland in the Kevin Johnson trade, and the team began a 13-year playoff streak. Thomas Doane Chambers (born June 21, 1959 in Ogden Utah) is an American former star NBA professional Basketball player at the The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional Basketball team based in Seattle Washington that played Jeffrey John Hornacek (ˈhɔrnəsɛk (born May 3 1963 in Elmhurst Illinois) is a retired American Basketball player who played Daniel Lewis Majerle (surname 'mɑrliː born September 9, 1965) is an American former professional Basketball player and currently an assistant Kurt Rambis was added from the Charlotte Hornets in 1989, and the team (coached by Fitzsimmons), in a shocking upset, beat the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games that season before falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. Darrell Kurt Rambis (born February 25 1958 is a retired American professional Basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association The New Orleans Hornets are a professional Basketball team based in New Orleans Louisiana, United States. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1991, The Suns stormed to a 55-27 record, however they lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz 3-1. In 1992, the Suns cruised to a 53-29 record during the regular season. While having sent four players to the all-star game in the last two years (Chambers, Johnson, Hornacek and Majerle), the Suns were poised to make a serious run at the NBA Finals. They showed their poise by sweeping the San Antonio Spurs in 3 games in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs. But once again the Suns fell in five games to the Trail Blazers in the conference semifinals, however the series was punctuated by an electrifying game 4, in which the Suns lost in double overtime 153-151 (the highest scoring game in NBA Playoff history to date). The Suns were yet again denied a shot at a title, but in subsequent seasons enjoyed even greater success than ever before.

1993 NBA Finals and "The Barkley era"

"Streaking Suns" Logo (1992-2000)
"Streaking Suns" Logo (1992-2000)

In 1992, the Suns moved into their new arena in downtown Phoenix, the America West Arena (now US Airways Center). US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment Arena located in Phoenix Arizona. The arena was not the only new arrival into Phoenix though, as flamboyant all-star power forward Charles Barkley was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry. Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963 is an American retired professional Basketball player The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jeffrey John Hornacek (ˈhɔrnəsɛk (born May 3 1963 in Elmhurst Illinois) is a retired American Basketball player who played Andrew Charles Lang Jr (born June 28 1966 in Pine Bluff Arkansas) is a retired American professional Basketball player in the Timothy D Perry (born June 4 1965 in Freehold New Jersey) is an American professional Basketball player formerly in the NBA. Barkley would go on to win his first and only MVP his first year with Phoenix in 1993.

In addition to Barkley, the Suns added some key players to their roster including former Boston Celtic Danny Ainge and drafted players in University of Arkansas center Oliver Miller and forward Richard Dumas (who was actually drafted in 1991 but was suspended for his rookie year for violating the NBA drug policy). The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Daniel (Danny Ray Ainge (born March 17, 1959 in Eugene Oregon, U The University of Arkansas, often shortened to U of A or just UA, is a public Co-educational Land-grant university Oliver J Miller (born April 6 1970 in Fort Worth Texas) known as (The "Big O" is a retired American professional Basketball Richard Wayne Dumas (born May 19 1969 in Tulsa Oklahoma) is a retired American professional Basketball player

Under rookie head coach Paul Westphal (a former Suns assistant and, as a player, member of the 1976 Suns squad that went to the NBA Finals), the Suns squad consisting mostly of Barkley, Majerle, Johnson and Ainge won 62 games that year. Paul Westphal (born November 30, 1950) is an American former Basketball player and head coach in the NBA. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the eighth-seeded Lakers, coming back from an 0-2 deficit in the five game series. The Suns went on to eliminate the Spurs and Sonics, advancing to the Finals for the second time in franchise history. They eventually lost to the Bulls, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25 1965 is an American retired Professional Basketball player who played in the National Basketball This series included a triple-overtime game (Game 3) that along with game 4 of the 1976 series are the only triple overtime games in the history of the NBA finals. [3][4] Approximately 300,000 fans braved the 105 degree heat to celebrate the memorable season in the streets of Phoenix. [5]

The Suns continued to be successful in the regular season, going 178-68 during the 1992-93, 1993-94, and 1994-95 seasons. The 1992–93 NBA season was the 47th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1993–94 NBA season was the 48th season of the National Basketball Association. The 1994–95 NBA season was the 49th season of the National Basketball Association. They continued to bolster their roster adding players such as A.C. Green, Danny Manning, Wesley Person, Wayman Tisdale, and Elliot Perry. Daniel Ricardo Manning (born May 17 1966 in Hattiesburg Mississippi) is a retired American professional Basketball player in Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28 1971 in Brantley, Alabama) is an American former professional Basketball player in the Wayman Lawrence Tisdale (born June 9, 1964, in Tulsa Oklahoma) is an American former professional Basketball player in the Elliot Lamonte Perry (born March 28 1969 in Memphis Tennessee) is a retired American professional Basketball player in the NBA Despite a Pacific Division title in 1995, the Suns ended up being eliminated in consecutive Western Conference Semifinal rounds by the Houston Rockets. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. One of the big reasons the Suns lost to Houston in 1995 was the fact that Danny Manning injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament right before the All-Star Break. The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL) is one of the four major Ligaments of the Knee. In both years the Suns led the series by two games at one point (2-0 in 1994, 3-1 in 1995) only to see the Rockets come back to win each series in seven games.

At the end of the 1994-95 season, Phoenix Suns general manager, Bryan Colangelo (son of Jerry) initiated what proved to be a very costly trade, sending all star guard/forward Dan Majerle and a first round draft pick, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for John "Hot Rod" Williams. Bryan Colangelo (born June 1, 1965 in Chicago Illinois) also known as BC, is the President and General Manager of The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. John "Hot Rod" Williams (born August 9, 1962 in Sorrento Louisiana) is a former professional Basketball player in the NBA Majerle was a favorite amongst the fans in Phoenix as well as the Suns locker room[6]. The trade was made to address the Suns' desperate need of a shot blocking center, but proved frustrating as Majerle's presence was sorely missed, and Williams's production never met expectations.

The 1995-96 season turned into a very disappointing year for the Suns (despite drafting future All-Star Michael Finley) in which they posted a 41-41 record, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs. The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association, although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season Michael Howard Finley (born March 6 1973 in Melrose Park Illinois) is an American professional Basketball player who is a member of the NBA The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. It should be noted that Finley, the team's second-leading scorer, went down with an injury shortly before the start of the playoffs leaving Barkley as the Suns' only reliable option. Westphal was fired mid-way through the season and replaced once again by Fitzsimmons. A combination of front office unrest, along with the dwindling possibility of winning a championship lead to turmoil in Barkley's relationship with Jerry Colangelo who both spurned each other publicly. This led to Barkley being traded to Houston for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown, a the trade turned out be unproductive for either team. Samuel James Cassell (born November 18, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland) commonly referred to as Sam Cassell, is an American Robert Keith Horry (born August 25 1970 in Harford County Maryland) is an American professional Basketball player Mark Craig Bryant (born April 25 1965, in Glen Ridge New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player who was selected Clarence "Chucky" Brown (born February 29, 1968 in New York City) is a retired American professional Basketball player Although Barkley helped lead the Rockets to a 57-25 record and a trip the Western Conference Finals in 1997, that turned out to be the only time Houston advanced past the first during his time there, as age and declining physical ability quickly caught up with Barkley and an already aging Rockets team (Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Willis). The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born on January 21 1963 is a retired Nigerian American professional Basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22 1962 in New Orleans Louisiana) is a former 6 foot 7 inch National Basketball Association Shooting guard. Kevin Alvin Willis (born September 6 1962 in Los Angeles California) is an American professional Basketball player who last played As for the Suns, three of the four players were not with the franchise just one year later, and furthermore the two most talented players (being Horry and Cassell) constantly clashed with the coach and seemed to be a negative influence in the locker room. (The feud between Barkley and Colangelo has since been repaired, and Barkley has appeared at a number of Suns home games in the years since. He was also present to see his number retired into the Suns "Ring Of Honor" in 2004. )

In the 1996 NBA Draft, the Suns used their 15th pick for guard Steve Nash, of Santa Clara University. The 1996 NBA Draft was the 54th draft in the National Basketball Association. Stephen John Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974 is a Canadian professional Basketball player who plays Point guard for the Santa Clara University is a private co-educational Jesuit -affiliated University located in Santa Clara, California. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player (destined to win at least two Most Valuable Player awards with the Suns), due to the fact that he had not played in one of the major college conferences. [3] During his first two seasons in the NBA, he played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson. Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23 1973 is an American professional Basketball player in the NBA who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks. Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4 1966 is a retired American Basketball Point guard who played for the NBA 's Cleveland Cavaliers On June 25, 1998, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity, and a first-round draft pick which was later used to select Shawn Marion. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Patrick (Pat Joseph Garrity (born August 23 1976 in Las Vegas Nevada) is a a retired American NBA Basketball player most notably Shawn Dwayne Marion or just called The Matrix (born May 7 1978 in Waukegan Illinois) is an American professional Basketball

1997-2004

After the Barkley trade, the Suns began the 1996-97 season miserably starting 0-13 which was a franchise record for the worst start. The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association. During the 13 game losing streak Fitzsimmons stepped down as coach and was replaced by former player Danny Ainge.

After an on the court altercation between Ainge and Horry, Horry was traded to the Lakers for former Sun and NBA all-star Cedric Ceballos. Cedric Z Ceballos (born August 2 1969 in Maui Hawaii) is an American former professional Basketball player in the NBA. Cassell was later traded to Dallas for all-star guard Jason Kidd. Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23 1973 is an American professional Basketball player in the NBA who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks. With a mostly small lineup, the Suns put together an 11 game win streak that put them in the playoffs, in a series that almost upset the highly favored Sonics. The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1996-1997 season.

In the off-season prior to the 2000 NBA season the Suns traded for perennial All-Star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway stirring a large amount of hype by creating the tandem of Kidd and Hardaway, which was called "Backcourt 2000. Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway (born July 18 1971, in Memphis Tennessee) is an American professional Basketball player " However, the combination of Hardaway and Kidd was never fully realized as Hardaway would miss a number of games during the middle of the 1999-2000 season and Kidd would break his ankle going into the playoffs just as Hardaway began his return to the court. The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1999-2000 season. As the Suns, now led by the returned Hardaway entered the 2000 playoffs, they shocked the favored San Antonio Spurs by ousting them from the playoffs 3-1 in the best of five series. However, even with the return of Kidd at Hardaway's side in the next round, the Suns fell to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in a 4-1 series.

The Suns continued to make the playoffs until the 2001-02 campaign, when they fell short for the first time in 14 years. The 2001–02 NBA season was the 56th season of the National Basketball Association. That season marked the trade of Jason Kidd, partly due to a publicized domestic violence episode, to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury. The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic Stephon Xavier Marbury (born February 20, 1977 in Brooklyn, New York) nicknamed Starbury, is an American professional Lottery-bound, however, the Suns were able to draft Amare Stoudemire.

The 2002-03 campaign saw the emergence of Amaré Stoudemire a graduate from Cypress Creek High School (Orlando, Florida). The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. He became the first ever high school player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 2002-03 season, during which the Suns posted a record of 44-38 and returned to the playoffs. The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the The Suns were eliminated in the first round once again by the San Antonio Spurs, but only after a six game series with the eventual NBA champions.

In the 2003-04 season, the Suns found themselves out of the playoffs. The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The Suns made a blockbuster mid-season trade sending Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway to the New York Knicks.

Steve Nash and the Run n' Gun era (2004-2008)

A home game against the Sacramento Kings in the 2006-07 NBA season.
A home game against the Sacramento Kings in the 2006-07 NBA season.

The beginning of 2004 saw the departure of the face of Suns management since the team's inception, when Jerry Colangelo announced that the Phoenix Suns were to be sold to an investment group headed by San Diego-based business executive (and Tucson native) Robert Sarver for $401 million. Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul. Robert Sarver (born 1961 in Tucson Arizona) is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. However, the 2004-05 season marked the Suns' return to the NBA's elite, with the Suns finishing with the best record in the NBA at 62-20, tying their franchise record that was set by the 1992-93 team. The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA This feat was made possible by the off-season unrestricted FA signing of All-Star point guard and former Suns Steve Nash from Dallas. Stephen John Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974 is a Canadian professional Basketball player who plays Point guard for the Nash would go on to win the MVP award that season. Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were named All-Stars this year and first year coach, Mike D'Antoni, was named NBA Coach of the Year. Shawn Dwayne Marion or just called The Matrix (born May 7 1978 in Waukegan Illinois) is an American professional Basketball Mike D'Antoni (born May 8, 1951 in Mullens West Virginia) is a former Basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1962–63 NBA season.

In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Phoenix was the first seed in the Western Conference, and because it owned the NBA's best record, it was guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The 2005 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association 's 2004-05 season. The Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 and defeated the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the second round 4-2, Steve Nash forcing Game 6 into OT with a 3-pointer in the dying seconds. The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional Basketball team based in Memphis Tennessee. The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are the professional Basketball team of the National Basketball Association based in Dallas Texas In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns played the San Antonio Spurs who won the series 4-1, ending Phoenix's outstanding season, partly due to Joe Johnson missing the first two games of the series. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. Joe Johnson went on to start the remaining games where he averaged 40 minutes per game and 18. 3 PPG. The Suns lost the first 2 at home, fell behind 3-0 in the series but escaped with a win in Game 4 at San Antonio 111-106 but were eliminated at home 101-95. Amare Stoudemire averaged a staggering 37. 0 ppg, the highest ever by a player in their first Conference Finals.

The 2005-06 NBA season began negatively when Amare Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery in his knee on October 18, 2005. The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. Microfracture surgery is one of the Articular cartilage repair surgical techniques that works by creating tiny fractures in the underlying Bone Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He missed all but three games that year. Along with that, promising shooting guard Joe Johnson demanded a trade to the Atlanta Hawks, in which the Suns got Boris Diaw along with two future first round picks. Joe Marcus Johnson (born June 29 1981) is a National Basketball Association player currently a member of the Atlanta Hawks of the The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw (born April 16 1982 in Cormeilles, France) is a French professional Other acquisitions this year included Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas. Raja Bell (born September 19, 1976 in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands) is an American professional Basketball player Kurt Vincent Thomas (born October 4 1972, in Dallas Texas) is an American professional Basketball player with the National Despite the turnover in players, the Suns were once again able to win the Pacific going 54-28 and capturing the second seed in the Western Conference. The Pacific Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. Steve Nash was awarded his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the second point-guard (Magic Johnson was the first) to win the award multiple times. Also, Boris Diaw was named NBA Most Improved Player. Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw (born April 16 1982 in Cormeilles, France) is a French professional The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to

The Suns began the 2006 Western Conference Playoffs as favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. After winning Game 1 in Phoenix, they found themselves trailing in the series 3-1 after impressive performances by Laker shooting guard Kobe Bryant. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, Kobe Bean Bryant (born) is an American All-Star Shooting guard However, the Suns went on to win three straight games. They won Game 5 easily at home. With 7:33 left in the game, Suns guard Raja Bell grabbed Kobe Bryant around the neck and threw him down as the Lakers star drove to the basket. Bell earned a technical foul, his second of the game, and an automatic ejection. The Suns took game Game 6 in OT, their first OT win all season despite 50 points from Bryant and Raja Bell out serving a one-game suspension (for a flagrant foul against Bryant in Game 5) with last second help from mid-season acquisition Tim Thomas. Timothy (Tim Mark Thomas (born on February 26 1977, in Paterson New Jersey) is an American professional Basketball player in the On their home court, the Suns won Game 7 121-90, eliminating the Lakers for the first time since 1993. The Suns became only the eighth team in NBA history to win a playoff series after being behind 3-1.

In the second round, the Suns faced the Los Angeles Clippers. The series was played closely, with both teams trading games on each others' courts. The series was 2-2 and The Suns faced a huge deficit in Game 5 but fought back and won in double OT and after a Game 6 loss finally won the series in the decisive seventh game on their home court at US Airways Center, winning by a margin of 20 with an NBA record 15 3-point FG's May 22, 2006. US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment Arena located in Phoenix Arizona. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

They went on to play the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. Underdogs this time, The Suns took Game 1 in Dallas by a single point and their May 30 victory in Game 4 marked the most wins thus far for the franchise in a Conference Finals series since the 1993 season. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Many credit this success (despite losing Stoudemire) to the emergence of Diaw, Bell (out for two games of the series due to injury), and Barbosa as clutch playoff performers; and an overall team depth they did not possess at all last season. The Suns fought hard in Games 5 and 6 but clearly were no match as they were blown out by a combined 25 points and eliminated from the series on June 3, 2006 in Game 6. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It was yet another disappointing end for the Suns.

In the 2006 off-season, the Suns signed Minnesota Timberwolves PG Marcus Banks to a five-year contract worth $21. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional Basketball team based in Minneapolis Minnesota, United States. Arthur Lemarcus Banks III, commonly known as Marcus Banks (born November 19 1981 in Las Vegas Nevada) is an American professional 3 million. Also, the Suns signed G Leandro Barbosa to a five-year contract extension beginning in the 2007-08 season worth approximately $33 million. Leandro Mateus Barbosa (born November 28 1982 in São Paulo, São Paulo) is a Brazilian professional Basketball player Boris Diaw was also extended to a five year deal worth approximately $45 million. Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw (born April 16 1982 in Cormeilles, France) is a French professional

2006-present

Further information: 2006-07 Phoenix Suns season

The Phoenix Suns finished second in the Western Conference. They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Semi-Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association 's 2006-2007 season.

On June 6, former TNT analyst and NBA three-point specialist, Steve Kerr, was appointed Suns' General Manager and President of Basketball Operations. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Turner Network Television, usually referred to as TNT, is an American cable TV network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr (born September 27 1965 in Beirut, Lebanon) is a retired American professional Kerr is close to team owner Robert Sarver, and is also a part of the Sarver-led investment group that purchased the franchise from Jerry Colangelo. Robert Sarver (born 1961 in Tucson Arizona) is the current majority owner of the Phoenix Suns. Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul.

On June 28, 2007, Spanish SG Rudy Fernández was taken 24th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Suns, who subsequently traded the rights to the pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. For other uses see Rudy Fernandez (disambiguation. Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernández Farrés (born April 4 1985 in Palma de Mallorca The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. SF Alando Tucker of Wisconsin was taken with the 29th pick. Alando Forest Tucker (born February 11 1984) is an American professional Basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, taken The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I College basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference.

On July 11, 2007, the Suns signed former Orlando Magic SF Grant Hill on a 1-year $1. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. Grant Henry Hill (born October 5 1972 is an American professional Basketball player currently playing for the NBA 's Phoenix Suns. 8 million deal with a player option for a second season at $2 million.

On July 20, 2007, the Suns traded power forward/center Kurt Thomas and two future first-round picks (2008 and 2010) to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for a trade exception of $8 million and a conditional second-round pick. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Power forward is a position in the sport of Basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF" The center, colloquially the five, is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Kurt Vincent Thomas (born October 4 1972, in Dallas Texas) is an American professional Basketball player with the National The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional Basketball team based in Seattle Washington that played

On August 27, 2007, Maryland guard D. J. Strawberry signed a two-year contract with the Suns that includes a guaranteed first year and a team option for the second season. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Maryland Terrapins, most commonly referred to as the Terps, represent the University of Maryland College Park in NCAA sports Darryl Eugene "DJ" Strawberry Jr (born June 15 1985, in New York City) is an American professional Basketball player Strawberry was drafted with the 59th selection in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft; in the 2007 NBA Summer League, he averaged a league-best 6. 4 assists.

On October 1, 2007, the Suns signed free agent center Brian Skinner to a one-year deal. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Brian Skinner (born May 19 1976 in Temple Texas) is an American professional Basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers

On February 6, 2008, the Suns traded four-time All-Star forward Shawn Marion, along with Marcus Banks, to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O'Neal. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Shawn Dwayne Marion or just called The Matrix (born May 7 1978 in Waukegan Illinois) is an American professional Basketball Arthur Lemarcus Banks III, commonly known as Marcus Banks (born November 19 1981 in Las Vegas Nevada) is an American professional The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball

On March 4th, 2008, the Suns signed guard Gordan Giricek. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Gordan Giriček (also often spelled Gordon Giricek) (born June 20 1977, in Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a

On May 11th, 2008, after the Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the first round of the 2008 Western Conference Playoffs, Suns Head Coach Mike D'Antoni signed with the New York Knicks, replacing ousted Head Coach Isiah Thomas, who went 56-108 in two seasons with the Knicks. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. Mike D'Antoni (born May 8, 1951 in Mullens West Virginia) is a former Basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA Isiah Lord Thomas III (nicknamed "Zeke" (/aɪˈzeɪə/ born April 30 1961 is an American retired professional Basketball player most renowned as the

Season-by-season records

Main article: Phoenix Suns seasons

Logos and uniforms

Logos

New "Rising Phoenix" logo, 2000-
New "Rising Phoenix" logo, 2000-

For the 2000-01 season, the Phoenix Suns introduced three new logos. This is a list of seasons completed by the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The 2000–01 NBA season was the 55th season of the National Basketball Association. Two of these were merely updates to existing logos, modernizing the themes and adding the gray color. The logo pictured here incorporates the mythical phoenix bird into the existing Suns' theme. The phoenix ( Ancient Greek: Φοῖνιξ phoínix is a mythical sacred firebird in ancient mythologies starting with the Greek and later the It illustrates the team's hometown by picturing the bird it was named after rising out a ball with an abbreviation for Phoenix. Of the team's three logos, this is the one that adorns the hardwood at center court. There is a media dispute over the usage of the logo, as many TV networks use the new one (right), but many video games and websites still use a secondary logo that had been the team's main logo of the 1990s. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages

Uniforms

Since the 2000-2001 season, the Suns have used the same white home and purple road uniforms. On October 20, 2003, an alternate uniform was introduced that was to be used at a minimum, five games a year. This orange uniform is used both at home and on the road and always used in selected consecutive games on the road and in the playoffs. It is the only uniform in the NBA that has an abbreviated version of the city name, PHX, across the front chest. For the 2006-2007 season the Suns removed the uniform number from the side of the shorts, replacing it with the same sun logo that is found on the other side.

Suns mascots

The Suns Gorilla

For the first eleven seasons of their existence in the NBA, the Suns had no official mascot. An early attempt was made involving a sunflower costume, but it never caught on[7]. The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an Annual plant in the family Asteraceae and native to the Americas, with a large flowering In the winter of 1980, a singing telegram named Henry Rojas from Eastern Onion Telegram service was sent to the arena in a gorilla costume. A singing telegram is a message transmitted by Telegram or otherwise that is delivered by an Artist in a musical form Gorillas, the largest of the living Primates are ground-dwelling Herbivores that inhabit the Forests of Africa. Security saw him and suggested to him to stay for a while to entertain the fans during the breaks. He kept coming to games until officially invited to be the Suns' mascot.

Since then, the gorilla, named Go, has been known for his slapstick humor during the games such as his routine push-ups and stadium stairs all to the sound of the Rocky Theme, and the fantastic dunks that are performed before each 4th quarter. Also, one of his more beloved skits was at a Knicks home game where he came out to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” wearing a hat, with several pieces of garbage stuck to his leg. Halfway through the song, a group of “muggers” attacked him, and he staggered off the court afterwards. The gorilla was honored in 2005 when he was selected to be one of three inaugural members of the Mascots Hall of Fame. [8]

Hairy and Hairyson

In 2002, an inflatable gorilla named Hairy was introduced as a new Suns mascot. Standing at 9'1", Hairy entertains the crowd during breaks by dancing with Hairyson who was introduced in 2004 and stands at about half the size. [9]

Broadcasting

The first play by play announcer for the Suns was Bob Vache of KTAR radio, who died in an automobile accident midway through the 1969-70 season. Vache was replaced by the Suns' color commentator, Rodney "Hot Rod" Hundley, who would later go on to be the longtime voice of the Utah Jazz. Rodney Clark Hundley (born October 26, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former professional Basketball player and television The Utah Jazz is a professional Basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. [1]

Legendary broadcaster Al McCoy has covered the team ever since the 1971-72 season. Al McCoy, The Voice Of The Suns, has been the radio broadcast announcer of Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball games since 1972 which makes him The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. McCoy has broadcast Suns games on radio for the 37th consecutive season on KTAR Phoenix (which has carried Suns games for 38 seasons) as of 2006-07. KTAR (620 AM) is the callsign for a Radio station in Phoenix Arizona. McCoy's unique, folksy style of calling the games, including his signature catchphrases such as "Shazam!" for a three-point shot, endeared him to thousands of Suns fans across Arizona, the Southwest, and nationwide. McCoy was honored in March of 2007 by the Suns, who named their soon-to-be renovated media center at US Airways Center in his honor [2]. McCoy was partnered for many years with legendary coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons ( October 7, 1931 &ndash July 24, 2004) was a college and NBA Basketball In recent years, former NBA players Vinny Del Negro and Tim Kempton served as color commentators on the radio side, with Del Negro working most regular-season home games and all of the playoffs with McCoy (Del Negro subsequently accepted a position in the Suns' front office). Vincent "Vinny" Joseph Del Negro (born August 9, 1966 in Springfield Massachusetts) is a retired American Basketball player Timothy Joseph Kempton (born January 25, 1964 in Jamaica New York) is an American former professional Basketball player who was

Until 2003-2004, Al McCoy's radio broadcast was simulcast on most television broadcasts. Former NBA on CBS broadcaster Gary Bender has handled the cable Fox Sports Net (FSN-Arizona) telecasts since the early 1990s that were not simulcast. The NBA on CBS was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on CBS Sports. Gary Bender is an American Sportscaster and 2008 inductee in to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net (FSN are a collection of cable TV Regional sports networks owned and operated by News Beginning with the 2003-04 season, Tom Leander assumed the reins on over-the-air TV; the games air on MyNetworkTV affiliate KUTP. MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyNet or MNT) is a Television network in the United States, owned by the Fox Broadcasting Company KUTP, channel 45 is a MyNetworkTV -affiliated station in Phoenix Arizona. Former Suns star Dan Majerle, a member of the team's Ring-of-Honor has served as a commentator on television broadcasts since 2004. Daniel Lewis Majerle (surname 'mɑrliː born September 9, 1965) is an American former professional Basketball player and currently an assistant He splits the color commentator duties with former Suns star Eddie Johnson. See Edward Johnson Jr for "Fast Eddie" Johnson the NBA player born in 1955

The FSN Arizona broadcasts have been different from those of NBA teams on other affiliate networks, because the time-and-score graphic does not include an embedded shot clock. A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game Instead, it has only been shown when the clock reaches eight seconds or less, is shown in large print, and is sponsored. Among the sponsors of the clock's appearances have been Henkel and the Arizona Department of Health Services (under the slogan "Inhale Life"). Henkel AG & Co KGaA () is an international company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. However, for the 2006-07 season, an embedded clock was added to the KUTP telecasts. On January 19, 2007, an embedded clock was part of the graphic during the FSN Arizona telecast of the team's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, but the sponsored shot clock was still also on-screen when the time was expiring. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. It is unknown if the embedded clock was only a one-night change or will be a permanent feature of Suns broadcasts.

$150 or more are added to Phoenix Suns charities, as announced by the broadcasters, if a Suns player made a three-pointer in every Suns game.

Players

Main article: Phoenix Suns all-time roster

Basketball Hall of Famers

While no player has yet won induction based solely or primarily upon his tenure with the Suns, two enshrinees spent significant parts of their careers with Phoenix:

One player, enshrined primarily based upon his service with another team, briefly wore the Suns uniform during the middle of his career:

One individual was enshrined based upon his service as a Suns coach, executive and owner:

Members of Suns Ring of Honor

Current roster

Phoenix Suns roster
v • d • e
PlayersCoaches
Pos. The following is a list of players both past and current who appeared at least in one game for the Phoenix Suns National Basketball Association franchise The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in downtown Springfield Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at Basketball Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963 is an American retired professional Basketball player Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Cornelius "Connie" Hawkins (born July 17 1942 in Brooklyn, New York is a former National Basketball Association (NBA Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Gail Charles Goodrich Jr (born April 23, 1943 in Los Angeles California) is a former professional Basketball player in the National Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Richard Albert (Dick Van Arsdale (born February 22 1943 in Indianapolis Indiana) is a former professional Basketball player and coach Walter Paul Davis (born September 9 1954, in Pineville North Carolina) is a retired American Basketball player Kevin Maurice Johnson (born March 4 1966 is a retired American Basketball Point guard who played for the NBA 's Cleveland Cavaliers Daniel Lewis Majerle (surname 'mɑrliː born September 9, 1965) is an American former professional Basketball player and currently an assistant Thomas Doane Chambers (born June 21, 1959 in Ogden Utah) is an American former star NBA professional Basketball player at the Alvan Leigh Adams (born July 19 1954, in Lawrence Kansas) is a retired American professional Basketball player Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963 is an American retired professional Basketball player Cornelius "Connie" Hawkins (born July 17 1942 in Brooklyn, New York is a former National Basketball Association (NBA Paul Westphal (born November 30, 1950) is an American former Basketball player and head coach in the NBA. Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons ( October 7, 1931 &ndash July 24, 2004) was a college and NBA Basketball Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939 in Chicago Heights Illinois) is an American businessman and sports mogul. #Nat. NameHt. Wt. From
G10 Flag of BrazilBarbosa, Leandro 6 ft 3 in (1. The three basketball positions normally employed by organized Basketball teams are guard forward and center Leandro Mateus Barbosa (born November 28 1982 in São Paulo, São Paulo) is a Brazilian professional Basketball player 91 m)188 lb (85 kg)Brazil
SG19 Flag of the United States Virgin IslandsBell, Raja 6 ft 5 in (1. The Shooting guard ( SG) also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a Basketball team Raja Bell (born September 19, 1976 in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands) is an American professional Basketball player 96 m)210 lb (95 kg)Florida International
F/C3 Flag of FranceDiaw, Boris 6 ft 8 in (2. Forward-center is a Basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod, better known as Boris Diaw (born April 16 1982 in Cormeilles, France) is a French professional 03 m)230 lb (104 kg)France
G/F2 Flag of CroatiaGiriček, Gordan 6 ft 6 in (1. Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the Small forward and Shooting guard positions and in essence swing between the shooting Gordan Giriček (also often spelled Gordon Giricek) (born June 20 1977, in Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a 98 m)220 lb (100 kg)Croatia
SF33 Flag of the United StatesHill, Grant (C) 6 ft 8 in (2. The small forward, or colloquially the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation Basketball game Grant Henry Hill (born October 5 1972 is an American professional Basketball player currently playing for the NBA 's Phoenix Suns. 03 m)225 lb (102 kg)Duke
SF43 Flag of the United StatesJohnson, Linton 6 ft 8 in (2. The small forward, or colloquially the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation Basketball game Linton Johnson III (born June 13 1980 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional Basketball player with the 03 m)205 lb (93 kg)Tulane
F/C4 Flag of New ZealandMarks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2. Forward-center is a Basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis Sean Andrew Marks (born August 23 1975 in Auckland) is a New Zealand professional Basketball player with the NBA 's 08 m)250 lb (113 kg)California
PG13 Flag of CanadaNash, Steve (C) 6 ft 3 in (1. Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Stephen John Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974 is a Canadian professional Basketball player who plays Point guard for the 91 m)195 lb (88 kg)Santa Clara
C32 Flag of the United StatesO'Neal, Shaquille (C) 7 ft 1 in (2. The center, colloquially the five, is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball 16 m)325 lb (147 kg)Louisiana State
G/F52 Flag of the United StatesPiatkowski, Eric 6 ft 7 in (2. Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the Small forward and Shooting guard positions and in essence swing between the shooting Eric Todd Piatkowski (ˌpaɪətˈkaʊski (born September 30, 1970, in Steubenville Ohio) is an American National Basketball Association 01 m)215 lb (98 kg)Nebraska
F/C54 Flag of the United StatesSkinner, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2. Forward-center is a Basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis Brian Skinner (born May 19 1976 in Temple Texas) is an American professional Basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers 06 m)265 lb (120 kg)Baylor
F/C1 Flag of the United StatesStoudemire, Amare 6 ft 10 in (2. Forward-center is a Basketball position for players who play or have played both forward and center on a consistent basis 08 m)245 lb (111 kg)Cypress Creek HS (FL)*
G8 Flag of the United StatesStrawberry, D.J. 6 ft 5 in (1. The three basketball positions normally employed by organized Basketball teams are guard forward and center Darryl Eugene "DJ" Strawberry Jr (born June 15 1985, in New York City) is an American professional Basketball player 96 m)201 lb (91 kg)Maryland
SF29 Flag of the United StatesTucker, Alando 6 ft 6 in (1. The small forward, or colloquially the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation Basketball game Alando Forest Tucker (born February 11 1984) is an American professional Basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, taken 98 m)205 lb (93 kg)Wisconsin
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • Injured Injured

Roster • Transactions
Last change: 2008-04-23

High points

Franchise leaders

* 150 games minimum

Individual awards

NBA Most Valuable Player Award
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Coach of the Year Award
Best NBA Player ESPY Award
All-NBA First Team
All-NBA Second Team
All-NBA Third Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA All-Rookie First Team
NBA All-Rookie Second Team

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ The Suns Rise in Phoenix. Suns. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Origin of the Logo
  2. ^ The Longest Day. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Game 5 of 1976 NBA Finals
  3. ^ Paxson's Trey Propels Bulls into NBA history. The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. 1993 NBA finals
  4. ^ Triple-OT Classic Highlights Boston's 13th Title. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. 1976 NBA Finals
  5. ^ The Good Ol' Days. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Parade after the Finals
  6. ^ Dan Mejerle. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Dan Majerle, fan favorite
  7. ^ The Gorilla. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-05-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. The Gorilla
  8. ^ Gorilla Inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-05-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. The Gorilla in the Hall
  9. ^ Hairy & Hairyson. NBA. com. Retrieved on 2007-05-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Hairy & Hairyson

External links

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