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Phoenix Suns: Who Will Be The Next Player To Enter The Ring Of Honor?

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 23, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (6) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and center Alex Len (21) at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 124-115. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (6) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and center Alex Len (21) at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 124-115. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks center center Amar’e Stoudemire against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Amar’e Stoudemire

Why He’ll Make It: Like Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire is a no-brainer for the Suns Ring of Honor. As the second piece of the most dynamic pick-and-roll duo the league has seen since John Stockton and Karl Malone, STAT racked up five All-Star honors, four All-NBA selections and two Western Conference Finals appearances.

In the 2005 Western Conference Finals, he averaged an absurd 37 points per game, he was a beast when he was healthy and he put more people on posters than Fathead. During his eight years with the Suns, Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game with a 22.6 Player Efficiency Rating.

Among Phoenix’s all-time leaders, Stoudemire ranks in the top five for free throws (made and attempted), rebounds, blocks, points per game, true shooting percentage, win shares and Player Efficiency Rating. It’s not a question of if STAT will make the Ring of Honor, but when.

Why He Won’t Make It: To reiterate, Stoudemire is a surefire bet to make the Ring of Honor. In fact, if we’re basing this off of merit alone, he’d be the most worthy among active and inactive Suns greats. So why isn’t he No. 1 on the list?

Well, the question is who will be the next Sun inducted, not the most deserving. And since Stoudemire’s still playing at least another year with the Miami Heat, Phoenix will have to wait until after he retires to make it official (something we learned from the Suns waiting until Nash was completely done to induct him).

Bearing that in mind, there is one former Suns great who has a good chance of making it into the Ring of Honor while Stoudemire finishes up his career.

Next: No. 1

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