Suns All-Decade Teams Part Two: 1980s
By Patrick Nash
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/adc15f2b1fbab5ae5031e20dfdafe9813a5d7b7cb49f04187f4af7e00220b854.jpg)
BACKUP: LARRY NANCE
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.