With a 128-102 win over the Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns improved to 8-0 in the bubble. It is the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2010 Suns won 10 straight games near the end of the 2010 season. Let’s look at the 2010 Phoenix Suns.
Coach: Alvin Gentry
Gentry was in his 2nd season with the Suns in 2010. He coached Phoenix for the next three years before becoming an assistant with the 2014 Clippers and 2015 Warriors. He had been the head coach of the Pelicans since 2016 before being fired after the 2020 season.
Executives:
Steve Kerr
Kerr left the Suns after the 2010 season. He became a broadcaster for a few seasons before becoming head coach of the Warriors in 2014-2015. In his first five seasons with the Warriors, he led the Warriors to 322 regular-season wins, 77 playoff wins, 5 Western Conference crowns, and 3 championships.
Lou Amundson:
Since 2010, Amundson has played with the Warriors, Pacers, Timberwolves, Bulls, Hornets/Pelicans, Cavaliers, and Knicks. He last played in 2016.
Leandro Barbosa:
Barbosa was traded to Toronto after the 2010 season. He was traded to Indiana in 2012 before bouncing to Boston, Phoenix (again), Golden State, and Phoenix (for a third time). Barbosa won a title under Kerr and Gentry with the 2015 Warriors. He last played in 2017.
Earl Clark:
Clark was flipped to the Magic in the Vince Carter/Jason Richardson trade in December 2010. He was later included in the Dwight Howard trade. Clark spent time with the Lakers, Cavaliers, Knicks, and Nets. He last played in 2015.
Jarron Collins:
Collins played 28 more games in the NBA, suiting up with the Clippers and Blazers in 2011.
Goran Dragic:
In 2010, Dragic was just in his 2nd season. In 2011, he was traded to Houston for Aaron Brooks. After a solid 2012 season (11.7 PPG in 26.5 MPG), he signed back with the Suns. By 2014, Dragic had nearly doubled his scoring, won Most Improved Player, and was an All-NBA player. He was traded to the Heat in 2015 where he’s averaged 16.6 points and 5.3 assists as a one-time All-Star and key cog to a contender in 2020.
Jared Dudley:
Dudley played with the Suns until 2013. He spent time with the Clippers, Bucks, Wizards, Suns (again), and Nets before finding a home with the Lakers. He has played 7.8 minutes per game with the West’s top seed in 2020.
Channing Frye:
Frye spent three more seasons in Phoenix, averaging 11.5 points. He played with the Magic, Cavs (twice), and Lakers before retiring after the 2019 season. Frye won the 2016 Finals with the Cavaliers.
Grant Hill:
Hill played two more seasons in Phoenix, averaging 12 points per game. He retired after 2013. Hill was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Robin Lopez:
Lopez played two more seasons with the Suns before moving to New Orleans. In 2014, Lopez found a role in Portland, starting 141 games for an exciting Blazer team. Lopez has spent time with the Knicks and Bulls, and he is currently on the East-leading Bucks.
Steve Nash:
The Suns legend spent two more years in Phoenix before being traded to the Lakers. Nash played 65 games over two seasons with the Lakers. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2018 alongside Hill.
Jason Richardson:
A member of the Vince Carter trade mentioned earlier, Richardson went to the 76ers in 2013. Richardson played in 2013 and 2015 for the 76ers before retiring.
Amar’e Stoudemire:
In July 2010, Stoudemire was traded to the Knicks in a sign-and-trade. Stoudemire averaged 25 points per game with the 2011 Knicks, but he fell off due to injuries in 2012 and beyond. After 78 games in his first season in New York, STAT played just 177 games over the next four seasons in New York. After short stints with Dallas and Miami, Stoudemire has been out of the NBA since 2016.
The 2010 Suns went 54-28 to earn the 3 seed. They defeated the Trail Blazers in 6 games in the opening round of the playoffs before sweeping the Spurs. In the Western Finals, the Suns fell to Kobe Bryant who averaged 34 points per game over the six-game series. The Suns have not been to the playoffs since.
The Suns finished the 2020 season tied with the Grizzlies for the ninth seed in the West. Based on a tiebreaker, the Grizzlies made the play-in tournament while the Suns missed the playoffs for the 10th straight season.
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