A Phoenix Suns fan’s thank you to the Twins

Cam came in known for his shooting touch and left known for so much more

Cam lived up to the billing of “best shooter in the draft,” registering the second most threes in a season by a suns rookie, despite playing only 57 games that year. He became much more than just a 3-point specialist, though, as he also turned out to be capable off the bounce. His thunderous poster in game 3 of the Finals is an all-time highlight for the franchise.

A good defender, passer, and rebounder, Cam had a breakout season last year that led to him being named the starter this year. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for much of the year due to injury, but his return coincided with the Suns’ rise back up the standings before the trade.

Mikal and Cam also endeared themselves to the Suns’ community through their off-the-court contributions. They put together basketball camps and tournaments and took part in charity events. Most notably, their lemonade stands bet became an iconic part of Suns’ lore and raised a ton of money for charity.

It would be remiss of Phoenix fans not to also thank Jae Crowder for his contributions to the best two-year stretch in franchise history. Though he ended his tenure on an undeniably sour note, his arrival alongside CP3 in 2021 signaled a new era for the Suns. Ultimately, he ended up being a part of the trade that landed Kevin Durant, another big contribution by Jae to the Suns.

As sports fans, it can often be easy to separate the business side of the game from the human side. It’s not uncommon to see a massive name like Kevin Durant returning in the trade and immediately forgetting about everything else. This trade, though, and the reaction to the Twins being sent away, shows that those sides are very much intertwined, readily apparent when special athletes like Mikal and Cam make you care about something beyond the game.

They will always hold a special place in Suns fans’ hearts. Maybe one day, that special connection will lead the twins back to Phoenix.