The Story of the Phoenix Suns

The Story of the Phoenix Suns — page 1 — The NBA A History of Hoops The Story of the Phoenix Suns Nate Frisch C R E AT I V E D I G I TA L CREATIVE DIGITAL Phoenix Suns The NBA A History of Hoops The Story of the Nate Frisch

The Story of the Phoenix Suns — page 2 — T a b l e o f Co n t e n t s BASKETBALL BLOOMS IN THE DESERT 8 THE SUNS BEAM 16 KNOCKING AT THE DOOR 22 A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE 30 RUN-AND-GUN RISES AGAIN 38 INDEX 48 CO U R T S I D E S TO R I E S THE TOSS OF A COIN 11 THE GREATEST GAME EVER 18 PASSING FANCY 24 THE SUNS GORILLA 26 THE TURNAROUND 33 BRAWL IN THE DESERT 44 INTRODUCING ALVAN ADAMS 13 CONNIE HAWKINS 15 COTTON FITZSIMMONS 21 KEVIN JOHNSON 29 AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE 35 STEVE NASH 41 Table of Contents COURTSIDE STORIES INTRODUCING

The Story of the Phoenix Suns — page 3 — BASKETBALL BLOOMS IN THE DESERT THE SONORAN DESERT PROVIDES A SCENIC BACKDROP FOR ARIZONA’S MANY GOLF COURSES 8 BASKETBALL BLOOMS IN THE DESERT

The Story of the Phoenix Suns — page 4 — PAUL SILAS I’m off to Pumpkinville Such a declaration may have been made in the 1860s near what is now Phoenix Arizona Taking advantage of the irrigation system the native Hohokam people had left behind settlers experienced success with crops such as pumpkins Before long the settlement was renamed Phoenix because the town was reborn from an older city Today Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and headquarters to various companies such as American Express and Best Western hotels The warm climate of The Valley of the Sun also makes it a popular winter destination for tourists As its population and tourism increased Phoenix became an attractive contender to host a major sports franchise A group of investors that included singer Andy Williams actor Tony Curtis and composer Henry Mancini convinced the National Basketball Association NBA to grant the city a new franchise The pumpkin this time 9

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