The New York Knicks have officially ended 53 years of hurt, and fans of the Phoenix Suns can't help but wonder what might have been going back to their last NBA Finals experience of 2021.
The parallels are there, although even the biggest fan in The Valley now has to admit Jalen Brunson has ascended to a level that their own Devin Booker has yet to reach. Worse still, it looks increasingly like he never will.
Suns now the "sad, pathetic drought team' of the NBA
Bill Simmons jumped on his podcast alongside Zach Lowe in the wake of the Knicks getting the job done, and the Suns caught a major stray as they Simmons knighted them as the new "sad, pathetic drought team" of the league. Unfortunately for the Suns, it is hard to disagree.
While other franchises such as the Utah Jazz and L.A. Clippers were also brought up, as well as the Atlanta Hawks who definitely meet a lot of the criteria, this is now the Suns' crown to hold until further notice.
The organization really not having a good week in the wake of that Knicks title win.
Phoenix has been to the finals on three occasions, and has been in existence since 1968. That is longer than the most recent Knicks win in 1973 before what just transpired, and they've got the fanbase and have had the superstars in town to sadly validate this unwanted title.
Not watching Charles Barkley, Amar'e Stoudemire or Steve Nash hoist the Larry O'Brien in The Valley hurt, but losing a 2-0 NBA Finals lead was the real lowest point. Watching the Knicks hold their nerve (the Spurs admittedly helped with some of their decision-making in big moments) what in the same position only makes this worse.
Booker increasingly looking like the next great player to fail to get over the hump while with the franchise, which will lead to some uncomfortable conversations down the road.
The only way for Phoenix to escape this spot is by winning it all, and right now that does not look likely to happen this decade. The front office seemingly happy to run it back with what they've got ahead of next season.
It only takes on Brunson like acquisition to change everything, and the Suns could yet pull off their own masterstroke free agency move. Until that happens, being the big title drought team in the league is a position they are going to occupy.
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