Which Suns teams could have won it all
By Steve Miner
The 1990’s
1992-93 Phoenix Suns
Record: 62-20
Playoff Finish: NBA Finals (Lost to Bulls, 2-4)
1994-95 Seattle Supersonics
Record: 63-19
Playoff Finish: First Round (Lost to Nuggets, 2-3)
1995-96 Seattle Supersonics
Record: 64-18
Playoff Finish: NBA Finals (Lost to Bulls, 2-4)
1996-97 Utah Jazz
Record: 64-18
Playoff Finish: NBA Finals (Lost to Bulls, 2-4)
The 1990’s featured several great teams that had some unfortunate timing. Despite being stacked with talent, the Suns, Sonics, and Jazz of that decade will mostly be remembered as never getting over that Championship hump. Teams like the Trail Blazers, Knicks, and Pacers, who didn’t quite make this cut, also ran into the Bulls at one point or another that decade. Only the Rockets were able to take advantage of Michael Jordan’s brief hiatus during the middle of the 90s and steal two trophy’s befor Air Jordan returned.
Each of the above teams would likely have won during any other era as they all featured multiple All-Stars. In fact, both the Suns and the Jazz featured MVP winners in Charles Barkley and Karl Malone. The Suns even had home court advantage against the Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals. Sir Charles believed that it was the Suns’ “destiny” to win the championship that year. However, Michael Jordan was simply too great. The Suns lost in six games, despite winning two in Chicago.
Karl Malone, John Stockton, Gary Payton, and many others, can relate.