Durant’s basket overtakes Shaq and is ranked 8th on the NBA all-time list
Kevin Durant is eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list after overtaking Shaquille O’Neal in Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Footprint Center.
The Phoenix Suns are featured on HoopsHype’s all-time leaderboard released this month.
Six former or current Suns made HoopsHype’s list of the 78 greatest players of all time – Shaquille O’Neal (9th), Kevin Durant (12th), Charles Barkley (25th), Chris Paul (28th), Steve Nash (35th) and Jason Kidd (40th). They all also made the separate list of the 20 best players at their positions.
Not a single shooting guard on the franchise was among the top 20 at that position. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade were listed 1-2-3 all-time.
Perhaps Devin Booker will end up on this list when the NBA celebrates its 100th anniversary. He is second behind Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards on HoopsHype’s list of the NBA’s top 30 shooting guards for the 2024-25 season.
This is also controversial. Very controversial, but we’ll save that conversation for another story.
Interestingly, however, Grant Hill did not make HoopsHype’s all-time list at number 78.
Injuries robbed him of his best years, but Hill was considered the next Jordan before this streak of bad luck. Hill was one of the best players in the league when he played for the Detroit Pistons in the 1990s.
He then again contributed to the Suns’ success in the late stages of his career.
It’s no surprise that Hill isn’t on the 78 list, but his young and healthy version is just as good as several players who made the list. At 6’1″ and 225 pounds, Hill could get to the basket at will, had leaping power, rebound, pass and defend.
Here’s a look at the Suns who made the all-time list, as well as the top 20 at each position. Oh yeah, Hill didn’t make the top 20 at shooting guard or small forward either.
The 78 best players of all time
Six current or former Suns – Shaquille O’Neal (9th), Kevin Durant (12th), Charles Barkley (25th), Chris Paul (28th), Steve Nash (35th) and Jason Kidd (40th).
HoopsHype wrote: “Along with Mike D’Antoni and the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ Suns, Steve Nash moved basketball forward thanks to his wizardry in the pick-and-roll and his ability to shoot off the dribble, including from beyond the three-point line, which was not as common in his era. Nash’s two MVP awards were quite controversial, but there is no doubt that he is one of the best players of his generation, as he was truly a gifted point guard, one who was a wizard as a passer and could shoot at an elite level.”
1-2-3 of all time – LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
The 20 best point guards of all time
Three former Suns – Paul (6th), Nash (8th) and Kidd (10th).
HoopsHype wrote: “Chris Paul, the Point God, is one of the most reliable floor generals in NBA history. He can act as a head coach on the court, put his teammates in the right places, destroy his opponents in the pick-and-roll and score at a high level when needed thanks to his incredible sense as a dribble scorer in the midfield.
“The only thing he’s missing is a ring, but he’s an instant Hall of Famer with or without a ring. At this point, it looks like he’s resigned to the fact that he’s going to finish his career without a ring, considering he’s joining the re-forming San Antonio Spurs. Either way, pound for pound, he’s one of the greatest in basketball history. (We even ranked him as the best small player of all time.)”
1-2-3 of all time – Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry and Oscar Robertson.
The 20 best small forwards of all time
A current Sun – Durant (3rd).
HoopsHype wrote: “Scoring comes so easily to him it’s almost laughable, because Kevin Durant is a 7-foot-4 player with ball-handling skills, quickness and a flawless jump shot that he can hit from anywhere on the court. Durant is also an effective defender when it matters, moving his feet quickly and blocking shots at crucial moments. Durant can still move up the rankings a few spots, but won’t be competing for the top spots due to playing time due to injury.
“He will have to settle for being the best player in Olympic basketball history, the only one with four gold medals and the lone star with NBA, Olympic and World Championship MVP titles.”
1-2-3 of all time – James, Larry Bird and Durant.
The 20 best power forwards of all time
A former Sun – Barkley (6th).
HoopsHype wrote: “The Round Mound of Rebounding, Charles Barkley was unique not only for his outspoken personality but also for his dominance down low despite being generously listed at 6’6″. He was a beast at the basket and as a scorer thanks to his absurd strength and explosiveness in his prime. Barkley never got the eternally elusive ring, but he is still one of the all-time greats as a power forward thanks to his dominant face-up and post-up play as well as his monstrous skills at the basket.”
1-2-3 of all time – Tim Duncan, Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett.
The 20 largest centers of all time
A former Sun – O’Neal (4th).
HoopsHype wrote: “Shaquille O’Neal was the most physically dominant specimen in the NBA since the days of Chamberlain, and with his mix of size, power and incredible explosiveness, he was an absolute monster. During O’Neal’s peak years, teams made moves with the sole intention of containing the big man. Many mediocre centers made fortunes thanks to this, just by being another huge body to throw at O’Neal.
“The fact that the Big Aristotle only won one MVP was kind of ridiculous in hindsight, as he was the league’s most dominant player for several seasons. O’Neal’s desire to be a star off the court probably took away some of his influence on the court, but even so, he was overwhelming throughout his career despite being a porous free throw shooter.”
1-2-3 of all time – Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
Have an opinion on the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.
