Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Earl Watson, Eric Bledsoe
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 13: Eric Bledsoe #2 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA preseason game against the Brisbane Bullets at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 13, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Phoenix Suns (2017-18, 21-61, -8.80 SRS)

The Phoenix Suns have historically been one of the NBA’s most successful franchises. While team success hasn’t translated to any championships quite yet, Phoenix has missed the playoffs just 21 times in their team’s 50 years history.

Unfortunately, nine of those playoff misses have occured in the last nine season and the worst Phoenix team of all-time is very fresh in our minds.

“I Dont wanna be here”

The famous last words from Suns guard Eric Bledsoe who tweeted the above just days into the NBA season.

Those would be the last words Bledsoe would say as member of the Suns, who traded him just weeks later. This was only the beginning of a whirlwind season for the franchise.

Bledsoe, once Phoenix’s featured star, was out after just three games, traded to Milwaukee for Greg Monroe and draft picks.

Head coach Earl Watson also lasted only three games—two of which were 40+ point losses—before finding himself on the outs.

Veteran international coach Jay Triano was installed as interim coach and despite a blistering 2-0 start to his Phoenix, things cooled off fast.

Triano and the Suns went 21-58 the remainder of the season as the youthful team never found their footing. Phoenix finished dead last in both offensive and defensive rating while carrying an NBA-worst -8.80 SRS and losing games by an average of -9.37 points (also an NBA-worst mark).

Devin Booker continued to show potential as one of the NBA’s most dynamic scorers (24.9 PPG) but few other Suns showed much in the way of growth. The roster’s lone 30-year-olds Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley both aged rapidly while Phoenix’s young core failed to gain much traction or show much promise.

The losing wasn’t for naught as at the 2018 NBA Draft lottery Phoenix received the #1 overall pick for the first time in their franchise’s history. You’ll recall Phoenix had a shot at the #1 pick in 1969. The Suns died expansion-mate Milwaukee for the NBA’s worst record. A coin flip was chosen to determine who would get the coveted No. 1 overall spot. Milwaukee won the flip and drafted a pretty good player: UCLA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Phoenix drafted Neal Walk. Oof. Walk was fine and actually good but he wasn’t Kareem. Hopefully for Suns fans, Phoenix makes the right choice at No. 1 in 2018.

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