PR managers at Phoenix Suns decided to take a cheeky dig at those at the Los Angeles Clippers. When the Suns posted a slam dunk by Kelly Oubre Jr., a comment from the Los Angeles Clippers Instagram account stood out as it had very little relevance to the context.The Clippers were promoting their player Kawhi Leonard for the NBA All-Stars. Suns had a cheeky reply reporting the Clippers’ comment as spam. The Suns did not stop at the Instagram comments and further went on to take another dig at the Clippers. “Hello Clippers, your desperation is showing,” a tweet from the Suns’ handle read with a screenshot of their comments from Instagram. The number of votes after the second round of the NBA All-Star voting came out recently and it shows that Kawhi hardly requires any more campaigning. He was third among the Western Conference frontcourt players with 2,210,539 votes and he is one among only six players to have more than 2,00,000 votes. NBA ALL-STAR VOTING: TOP 10 (AFTER 2ND ROUND) WESTERN CONFERENCE Frontcourt Guards 1. LeBron James (LAL): 3,359,871 1. Luka Doncic (DAL): 3,277,870 2. Anthony Davis (LAL): 3,124,446 2. James Harden [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/james-harden/] (HOU): 2,167,269 3. Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 2,210,539 3. Damian Lillard [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/damian-lillard/] (POR): 687,855 4. Paul George (LAC): 845,719 4. Stephen Curry (GS): 595,913 5. Nikola Jokic [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/nikola-jokic/] (DEN): 559,881 5. Russell Westbrook (HOU): 581,500 6. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 545,385 6. Alex Caruso (LAL): 528,246 7. Kristaps Porzingis (DAL): 540,603 7. Donovan Mitchell (UTA): 449,835 8. Carmelo Anthony (POR): 520,021 8. Devin Booker (PHO): 381,071 9. Brandon Ingram [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/brandon-ingram/] (NO): 444,522 9. D’Angelo Russell (GS): 365,730 10. Dwight Howard (LAL): 390,037 10. Ja Morant (MEM): 257,433 EASTERN CONFERENCE FRONTCOURT GUARDS 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 3,259,383 1. Trae Young (ATL): 1,389,628 2. Joel Embiid [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/joel-embiid/] (PHI): 1,784,211 2. Kyrie Irving (BKN): 1,351,997 3. Pascal Siakam (TOR): 1,730,763 3. Kemba Walker (BOS): 1,331,577 4. Jimmy Butler [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jimmy-butler/] (MIA): 1,400,293 4. Derrick Rose [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/derrick-rose/] (DET): 918,550 5. Jayson Tatum (BOS): 1,182,663 5. Zach Lavine (CHI): 572,022 6. Tacko Fall (BOS): 543,352 6. Kyle Lowry (TOR): 567,896 7. Bam Adebayo (MIA): 349,078 7. Jaylen Brown (BOS): 544,361 8. Gordon Hayward (BOS): 291,608 8. Ben Simmons [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ben-simmons/] (PHI): 456,066 9. Domantas Sabonis (IND): 239,639 9. Bradley Beal (WAS): 447,107 10. Andre Drummond (DET): 228,190 10. Fred VanVleet (TOR): 351,391 

PR managers at Phoenix Suns decided to take a cheeky dig at those at the Los
Angeles Clippers for a comment on Instagram.

Saketh Kandadai

Saketh Kandadai, Author at EssentiallySports

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<h2>Kawhi Leonard 2022: Net worth, Salary and Endorsements</h2>
Kawhi Leonard, who plays primarily as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/">NBA</a>), was born on June 29, 1991, and currently plays for Los Angeles Clippers.

Leonard first played for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, but was traded that night to the San Antonio Spurs. Once there, he played with them for seven seasons.

While he was known for his defensive prowess, Kawhi eventually evolved into an incredible two-way player as his offense improved drastically. 1 Finals MVP, 2 All-Star appearances, 2 All-NBA selections and 2 DPOY titles later, 'the Klaw' wanted a new challenge.

[caption id="attachment_608307" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-608307" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210406104735/2021-03-25T012207Z_490486441_MT1USATODAY15789013_RTRMADP_3_NBA-LOS-ANGELES-CLIPPERS-AT-SAN-ANTONIO-SPURS.jpg" alt="Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1280" /> Mar 24, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs the first quarter at AT&amp;T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Toronto Raptors came calling. After winning a championship with the Raptors, Leonard became a free agent. While he could have re-signed, Leonard opted to stay with a team near LA.

While many rumors linked him to the Lakers, Kawhi joined cross city rivals Clippers along with Paul George. Before moving to the Clippers, Leonard is known to have brought a luxurious $13.3 million worth mansion. He lost his father, Mark Leonard, in 2008.

He lives with his mother Kim Robertson and has two children with his girlfriend, Kishele Shipley. Leonard?s uncle, Dennis Robertson, before Leonard's move to the Raptors, frequently mentioned about a Spurs exit.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard with the Toronto Raptors</h2>
Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Kawhi's time with the Spurs was pretty much done and dusted. With a year left in his contract many teams weren't willing to take a risk in trading for 'the Klaw'.

But the Raptors who had seen multiple seasons of early elimination in the post-season took a massive gamble. Trading away one of their biggest legends in DeMar DeRozan, the Raps added Kawhi.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-236174" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20200316204842/kawhi-leonard-6-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2400" height="1499" />

The impact was pretty much immediate. With the Raptors' defense arguably one of the best in the league, Toronto solidified themselves as one of the favorites to win the title. With the Warriors' suffering from injuries in the Finals, the dream became a reality.

Ending the Dubs' dynasty in six games, the city of Toronto were crowned as NBA champions for the first time and Kawhi won his 2nd championship and his 2nd Finals trophy of his career.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers</h2>
After an incredible season with the Raptors, Kawhi became a free agent and chose the Clippers as his next destination.

With Paul George forming an incredible partnership with him and a pretty much stacked roster, Leonard and Co. were the favorites to win the 2019-20 season. But an uncharacteristically bad performance meant that the team crashed out in seven games against the Nuggets.

[caption id="attachment_668963" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-668963" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-06-06T215543Z_151792708_MT1USATODAY16217735_RTRMADP_3_NBA-DALLAS-MAVERICKS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-CLIPPERS-1.jpg" alt="Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1271" /> Jun 6, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half in game seven of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

The 2020-21 playoffs however painted a very different picture. With Kawhi and Paul George perform at their peak, the Clippers looked unstoppable. But their progress came to a screeching halt as Leonard suffered from a partial tear to his ACL.

There is not much progress in the 2021-22 season, as Leonard hasn't played a game yet. His injury is a long-term one, and its evolution will determine his return.
<h2>Major achievements</h2>
2נNBA champion?(2014,?2019)

2נNBA Finals MVP?(2014,?2019)

5? NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)

3? All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017, 2021)

2? All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020)

2נNBA Defensive Player of the Year?(2015,?2016)

NBA steals leader?(2015)

3נNBA All-Defensive First Team?(2015?2017)

4? NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021)

NBA All-Rookie First Team?(2012)
<h2>Kawhi Leonard stats</h2>
Leonard over the years has grown into one of the best small forwards in the game. In the 576 games he has played, 'the Klaw' for his career has <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leonaka01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">averaged</a> 19.2 points, 2.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds.

For the 2020-21 season, Leonard's output took a small dip in terms of scoring but stepped up in playmaking. Putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career high 5.2 assists. As mentioned above, he hasn't featured in the 2022 edition.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard 2022 net worth:</h2>
Leonard's annual salary jumped from $3 million to $17 million in 2015 when he signed a 5-year $90 million contract with the Spurs. <a href="https://playersbio.com/kawhi-leonard-net-worth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PlayersBio</a> estimates Kawhi Leonard's net worth as $70 million.

In the 2021-22 season, 'the Klaw' is set to earn incredible <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/kawhi-leonard-8066/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$39,344,900</a>. Whether or not he can perform and justify his price tag, remains to be seen. He also features in their list of the top 50 World's Highest-Paid Athletes of 2021.

[caption id="attachment_495874" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-495874" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201229150125/Los-Angeles-Clippers-Vs-Denver-Nuggets.jpg" alt="Clippers' Star Kawhi Leonard" width="1920" height="1280" /> Dec 25, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) guards in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2>Kawhi Leonard endorsements</h2>
Lenard earns around <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/kawhi-leonard/?sh=90f02e95f705" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$5.5 million</a> from his endorsement deals. His major sponsor is the shoe and apparel company New Balance. He previously had a deal with the Air Jordan brand. He also has deals with Honey and Wingstop.
<h2>Kawhi Leonard charity</h2>
After Leonard led Toronto Raptors to the NBA title in 2019, he teamed up with the Clippers foundation and a non-profit organization to donate one million backpacks to underserved children in Los Angeles.

He later joined Los Angeles Clippers and has been involved in various charity works since then. Previously, even during his time with San Antonio Spurs, he took part in many such events.
<h2>How to contact Kawhi Leonard</h2>
Unlike many NBA stars, Kawhi Leonard is not active on social media. Leonard doesn?t have an Instagram account. He has an account on Twitter, but he is hardly active on the platform. For business purposes, Leonard can be contacted through his Management agency.

Kawhi Leonard?s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/kawhileonard?lang=en">https://twitter.com/kawhileonard</a>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="319">Age</td>
<td width="319">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Nickname</td>
<td width="319">Claw</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Marital Status</td>
<td width="319">Unmarried</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Girlfriend</td>
<td width="319"><a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/kawhi-leonard-his-girlfriend-kishele-shipley-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-couple-kids/">Kishele Shipley</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Nationality</td>
<td width="319">American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Team</td>
<td width="319">Los Angeles Clippers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Height</td>
<td width="319">6? 7? (2.01 m)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Weight</td>
<td width="319">102 kg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Wingspan</td>
<td width="319">2.21 m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Shoes</td>
<td width="319">New Balance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Endorsements</td>
<td width="319">New Balance</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard 2022: Net worth, Salary and Endorsements Kawhi Leonard, who plays primarily as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA), was born on June 29, 1991, and currently plays for Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard first played for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers, but was traded that night to the San Antonio Spurs. Once there, he played with them for seven seasons. While he was known for his defensive prowess, Kawhi eventually evolved into an incredible two-way player as his offense improved drastically. 1 Finals MVP, 2 All-Star appearances, 2 All-NBA selections and 2 DPOY titles later, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; wanted a new challenge. Mar 24, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the San Antonio Spurs the first quarter at AT&amp;T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports Toronto Raptors came calling. After winning a championship with the Raptors, Leonard became a free agent. While he could have re-signed, Leonard opted to stay with a team near LA. While many rumors linked him to the Lakers, Kawhi joined cross city rivals Clippers along with Paul George. Before moving to the Clippers, Leonard is known to have brought a luxurious $13.3 million worth mansion. He lost his father, Mark Leonard, in 2008. He lives with his mother Kim Robertson and has two children with his girlfriend, Kishele Shipley. Leonard?s uncle, Dennis Robertson, before Leonard&#8217;s move to the Raptors, frequently mentioned about a Spurs exit. Kawhi Leonard with the Toronto Raptors Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Kawhi&#8217;s time with the Spurs was pretty much done and dusted. With a year left in his contract many teams weren&#8217;t willing to take a risk in trading for &#8216;the Klaw&#8217;. But the Raptors who had seen multiple seasons of early elimination in the post-season took a massive gamble. Trading away one of their biggest legends in DeMar DeRozan, the Raps added Kawhi. The impact was pretty much immediate. With the Raptors&#8217; defense arguably one of the best in the league, Toronto solidified themselves as one of the favorites to win the title. With the Warriors&#8217; suffering from injuries in the Finals, the dream became a reality. Ending the Dubs&#8217; dynasty in six games, the city of Toronto were crowned as NBA champions for the first time and Kawhi won his 2nd championship and his 2nd Finals trophy of his career. Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers After an incredible season with the Raptors, Kawhi became a free agent and chose the Clippers as his next destination. With Paul George forming an incredible partnership with him and a pretty much stacked roster, Leonard and Co. were the favorites to win the 2019-20 season. But an uncharacteristically bad performance meant that the team crashed out in seven games against the Nuggets. Jun 6, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half in game seven of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The 2020-21 playoffs however painted a very different picture. With Kawhi and Paul George perform at their peak, the Clippers looked unstoppable. But their progress came to a screeching halt as Leonard suffered from a partial tear to his ACL. There is not much progress in the 2021-22 season, as Leonard hasn&#8217;t played a game yet. His injury is a long-term one, and its evolution will determine his return. Major achievements 2נNBA champion?(2014,?2019) 2נNBA Finals MVP?(2014,?2019) 5? NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) 3? All-NBA First Team (2016, 2017, 2021) 2? All-NBA Second Team (2019, 2020) 2נNBA Defensive Player of the Year?(2015,?2016) NBA steals leader?(2015) 3נNBA All-Defensive First Team?(2015?2017) 4? NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2019, 2020, 2021) NBA All-Rookie First Team?(2012) Kawhi Leonard stats Leonard over the years has grown into one of the best small forwards in the game. In the 576 games he has played, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; for his career has averaged 19.2 points, 2.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds. For the 2020-21 season, Leonard&#8217;s output took a small dip in terms of scoring but stepped up in playmaking. Putting up 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career high 5.2 assists. As mentioned above, he hasn&#8217;t featured in the 2022 edition. Kawhi Leonard 2022 net worth: Leonard&#8217;s annual salary jumped from $3 million to $17 million in 2015 when he signed a 5-year $90 million contract with the Spurs. PlayersBio estimates Kawhi Leonard&#8217;s net worth as $70 million. In the 2021-22 season, &#8216;the Klaw&#8217; is set to earn incredible $39,344,900. Whether or not he can perform and justify his price tag, remains to be seen. He also features in their list of the top 50 World&#8217;s Highest-Paid Athletes of 2021. Dec 25, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) guards in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Kawhi Leonard endorsements Lenard earns around $5.5 million from his endorsement deals. His major sponsor is the shoe and apparel company New Balance. He previously had a deal with the Air Jordan brand. He also has deals with Honey and Wingstop. Kawhi Leonard charity After Leonard led Toronto Raptors to the NBA title in 2019, he teamed up with the Clippers foundation and a non-profit organization to donate one million backpacks to underserved children in Los Angeles. He later joined Los Angeles Clippers and has been involved in various charity works since then. Previously, even during his time with San Antonio Spurs, he took part in many such events. How to contact Kawhi Leonard Unlike many NBA stars, Kawhi Leonard is not active on social media. Leonard doesn?t have an Instagram account. He has an account on Twitter, but he is hardly active on the platform. For business purposes, Leonard can be contacted through his Management agency. Kawhi Leonard?s Twitter: https://twitter.com/kawhileonard  Age 30  Nickname Claw  Marital Status Unmarried  Girlfriend Kishele Shipley  Nationality American  Team Los Angeles Clippers  Height 6? 7? (2.01 m)  Weight 102 kg  Wingspan 2.21 m  Shoes New Balance  Endorsements New Balance

Kawhi Leonard Archives

Kawhi Leonard Archives - EssentiallySports

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Archives

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Archives - EssentiallySports

Established in 1968, the Phoenix Suns competes in the Western Conference as a member of the Pacific Division. In their overall 56 seasons till now, the Suns have made 32 playoff appearances. The franchise has won three conference titles (1976, 1993, and 2021). However, the team always fell short of having the glorious championship ring. With new investments and the newly formed Big Three, the Suns are one of the strongest contenders in the division.?
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Season</td>
<td>Playoff Appearances</td>
<td>Conference Titles</td>
<td>NBA Championships</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1968-2023</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>3 (1976, 1993, 2021)</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Franchise History and Ownership</h2>
The franchise began as an expansion team. The first few years were mired with mediocrity. Suns finished their first year at 16-66, missing the playoffs. Critics doubted the success of Phoenix as an NBA market, but the franchise grew rapidly in the country. Their trip to the NBA finals finally ended in 1976 against Bill Russell?s<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/boston-celtics/"> Boston Celtics</a>. The Suns pushed the series to six games. In a buzzer-beating shot, the Celtics ultimately won the championship. After coming this close to the finals, the franchise started to rebuild around Walter Davis and also acquired Kevin Johnson in 1988. With Johnson, the Suns reached the playoffs for thirteen consecutive appearances and remained a title contender throughout the 1990s in the Charles Berkley era.?

<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/phoenix-suns/">The Suns</a> made it into the finals again but lost to the<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nba/chicago-bulls/"> Chicago Bulls</a>. Berkley was named the MVP in the 1992?93 season.?

Rankings got slightly better in the playoff games in the 1990s. But front office unrest and Barkley's strained relationship with Jerry Colangelo led to his trade to Houston which also marked a new era in the franchise. The Suns drafted Steve Nash in 1996, but he initially played a supporting role behind Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson. The team could only go far in qualifying for the playoffs.?

&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Player</td>
<td>Position</td>
<td>Induction Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Barkley</td>
<td>Forward</td>
<td>2006</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gail Goodrich</td>
<td>Guard</td>
<td>1996</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Connie Hawkins</td>
<td>Forward-Center</td>
<td>1992</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grant Hill</td>
<td>Forward</td>
<td>2018</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dennis Johnson</td>
<td>Guard</td>
<td>2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gus Johnson</td>
<td>Forward-Center</td>
<td>2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Kidd</td>
<td>Guard</td>
<td>2018</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Nash</td>
<td>Guard</td>
<td>20181</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shaquille O?Neal</td>
<td>Center</td>
<td>2016</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charlie Scott</td>
<td>Guard-Forward</td>
<td>2018</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Westphal</td>
<td>Guard-Forward</td>
<td>2019</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

The Suns had a fantastic 2004-05 season, finishing with the best record in the league and Nash winning the MVP award. In the 2005 playoffs, they made it to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Spurs. The team remained a strong contender. They had a 15-game win streak and a 17-game win streak during the 2006-07 season but again lost in the Conference finals.

In the next season, the franchise finished with a 55-27 record but was eliminated later in the first round.?

&nbsp;

The Suns made the playoffs 10 times during former owner Robert Sarver's 18-year tenure. Ishbia brothers Mat and Justin purchased the majority stakes from Sarver in 2022. The deal is marked as the most expensive in NBA history, at $4 billion. Here is a breakdown of Ownership history, throughout the years.?
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Year</td>
<td>Owner(s)</td>
<td>General Manager</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1968-1972</td>
<td>Richard Bloch and Karl Eller</td>
<td>Jerry Colangelo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1972-1988</td>
<td>Karl Eller</td>
<td>Jerry Colangelo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1988-2004</td>
<td>Jerry Colangelo</td>
<td>Jerry Colangelo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2004-2010</td>
<td>Robert Sarver</td>
<td>Steve Kerr</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2010-2012</td>
<td>Robert Sarver</td>
<td>Lance Blanks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2012-2018</td>
<td>Robert Sarver</td>
<td>Ryan McDonough</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018-2022</td>
<td>Robert Sarver</td>
<td>James Jones</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-Present</td>
<td>Mat Ishbia</td>
<td>James Jones</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Top-paid players and 2023-24 roster</h2>
Phoenix's roster for the 2023-24 season has many new additions, like<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/bradley-beal/"> Bradley Beal</a> and Jusuf Nurki?. The star-studded roster has the new big three in town and includes Booker, Durant, and Beal as three of the 500 players who are averaging at least 22 points per game.?

<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kevin-durant/">Kevin Durant</a> is not just the highest-paid on the team but also the second-highest-paid this season. His annual salary is $47,649,433.?

Beal is the second richest in the team. He is receiving the max contract worth $251 million that he signed with the Wizards. He is expected to earn more than $150M in his next three seasons. For this season, his base salary is $46,741,590 per year.

<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/devin-booker/">Devin Booker</a> signed a five-year, $158.25 million Supermax contract extension with the Suns in 2018. The contract began in the 2019-20 season, and Booker is currently in the fourth year of the deal. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.?

The newest addition, Nurkic, is a part of the multi-team deal that saw the departure of DeAndre Ayton to the Blazers. Nurkic is in his second-year max a-year extension worth over $70M. His average salary this year would be $17.5 million per year.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Player</td>
<td>Position</td>
<td>Annual Salary</td>
<td>Contract Type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bradley Beal</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$50,203,930</td>
<td>5 yr $251,019,650 MAX</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devin Booker</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$55,664,000</td>
<td>4 yr $222,656,000 S-MAX</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Durant</td>
<td>SF</td>
<td>$48,554,830</td>
<td>4 yr $194,219,320 MAX</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jusuf Nurkic</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>$17,500,000</td>
<td>4 yr $70,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nassir Little</td>
<td>SF</td>
<td>$7,000,000</td>
<td>4 yr $28,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grayson Allen</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$9,350,000</td>
<td>2 yr $18,700,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keon Johnson</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$3,129,323</td>
<td>4 yr $12,517,291</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eric Gordon</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$3,276,360</td>
<td>2 yr $6,552,719</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Josh Okogie</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$2,886,336</td>
<td>2 yr $5,772,671</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Damion Lee</td>
<td>SG</td>
<td>$2,686,788</td>
<td>2 yr $5,373,575</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keita Bates-Diop</td>
<td>SF</td>
<td>$2,500,629</td>
<td>2 yr $5,001,258</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yuta Watanabe</td>
<td>SF</td>
<td>$2,500,629</td>
<td>2 yr $5,001,258</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Drew Eubanks</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>$2,500,629</td>
<td>2 yr $5,001,258</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Goodwin</td>
<td>PG</td>
<td>$1,640,080</td>
<td>3 yr $4,920,240</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ishmail Wainright</td>
<td>SF</td>
<td>$1,201374</td>
<td>2 yr $2.402747</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chimezie Metu</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>$2.346614</td>
<td>1 yr $2.346614</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bol Bol Bol</td>
<td>PF</td>
<td>$2.165000</td>
<td>1 year, $2.165000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

Established in 1968, the Phoenix Suns competes in the Western Conference as a member of the Pacific Division. In their overall 56 seasons till now, the Suns have made 32 playoff appearances. The franchise has won three conference titles (1976, 1993, and 2021). However, the team always fell short of having the glorious championship ring. With new investments and the newly formed Big Three, the Suns are one of the strongest contenders in the division.?  Season Playoff Appearances Conference Titles NBA Championships  1968-2023 32 3 (1976, 1993, 2021) 0  Franchise History and Ownership The franchise began as an expansion team. The first few years were mired with mediocrity. Suns finished their first year at 16-66, missing the playoffs. Critics doubted the success of Phoenix as an NBA market, but the franchise grew rapidly in the country. Their trip to the NBA finals finally ended in 1976 against Bill Russell?s Boston Celtics. The Suns pushed the series to six games. In a buzzer-beating shot, the Celtics ultimately won the championship. After coming this close to the finals, the franchise started to rebuild around Walter Davis and also acquired Kevin Johnson in 1988. With Johnson, the Suns reached the playoffs for thirteen consecutive appearances and remained a title contender throughout the 1990s in the Charles Berkley era.? The Suns made it into the finals again but lost to the Chicago Bulls. Berkley was named the MVP in the 1992?93 season.? Rankings got slightly better in the playoff games in the 1990s. But front office unrest and Barkley&#8217;s strained relationship with Jerry Colangelo led to his trade to Houston which also marked a new era in the franchise. The Suns drafted Steve Nash in 1996, but he initially played a supporting role behind Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson. The team could only go far in qualifying for the playoffs.? &nbsp;  Player Position Induction Year  Charles Barkley Forward 2006  Gail Goodrich Guard 1996  Connie Hawkins Forward-Center 1992  Grant Hill Forward 2018  Dennis Johnson Guard 2010  Gus Johnson Forward-Center 2010  Jason Kidd Guard 2018  Steve Nash Guard 20181  Shaquille O?Neal Center 2016  Charlie Scott Guard-Forward 2018  Paul Westphal Guard-Forward 2019  &nbsp; The Suns had a fantastic 2004-05 season, finishing with the best record in the league and Nash winning the MVP award. In the 2005 playoffs, they made it to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Spurs. The team remained a strong contender. They had a 15-game win streak and a 17-game win streak during the 2006-07 season but again lost in the Conference finals. In the next season, the franchise finished with a 55-27 record but was eliminated later in the first round.? &nbsp; The Suns made the playoffs 10 times during former owner Robert Sarver&#8217;s 18-year tenure. Ishbia brothers Mat and Justin purchased the majority stakes from Sarver in 2022. The deal is marked as the most expensive in NBA history, at $4 billion. Here is a breakdown of Ownership history, throughout the years.?  Year Owner(s) General Manager  1968-1972 Richard Bloch and Karl Eller Jerry Colangelo  1972-1988 Karl Eller Jerry Colangelo  1988-2004 Jerry Colangelo Jerry Colangelo  2004-2010 Robert Sarver Steve Kerr  2010-2012 Robert Sarver Lance Blanks  2012-2018 Robert Sarver Ryan McDonough  2018-2022 Robert Sarver James Jones  2023-Present Mat Ishbia James Jones  Top-paid players and 2023-24 roster Phoenix&#8217;s roster for the 2023-24 season has many new additions, like Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurki?. The star-studded roster has the new big three in town and includes Booker, Durant, and Beal as three of the 500 players who are averaging at least 22 points per game.? Kevin Durant is not just the highest-paid on the team but also the second-highest-paid this season. His annual salary is $47,649,433.? Beal is the second richest in the team. He is receiving the max contract worth $251 million that he signed with the Wizards. He is expected to earn more than $150M in his next three seasons. For this season, his base salary is $46,741,590 per year. Devin Booker signed a five-year, $158.25 million Supermax contract extension with the Suns in 2018. The contract began in the 2019-20 season, and Booker is currently in the fourth year of the deal. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.? The newest addition, Nurkic, is a part of the multi-team deal that saw the departure of DeAndre Ayton to the Blazers. Nurkic is in his second-year max a-year extension worth over $70M. His average salary this year would be $17.5 million per year.  Player Position Annual Salary Contract Type  Bradley Beal SG $50,203,930 5 yr $251,019,650 MAX  Devin Booker SG $55,664,000 4 yr $222,656,000 S-MAX  Kevin Durant SF $48,554,830 4 yr $194,219,320 MAX  Jusuf Nurkic C $17,500,000 4 yr $70,000,000  Nassir Little SF $7,000,000 4 yr $28,000,000  Grayson Allen SG $9,350,000 2 yr $18,700,000  Keon Johnson SG $3,129,323 4 yr $12,517,291  Eric Gordon SG $3,276,360 2 yr $6,552,719  Josh Okogie SG $2,886,336 2 yr $5,772,671  Damion Lee SG $2,686,788 2 yr $5,373,575  Keita Bates-Diop SF $2,500,629 2 yr $5,001,258  Yuta Watanabe SF $2,500,629 2 yr $5,001,258  Drew Eubanks C $2,500,629 2 yr $5,001,258  Jordan Goodwin PG $1,640,080 3 yr $4,920,240  Ishmail Wainright SF $1,201374 2 yr $2.402747  Chimezie Metu C $2.346614 1 yr $2.346614  Bol Bol Bol PF $2.165000 1 year, $2.165000  &nbsp;

Phoenix Suns Take a Cheeky Dig at LA Clippers, Call Them Desperate

NBA All-Star voting: Top 10 (after 2nd round)

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

1. LeBron James (LAL): 3,359,871	1. Luka Doncic (DAL): 3,277,870
2. Anthony Davis (LAL): 3,124,446	2. James Harden (HOU): 2,167,269
3. Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 2,210,539	3. Damian Lillard (POR): 687,855
4. Paul George (LAC): 845,719	4. Stephen Curry (GS): 595,913
5. Nikola Jokic (DEN): 559,881	5. Russell Westbrook (HOU): 581,500
6. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 545,385	6. Alex Caruso (LAL): 528,246
7. Kristaps Porzingis (DAL): 540,603	7. Donovan Mitchell (UTA): 449,835
8. Carmelo Anthony (POR): 520,021	8. Devin Booker (PHO): 381,071
9. Brandon Ingram (NO): 444,522	9. D’Angelo Russell (GS): 365,730
10. Dwight Howard (LAL): 390,037	10. Ja Morant (MEM): 257,433

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 3,259,383	1. Trae Young (ATL): 1,389,628
2. Joel Embiid (PHI): 1,784,211	2. Kyrie Irving (BKN): 1,351,997
3. Pascal Siakam (TOR): 1,730,763	3. Kemba Walker (BOS): 1,331,577
4. Jimmy Butler (MIA): 1,400,293	4. Derrick Rose (DET): 918,550
5. Jayson Tatum (BOS): 1,182,663	5. Zach Lavine (CHI): 572,022
6. Tacko Fall (BOS): 543,352	6. Kyle Lowry (TOR): 567,896
7. Bam Adebayo (MIA): 349,078	7. Jaylen Brown (BOS): 544,361
8. Gordon Hayward (BOS): 291,608	8. Ben Simmons (PHI): 456,066
9. Domantas Sabonis (IND): 239,639	9. Bradley Beal (WAS): 447,107
10. Andre Drummond (DET): 228,190	10. Fred VanVleet (TOR): 351,391