Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Ring of Honor
66
Jerry Colangelo Moved to Valley of the Sun in 1968 to take over the expansion Phoenix Suns as the
youngest general manager in professional sports… During his 40-year tenure with the Suns, has also served as
the head coach (59-60 career record), president, managing general partner, chief executive officer and chairman…
Collected an unprecedented four NBA Executive of the Year Awards (1993, ’89, ’81, ’76)… Oversaw two Western
Conference championships (1993, ’76)… When the franchise’s future was in question, coordinated a group of
investors who purchased the team on October 14, 1987… Spearheaded the effort for a state-of-the-art downtown
arena that would become what is now US Airways Center, which opened in 1992… Named Most Influential
Sports Figure in state of Arizona for the 20th century by The Arizona Republic... Enshrined in the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 10, 2004… Inducted into the Ring of Honor on Nov. 4, 2007.
Walter Davis Nicknames “Sweet D,” “Man with the Velvet Touch” or “The Greyhound”… Regarded as best
pure shooter in Suns history… Played 11 seasons with Phoenix (1977-88) after being selected by Phoenix with
fifth overall pick in 1977 Draft… 1977-78 NBA Rookie of the Year… Phoenix’s all-time leading scorer (15,666)…
Ranks among top five in eight other categories… Played in All-Star Game six times (1978, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’84, ’87)…
Suns jersey, 6, retired April 3, 1994.
Cotton Fitzsimmons Nicknames “Cotton” and “Whitey”… Twenty-year NBA coaching career included
three stints as Suns head coach with a 341-208 record (.621)… Since 1970, served the Suns as head coach,
director of player personnel, color analyst and finally as senior executive vice president… Retired from
coaching sixth on the NBA’s all-time victory list with an overall record of 832-775 (.518)… Two-time NBA
Coach of the Year (1989 with Phoenix and 1979 with Kansas City)… In 1988-89, orchestrated what was at the
time the third-biggest turnaround in NBA history guiding the club to a 55-27 record… Only one year earlier,
pulled off a controversial trade with Cleveland on Feb. 25, 1988 that netted the Suns eventual All-Stars Kevin
Johnson and Dan Majerle (via the draft)… Inducted into the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame, the National
Junior College Hall of Fame and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame… Placed posthumously in the Ring of Honor on
March 18, 2005.
Connie Hawkins Nickname “The Hawk”… New York City’s greatest playground legend… In 1962, at age
19, ABL’s MVP with Pittsburgh Rens… Harlem Globetrotter (1964-66)… Led Pittsburgh Pipers to first-ever
ABA title (1967)… Averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds in five seasons with Phoenix… Joined Suns after coin
flip with Seattle in 1969… All-Star each full season in Phoenix (1970, ’71, ’72, ’73)… Listed as one of the
top 15 players by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar… Inducted into the Hall of Fame May 11, 1992… Suns jersey, 42,
retired November 19, 1976.