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Phoenix Suns
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History of the Suns

The Suns mark their 40th season having opened up for business in the Valley of the Sun in 1968/69.   Led by 28 year old Jerry Colangelo, the Suns started off with a bang winning 4 of their first 7 games en route to a dismal 16-66 record.  Luck would come and go in the 1969/70 season as the team lost a coin flip and the rights to Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul Jabbar) but acquired Paul Silas and Connie Hawkins who took the team into the first round of the playoffs to lose in 7 games.

In the 1973/74 season, new Head Coach John McLeod began to rebuild and two seasons later had an NBA Contender.  The 1975/76 season got off to a great start as the Suns came out on fire winning 14 of their first 23 games led by would be Rookie of the Year Alvan Adams but they finished the season at 42-40 and lost to the Boston Celtics who picked up their 13th title.  It would be 27 long years before the Suns got another sniff at the finals.

The intervening years saw a number of talented players on the Suns rosters; Truck Robinson, Don Buse, Paul Westphal, Dennis Johnson, Tom Chambers, Dan Majerle, KJ Kevin Johnson, Jeff Hornacek and of course the colorful Charles Barkley.  But it would not be until the 1992/93 season (and after 4 straight years of 50 plus wins) where the Suns finished the year at 62-20 and entered the playoffs with a ton of confidence.  The 2-Time Defending Champion Chicago Bulls were also playing a high caliber of basketball as the Suns took the Bulls to seven games.  Not one ticket was available for any game in that series as the Bulls outlasted the Suns and won in 7 games en route to their 3-peat.

The Suns have had 28 playoff appearances; have won 6 Division Championships (1981, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, and 2007).  They have gone to the Conference Finals 8 times (1976, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2005, and 2006) and the NBA Finals 2 times (1976, 1993).

The team has had 4 Hall of Famers: Charles Barkley (1992/93-1995/96), Jerry Colangelo (Executive 1968-Present), Gail Goodrich (1968-69-1969/70) and Connie Hawkins (1969/70-1973/74)

The team has also retired 10 Jerseys: #5 Dick VanArsdale, #6 Walter Davis, #7 Kevin Johnson, #9 Dan Majerle, #24 Tom Chambers, #33 Alvan Adams, # 34 Charles Barkley, # 42 Connie Hawkins, #44 Paul Westphal and #832 Cotton Fitzsimmons (Coach 1970-72, 1988-92, 1996-97).



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