The Phoenix Suns are scheduled to have the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at the Suns best NBA draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. Only time with the team is credited. Honorable mentions that were heavily considered include Neal Walk, Kyle Macy, and T.J. Warren.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Phoenix Suns History
10. Cedric Ceballos (48th overall, 1990)
Selected late in the second round, Cedric Ceballos was crowned the 1992 Slam Dunk Contest champion. The last of his four seasons with the Suns was his most productive. In 1993-94, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 19.5 points (on 53.5% shooting) and 6.5 rebounds, and he led the league in field goal percentage in 1992-93 (57.6).
9. Jeff Hornacek (46th overall, 1986)
An All-Star in 1991-92, Jeff Hornacek played his first six seasons for Phoenix. Becoming a near full-time starter by his third year, he had averages of 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals over his last four seasons with the team. While with the Suns, he had excellent shooting splits of 51.0/39.0/85.4.
8. Larry Nance (20th overall, 1981)
The 1984 Slam Dunk Contest winner, Larry Nance made the All-Star team in the following year. The 6-foot-10 forward was an efficient scorer (56.1% field goal shooting with Phoenix) and excellent rim protector (three years with more than two blocks per game). Nance also had two years averaging more than 20 points.
7.. Alvan Adams (4th overall, 1975)
Nobody has appeared in more games for the Suns than Alvan Adams who played in 988 over 13 years. The 1975-76 Rookie of the Year was also a member of the All-Star team that season. Over his first eight seasons, he had averages of at least 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in each one.
6. Dan Majerle (14th overall, 1988)
Known as ‘Thunder Dan’, Dan Majerle was an All-Star three times in his eight years with the Suns. Twice, he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team and also was in top-three of Sixth Man of the Year voting two times. Majerle led the league in made three-pointers in back-to-back seasons (1992-93 and 1993-94).
5. Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall, 2002)
Named Rookie of the Year in 2002-03, Amar’e Stoudemire spent eight years with Phoenix. Now only was he a four-time All-Star with the Suns, but he was a wonderful postseason performer. In 52 playoff games with the Suns, Stoudemire averaged 24.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.
4. Shawn Marion (9th overall, 1999)
Three different years saw Shawn Marion average a double-double with the Suns. With them, he made four All-Star teams, two All-NBA Third Teams, and finished top-seven in Defensive Player of the Year voting three times. Marion averaged at least two steals for five straight seasons from 2002-03 until 2006-07.
3. Walter Davis (5th overall, 1977)
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, Walter Davis was named Rookie of the Year in 1977-78. He was named an All-Star in all of his first four seasons, and two more times with Phoenix during his 11 years with them. With the team, he posted averages of 20.5 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals.
2. Devin Booker (13th overall, 2015)
Now 10 years deep into his NBA career, Devin Booker is already the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 16,452 points. A four-time All-Star, he has averaged at least 24.9 points in each of the last eight seasons. Booker has also had four seasons where he has averaged more than six assists.
1. Steve Nash (15th overall, 1996)
If we went just by Steve Nash‘s first tenure with Phoenix (two seasons), he wouldn’t even be on this list. His second tenure with the team though (2004-05 until 2011-12) saw the point guard win back-to-back MVPs in 2004-05 and 2005-06. An elite passer and shooter, he led the league in assists five times and shot 43.7% from three-point territory in that second stint.
Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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