Phoenix Suns: 10 Best Draft Picks In Team History

7. Jeff Hornacek

The Suns have a mostly painful history when it comes to the NBA Draft, but in 1986, they absolutely nailed one of their second round picks. At No. 46, Phoenix selected Jeff Hornacek, a 6’4″ shooting guard out of Iowa State.

Little did the Suns know that their second-rounder would become a terrific third scoring option for the Suns in the early 90s behind Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson. In six seasons with the Suns, Hornacek only averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 assists per game, but he grew into quite the player after two developmental seasons.

In fact, in his final season in Phoenix, Hornacek was an All-Star, averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point range and 88.6 percent from the foul line. Unfortunately for Hornacek, the Suns used that increased trade value to move him to Philly.

From the Suns’ perspective, however, Hornacek panned out perfectly. Here was a former second round pick leading the team in scoring who they used in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to nab Charles Barkley. The deal got Phoenix over the hump and they came two wins away from a championship the following season.

Hornacek is the current coach of the Phoenix Suns, so there’s no bad blood about the trade either.

Next: No. 6