Hidden Gems: Phoenix Suns

Squad Goals Crafting Challenges are here. Each Crafting Challenge gives you the ability to earn new Rare Moments for each of the NBA’s 30 teams by burning existing Moments. New to NBA Top Shot? Create your account today to collect your first pack of curated, officially licensed NBA highlights, and browse the Marketplace to find your favorites.

Think back to Phoenix’s “7 seconds or less” crew. Top Shot captured the run-and-gun nature of the Suns in the Run It Back and Archive sets from ‘05 and beyond.

The Squad Goals Set, which makes up the Challenge Rewards for our current NBA Crafting Challenges, is a Top Shot homage to teamwork. Legends passing along years of knowledge. Role players finding a niche. Young prospects battling for every loose ball. Point guards dishing out dimes.

In the process of these Challenges taking place, thousands of Moments will be burned – permanently – by members of the Top Shot community, unlocking unique Challenge Rewards.

This action will reduce the supply of collectibles in the Marketplace, effectively making those editions more scarce.

As each Squad Goals Crafting Challenge goes live, we'll be shining a spotlight on a handful of Moments from each NBA team that you might have overlooked. Underrated and underestimated players and Moments that are special in their own way, from monster performances to scarce and significant highlights in a player's career. Hidden gems across all Series.

It’s no mirage. We’re here for The Valley. Phoenix’s Squad Goals Challenge is live, featuring a Devin Booker Moment generated by his defensive talent and effort. Booker met his man at the rim, which gave Chris Paul the runway in transition. Veterans Jae Crowder and Bismack Biyombo did the rest, eventually finding Mikal Bridges for a spot-up 3 in the corner. The Suns can pick any team in the league apart.

After decades of early, tough-to-swallow outs in the postseason, Phoenix made it to the 2021 NBA Finals and gave its all against Milwaukee. It was a season to remember – and these Moments can help pay homage.

CHRIS PAUL (SERIES 2)

Note to any NBA franchise: Find a floor general like Chris Paul and you’ve got a chance.

With an 8-0 run in the early sequence of “The Bubble,” the inexperienced Suns clearly had something special brewing, but CP3’s leadership and offensive direction immediately elevated the franchise.

We know what Paul – a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team – can do offensively. He fuses his vision onto any team he’s tasked to orchestrate. In clutch, pick-and-roll and isolation situations, he’s masterful.

He’s been the league’s assists leader five times in his career (‘08, ‘09, ‘14, ‘15 and ‘22).

He’s no slouch on defense either. His active hands have poked away countless dribbles over the years. In case you forgot, Paul is a 6-time steals champ and 9-time All-Defensive guard.

At 37 – the same age as LeBron James – The Point God continues to defy anyone writing him off. He’s still an All-Star caliber leader for a Playoff contender.

This Season Tip-off (Series 2) Handles Moment was his first-ever collectible as a member of the Suns, and is available in the Marketplace in Rare tier.

DEANDRE AYTON (SERIES 2)

Few can match the size, fluidity and potential Deandre Ayton possesses.

He’s extremely versatile around the rim. If you let him get comfortable, to where he’s routinely dropping jump hooks and finishing uncontested dunks, he’ll put up 15+ PTS in the blink of an eye.

During the 2021-22 season, his 17.2 PPG was second on the team in scoring, only trailing Devin Booker.

It’s hard to argue against his solid postseason performances. In his 2021 postseason run, Ayton averaged over 14 PPG and 10 RPG in each series, while providing 19 blocks across the WCF and Finals matchups.

For Ayton to fulfill expectations, he’ll need a bit more consistency. He could improve getting to the line, and maintaining intensity. If he forces opposing centers into foul trouble, it would open up plenty of mismatches down low.

This And Then There Were Four (Series 2) Rare Moment is the famed “Valley Oop” that won Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. It was a heads-up play formulated by the Phoenix staff and brilliantly executed by the combination of Crowder and Ayton.

Ayton’s back in Phoenix for another go at a title. Will he develop into the All-Star that Suns faithful hope he can be?

MIKAL BRIDGES (SERIES 2)

Mikal Bridges is the NBA’s new iron man.

A premier 3-and-D wing, Bridges put his range to the test this past season. He routinely guarded opponent’s top scoring options, and played all 82 games doing so.

He led the league in minutes (2,854) and was in the Top-20 in both deflections and 3-point shots contested.

His 306 consecutive games played is the NBA’s longest active streak.

Bridges has a motor that’s constantly running, and his effort and efficiency gave him a strong case for 2022 Defensive Player of the Year – he ultimately finished second to Marcus Smart.

This 2021 NBA Finals (Series 2) Legendary Moment showcases his offensive game. In a Game 2 victory, Bridges recorded 27 points – a product of his slashing ability and 3-point shooting proficiency.

How far will Bridges climb the defensive ranks?

New to NBA Top Shot? Create your account today to collect your first pack of curated, officially licensed NBA highlights.

LAST UPDATED ON

Oct 10, 2022 1:36 PM

CHRIS PAUL (SERIES 2)

DEANDRE AYTON (SERIES 2)

MIKAL BRIDGES (SERIES 2)

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