Valley of the Suns
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Suns All-Decade Teams Part Two: 1980s

SACRAMENTO, CA - 1987: Walter Davis #6 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Sacramento Kings circa 1987 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. 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 1987 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - 1987: Walter Davis #6 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Sacramento Kings circa 1987 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. 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 1987 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
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BACKUP: LARRY NANCE

LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1985: Larry Nance #22 of the Phoenix Suns goes up to grab a rebound against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1985 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Nance played for the Suns from 1981-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1985: Larry Nance #22 of the Phoenix Suns goes up to grab a rebound against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1985 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Nance played for the Suns from 1981-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Nance was drafted by the Suns in 1981 with the 20th pick and played seven season in a Suns uniform, from 1981-88. Flourishing early, by his second season Nance became the team’s most reliable scorer throughout the mid-80s. By 1984-85 Nance made his only All-Star appearance as a Sun winning the inagural Slam Dunk Championship in the process. As a Sun Nance averaged 17.3 PPG, 2.6 APG and 7.8 RPG while shooting 56% from the field. Although his greatest role in Suns history was that he was eventually traded to Cleveland in a trade that brought Phoenix point guard Kevin Johnson.

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