<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4TeAIY_0vUBQmU300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TeAIY_0vUBQmU300" width="912" height="513" ></p><p> PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns are just under three weeks away from opening training camp - as media day is officially set for September 30. </p><p> With the game action just weeks away, the Suns' social media team has continued to put out fascinating questions surrounding the history of the franchise - the one yesterday was no different. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> One shot with the game on the line... <br><br> Which player in Suns history are you giving the ball to? </p> — Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1833958930307060093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> September 11, 2024 </a></blockquote></figure><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> This comes down to who is ultimately seen as the most clutch player in the history of the franchise - and there is several worthy contenders in the scope of this debate. </p><p> The five names in contention - and the case for each one. </p><h2> Devin Booker </h2><p> Booker has been at the forefront of "clutch" debates since the early days of his career, and is among the current active leaders when it comes to game-winning shots at the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/11a5mgi/alltime_gamewinning_buzzerbeaters_list/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> buzzer </a> . </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Among Booker's most outwardly clutch performances is the iconic shot over Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to get a key victory in the 2020 NBA bubble. </p><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> DEVIN BOOKER. CLUTCH 🔥 <br><br> CRAZY ENDING IN NEW YORK 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/8l0Mtsi9o4" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/8l0Mtsi9o4 </a></p> — NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1728951753477902519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> November 27, 2023 </a></blockquote></figure><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> The shot to defeat the Clippers was almost certainly the most vital one of the last decade for Phoenix - as it spearheaded an eventual 8-0 bubble run that was enough to convince Chris Paul to come to Phoenix and was directly correlated with the first Finals appearance in nearly three decades. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> It is very likely that neither Paul nor the next name on the list would have considered Phoenix without that bubble run - and that was the biggest moment of the eight-game run with ease. </p><p> Booker certainly has a strong case to be the most clutch Sun of all time. </p><h2> Kevin Durant </h2><p> Most of Durant's work in the clutch was prior to his time as a Suns player, including the iconic game 3 shot in the 2017 Finals to put the Cleveland Cavaliers on ice. </p><p> Despite the criticism and moments of not showing up in the clutch, Durant still remains one of the more celebrated players in that sphere. </p><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Kevin Durant came up clutch down the stretch finishing with 51 PTS against the Nuggets! (2012) <br><br> 51 PTS <br> 8 REB <br> 4 STL <br> 68% FG (19/28) <a href="https://t.co/IIcRXH5IcE" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/IIcRXH5IcE </a></p> — ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThrowbackHoops/status/1815460969302401092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> July 22, 2024 </a></blockquote></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> He showed just what groups him into the elite clutch players when he hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer in a January game against the Chicago Bulls last season. </p><p> Durant is also in the same boat as Booker - among the highest totals of game-winning shots at the buzzer for active players. </p><h2> Steve Nash </h2><p> Nash's reputation as a clutch player gets overlooked far too often - and that likely has to do with his lack of rings to show for it. </p><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Most efficient players in the clutch since 1997 (eFG%): <br><br> 1.) Steve Nash- 53.0% <br> 2.) LeBron James- 51.0% <br> 3.) Stephen Curry- 50.9% <br> 4.) Jason Terry- 50.1% <br> 5.) Ray Allen- 49.4% <br> 6.) Kyrie Irving- 49.2% <br> 7.) Al Jefferson- 48.9% <br> 8.) Jrue Holiday- 48.6% <br><br> Thoughts? <a href="https://t.co/AN4PxJFLmp" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/AN4PxJFLmp </a></p> — 𝗕𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘🚨 (@bmore_TM) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmore_TM/status/1637173884452495361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> March 18, 2023 </a></blockquote></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> Contrary to popular belief, Nash has one of the highest offensive peaks in league history - and became an explosive scorer when called upon to be. </p><p> The most blatant example of Nash showing up when necessary was the 2005 Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks - where he scored 121 points in a three-game span to lead Phoenix to a WCF appearance for the first time since 1993. </p><p> Nash was an all-time player in nearly every facet - unfortunately his peers were Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki. </p><h2> Charles Barkley </h2><p> Barkley has numerous iconic moments as a member of the Suns - none more than the pull-up jump shot over David Robinson to win the series over the San Antonio Spurs - which in turn lead to the second NBA Finals berth in franchise history. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> #OTD </a> in 1993, Charles Barkley hit one of the most clutch shots in <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @Suns </a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> #NBAPlayoffs </a> history. <a href="https://t.co/05B7wYaa0Z" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/05B7wYaa0Z </a></p> — NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1130458149301829632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> May 20, 2019 </a></blockquote></figure><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> Barkley also pushed Michael Jordan to the brink of a blemish on his 6-0 Finals record - as a John Paxson shot prevented a true best-in-the-world dialogue and a decisive game 7 in the 1993 series. </p><p> Barkley is under-appreciated in the scope of the history of the NBA - he should certainly be remembered as one of the best of the generation in a multitude of areas - with clutch gene being one of those. </p><h2> Chris Paul </h2><p> Paul's clutch moments in Phoenix were quite outward - as he was the catalyst behind the Suns being historically great in the clutch in the 2021-22 season, while efforts such as the 41-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers in game 6 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals to send the Suns to the NBA Finals certainly boost his case as well. </p><figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> CHRIS PAUL SCORES 41 POINTS TO LEAD THE SUNS TO THE FINALS 🔥 <br><br> FIRST CAREER FINALS APPEARANCE 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/BIwo2CCXMg" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/BIwo2CCXMg </a></p> — Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1410444031755231234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> July 1, 2021 </a></blockquote></figure><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p> Paul wasn't in Phoenix for long, but the impact he made, namely in the clutch, should be recognized beyond the shadow of a doubt. </p><h2> Verdict: Durant </h2><p> Durant has been with the Suns for the shortest time and has had the least overall clutch moments with the Suns, but his blend of size, versatile shot-making, and overall track record as a generational scorer give him the edge over a very esteemed field. </p><br><p> This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/suns as <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/suns/analysis/most-clutch-phoenix-suns-player-all-time?utm_source=RSS" rel="nofollow"> Who is Most Clutch Suns Player of All Time? </a> . </p></div></body>

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Who is Most Clutch Suns Player of All Time?

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Who is Most Clutch Suns Player of All Time?

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