Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Top Five Classic Suns Teams for NBA 2K18

By Steve Miner

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets plays NBA2k15 with fans at the Playstation area at NBA House at Moynihan Station during the 2015 NBA All-Star on February 13, 2015 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets plays NBA2k15 with fans at the Playstation area at NBA House at Moynihan Station during the 2015 NBA All-Star on February 13, 2015 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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#5 – The Turn of the Century Suns (1999-2000)

PHOENIX, UNITED STATES: Penny Hardaway (L) and Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo hold Hardaway’s new Suns’ jersey during a press conference at the America West Arena 05 August 1999 in Phoenix, AZ. The Orlando Magic made the trade and acquired Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and two first-round draft picks. Hardaway, who will be paid 86 million USD over the next seven years, joins Jason Kidd. AFP PHOTO Roy DABNER (Photo credit should read ROY DABNER/AFP/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, UNITED STATES: Penny Hardaway (L) and Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo hold Hardaway’s new Suns’ jersey during a press conference at the America West Arena 05 August 1999 in Phoenix, AZ. The Orlando Magic made the trade and acquired Danny Manning, Pat Garrity and two first-round draft picks. Hardaway, who will be paid 86 million USD over the next seven years, joins Jason Kidd. AFP PHOTO Roy DABNER (Photo credit should read ROY DABNER/AFP/Getty Images) /

It was a tough decision between this team and the 1997-98 team. Ultimately, I decided on this one for a pretty simple reason: Penny Hardaway. In real life, injuries to both Penny and Jason Kidd limited them to only 45 games together. And they were still able to win 53 games and make it to the Western Conference Semifinals (defeating the defending champion Spurs along the way). What Suns fan wouldn’t want to put these two on the court together again and see how good they could be without injuries?

Despite their limited time on the court, Hardaway and Kidd both had great years. Kidd was named to the All-NBA First Team after averaging 14.3 PPG, 10.1 APG, and 7.2 RPG. Penny himself averaged an impressive 16.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 5.8 RPG. That would make for an exciting backcourt to play with.

There’s more to like about this team though than just Backcourt 2000.  This roster had a talented supporting cast with guys like Clifford Robinson, Rodney Rogers, and Tom Gugliotta having solid years. Rex Chapman was still on the team (as was Kevin Johnson for six games in the playoffs after coming out of retirement when Jason Kidd suffered a fractured left ankle). Even more intriguing about it for me, however, is that it was Shawn Marion’s rookie season. I always enjoy seeing younger versions of All-Stars in NBA 2K. He’s not quite the young Nash we’d get on the ’97-98 team, but he’s still a Suns legend.

A primary reason I almost left this team off was that it signifies, for me, false hope. I remember thinking at the time, the naive child that I was, that bright days were ahead. But Hardaway’s injuries only got worse and the Suns were forced to trad Kidd, acquiring Stephon Marbury.

So much for five, six, seven, championships. (Remember when Kidd said that? Ugh.)

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