NBA Draft: Every team’s best all-time selection in the lottery

Best NBA Draft Lottery pick: Phoenix Suns, Amar’e Stoudemire

As the 9th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Amar’e Stoudemire was a player who turned out to fit in like a puzzle piece with Mike D’Antoni’s Phoenix Suns over the 2000s

Alongside point guard Steve Nash, the two wound up forming one of the most entertaining scoring duos of the decade. With Nash running pick-and-roll sets and scoring with effortless runs to the baskets, Stoudemire did his part by providing paint scoring and simply being the high-volume scorer that the team could rely on. In an offense that simply fit to his play style as a versatile center, Stoudemire blossomed into being one of the premier scoring big men in the league over his prime days.

The season that stands out the most from Stoudemire’s run with the Suns was his 2007-2008 campaign. He finished the season averaging career highs in points per game with 25.2 and field goal percentage with a 59.0 percent mark. The center topped the season off with a sixth-place finish in the NBA MVP award voting.

Stoudemire’s 2007-2008 season had several standout performances, including his 37 points and 15 rebounds showing against the eventual Western Conference champions Lakers. Post scoring became a sight to see for the center as he had his way in a tightly-contested duel against center Paul Gasol over the course of the game.

While the Suns were a playoff regular during the Seven Seconds or Less era for the team, Stoudemire and company did not have enough to barrel through the west and make an NBA Finals appearance.

Amar’e Stoudemire Phoenix Suns stats and accomplishments

• 516 games, 21.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game
• 2003 Rookie of the Year
• 5X All-Star