PHOENIX SUNS

The best Phoenix Suns moments on NBA All-Star Weekend

Feb 12, 2016, 8:00 AM | Updated: 10:02 am

Western All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (32), of the Phoenix Suns, makes his entrance before the NBA All-...

Western All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (32), of the Phoenix Suns, makes his entrance before the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

For a lost Phoenix Suns season, rookie Devin Booker’s appearance in the Three-Point Contest and late addition to the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2016 NBA All-Star weekend should give something for Suns fans to cheer about.

It won’t be easy on the youngest player to ever take part in the three-point event. He’ll be squaring off with defending champion and likely MVP Stephen Curry, former ASU star James Harden and sharpshooters Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, Kyle Lowry, J.J. Redick and Chris Bosh.

But if Booker puts on a show there or with the United States team in the Rising Stars event, he’ll join this short-list of memorable All-Star moments involving Phoenix players.

The best, ‘first’ dunk champ

When the Dunk Contest became a part of NBA All-Star weekend in 1984 — the first official dunk contest since a 1976 event for the ABA — the Suns’ Larry Nance was first to take home the crown.

Nance started off with a cradling reverse dunk along the baseline and played it safe in two more first-round dunks before a thunderous, off-the-backboard dunk in the second round earned him a near-perfect 49. A double slam with a ball in each hand followed and propelled him to the finals. There, he put one of the best dunkers of all-time, Julius Erving, away with a side windmill in the final round.

Most creative dunk

Amare Stoudemire brought back memories of former Suns big man Nance as a big-man dunker. Part of the the 2004-05 squad’s representation in the All-Star game, Stoudemire didn’t win but his opening double-clutch slam was followed by an off-the-glass, head-assisted pass from point guard Steve Nash.

Best-made for the three-point contest

Suns teammates Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson found themselves in the 3-point contest in 2005. While Johnson was forced to take the “jump” out of his successful jump shot in order to complete the event before the shot-clock buzzed, Richardson’s quick trigger proved perfect for the format. He hit the last nine shots to take the title that year.

The commentary from the TNT crew of former Suns star Charles Barkley and future general manager Steve Kerr added to the nostalgia (Barkley’s opinion of his old franchise sure has changed over the past decade).

Most memorable

Maybe he could see through the blindfold.

Nonetheless, the Dunk Contest is about showmanship, and the Suns’ Cedric Ceballos got the crowd involved with this blind 1992 slam dunk that won him the contest. The dunk has gone down as one of the most memorable in the event’s history.

Most groovy

You might forget that Shaquille O’Neal was a 2009 All-Star for the Suns, in part thanks to the now-archaic voting system that forced centers onto rosters ahead of sometimes more deserving and more talented forwards.

Yet, the “Big Cactus” took home co-MVP honors in the game held in Phoenix along with former teammate Kobe Bryant. While his extended ball-handling during the game was fun enough, Shaq stole the show before it even began when he was introduced along with the dance group Jabbawockeez.

The best part of history — in a bad way

This wasn’t even the first time Suns forward Shawn Marion found himself on the bad end of a Michael Jordan buzzer-beater, but it sure was a memorable one.

Jordan’s final All-Star appearance in 2003 ended with a fadeaway jumper in overtime — once again over the Suns’ All-Star.

It’s not a good memory, but a historic one.

Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Thomas...

Dan Bickley

Isaiah Thomas signing is a wild swing for Suns in desperate times

Isaiah Thomas is a born fighter. He’s beaten the odds. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to rally around a player like him.

14 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Are the Phoenix Suns superstars done with Frank Vogel?

On Monday's Bickley Blast, Dan Bickley asks the question if the Suns' superstars have had bad body language recently and if it's because they want Frank Vogel gone.

19 hours ago

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should be watching during March Madness

The Phoenix Suns are slated to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could select one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix ...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ shocking lack of urgency continues in loss to Bucks without Giannis

The Phoenix Suns are playing like they have been afforded the luxury of time. But they are just about to run out of it.

2 days ago

Josh Okogie #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footp...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Josh Okogie out for matchup vs. Bucks, Antetokounmpo also out

Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie is out for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain.

2 days ago

Isaiah Thomas...

Damon Allred

Isaiah Thomas to return to Suns on 10-day contract, per report

Nearly two years since his last NBA minutes, point guard Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.

2 days ago

The best Phoenix Suns moments on NBA All-Star Weekend