Suns Set to Make First Playoff Appearance Since 2010

The Valley is back.

Per CNBC’s Jabari Young, the Phoenix Suns will make their first appearance in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

Back in those days, Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were a deadly pick-and-roll duo for the ‘7 Seconds or Less’ Suns in an offense as exciting as any had been seen to that point.

You just had to be there.

That being said, Phoenix is no stranger to having a hot-shot roster. Nowadays, a different high IQ point guard — Chris Paul — is leading the charge, with rising stars in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton making an indelible impact for the franchise.

Booker has averaged 25.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists so far this season, while Paul has averaged 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. Ayton, now in his third season, is averaging 14.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting a career-high .620 percent from the field.

Currently the second seed in the Western Conference, the Suns ended their 10-season playoff drought (the fifth-longest in NBA history) following a 109-101 victory over against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

While this is CP3’s 11th postseason appearance, Booker will have his first career playoff experience in a stretch that will be invaluable to his evolution into superstar player.