Phoenix Suns: 10 Worst Draft Picks In Team History

Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez (42) and Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) look at one another during the second half at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Phoenix Suns logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 101-98. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

7. John Shumate

With the fourth pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, the Suns selected John Shumate from Notre Dame. A 6’9″ forward/center, Shumate wasn’t a terrible pick, but his time in Phoenix was extremely short-lived.

Shumate played a grand total of 43 games with the Suns before he was traded to the Buffalo Braves midway through his rookie season for Gar Heard. You may remember Heard for the “Shot Heard ‘Round The World,” when he drained a 20-foot turnaround jumper in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals to send it to triple-overtime.

The Suns lost that game, and the series, but Shumate was useful in getting the Suns such a fierce competitor in Heard. Unfortunately, Shumate was selected ahead of future Hall of Famers/All-NBAers/All-Stars like Bobby Jones, Scott Wedman, Campy Russell, Jamaal Wilkes, Brian Winters, Maurice Lucas, Billy Knight, Truck Robinson, John Drew and Phil Smith.

Next: No. 6

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