Former Suns Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Grant Hill make Hall of Fame

Three former Phoenix Suns, in their first year of eligibility to make the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be inducted as members of the 2018 class. Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Jason Kidd were honored on Saturday as the announcement was made official on a televised ceremony.

Nash, a two-time MVP with Phoenix in 2005 and 2006, was a first-round pick by the Suns in 1996 and played for Phoenix from 1996-98, then again from 2004-12 after a run with the Dallas Mavericks. The Canadian point guard and eight-time NBA All-Star out of Santa Clara also played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-15 after being traded from Phoenix.

“To see these guys I respect, this is the end of the line for a player. There are no more stops. It’s unbelievable,” said Nash.

He is currently a player development coach for the Golden State Warriors.

In 10 seasons with the Suns, Nash averaged 14.4 points, 9.4 assists and shot 50.4 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from three and 90.7 percent from the free throw line.

Kidd, who was fired as the Milwaukee Bucks head coach this season, played for the Suns from 1996-2001 and averaged 14.4 points, 9.7 assists and 6.4 rebounds over five years in the Valley.

The 10-time All-Star — three of those came in Phoenix — also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks (1994-96, 2008-12), New Jersey Nets (2001-08) and New York Knicks (2012-13). Kidd won a title with the Mavericks in 2011.

“The challenge of winning at that level. You have to be patient. It’s an honor to be here with this great class,” said Kidd.

Kidd and Nash respectively rank second and third in career assists in NBA history, trailing only John Stockton.

Hill teamed with Nash from 2007-2012. He began his career with the Detroit Pistons from 1994-2000, making the NBA All-Star game in his first four seasons and averaging 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in six years with Detroit.

A seven-time All-Star by the end of his career, he played for the Orlando Magic from 2000-07 before joining the Suns, where he averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists over five years.

“I’m excited, thrilled and grateful to be here with people I respect and admire,” said Hill.

Hill finished his career in 2012-13 with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Other members of the Suns family, Rick Welts and Charlie Scott were also selected to the 2018 Hall of Fame class.

Welts served as the Suns president for nine years and has worked in several aspects of the professional game, including the launch of the WNBA.

Scott, a former guard for the Suns, enjoyed a playing career that lasted from 1970-1980 spanning between five different teams including the Suns from 1972-1975. He was a three-time NBA All-Star, two-time ABA All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1976.

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