Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns entered the NBA in 1968 as an expansion franchise alongside the Milwaukee Bucks. Their first season was rough, finishing with a 16–66 record, but they quickly built a competitive core by drafting Dick Van Arsdale and Alvan Adams. The team shocked the league in 1976 by reaching the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. That series included Game 5, a triple-overtime thriller still hailed as one of the greatest games ever played.

Charles Barkley led the franchise to its second Finals appearance in 1993 after winning the MVP award that season. Phoenix won a franchise-record 62 regular-season games and defeated the Lakers and SuperSonics before falling to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in six games. The Steve Nash era (2004–2012) brought two more MVP awards and a revolutionary fast-paced offense under coach Mike D'Antoni, though the team never captured a title during those years.

A decade-long playoff drought from 2011 to 2020 ended with a stunning turnaround in 2020–21. With Chris Paul running the point and Devin Booker emerging as a star, the Suns went 51–21 and swept the Nuggets and Clippers to reach the Finals again. They led the Milwaukee Bucks 2–0 but lost four straight. In February 2023, the Suns acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade, forming a new Big Three with Bradley Beal. As of the 2026–27 season, the team continues its quest for a first championship under head coach Mike Budenholzer. [edit]

The franchise began play in 1968 with a 16–66 record but found its footing by the early 1970s. By 1975, acquisitions like Paul Westphal joined Dick Van Arsdale and Alvan Adams to create a powerhouse squad. This group reached the 1976 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, where Game 5 remains legendary for its three overtime periods and dramatic finish.

Walter Davis anchored the team through the 1980s as a six-time All-Star. The franchise returned to the Finals in 1993 with Charles Barkley at the helm. After trading Barkley in 1996, the Suns struggled for years until Steve Nash arrived in 2004. Under Mike D'Antoni, the team adopted a seven-seconds-or-less offense, winning at least 54 games for five consecutive seasons while Nash secured back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006.

A long playoff drought followed from 2011 to 2020. The 2020–21 season saw a dramatic return to prominence with a 51–21 record and a run to the Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite taking a 2–0 series lead, the Suns lost four straight games. The 2023–24 season featured a new Big Three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, resulting in a first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Recent roster moves include signing Duop Reath and the emergence of young big men Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach. [edit]