1992-93 Phoenix Suns Retrospective (Part 1)

I mentioned I might do this so after a little motivation I finally did it. It's my look back at the most fun Suns team I can remember watching- Charles Barkley and his 1992-93 set. This is Part 1, Part 2 will be published soon.

over 1 year ago Scott Howard 13 comments 4 recs |

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What an anarchist you are, Scott.

The two clips you provide are the destruction of a backboard and a brawl.
Love the article, though – a rec for you, sir. Can’t wait for part 2 to see how it ends!

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
"In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip."

by haremoor on Jan 27, 2011 3:06 PM MST reply actions

I'm pretty sure they win this time.

But you’ll have to wait and find out.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 27, 2011 3:12 PM MST up reply actions

I'm all atingle.

by haremoor on Jan 27, 2011 3:14 PM MST up reply actions

Another great piece, Scott.

Not only was that Suns team my favorite sports team ever, the NBA was better then. At the risk of sounding like this guy, http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/grumpy-old-man/2476/
it was the golden age of the NBA. The superstars of that time were some of the greatest players ever.
Behold the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, the first US Olympic team to feature professional players:

David Robinson
Patrick Ewing
Larry Bird
Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan
Clyde Drexler
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Chris Mullin
Magic Johnson
Charles Barkley
Christian Laettner (token college kid)

For the Suns’ newly acquired Barkley to play on that team full of international superstars was a huge deal. Add to that the excitement of a new arena, new uniforms, new coach, and the city of Phoenix was pumped for that team from the opening tip of the season. Great times to be a Suns fan. It was a fun ride all the way until….well, I don’t want to give away the ending. Gotta wait for Scott’s part 2.

As for the video of the Knicks brawl, I have vivid memories of watching it over at my buddy’s parents’ house. We were going nuts watching that! What a punkass bitch Greg Anthony is. Pretty obvious it was Knicks announcers calling it too, since they blamed the whole melee on KJ.

"Moderation in all things, including moderation itself."

by East Bay Ray on Jan 27, 2011 9:20 PM MST reply actions

I don't miss the thuggish Knicks teams from that era at all...

The Suns team with Barkley on it was entertaining, but I am not sure I am ready to call them my favorite…

STAT may be gone but the Suns will rise....! BTW, If positivity is a crime, I plead guilty by reason of T-Bird...!

by Daryl Ray on Jan 28, 2011 7:35 AM MST up reply actions

Could Chris Mullin be anymore whiter in this picture?

Last year's Phoenix Suns team was like the show "Deadwood." A great thing that ended way too early.

by TheRza82 on Jan 30, 2011 3:37 AM MST up reply actions

I started following the suns the year before barkley.

Im sure this is coming up in your next article, but i loved AC Green, Wesley Person, dumas, danny manning, wayman tisdale. Pretty much the whole 94-95 team. Oh yeah, Rex Chapman! I liked wayman tisdale because he played bass guitar and i was just learning.

Awesome article taking me back!

NYC Suns Fan!!!

by DustinAe on Jan 28, 2011 8:55 AM MST reply actions

Good stuff, the biggest difference about that team compared to other Suns teams is that they had a superstar and were somewhat mean and tough. I thought the Suns last season were tough, but they weren’t really mean. They didn’t have an enforcer. The 07 team had that, but just didn’t go deep enough. If there were no injuries to that 92-93 team they just might have won the NBA Championship. Of course luck has always been our problem. Things just don’t go our way, but that 93 team was the best we had and probably the best team in the 90’s to not win a Championship. I think they could take the Jazz.

Don't trade Dudley!

Some people are just like slinkys, they're good for nothing
yet can still manage to put a smile on your face
when pushing them down a flight of stairs.

by Beavis 25 on Jan 28, 2011 12:24 PM MST reply actions

Best team in the 90s not to win a championship....

I like this. Could be an offseason tournament to write about.

In my very biased opinion it was these Suns too. The shell shocked first 2 games in the Finals cost the team the series. Those Utah teams were more a product of a watered down Western Conference than actually being awesome…I mean they had basically the exact same players but were unable to make the Finals in the years leading up to 97 and 98.

Early 90s Portland and the mid 90s Knicks were pretty close.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 28, 2011 12:32 PM MST up reply actions

The mid 90’s Knicks weren’t that good offensively. Their defense was great, but defense doesn’t win Championships:) You need both. I thought that’s what cost them the series vrs Houston. That team needed another scorer besides Ewing and Starks.

Early 90’s Blazers were pretty good. I’m sure the 93 Suns could have taken them in 6 or 7 games though.

Don't trade Dudley!

Some people are just like slinkys, they're good for nothing
yet can still manage to put a smile on your face
when pushing them down a flight of stairs.

by Beavis 25 on Jan 28, 2011 12:40 PM MST up reply actions

I hate to say it now

especially after such a nice and emotinal write-up… but I was cheering bulls, actually MJ in that finals…sure, suns I liked already before but we coulndnt follow in those days that much… the reason why I rooted for bulls is simple… those were first years that we in europe had chance to watch nba… it was a new discovery, MJ, the man who dunks spectacular… he was our idol, especially to us young kids playing basketball in our clubs…

now, with all I went through with suns in last 10-15 years, I am sad we didn’t take it that year, or following one when MJ retired… we sure had talent to do it…then again, when we finally win it, I will witness it and it will make me so happy… I actually plan to fly over for the first finals suns will play… in that 05-06 season I made all the plans after we won that game one with diaw’w shot… eh good times…

tha brawl was awesome… doc rivers, our guest tonight.. funny…

by zeze_999 on Jan 28, 2011 2:19 PM MST reply actions

Why don't the Suns ever rock their old-school uni's?

It seems like every team in the league sports their throwbacks every now and then, why can’t the Suns? The ones with the Western Font I mean.

Also, I say we form a coalition and get an updated Black Jersey for the team. I thought whenever we played with those black uni’s it just gave us a mean streak.

Last year's Phoenix Suns team was like the show "Deadwood." A great thing that ended way too early.

by TheRza82 on Jan 30, 2011 3:41 AM MST reply actions

They did the old school thing a few times in the mid 2000s

You still see Nash/Marion old school jerseys around the arena. But I think they should shift back to some sort of derivative of it permanently – kind of like the Pistons did.

Founder of the Coalition to Light Vince Carter On Fire (CTLVCOF)
RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Jan 31, 2011 11:58 AM MST up reply actions