The 10 Greatest Suns in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Luke Duffy
9. Chris Paul - 20.1
It seems fitting that Chris Paul would make this list, even though he only spent three seasons with the organization. In that time though - not only was he a two-time All-Star - but he was the spark that ignited basketball in Phoenix again, and his arrival could not have come at a better time for the team.
Fresh off going 8-0 in the NBA's bubble it was clear the Suns had something, and there was nobody better than the "Point God" himself to come in and raise the ceiling. We all remember the run to the 2021 NBA Finals as bittersweet, but only because Paul and Booker weren't given the ending to that season that they deserved.
3/21/21 - PG Chris Paul became the 3rd played to have played for the Phoenix #Suns to record at least 10K assists in his career, finishing w/a 11p/10r/13a triple-double, in a win over the LeBron and Anthony Davis-less LA Lakers 111-94. Book: 26p/9r. DA: 26p/8r. #ComingInHot pic.twitter.com/dTWH6MWAhH
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) March 21, 2024
Even after his departure - which the Suns were able to get Bradley Beal out of - Paul is still helping this team. So confident were they in Booker's point guard abilities having learnt from the best, that he has acted as the leading floor general this season. That it hasn't gone the way the Suns wanted isn't Booker's fault, and Beal has tried to help in that regard as well.
Paul will probably go into the Ring of Honor one day, and his importance to the franchise cannot be understated. Putting up 15.1 points and 9.5 assists during his time with the team is great, but it was everything else beyond and outside of the court that Paul should be best rememered for. He legitimized everything, and it is nice to see him make this list of all-time Suns greats.