Former Phoenix Suns Participating in the 2022 NBA Finals
Although neither NBA Finals roster carries any players who hailed from the desert at one point or another, one coaching staff does in Golden State. Steve Kerr resembles the least hidden ex-Sun on Golden State’s bench.
Kerr played for Phoenix briefly and later served as the team’s general manager in the mid-to-late 2000s. Having won several titles in the bay at this point though, most only recognize him solely as Golden State’s coach at this point and nothing more.
However, the same cannot be said for Leandro Barbosa. He now operates as a player mentor coach for the Warriors, but before that played several seasons with the Suns as a key contributor off the bench. He even earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2007.
Had the Miami Heat handled business at home and won Game 7 vs the Celtics, these Finals might also include two well-known former Suns in PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris.
Seeing Tucker in the Finals while not going against the Suns this time around would likely be fun for Phoenix fans and give way to a moral victory if he played a hand in taking down Golden State. But alas, it’s Boston stepping onto this stage—a team which possesses no ex-Suns on their roster or coaching staff.