The 10 Greatest Suns in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Luke Duffy
6. Steve Nash - 20.8
We know Suns fans, we know. Everybody wishes Steve Nash could appear higher on this list, because he has a legitimate case - and not many to have played for the organization do - to be the best player in franchise history.
There's the two league MVP awards. There's the iconic playoff battles. There's the helming of the "seven seconds or less" Suns teams that in some ways changed the way the game was played offensively. Nash helped to push what was possible, and he did it in an altogether more human like frame when compared to O'Neal or Ayton.
In ‘06-‘07, Steve Nash & Amar'e Stoudemire were 1st & 2nd in the NBA in TS% among players who averaged at least 15 PPG. No teammate duo has accomplished this since…
— NBA University (@NBA_University) March 4, 2024
PHX led the NBA in TS% (59.0%), had by FAR the best offensive rating (112.9), and finished with a 61-21 record. pic.twitter.com/axAT7YlAdP
Twice with the Suns, between 2009-2011, he led the entire league in assists with over 11 per game. To do this at his age 35 and 36 seasons was incredible, and in many ways Nash aged like fine wine. But then you think of the ballsy point guard who came back like the prodigal son from his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks.
That version of Nash led the league in assists three more times, while on two occasions he led the league in free-throw percentage. Stephen Curry may have surpassed him as the all-time leader in this category - but given his career is not over yet - Nash could yet reclaim this throne. Not that he needs to, his ability to raise all around him make him an obvious candidate in this category.