Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ eight top-5 picks all-time

John Shumate – Drafted 4th overall in 1974

John Shumate’s ranking on this list is partially an act of God, lessening the term ‘bust’ when describing his career with the Phoenix Suns.

A highly touted scoring power forward coming out of Notre Dame in 1974, Shumate was quickly struck with some terrible news when it was discovered that he had a blood clot in his lung that immediately threatened his career. Missing his entire 1974-75 rookie season, (he was part of the radio broadcast team while he recuperated) when he returned to the court in late 1975, he just wasn’t the same.

After averaging 22.6 points and 11.6 rebounds in three years in college, he came to the Suns at the start of the 1975-76 season a different player, having lost the explosiveness that made him such a hot commodity coming into the league. While a fan favorite and still undeniably talented, General Manager Jerry Colangelo wanted to improve the team a little more quickly than what was necessary with being patient with Shumate would allow. For this, he was traded him to the Buffalo Braves minutes before the 1976 trade deadline.

Shumate ended his very brief career in Phoenix in disappointment, but Gar Heard, who was acquired in return, would step into the starters role immediately, and that June in Boston, would make one of the most famous shots in NBA history.