The four-seed Phoenix Suns have tried everything to win their first championship. They have a new owner. The payroll increased to the sixth highest in the league. One can even argue that the Suns held a player or two hostage. Now featuring a dramatic trade for superstar Kevin Durant, this could be the last chance for the Phoenix Suns as currently constructed. They now enjoy a 3-1 cushion in round one against the oft-injured LA Clippers. Let’s examine the main characters in the Suns’ latest attempt at an NBA championship.
The Veteran
Chris Paul was a young hotshot point guard in his 2005 rookie season. He started making All-Star teams in 2008, and his New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) were as high as a two-seed in the playoffs. Fast forward through injuries and heartbreak to 2023. As a wily, old veteran, Paul is still looking to complete his resume.
Chris Paul’s commercials are funny.
The Recruit
The Phoenix Suns traded many players and draft capital in an All-In attempt at a championship this season. In comes the mercenary Kevin Durant at your service. Recruiting the future Hall-of-Famer to win titles has mixed results, with the main culprit being health. Durant won two NBA Finals MVPs with the Warriors before tearing his Achilles in his last appearance. In a failed experiment, the Brooklyn Nets recruited Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, James Harden, and Ben Simmons but never made it past round two. Durant has been injured for much of his Suns’ tenure. He is working on developing team chemistry during the playoffs.
Kevin Durant will make a burner account to defend himself against internet trolls.
The Muscle
DeAndre Ayton was the number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Bahamian center is the only number-one pick on the roster, but his play runs hot and cold during playoff time. He would be best served as the general of the defense and an NBA rebounding leader—sort of a Ben Wallace type amongst all the more offensive talents on the roster. Yet, Ayton’s numbers are virtually the same each year—pretty much zero improvements from his rookie season.
DeAndre Ayton helped bring the Puma brand back to life in basketball.
The Hotshot
Devin Booker once scored 70 points in a game! In a loss. Booker lost many games in his first five years in the league. The Suns then got Chris Paul, and they made the NBA Finals in 2021, losing to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Booker is a rangy scorer that is a threat from everywhere on offense. The idea is to have Kevin Durant on the court with him to force opponents to make choices with their help defense. So far in the playoffs, he has feasted with a blistering 34.7 points per game. His career averages, like Ayton, have largely remained the same since 2018.
Devin Booker dated Kendall Jenner just long enough to get posted on social media. He has since (reportedly) moved on to actress Jenna Ortega (Netflix’s Wednesday).
Last Chance U
The Suns were in the NBA Finals in 1976, 1993, and 2021. Another decades-long gap between Finals appearances would devastate the fans and the new ownership. Their first-round opponent is the LA Clippers. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are riding the bench with injuries, while Russell Westbrook balls without them. The Phoenix Suns should move past the Clippers, but I expect their season to come to a close against the one-seed Denver Nuggets. Having Kevin Durant has improved Booker’s game, but Ayton is the same player, and Chris Paul only plays well in spurts. Durant, Paul, and Booker are averaging 40 minutes a game to get playoff wins. The 1969 Boston Celtics were the only four-seed in NBA history to win a championship.
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