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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BOSTON – 1982: George Gervin #44 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1982 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1982 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1982: George Gervin #44 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1982 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1982 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

In 1974 the Phoenix Suns used their fourth round pick, 40th overall, to select a lanky scorer already about to enter his third season in the ABA. In those first two seasons, he already averaged 20.7ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6bpg, 1.4spg, entering the 1974-75 season at still only 21-years-old.

When Jerry Colangelo selected George Gervin, he was not only selecting a future Hall of Famer, but when Gervin reached his penultimate prime in the late 70s and early 80s, the Phoenix Suns were regular championship contenders already (not to mention they made the Finals against the Boston Celtics in 1976), and could have used the supreme talent of Gervin at that time (George averaged 28.8ppg game on better than 51% shooting from 1977-78 through 1983-84).

Alas, 1974 Gervin elected to stay in the ABA, turning down the opportunity to play for the Phoenix Suns, at a time when his league was still competitive with the NBA in talent but also pay. This would prove to be tremendously unfortunate to Phoenix as the ABA folded just two seasons later and the NBA absorbed six teams, including Gervin’s San Antonio Spurs.

Four times Gervin led the NBA in scoring including two seasons averaging 33.1 points per game (1979-80) and 32.3 (1981-82). Gervin was also a very efficient scorer, averaging a 54.0% field goal percentage from 1977-1980.

A 12-time All-Star in both the ABA and NBA, George “Ice Man” Gervin is to this day one of the league’s all-time greats, Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan, and potentially could have been the catalyst for the Phoenix Suns’ first NBA championship teams had he elected to enter the NBA just two years before he was forced to.

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