Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns: Top 15 best draft picks in franchise history

By Adam Maynes

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns moves the ball upcourt during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns moves the ball upcourt during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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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) /

Most commonly known as the guy who was traded for Kevin Johnson et al., Larry Nance was once the Suns’ best player, a hyper-athletic and physically gifted power forward who won the NBA’s inaugural slam dunk competition in 1985 – the same season Nance made his first All-Star squad.

Selected 20th overall in the 1981 first round, Phoenix took the lanky forward (listed at 6-foot10 but only 205 pounds), although he didn’t impress with immediate results. Coming off the bench as one of head coach John MacLeod’s prime reserves, Nance averaged only 6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game, although this was not for a lack of skill, only minutes. Averaging only 14.8 minutes per game, Nance’s per-36 stats were comparable to his sophomore per-36 stats when he was the team’s regularly starting power forward.

In fact, while his rookie statistics were definitely his lowest stats while in a Suns uniform, Nance was a model of statistical consistency as his per-36 points wavered only 5.6 points over his peak and his lowest throughout his Suns career, his rebounds only fluctuating 1.2 per-36, while his blocks only wavering 1.0 over that stretch, (he averaged 1.9 in Phoenix with a high of 2.4 in 1987-88, the year he was traded to Cleveland).

The trade to Cleveland came as somewhat of a surprise as he was the Suns’ best player and none of the players acquired appeared to be all that special – none of Johnson, Mark West, or Tyrone Corbin were starters with the Cavaliers, and the two draft picks acquired wouldn’t be helpful for several seasons yet.

In Cleveland though, Nance continued to thrive on the defensive end, becoming an All-Star in his first full season with the Cavaliers, and then once again in 1992-93. In the meantime, he earned three All-Defensive honors, including a first team selection in 1988-89, and finishing top-five in blocked shots per game twice – a particularly impressive feat for a power forward.

For his 1981 NBA Draft class, Nance finished seventh in total points scored, second in total rebounds, eighth in total assists, and the best Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) over the entire class (which included Isiah Thomas and Tom Chambers).

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