Phoenix Suns: Top 6 NBA players selected with 6th pick

Phoenix Suns: Top 6 NBA players selected at #6

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#2 Shane Battier (2001 NBA Draft)

Shane Battier, a 6-foot-8 forward, is what the Suns dream their forwards can become, at least when it comes to grit and defensively.

He was widely recognized across the league for his aggressive defense and for routinely guarding the league’s most dangerous offensive players. If a player wanted to go off, they were going to have to go through Shane and that was a lot easier said than done.

Battier was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 2002, averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game. Statistic wise, that was the best season of his career but stats do not show how good he was and for a 3-and-D player, not much more could have been asked of him.

He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2008 and 2009, won 2 NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat and in 2014 was named NBA Teammate of the Year.

Shane was a versatile player with the size to play inside and the range to score from further out as well. He made his living as a hustle player on the defensive end who guarded multiple positions, picked up steals and blocks and was always willing to draw a charge.

Battier survived 13 seasons in the league, played in 977 games and started 705. He made 1.3 triples per game at a 38.4 percent clip and averaged 1 steal and 0.9 blocks per game.

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