Valley of the Suns
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Ranking Phoenix Suns players to wear 3 before Trevor Ariza

By Khaleel Abdullah

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 15: Stephon Marbury #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Damon Stoudamire #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers laugh on the court during the game at The Rose Garden on April 15, 2003 in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers won 120-102. 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. Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 15: Stephon Marbury #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Damon Stoudamire #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers laugh on the court during the game at The Rose Garden on April 15, 2003 in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers won 120-102. 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. Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 2: Darrell Griffith #35 of the Utah Jazz blocks a shot attempt by Kenny Battle #3 of the Phoenix Suns during a game played on November 2, 1990 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 2: Darrell Griffith #35 of the Utah Jazz blocks a shot attempt by Kenny Battle #3 of the Phoenix Suns during a game played on November 2, 1990 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Trevor Ariza will wear number 3 for the Phoenix Suns this season. This is a ranking of every player that has worn 3 before him.

In the team’s 50-year history, 11 players have worn the number 3 for the Phoenix Suns. Trevor Ariza will be the 12th. He joins pretty good company as the majority of those players before him at least made a mark in Suns franchise history. So, based on number alone, the chances of him having a good year here and helping the team are pretty high.

Who were those Suns before him that sported that digit on their jersey? Let’s take a look.

Note that this piece will only include what these guys did while wearing 3 for Phoenix, not the rest of their careers.

#11: Grant Gondrezick (6-5, 205 pounds, 1986-87)

Drafted with the 77th pick in the 1986 draft out of Pepperdine University, Gondrezick shot 45% from the field and averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 13.1 minutes as a rookie. He struggled from distance though, making only four triples on 23.5 percent accuracy. His NBA career was cut short by his cocaine addiction and his involvement in a drug conspiracy case.

#10: Kenny Battle (6-6, 210 pounds, 1989-91)

Battle was drafted with the 27th pick in the 1989 draft by Detroit and traded to Phoenix so the Pistons could move up to the 24th pick. He was known for his hustle and his vicious, creative dunks. He competed in the dunk contest in 1990 but didn’t place. Battle made 51% of his shot attempts and averaged 4.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.7 steals in 12.2 minutes in his Phoenix Suns career.

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