Maybe the most star-crossed franchise in NBA history, they’ve played in three NBA Finals and come up just short each time. Most of their biggest stars are associated with injuries (Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson) and/or playoff disappointments (Charles Barkley, Steve Nash).
FEATURED LISTS
Heat check: 23 greatest players in Suns franchise history
In our continuing series counting down the greatest players for each team, we check in on the oldest NBA franchise without a championship, the Phoenix Suns, from their early days to the thrilling ’90s to the Seven Seconds or Less era and beyond.
Instant gratification: Eight teams that ended playoff droughts with NBA Finals appearances
Dark horses: 16 greatest NBA Conference Finals upsets
Penalty box-and-one: Five NBA playoff series that were swung by player suspensions
Oh, the humanity!: Ranking the 30 NBA franchises by torture level of their fans
index
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- All-time greatest players
- Expansion draft picks (1968)
- In game five of the 1976 NBA Finals
- In the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals (“Virtual NBA Finals”)
- Lengthy playoff drought
- Loss to Spurs in 2007 Conference Semifinals
- Name etymology
- NBA Finals appearance to break playoff drought (1976)
- NBA Finals appearance to break playoff drought (2021)
- Overcoming 3-1 series deficit in 2006 Conference Quarterfinals
- Rivalry with Spurs
- Subject of the book Seven Seconds or Less
- Upset by the Bucks in the 1978 playoffs first round
- Upsetting the Warriors in the 1976 Western Conference Finals