Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1968 as an NBA expansion franchise, they play in the Western Conference's Pacific Division. Their home arena is the Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix, though they spent their first 24 seasons at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Suns have never won an NBA championship, making them the franchise with the highest all-time winning percentage among teams without a ring. They have reached the NBA Finals three times: 1976, 1993, and 2021.

The 1976 Finals, often called the Sundown Series, included a triple-overtime Game 5 that many consider the greatest game ever played. Charles Barkley won MVP in 1993 and led the Suns to the Finals, where they fell to Michael Jordan's Bulls. The Steve Nash era (2004–2012) brought two MVP awards and a revolutionary fast-paced offense under coach Mike D'Antoni, but no title. After a decade-long playoff drought, the Suns returned to the Finals in 2021 behind Devin Booker and Chris Paul, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

As of the 2024–25 season, the Suns feature a star-studded core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, with Mike Budenholzer as head coach. The team's colors are purple, orange, and white, and their iconic Sunburst logo is among the most recognizable in sports. Their mascot, the Gorilla, has entertained fans since 1980. Radio broadcaster Al McCoy, who retired in 2023 after 51 years, was the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in NBA history. [edit]

The Suns entered the NBA in 1968 alongside the Milwaukee Bucks. Their first season was rough: they went 16–66. But by 1970, they had drafted Dick Van Arsdale and Alvan Adams, and in 1975 they acquired Paul Westphal. That core shocked the league by reaching the 1976 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Game 5, a triple-overtime thriller, is still hailed as one of the greatest games ever played.

The 1980s were a mixed bag. Walter Davis, a six-time All-Star, kept the team competitive, but the Suns didn't return to the Finals until 1993. Charles Barkley, acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, won MVP that season. Phoenix won a franchise-record 62 games and beat the Lakers and SuperSonics before falling to the Chicago Bulls in six games in the Finals.

After Barkley left in 1996, the Suns entered a period of mediocrity. The arrival of Steve Nash in 2004 changed everything. Under coach Mike D'Antoni, the Suns popularized a seven-seconds-or-less offense, winning at least 54 games for five straight seasons. Nash won back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006. Despite deep playoff runs, the Suns never reached the Finals, falling to the Spurs and Lakers in memorable series.

A long drought followed: from 2011 to 2020, the Suns missed the playoffs every year. The 2020–21 season saw a stunning turnaround. With Chris Paul running the point and Devin Booker emerging as a star, the Suns went 51–21 and swept the Nuggets and Clippers in the playoffs to reach the Finals. They led the Bucks 2–0 but lost four straight. The next season, they set a franchise record with 64 wins but lost in the second round to the Mavericks.

In February 2023, the Suns acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade. They reached the second round but were swept by the Nuggets. The next summer, they traded for Bradley Beal, forming a new Big Three. The 2023–24 season ended with a first-round loss to the Timberwolves. With Mike Budenholzer now at the helm, the Suns continue their quest for a first championship. [edit]