Marion, Stoudemire to be honored by Suns

Shawn Marion and Amar’e Stoudemire will be enshrined into the Suns Ring of Honor, the team announced on Wednesday.

Marion and Stoudemire — were two members of the famed seven seconds or less Suns team that made it to the 2006 NBA Western Conference Finals.

The pair will be inducted into the Ring of Honor sometime during the 2023-24 NBA season, according to a press release.

“Shawn and Amar’e are two of the very best to ever wear a Phoenix Suns uniform,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury in a press release. “Shawn changed the game with his elite versatility and Amar’e was one of the most electrifying players the league has ever seen. Shawn and Amar’e helped define the Suns and inspired generations of fans, and our Suns family is incomplete without them in the Ring of Honor.”

Marion and Stoudemire will each have their own night of “celebration” at a Suns home game, the press release said. The dates of the ceremonies will be announced in the coming weeks.

According to the Suns, Marion played 660 regular season games over nine seasons with the Suns from 1999-2008, averaging 18.4 points on 48.1% shooting, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks.

He ranks fifth in franchise history in points (12,134), second in rebounds (6,616), second in steals (1,245) and third in blocks (894). Marion is the team’s all-time playoff leader with 706 postseason rebounds during his Suns career, the Suns said.

Marion was nicknamed “The Matrix” and was a four-time NBA All-Star with the Suns, the team said.

“This is amazing to be recognized by the Suns family in this way,” said Marion in the press release. “The fans in Phoenix are one-of-a-kind and this city will always be a part of me. My time with the Suns was special and I am looking forward to being inducted into the Ring of Honor.”

Stoudemire — nicknamed S.T.A.T. — put up some impressive numbers during his time in Phoenix.

He played 516 regular season games over eight seasons with the Suns from 2002-2010, the team said. He averaged 21.4 points on 54.4% shooting, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He ranks seventh in franchise history in points (11,035), fifth in scoring average (21.4), third in rebounds (4,613) and fifth in blocks (722).

He was named NBA Rookie of the Year for his first year in Phoenix.

The former teammates will join Alvan Adams, Charles Barkley, Tom Chambers, Walter Davis, Connie Hawkins, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Steve Nash, Dick Van Arsdale and Paul Westphal as Suns players in the Ring of Honor. Jerry Colangelo, Cotton Fitzsimmons, John MacLeod, Al McCoy and Joe Proski are also in the Ring of Honor.