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Philadelphia 76ers: Top 5 draft selections in Bryan Colangelo’s career

By Simon Smith

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Amar’e Stoudemire (PF) — No. 9 pick in 2002 NBA Draft

Chosen straight out of high school in Florida, Amar’e Stoudemire was seen as somewhat of a speculative pick when selected by Colangelo.

But the selection was soon to proven as a masterstroke.

Colangelo and his father, Suns’ owner Jerry Colangelo, had Stoudemire come in for an audition leading into the draft. And they soon realized they had found their player.

"“It was incredible. Jerry called me over and said, ‘This is our guy’. There was an immediate attraction on Jerry’s part.”"

Stoudemire’s power and athleticism were the obvious traits that stood out with his performance. He took no time in adjusting to the league, capturing the 2003 Rookie of the Year award by averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game. He continued to grow after his rookie campaign, averaging at least 20 points and eight rebounds per game over his next six full seasons with the Suns.

In particular, Stoudemire’s game went to the next level with the return of point guard Steve Nash to the Suns in 2004. As a pick-n-roll tandem the pairing was unstoppable, with Nash’s ball-handling wizardry and Stoudemire’s supreme athleticism.

Nash’s first season back in Phoenix was also possibly Stoudemire’s most impressive of his career. With the Suns winning 62 games, Stoudemire averaged 26.0 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 55.9 percent from the field. Notably, Stoudemire was overall a +602 while on the floor for the season.

During the 2000s, the Suns were heartbreakingly close to reaching the ultimate goal, losing in all three trips to the Western Conference Finals. Following their 2010 Western Conference Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Stoudemire and the Suns were unable to come to terms on a new contract. As a result, he signed a five-year, $99.7 million deal with the New York Knicks.

Aside from the financial compensation, Stoudemire was also reunited head coach Mike D’Antoni, who finished up with the Suns in 2008. But the knee problems that plagued Stoudemire earlier his career began to flare up again in just his first season with the Knicks.

As a result, Stoudemire’s suffered notable regression, certainly not helped by the arrival of fellow All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

In all, Stoudemire played in six All-Star games, and was selected to the All-NBA first team in 2007, and the second team on four other occasions. Considered a risky selection at the time, Stoudemire more than rewarded Colangelo for sticking with his convictions, once again at No. 9.

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