Phoenix Suns: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season
Despite being the worst team in the NBA in 2017-18, even the Phoenix Suns had some bright spots this season. Here are the top 10.
The Phoenix Suns did not have an enjoyable 2017-18 season.
In their 50th year as an NBA franchise, they finished with their worst record since their inaugural season. They suffered as many 40-point losses as the prior 49 years combined, dealt with injuries, fired one coach, watched several young players fail to take significant steps and posted the league’s worst record, point differential, offensive rating and defensive rating.
Injuries aside, the Phoenix Suns were the worst team in the NBA. Even so, thanks to Devin Booker, 2018 Josh Jackson and a couple of highlight plays here and there, there were still a few memorable moments for even the most embittered of fans to enjoy.
Despite his reputation as a “good numbers on a bad team” guy, Booker had a breakout year, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game on efficient .432/.383/.878 shooting splits, proving himself as a legitimate franchise cornerstone. In addition to this, Jackson turned his rookie year around to prove himself as another Suns pillar for the future.
That was about as far as the silver linings went on a nightly basis for the Suns, but in the interest of being thorough, it’s time to take one last look at the 2017-18 campaign for bright spots. First, a few honorable mentions:
- Suns end a 10-game skid against the Grizzlies (who were also on a 10-game skid) behind 34 points from Booker and a then-career-high 29 for Jackson, avoiding a winless month in February
- Book drops a 43-8-6 line in a Jan. 16 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers
- Dragan Bender‘s then-career high 20 points, plus Jackson’s first double-double, combine with Booker’s 26 to lead Phoenix past the Thunder on Jan. 7
- Booker leads the Suns to a surprising road win over the Denver Nuggets in his duel with Jamal Murray, finishing with a 30-5-5 stat line
- Jackson puts up 28 points and what would’ve been a game-winner in a hard-fought loss to the Houston Rockets, which was capped off by Gerald Green‘s game-winner
- Pretty much any other time this season where Devin Booker hit 30 points (which happened 22 times overall)
Now let’s get to the top 10.