Phoenix Suns: 30 greatest players of all-time

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Jared Dudley, Phoenix Suns
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Most of the players on this list fit one of two groups. They are either high-end starters who played multiple seasons on the Suns, or they are rotation players who played a long time with Phoenix. Jared Dudley fits into the second category.

Never a star, Dudley is best described as a “glue guy” at every stop of his career. He was a solid role player on the Suns from 2008 to 2013, where he never put up more than the 12.7 points per game he reached in 2012, a career high.

Yet, teams tend to play better when Dudley was around. He was part of a culture change on the 2015 Milwaukee Bucks. With Milwaukee, he became the first player in NBA history to shoot 100 percent from the field, while attempting at least 10 shots and hitting at least 3 triples in a game.

He was a part of strong bench units with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards as well. In 2018-19, Dudley has helped a Brooklyn Nets team turn things around and make their first honest postseason push in years.

Dudley is a consummate professional, one with a healthy dose of self-awareness and an upbeat personality. In the locker room, he mixes levity with accountability. At every stop, Dudley has been praised for his veteran presence on the rosters. He received a solid contract from Phoenix to return in 2016, signifying how much they valued his presence.

In all, Dudley racked up 25.4 win shares with the Suns, a number that ranks 19th all-time in franchise history. Never an All-Star or an All-Defense member, he has been a positive contributor for the Suns for a number of seasons and deserves a spot on this list.