The NBA Draft is on tap for tonight from New York. Sixty names will be called, maybe 35-40 of them will be on NBA rosters in November. Of course, the Phoenix Suns have 2 selections. The fifteenth overall pick in the first round, and the 48th pick in the 2nd round. Reports say the Suns are exploring trades from around the league in an effort to secure another first round pick.

There’s been a lot of gaffes and busts where the Suns are concerned. I mean, everyone remembers William Bedford and David Thirdkill. You remember those guys, right? But the Suns have also done very well for themselves in the draft as well. Here’s my list of the Phoenix Suns top ten draft selections over the years.

10. Steve Nash - 1996 - 1st round, 15th overall selection from Santa Clara
This would have probably been listed at #1 if the Suns hadn’t traded Nash to Dallas in 1998. Sure, he developed into a star in Big D, but had the foresight to come back to the Valley. But this is the only future MVP the Suns have ever drafted, so it was good enough to make the list.
Who went directly before Nash: #14 Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento
Who went directly after Nash: #16 Tony Delk, Charlotte

9. Alvin Scott - 1977 - 6th round, 137th overall selection from Oral Roberts
Many of you reading this, are asking yourself “who the heck is Alvin Scott?” Alvin Scott played 8 years in the NBA, all with the Suns. He was a valuable reserve on teams that went to the playoffs all 8 years he was there. The Suns missed the playoffs the year before he got there, and the year after he left. So, yeah I’m saying it. Alvin Scott was the key for the Phoenix Suns. Ok, that was a little tongue-in-cheek, but when you can find a guy who can be a dependable bench player for nearly a decade in the 6th round, that’s a pretty good pick.
Who went directly before Scott: #135 James Holliman, Atlanta
Who went directly after Scott: #137 Lusia Harris, New Orleans

8. Cedric Ceballos - 1990 - 2nd round, 48th overall selection from Cal State-Fullerton
The point-a-minute man was a huge find for the Suns in the 2nd round. He was a scoring machine, brought the blindfold back in style, and later became the in-arena host for Suns’ home games. If the Suns didn’t pick Ced, who would host the Room Store challenge at US Airways Center? Seriously, many people believe that if Ceballos hadn’t injured his foot in the Western Conference Finals in 1993, the Suns would have beaten the Bulls to win the championship. I’m one of those people.
Who went directly before Ceballos: #47 Derek Strong, Philadelphia
Who went directly after Ceballos: #49 Phil Henderson, Dallas

7. Larry Nance - 1981 - 1st round, 20th overall selection from Clemson
Leapin’ Larry Nance. I still remember the poster that hung on my wall, where Nance was dunking from the right baseline, and literally was looking down at the rim. I also remember how mad I was at the Suns for trading him to Cleveland for some stiff named Kevin Johnson. Oops.
Who went directly before Nance: #19 Mike McGee, Los Angeles Lakers
Who went directly after Nance: #21 Alton Lister, Milwaukee

6. Jeff Hornacek - 1986 - 2nd round, 40th overall selection from Iowa State
Hornacek was like having a coach on the floor. He played six years for the Suns, developing into an All-Star. I still remember how mad I was at the Suns for trading him to Philadelphia for some stiff named Charles Barkley. Oops.
Who went directly before Hornacek: #45 Keith Smith, Milwaukee
Who went directly after Hornacek: #47 Michael Jackson, Sacramento

5. Shawn Marion - 1999 - 1st round 9th overall selection from UNLV
There was plenty of back and forth debate on what direction the Suns should go in the ‘99 draft. Marion or Maggette? Maggette was the popular choice among Suns’ fans. Despite the fact that he only played one year of college ball, that year was at Duke, and people got to see him play. Marion came from the dark period of UNLV basketball. UNLV wasn’t particularly good, and Marion had a funny looking shot. The Suns made the right choice. The Matrix played in 4 NBA All-Star Games representing the Suns before he complained his way out of town in 2008.
Who went directly before Marion: #8 Andre Miller, Cleveland
Who went directly after Marion: #10 Jason Terry, Atlanta

4. Amare Stoudemire - 2002 - 1st round 9th overall selection from Cypress Creek High School
Stoudemire was the first of two first round picks for the Suns in 2002, and its fair to say this wasn’t a universally applauded pick. Stoudemire’s high school past was well chronicled; he went to six different schools. His family issues were well chronicled too. It was common knowledge that Amare’s mother had been in an out of jail for years. Stoudemire didn’t disappoint; he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award that season, beating out Houston’s #1 overall pick Yao Ming for the honors. He’s also played in 3 All-Star Games, and is considered by many to be the most dominant offensive big man in the game today.
Who went directly before Stoudemire: #8 Chris Wilcox, LA Clippers
Who went directly after Stoudemire: #10 Caron Butler, Miami

3. Walter Davis - 1977 - 1st round 5th overall selection from North Carolina
Davis represented the United States on the gold medal winning 1976 team in Montreal. He continued his stellar play as a rookie, averaging 24 points per game, and winning the 1978 Rookie of the Year Award. The Greyhound played 11 years in purple and orange, and is still the franchise’s leading scorer. If not for his participation in a drug scandal which gave the organization a black eye, he would have been higher on this list.
Who went directly before Davis: #4 Greg Ballard, Washington
Who went directly after Davis: #6 Kenny Carr, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Dan Majerle - 1988 - 1st round 14th overall selection from Central Michigan
This pick definitely spurred the most famous reaction of any draft selection in team history. Went the pick was made, then-coach Cotton Fitzsimmons made the proclamation “you’ll be sorry you ever booed this young man.” Majerle went on to lead the 1988 bronze medal-winning Olympic basketball team in scoring. He cemented his place as a Phoenix favorite in the 1989 NBA Playoffs when he dunked on 7 foot 7 Golden State center Manute Bol. The dunk was waved off, and an offensive foul was called on Majerle, but Suns’ fans didn’t care. Majerle still holds the team record with 800 3-point field goals made. He served as a team broadcaster, and recently joined Terry Porter’s coaching staff.
Who went directly before Majerle: #13 Jeff Grayer, Milwaukee
Who went directly after Majerle: #15 Gary Grant, Seattle

1. Alvan Adams - 1975 - 1st round 4th overall selection from Oklahoma
Adams was a huge part of the Suns’ first Western Conference Championship team that nearly shocked the world and beat Boston in the 1976 Finals. Adams played his whole career for the Suns, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1976, and representing the Suns in the ‘76 All-Star Game He’s still considered one of the best passing big men in league history, and demonstrated his unselfish nature when he unretired his jersey #33 when the Suns acquired Grant Hill last summer.
Who went directly before Adams: #3 Marvin Webster, Atlanta
Who went directly after Adams: #5 Darryl Dawkins, Philadelphia

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