When the Phoenix Suns pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to send future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, among the pieces they got in return was hard-nosed guard Dillon Brooks.
Brooks — AKA “The Villain” — brings with him one of the standout nicknames in the sport. He now joins a noteworthy list of Suns players with unique monikers.
Brooks can be (lovingly) described as a pest. The type of NBA player fans love to hate when he’s suiting up for an opponent, but one who endears himself to the fan bases he plays for through sheer grit and effort.
This is not unlike former Suns guard Raja Bell — another defensive pest who endeared himself to fans with his similarly hard-nosed style of play. Fans old enough to have seen Bell play will no doubt remember his infamous clothesline on noted Suns assassin Kobe Bryant in the 2006 NBA playoffs.
With a moniker like “The Villain,” Brooks carries with him a similar attitude. He even extended the moniker to teammate Collin Gillespie, marking him as “The Villain Jr.” Whether that nickname sticks remains to be seen. In any case, the addition of Brooks sparks memories to standout Suns nicknames of old.
As Adam Stratton laid out for Valley of the Suns back in 2020, there are plenty of fun ones to pick from. With the addition of Brooks to the roster for 2025-26, we decided to take a fresh look at Suns players — from stars to role players — whose nicknames helped define them.
Here are some of the most noteworthy Suns nicknames in no particular order.
Shawn Marion, "The Matrix"
Shawn Marion made his NBA and Suns debut in 1999 — the same year Keanu Reeves starred in the Wachowskis’ mind-bending blockbuster movie “The Matrix.”
So, it’s certainly fitting that Marion — who was defined by high-flying antics, springy rebounds and alley-oop finishes — earned that nickname.
“Trix” made four All-Star teams and earned two All-NBA nods during his tenure with the Suns. He ultimately won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks.
Amar'e Stoudemire, "STAT"
An acronym for “Standing Tall and Talented,” Amar’e Stoudemire pulled a Shaquille O’Neal to give himself his own nickname after breaking out with the Suns.
Self-imposed nicknames are inherently less fun, but Stoudemire no doubt earned the “Talented” piece of his “STAT” moniker by winning Rookie of the Year and taking home five of his career six All-Star nods while with Phoenix.
Leandro Barbosa, "The Brazilian Blur"
Sticking with the same early-to-mid-2000s era Suns, Leandro Barbosa’s speed both on and off the ball earned him his nickname: “The Brazilian Blur.”
An apt nickname that also leans into alliteration, Barbosa was a consistent Sixth Man of the Year candidate for Phoenix, winning the award once for his 2006-07 season in which he averaged 18.1 points, 4.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in a reserve role.
Charles Barkley, “The Round Mound of Rebound” and “Sir Charles”
No doubt firmly entrenched on the Mount Rushmore of Suns players, “Sir Charles” AKA “The Round Mound of Rebound” became the first player in franchise history to win an MVP award in 1993.
Charles Barkley remains an NBA icon for his role as a TV analyst, staying relevant to fans who didn’t get to watch him play during his heyday other than through highlights.
Barkley only spent four of his 16 NBA seasons in Phoenix, but the 1993 NBA Finals run left a lasting impact even though the Suns ultimately fell to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
Shaquille O’Neal, “The Big Cactus” and “Shaqtus”
Moving on to Barkley’s TV frenemy, Shaq’s time in the desert was short-lived and mostly a disappointment. He was past his prime when he made his way to the Valley, and promises of rings fell flat as Steve Nash’s Run and Gun style had to be adapted to fit O’Neal’s halfcourt post-up chops.
He still made his final NBA All-Star team as a member of the Suns in 2009 at age 36, but the fit with Nash just never gelled how former Suns GM Steve Kerr envisioned.
For my money, nicknames like “Diesel” and “The Big Aristotle” are Shaq’s best work, but he certainly deserves mention for his desert-themed nicknames from his short stint in Phoenix.
Dick Van Arsdale, “The Original Sun” and “The Flying Dutchman”
From a legend who played out some of his twilight with the Suns to an OG. Dick Van Arsdale earned his nickname “The Original Sun” for being there when it all began.
The 1968-69 season was the inaugural year for the Suns franchise, and Van Arsdale was named to his first All-Star team that season despite the team’s eventual 16-66 record.
The Suns made the playoffs the following season with “The Flying Dutchman” on the roster. He ultimately made three All-Star squads and played out the remainder of his career in Phoenix. He’s among those inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor.
Elliot Perry, “Socks”
Elliot “Socks” Perry became a fan favorite in the mid-90s. Listed at 6-foot and just 150 pounds, Perry’s svelte frame was accentuated by his knee-high socks for which he got the nickname.
A 3-point sharpshooter before it was en vogue, Perry cashed 41.7% of his 3-pointers in 1994-95 and 40.7% of his tries from beyond the arc the following season (both with Phoenix).
He was a reliable role player and unquestionably had his best NBA years in the Valley.
Dan Majerle, “Thunder Dan”
Cue AC/DC…
Another key cog in the early-90s Suns teams was Dan Majerle.
A reliable defender often tasked with taking on the MJ matchup, Majerle is another Suns player who embraced the 3-point shot long before the league at large realized it was mathematically advantageous to let them fly.
But Majerle was more than just a shooter. All three of his All-Star nods and both of his All-Defensive Team selections occurred during his Suns tenure.
John Williams, "Hot Rod"
John “Hot Rod” Williams is one of those perfect nicknames that just rolls off the tongue. It’s a nickname so synonymous with the player, John Williams is actually just listed as Hot Rod Williams on his Basketball-Reference page.
While he played the bulk of his NBA career in Cleveland, he did play three seasons in Phoenix primarily as the team’s starting center.
Tom Gugliotta, “Googs”
Another silly and fun nickname in Suns’ lore is “Googs” for Tom Gugliotta.
If you attended a game in the late-90s, early-2000s and thought fans were booing their own player, you were mistaken. Cheers of “Gooooogs” certainly resembled boos, but they were actually just paying respect to a player who unfortunately had injuries derail a promising start in Phoenix.
A free-agent signee who previously played and made an All-Star team for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Gugliotta averaged 17 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 43 games (all starts) for Phoenix in 1998-99.
A severe knee injury ensured that “Googs” would never be the same, as his playing career fizzled quickly in his 30s.
Connie Hawkins, “Hawk”
An ABA legend and Brooklyn native, Connie Hawkins didn’t get to suit up in the NBA until his age 27 season because he’d been blackballed by the league after being unfairly implicated in a point-shaving scandal while at the University of Iowa.
But the eventual Hall of Famer’s time with the Suns was impressive, including four All-Star nods and even some MVP consideration.
Sure, he’s not going to earn points for originality with his “Hawk” nickname, but for true Suns fans that nickname still carries weight.
Walter Davis, “The Man with the Velvet Touch” and “Greyhound” and “Sweet D” and “Candyman”
Walter Davis rivals Chuck and Shaq with the amount of nicknames he accumulated during his playing days.
The longtime Suns all-time leading scorer — he has since been surpassed by Devin Booker — should certainly still be considered among the best Suns players in history.
The Hall of Famer made six All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and won Rookie of the Year with the Suns in 1977-78.
“The Man with the Velvet Touch” averaged more than 21 points per game in each of his first three seasons without the benefit of a 3-point make (the 3-point line didn’t exist until his third year in the league, when he attempted and missed all four long range looks).