Despite being booed during the 1988 NBA Draft, Dan Majerle proved his skeptics wrong and went on to become one of the best players to ever put on a Suns jersey.
Majerle's first few years, he was an absolute beast in terms of hustle, diving for loose balls and tenacious defense. He sacrificed his body to win. I used to emulate him and play my game to his in pick up ball. Thunder Dan baby!!!!
Thunder Dan!!!! My all time fav Sun. The first game I went to was Suns vs Lakers Dan dropped 32 points and dropped three pointer after three pointer . I was so happy that my first game and my fav player was Killin it...
As a kid I went to a lot of Suns games and remember asking Cotton for his autograph. He was such a nice and funny man and he was short like me. I figured when he drafted Majerle he knew who he was and so I was wait and see and of course Cotton was right. RIP Cotton and thank you for the autograph!
I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. I HATED the Suns (and Boston, Lakers and Utah), because they KILLED my Sonics and Blazers. BUT, I do wish that Cotton Fitzsimmons could have won a ring at some point, as I always liked Cotton. I see him, and I think, "Oh, he can't do that! Awwwww...." And, "Noooooo!!!!!" Seems like a cool guy.
He played his ass off at all moments on the court. Central Michigan is in my hometown. A friend of mines Dad played with him in pickup games while they both happened to be CMU students and his dad told me that Dan would take over the game to win in pickup games just as he would in a true game.
I'm pretty sure to this day my family forever regretted boo'ing Dan Majerle prior to Draft Night or just being in dire of distress especially with all that Thunder Dan Majerle has done for this organization. Dan was one of my favorite players to watch aside from Barkley, KJ, and Jeff Hornacek during the Majerle era in Phoenix.
one-handed, perfectly on target, over the head of one of the best defenders in NBA history (not that Dumars exactly did much to try and stop that pass -- Hornacek probably deserving of some credit for surprising an elite defensive guard like that)
My first job was working at then America West Arena Cotton and Joann were always so nice. I was so sad to hear of his passing. RIP Cotton he was truly the most friendliest guy.
Dan is probably one of the most underrated players in the history of the game and especially in his particular era. He came in from a relatively small school as a power forward at 6'6" and he was not a great shooter, yet he came into the NBA where he wouldn't be able to live in the post like he had in college and was able to become one of the league's perimeter scorers. He also played great defense and was very physical and had great foot speed and could finish at the rim. Definitely one of the greatest and I think with the NBA being even more 3 point ball oriented now, that he would have even bigger stats than he did in the 90s
Was the most versatile player for the Suns and they got rid of him. The guy could do everything. Shoot, dribble, attack, rebound, defend, dunk, had moves, and was ripped.
I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American. I HATED the Suns (and Lakers, Celtics and Jazz), and HATED Larry Bird and Dan Majerle, because they KILLED the Blazers and Sonics! I am a jersey guru. I have these jerseys: Suns 9 Majerle, Cavs 9 Majerle, Heat 9 Majerle, USA 12 Majerle, Central Michigan 44 Majerle. If he were a Sonic or Blazer, I would have LOVED Dan Majerle.
A great player, no doubt but too bad he didn't have the foot speed to stay with Jordan. I noticed, at the time, that he had gained about 10-15 lbs. since college because of all the physical contact that he had to endure which hurt his quickness. As a result, KJ had to guard Jordan or it fell to Richard Dumas. I remember countless times Jordan just turning around and rising above KJ. This was a major reason that the Suns couldn't win during crunch time. That Suns team could score with anyone but couldn't stop anyone when it counted.
I don't disagree with the analysis, but saying they couldn't stop "anyone" when it counted... I'm sure we can both agree that *_MJ_* isn't just "anyone" lol Also, how many dudes had the foot speed to stay with Jordan? Dumars, DJ, Payton? Anyone else? And Jordan cooked them all in the playoffs anyways.
That draft should of been completely different! In 87 the sun's scout said to cotton Derrick mckey is our guy! Cotton was dead set on Gilliam who just had no place with the run and gun sun's! If they drafted mckey the sun's draft Ronnie seikaly because the sun's have that defensive player who could guard a James worthy in mckey! Than mr colangelo were talking a successful draft of all time
@Johnny Paycheck Armen Gilliam for Tom Rambis and two second round picks. Gilliam was more gifted, but Rambis brought more wins. Pat Riley and Jerry Reynolds, when the trade was made, accused the Suns and Hornets of "collusion" because they felt the Suns gifted Gillam to the Hornets. Proved how intangibles DO matter.
You had to have seen him play in his early years. You'd respect him much more. He developed his outside game later is likely what you seen and used to. Dan was a frickin beast.
