Suns All-Decade Teams Part One – 1960s-70s

MILWAUKEE - 1970: Gail Goodrich #25 of the Phoenix Suns goes up for a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1970 season at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE - 1970: Gail Goodrich #25 of the Phoenix Suns goes up for a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1970 season at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images)
10 of 11

CENTER 

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1979: Alvan Adams #33 of the Phoenix Suns in shoots over Marvin Webster #40 of the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1979 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Adams played for the Suns from 1975-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1979: Alvan Adams #33 of the Phoenix Suns in shoots over Marvin Webster #40 of the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1979 at Madison Square Garden in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Adams played for the Suns from 1975-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Starter: Alvan Adams

Adams was drafted by the Suns in the 1975 NBA Draft and played his entire NBA career with the Suns. ‘The Oklahoma Kid‘ was voted Rookie of the Year in 1976, was an All-Star that season, and along with Paul Westphal, Dick Van Arsdale, and Keith Ericson, Adams led the Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals in a matchup against the Boston Celtics.

Adams is still the franchise’s career leader in games played with 988, minutes played with 27,203, rebounds with 6,937 and steals with 1,289. He is also currently ranked third in assists with 4.102 behind only Kevin Johnson and Steve Nash (more on those two player in later posts).

Although his best season came as a rookie averaging 19.0pts, 5.6ast, 9.1rbs, and 46.9% from the floor, his longvity allowed him to build a career resume that is, even to this day, unmatched, and a spot as the best center in the 1970s.