7. Paul Westphal – Jon Snow
Paul Westphal is no doubt one of the most influential figures in Suns history. He played for the first Phoenix team to make it to the Finals in 1976 and he coached the second Finals team in 1993. He was smart, aggressive, bold, and a natural leader on and off the court. He’ll also always be remembered for his part in “the greatest game ever played,” the triple overtime game during the 1976 Finals. In that game, Westphal stole the ball at critical times, scored several clutch shots, and he made excellent decisions. At one point, he purpously called a timeout the Suns didn’t have, recognizing a loophole that allowed them to inbound the ball at midcourt. It was an innovative idea that caused the NBA to change the rules later that year.
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Westphal spent several all-star seasons with the Suns before leaving to the Sonics. However, he would come back to end his career in Phoenix, even becoming the Head Coaching in 1992.
Jon Snow followed a similar path for the Night’s Watch. He started as a regular recruit before leaving to join the wildlings. But, as soon as he got the chance, he came back to the Watch and ultimately became Lord Commander. Similar to Westphal, Jon is a bold and innovative leader. He took command of Castle Black when nobody else would, and did everything necessary to hold it. He comes up with unique ideas that others wouldn’t think of, such as inviting the wildings through the wall and uniting with them.