Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns: The NBA’s Most Depressed Fan Base?

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at US Airways Center. The Magic defeated the Suns 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at US Airways Center. The Magic defeated the Suns 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 3, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash is present for the opening ceremonies as the Vancouver Whitecaps celebrate 40 years as they host the San Jose Earthquakes before the start of the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Glory Years

The biggest support for the claim that Suns fans are the NBA’s most tormented isn’t that the team has been terrible recently. It was only last year they won 48 games and were the most pleasant surprise of the season. No, the biggest reason Suns fans are so depressed is that they know what a winning team looks like…and they’ve seen them fall short each and every time.

In a recent article from ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh, the Suns were identified as the league’s biggest underachiever when it comes to how many titles each team should have won by now. Teaming up with fellow ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton, the two created a model quantifying how many championships each team should’ve won by now.

Obviously, there’s no perfect mathematical model for determining things like this. Such a conversation has to take into account a dizzying number of variables including injuries, home-court advantage, the difference between playing in the West and the East, etc. But in terms of regular season success not translating into playoff success, the Suns sit atop the list of underachievers.

*Camera cuts to Suns fans:*

According to Haberstroh’s model, Phoenix’s number of expected titles was 1.9, with the number of actual titles being zero (obviously). The Suns have made the playoffs 27 times, they have three 60-win seasons to their name and they have a staggering 11 55-win seasons. And yet, they only have two NBA Finals appearances and no championships.

For a team that also has 19 50-win seasons, this is terribly disappointing. In 1976, the Suns’ star trio of Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal and Dick Van Arsdale fell short against a Boston Celtics team sporting future Hall of Famers Dave Cowens, John Havlicek and Jo Jo White.

In 1993, Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson couldn’t get the job done against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, one of the NBA’s all-time great dynasties. In the 2000s, Steve Nash failed to advance past the Western Conference Finals three times, with many of his playoff defeats coming at the hands of the eventual champions.

Mike D’Antoni‘s Suns won at least 54 games in four different seasons and never won, facing bad luck every time whether it was Joe Johnson breaking his face or questionable suspensions. The 1990s Suns won 55 games or more on five different occasions and also came up empty. The Suns are without a doubt the NBA’s most consistent winner that’s never won it all.

Next: Recent Down Years

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