The Phoenix Suns have made an improbable run towards a possible NBA Championship this season. After all, the franchise hadn’t reached the postseason since the 2009-2010 and won less than 30 percent of their games per season in four of the past five years entering this season. Clearly, Devin Booker is the star of the team, but a huge reason for the success has been the play and leadership of point guard Chris Paul.
With a likely future induction into the basketball Hall of Fame, the now 35-year-old Paul signed with the Suns for the 2020-2021 season. Coming in with a fantastic resume that included 10 All-Star appearances, numerous All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, Paul entered a situation with the Suns coming off a 34-39 season. While that doesn’t sound like much, it was the best record the Suns had since the 2014-2015 season.
The Suns finished the 2020-2021 regular season with a 51-21 record, good for 2nd in the Western Conference. Booker led the team in school at 25.6 points per game and his second in what is likely to be a long string of All-Star appearances. Paul added significantly to the backcourt, providing a legitimate second scoring option, dropping 16 points and dishing out 9 assists per game. Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, and Jae Crowder each contributed double digit points per night. But it was the Suns’ defense that ranked 7th in fewest points allowed that led the way on nights when the offense wasn’t clicking. It’s what championship teams are made of.
Heading into the playoffs, the Suns faced the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Sure, the Lakers had struggled through injuries, but they still had experience and the dominant forces of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Not a problem for the Suns, sending the Lakers home in six games.
The second-round matchup featured a battle with the Denver Nuggets and MVP Nikola Jokic. Although Jokic posted his typical numbers, the Suns overall team play and depth were too much, sweeping the series, giving them plenty of rest for the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Facing a depleted Clippers’ roster without Kawhi Leonard, the Suns continued their quest for a title, taking down the Clippers in six games. Booker averaged over 25 points per game and Paul added 24 in four games, including 41 points in a 130-103 deciding sixth game.
The Suns have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1992-1993 season and only the third time in their 53-year history. Just four more wins and the Suns will have completed an already remarkable run and sit on top of the basketball world. Just four more wins.