Phoenix Suns: All-Decade Team Starters and Reserves

Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire Phoenix Suns (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire Phoenix Suns (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Deandre Ayton Phoenix Suns (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Deandre Ayton Phoenix Suns (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Center

Starter: Deandre Ayton – 73 games: 16.4p/10.3r/1.8a

Reserve: Tyson Chandler – 166 games: 7.2p/9.5r/0.9a

If this was a discussion of who played the position the longest, then Alex Len would have easily been the starter with Tyson Chandler as the reserve.

But in the end, even through only 73 games thus far, Deandre Ayton is easily the best center the franchise has employed this decade, and arguably, he is already the best center the franchise has ever  employed.

Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns /

Phoenix Suns

A walking double-double, Ayton needs to find his inner fire and find a way to be more aggressive in the post and draw some fouls.

Because, if he does not, he’ll just be another Alex Len or Marcin Gortat: decent, but nothing special.

That said, at least statistically, he is a very good center, and well worth his position anchoring this All-Decade team.

As a reserve, especially for his age during his time in Phoenix, Tyson Chandler would be the perfect  backup for Deandre Ayton today.

Remember when Tyson was supposed to be the great coach on the court?

When he was supposed to lead his younger teammates by example?

Imagine having that player on the team now; having him fight Deandre Ayton everyday in practice; get into his face whenever Ayton plays weakly.