Best draft picks in Phoenix Suns history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Phoenix Suns history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Joel Kramer
- Stacker score: 1.4
- 63rd overall pick in 1978
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 3.8 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.1 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
#49. Steve Patterson
- Stacker score: 1.4
- 129th overall pick in 1970
- Career averages: 4.4 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 4.8 win shares
#48. Mike Bratz
- Stacker score: 1.6
- 66th overall pick in 1977
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 1.8 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.1 win shares, -1.8 box plus/minus, 0.6 VORP
#47. Kenny Gattison
- Stacker score: 1.8
- 55th overall pick in 1986
- Played two seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 7.9 PTS, 4.7 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.9 win shares, -2.4 box plus/minus, -1.1 VORP
#46. Lamar Green
- Stacker score: 2.1
- 33rd overall pick in 1969
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 5.2 PTS, 6.2 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 6.9 win shares
#45. Dean Garrett
- Stacker score: 2.2
- 38th overall pick in 1988
- Career averages: 4.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.1 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.1 VORP
#44. Tim Perry
- Stacker score: 2.4
- Seventh overall pick in 1988
- Played four seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.6 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.5 VORP
#43. Billy McKinney
- Stacker score: 2.6
- 115th overall pick in 1977
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 1.4 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.6 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.7 VORP
#42. Ron Lee
- Stacker score: 2.7
- 10th overall pick in 1976
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 2.7 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.7 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 3.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1977-78 STL Champ
#41. Alex Len
- Stacker score: 2.9
- Fifth overall pick in 2013
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 5.7 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.9 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.2 VORP
#40. De'Anthony Melton
- Stacker score: 3.1
- 46th overall pick in 2018
- Played one season with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 3.7 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.9 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 4.6 VORP
#39. Ron Boone
- Stacker score: 3.5
- 147th overall pick in 1968
- Career averages: 16.8 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1971 ABA Champ
--- 4x All Star
#38. Cameron Johnson
- Stacker score: 3.5
- 11th overall pick in 2019
- Played four seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 11.3 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.4 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 4.9 VORP
#37. Andrew Lang
- Stacker score: 3.9
- 28th overall pick in 1988
- Played four seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 6.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.6 win shares, -1.8 box plus/minus, 0.7 VORP
#36. T.J. Warren
- Stacker score: 4.1
- 14th overall pick in 2014
- Played six seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 4.0 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#35. Corky Calhoun
- Stacker score: 4.3
- Fourth overall pick in 1972
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 5.3 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1977 NBA Champ
#34. Markieff Morris
- Stacker score: 4.5
- 13th overall pick in 2011
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.5 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 2.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 2020 NBA Champ
#33. Charles Jones
- Stacker score: 4.5
- 165th overall pick in 1979
- Career averages: 2.5 PTS, 4.5 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.6 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 4.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1995 NBA Champ
#32. Bogdan Bogdanović
- Stacker score: 4.7
- 27th overall pick in 2014
- Career averages: 14.2 PTS, 3.4 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.0 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 6.5 VORP
#31. Alvin Scott
- Stacker score: 5.0
- 136th overall pick in 1977
- Played eight seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 4.9 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.0 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 5.9 VORP
#30. Oliver Miller
- Stacker score: 5.3
- 22nd overall pick in 1992
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 5.9 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.1 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 7.4 VORP
#29. Ricky Sobers
- Stacker score: 5.5
- 16th overall pick in 1975
- Played two seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 13.3 PTS, 2.6 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.0 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 4.1 VORP
#28. John Shumate
- Stacker score: 5.5
- Fourth overall pick in 1974
- Played one season with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.5 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 6.9 VORP
#27. Mike Bantom
- Stacker score: 6.4
- Eighth overall pick in 1973
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 12.1 PTS, 6.4 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 34.8 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 5.7 VORP
#26. Deandre Ayton
- Stacker score: 6.4
- First overall pick in 2018
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 16.7 PTS, 10.4 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.9 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 7.2 VORP
#25. Mikal Bridges
- Stacker score: 7.7
- 10th overall pick in 2018
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 13.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.1 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 10.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2021-22 All-Defensive
#24. Leandro Barbosa
- Stacker score: 7.8
- 28th overall pick in 2003
- Played nine seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 2.0 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.4 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 8.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2015 NBA Champ
#23. Kyle Macy
- Stacker score: 7.9
- 22nd overall pick in 1979
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 2.2 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.0 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 9.6 VORP
#22. Robin Lopez
- Stacker score: 7.9
- 15th overall pick in 2008
- Played four seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 8.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 49.6 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 4.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#21. Stephen Jackson
- Stacker score: 8.5
- 43rd overall pick in 1997
- Career averages: 15.1 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.1 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 11.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2003 NBA Champ
#20. Ed Pinckney
- Stacker score: 8.6
- 10th overall pick in 1985
- Played two seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.7 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 9.2 VORP
#19. Cedric Ceballos
- Stacker score: 8.7
- 48th overall pick in 1990
- Played six seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 14.3 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 40.4 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 10.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#18. Neal Walk
- Stacker score: 9.1
- Second overall pick in 1969
- Played five seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 12.6 PTS, 7.7 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.3 win shares
#17. Devin Booker
- Stacker score: 9.3
- 13th overall pick in 2015
- Played eight seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 23.9 PTS, 4.0 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.9 win shares, 0.9 box plus/minus, 13.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 1.1%
- Accolades
--- 2021-22 All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#16. Jay Humphries
- Stacker score: 9.6
- 13th overall pick in 1984
- Played four seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 2.5 REB, 5.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 45.0 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 11.0 VORP
#15. Mark Eaton
- Stacker score: 9.8
- 107th overall pick in 1979
- Career averages: 6.0 PTS, 7.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.8 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 11.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x Def. POY
--- 4x BLK Champ
--- 5x All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#14. Armen Gilliam
- Stacker score: 10.5
- Second overall pick in 1987
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 13.7 PTS, 6.9 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.1 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
#13. Steve Kerr
- Stacker score: 10.6
- 50th overall pick in 1988
- Played one season with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 6.0 PTS, 1.2 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.2 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 11.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 3.3%
- Accolades
--- 5x NBA Champ
#12. Wesley Person
- Stacker score: 10.9
- 23rd overall pick in 1994
- Played three seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.0 win shares, 0.9 box plus/minus, 15.2 VORP
#11. Goran Dragić
- Stacker score: 12.8
- 45th overall pick in 2008
- Played six seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 13.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 4.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.7 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 15.9 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.4%
- Accolades
--- 2013-14 All-NBA
--- 1x All Star
#10. Dan Majerle
- Stacker score: 20.7
- 14th overall pick in 1988
- Played eight seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 78.5 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 29.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.0%
- Accolades
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 3x All Star
#9. Alvan Adams
- Stacker score: 20.8
- Fourth overall pick in 1975
- Played 13 seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 7.0 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 73.5 win shares, 2.8 box plus/minus, 33.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1975-76 ROY
--- 1x All Star
#8. Michael Finley
- Stacker score: 20.9
- 21st overall pick in 1995
- Played two seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 15.7 PTS, 4.4 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 85.2 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 28.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2007 NBA Champ
--- 2x All Star
#7. Walter Davis
- Stacker score: 23.7
- Fifth overall pick in 1977
- Played 11 seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 76.9 win shares, 1.5 box plus/minus, 25.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 30.9%
- Accolades
--- 1977-78 ROY
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 6x All Star
#6. Jeff Hornacek
- Stacker score: 28.5
- 46th overall pick in 1986
- Played six seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 14.5 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 108.9 win shares, 2.9 box plus/minus, 42.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#5. Larry Nance
- Stacker score: 29.9
- 20th overall pick in 1981
- Played seven seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 17.1 PTS, 8.0 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 109.6 win shares, 3.6 box plus/minus, 43.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.8%
- Accolades
--- 3x All-Defensive
--- 3x All Star
#4. Amar'e Stoudemire
- Stacker score: 31.6
- Ninth overall pick in 2002
- Played eight seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 7.8 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 92.5 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 21.9 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 72.9%
- Accolades
--- 2002-03 ROY
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 6x All Star
#3. George Gervin
- Stacker score: 37.9
- 40th overall pick in 1974
- Career averages: 25.1 PTS, 5.3 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 88.1 win shares, 2.4 box plus/minus, 29.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x Scoring Champ
--- 7x All-NBA
--- 1979-80 AS MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Shawn Marion
- Stacker score: 45.0
- Ninth overall pick in 1999
- Played nine seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 15.2 PTS, 8.7 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 124.9 win shares, 2.7 box plus/minus, 47.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 75.6%
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 4x All Star
#1. Steve Nash
- Stacker score: 49.6
- 15th overall pick in 1996
- Played 10 seasons with Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 14.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 8.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 129.7 win shares, 3.0 box plus/minus, 48.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x MVP
--- 5x AST Champ
--- 7x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
