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

Corky Calhoun – Drafted 4th Overall in 1972

A less than stellar offensive player, Corky averaged only 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in college at Penn. He was however highly regarded for his defensive ability and was expected to be a shut down defender.

Steals were not recorded in the NBA his rookie year, but points and rebounds obviously were and 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds from the number four overall pick who played in all 82 games is less than exceptional.

His points and rebounds each rose during his second season, but while steals were now a recorded stat, for a player who was going to focus mainly on defense, .9 per game was a serious letdown as well.

What’s worse is that almost immediately Corky didn’t fit into Head Coach John MacLeod’s system. Although he played in all 82 games his rookie season and 77 in his second year, by 1974-75 he had fallen to the back of the bench and even in the preseason played very sparingly.

As such, Colangelo traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers a month into his third year for a 1976 second round pick and a 1977 third round pick (Mike Bratz was selected and played three seasons with the Suns).