Was this the best Sun’s team ever?

[AZ Native]

You must be registered for see images attach

1992-93 Phoenix Suns
Starters:
Kevin Johnson | Dan Majerle | Richard Dumas | Charles Barkley | Mark West
Reserves:
Frank Johnson | Negele Knight | Danny Ainge | Cedric Ceballos | Tom Chambers | Jerrod Mustaf | Tim Kempton | Oliver Miller
Head Coach - Paul Westphal
Record: 62-20 (no. 1 seed in West)
• Won West First Round (3-2) vs #8 LA Lakers
• Won West Semifinals (4-2) vs #5 San Antonio
• Won West Finals (4-3) vs #3 Seattle
• Lost NBA Finals (2-4) vs #2 Chicago
Season stats:
PTS - C. Barkley (25.6 ppg)
REB - C. Barkley (12.2 rpg)
AST - K. Johnson (7.8 apg)
STL - R. Dumas (1.8 spg)
BLK - O. Miller (1.8 bpg)
Playoffs stats:
PTS - C. Barkley (26.6 ppg)
REB - C. Barkley (13.6 rpg)
AST - K. Johnson (7.9 apg)
STL - C. Barkley (1.6 spg)
BLK - O. Miller (2.5 bpg)
Awards:
Charles Barkley
• NBA MVP
• All-NBA First Team
• NBA All-Star
Dan Majerle
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• NBA All-Star
Richard Dumas
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Paul Westphal
• NBA West All-Star Head Coach
Jerry Colangelo
• NBA Executive of the Year

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

yes

 

[Phrazbit]

It's either that one or the team that decided to commit seppuku during halftime of game 6 against Dallas in 2022.

That was the best team in the NBA that season and that self destruction will haunt me forever.

 

[Covert Rain]

Yes. The Suns were the biggest away draw in attendance that year they went to the finals. To me there is no question. The Bucks had Giannis but he was no freaking Michael Jordan. The Bucks were nowhere near as good as that Bulls team. That Suns team was not mentally weak either.

 

[Proximo]

Yes, I think it was.

 

[mjb21aztd]

By a biggggggg margain yes

Mannn sooo unfair sad that team didnt w the tiitle and nashs team

Suns day willlll come and cards to!! Ill do 420 voodoo to help lol

 

[Suns_fan69]

The better question is which was the 2nd best Suns team. Not sure which year I'd pick out of the Nash teams as the best. 2010 version was I think closest to the finals but I think the 06-07 team was better. So that vs the 22 team? Tough call.

 

[BirdGangThing]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[GatorAZ]

The better question is which was the 2nd best Suns team. Not sure which year I'd pick out of the Nash teams as the best. 2010 version was I think closest to the finals but I think the 06-07 team was better. So that vs the 22 team? Tough call.

.
Not sure 95’ isn’t the best but someone was always injured or banged up. Danny Manning averaged 24 ppg the previous year but signed for cheap to win a title. With him they definitely beat Houston but he tore his ACL in practice. Some of the games he had that year were big.
.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Suns_fan69]

.
Not sure 95’ isn’t the best but someone was always injured or banged up. Danny Manning averaged 24 ppg the previous year but signed for cheap to win a title. With him they definitely beat Houston but he tore his ACL in practice. Some of the games he had that year were big.
.

You must be registered for see images attach

That's a great callout. I kinda lumped in all the Barkley teams as one but the Danny Manning addition was pretty significant. Sigh.... what could have been.

 

[Phrazbit]

.
Not sure 95’ isn’t the best but someone was always injured or banged up. Danny Manning averaged 24 ppg the previous year but signed for cheap to win a title. With him they definitely beat Houston but he tore his ACL in practice. Some of the games he had that year were big.
.

You must be registered for see images attach

Was that the same year that Barkley was playing with a screwed up groin in the playoffs? I know one of those 2 Houston disasters Barkley was really banged up.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's either that one or the team that decided to commit seppuku during halftime of game 6 against Dallas in 2022.

That was the best team in the NBA that season and that self destruction will haunt me forever.

That 2022 team isn’t even in consideration. They completely shat their pants because there wasn’t one leader on it and they curled into the fetal position when faced with adversity. They were a paper tiger and ultimately a shambolic embarrassment.

Give me the 1988/89 or 1989/90 Suns over that gutless 2022 team of choke-artists.

Beyond that, it’s no contest. 1993 was the best team. They just couldn’t beat the best player/team ever.

 

[GatorAZ]

Was that the same year that Barkley was playing with a screwed up groin in the playoffs? I know one of those 2 Houston disasters Barkley was really banged up.

.
He was always banged up and had a shrieking looking on his face come playoff time. He didn’t take great care of himself obvi.

 

[elindholm]

Beyond that, it’s no contest. 1993 was the best team. They just couldn’t beat the best player/team ever.

Didn't, not couldn't. If Paxson misses, I think Game 7 is up for grabs.

 

[Superbone]

Having witnessed all three Suns Finals teams, I would agree that the 1992 Finals team was the best ever Suns team.

 

[BirdGangThing]

we're just cursed - i don't expect the suns (or the cardinals for that matter) to ever win a championship - whenever it's about to happen fate comes along and puts us right back in our championshipless place - it's all good tho - almost comical - part of me wonders if i'd quit watching if we finally won it all but that i'll never know - so I dwell in this sports pergatory - this sportagotory

 

[Mainstreet]

Having witnessed all three Suns Finals teams, I would agree that the 1992 Finals team was the best ever Suns team.

I agree but that 2021 Finals team was so close.

 

[Superbone]

I agree but that 2021 Finals team was so close.

Dude, I was in attendance for Game 2. I thought we had it! On the other hand, even if we had won it all, I still think the 92 team had the edge for overall best Suns team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dude, I was in attendance for Game 2. I thought we had it! On the other hand, even if we had won it all, I still think the 92 team had the edge for overall best Suns team.

Talent wise, the 92 team was better, but that 2021 Finals team magically came together and perhaps was only a Dario Saric injury away from winning it all.

Still, the Suns failed to strengthen that team upfront before the trade deadline, although the need was obvious. This seems to be a reoccurring theme.

Ayton was the only player that had a chance at slowing down Giannis, but foul trouble limited him.

 

[95pro]

Talent wise, the 92 team was better, but that 2021 Finals team magically came together and perhaps was only a Dario Saric injury away from winning it all.

Still, the Suns failed to strengthen that team upfront before the trade deadline, although the need was obvious. This seems to be a reoccurring theme.

Ayton was the only player that had a chance at slowing down Giannis, but foul trouble limited him.

I still think we get waxed 4-0 if Giannis didn't hyperextend his knee. Amazing how he came back and kept getting stronger throughout the series.

 

[GatorAZ]

I agree but that 2021 Finals team was so close.

.
We got lucky with AD, Kawhi and Murray getting injured. I’d still out them behind 93-95’, 07’ and 22’.

 

[Mainstreet]

.
We got lucky with AD, Kawhi and Murray getting injured. I’d still out them behind 93-95’, 07’ and 22’.

There is always an element of luck.

I grew attached to that 2021 Finals team, so I'm not simply looking at rosters.

 

[Phrazbit]

Dude, I was in attendance for Game 2. I thought we had it! On the other hand, even if we had won it all, I still think the 92 team had the edge for overall best Suns team.

Me too, when the crowd started chanting "Suns in 4" I was like "NO! DONT JINX IT!"

 

[Phrazbit]

.
We got lucky with AD, Kawhi and Murray getting injured. I’d still out them behind 93-95’, 07’ and 22’.

Rubbish, virtually every team that wins the title has luck bounce their way and against their foes with injury. The Bucks would have lost to the Hawks if Young didn't roll his ankle stepping on a refs foot. I really doubt the many teams who got by hobbled Suns rosters look back and go "we got lucky".

And those are 3 guys who constantly get hurt anyway... and we'd have smoked the Lakers regardless.

 

[Superbone]

Me too, when the crowd started chanting "Suns in 4" I was like "NO! DONT JINX IT!"

SAME!