Valley of the Suns
Fansided

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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UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1992: Dan Majerle #9 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during an NBA basketball game circa 1992. Majerle played for the Suns from 1988-95 and 2001-02. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Majerle
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1992: Dan Majerle #9 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during an NBA basketball game circa 1992. Majerle played for the Suns from 1988-95 and 2001-02. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Majerle /

If this was a list of the biggest fan favorites in franchise history, Dan Majerle would certainly be closer to the top. However, as great as Dan Majerle was with many aspects of his game, he doesn’t quite make it into the top-10. That being said, he is still one of the all-team greatest draft picks in Suns history.

You know the story. The Suns announce that they have drafted Majerle 14th overall in 1988, fans wanted someone else, they boo Cotton Fitzsimmons, he tells them that they are going to regret that they ever boo’d Majerle, Majerle becomes the heart and soul of the team almost immediately, and the rest is history (twice in a row? I promise I won’t say that again).

Oh, and when Charles Barkley was inducted in the Suns’ Ring of Honor, he said no disrespect to Kevin Johnson, but Dan Majerle was his right hand man.

For seven seasons Majerle was one of the league’s premier 3-and-D players, a tremendous outside shooter (draining 36.7 percent from beyond the arc in that span including a then playoff record 8 trey’s against the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 5 of the 1993 Western Conference Finals), and a ferocious defender, the kind of player that every head coach loves, a bull dog with a bite, averaging 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game over that span as well.

During training camp in 1995, Majerle was traded in one of the most infamous trades in Phoenix Suns history, when he was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers for an already broken-down John “Hot Rod” Williams, the hope that Hot Rod would be the center that the team desperately needed to compete against the growing number of centers in the Western Conference at that time.

Majerle would play only one season in Cleveland (but would have one INCREDIBLE shot), the worst statistical season of his career since his rookie season, before signing with Pat Riley and the Miami Heat where we would spend five statistically dwindling seasons – each of which the former ironman of sorts would spend some time out due to injuries.

Finally, in 2001, Majerle wrapped up his career with a swan song back in Phoenix, playing in 65 games, and ending the season on one of the most hilarious-to-watch 3-pointers in history, ending with the shot going in, and Majerle doing pushups at half court.

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