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I have to say, Channing Frye was the first name that popped up. Granted; never was much into sports until I decided it was probably time to follow at least one. After that 2010 run, I was hooked and spent many-o'-minutes backtracking through history Nash became my favorite player ever, Amare made me realize the nature of sports , Hill was the epitome of work ethic, etc.

But when Frye had that game against the Lakers the following 2011 season, it was the first time I felt that level of comradery cheering for a team. Resulted in an "L" along with...well, the next 10 years, but man. Double OT. Frye. One point game. Nash has played 43, Fisher 40. Quick double. No place to go. He gets away, Gooooortat! Outside Frye for the lead & heeeeere we go! Twenty-nine points. Felt magical. That behind the back pass doe'.....

Goes to a 3OT. I felt like a damn savage, while snacking on seconds like Dudley. **** Artest. Frye for THREE.....and then Kobe.



PJ Tucker & Gerald Green as honorable mentions. I'd like to say names such as EJ but I just didn't get to see them play (although, one of the GOAT commentators).

This is also around the time I started lurking on here

Copout answers, but there are too many

Also, define role player, you brought up Frye, who was a starter for many games, and on not too bad teams.

"Socks" Perry is one for sure. Dudley was another. I liked Lou Amudson too... Barbosa right up there with them.

Socks was a good one. Richard Dumas for that one season is about as fun as any player has ever been.

I think role player would need to be defined. 2010 Channing Frye is kinda like a lot of guys we've had. Barbosa is prob gonna be on most lists, tho. Classic suns player.

Leandrinho Barbosa.

True. I suppose a better definition would be any non tier one or two star. Example, my buddy was always a fan of Brandon Bass on the Celtics. Played his role and what not. It was hard not to mention Barbosa for sure.

Raja and it's not really close for me

TheLoon wrote:Raja and it's not really close for me

Damn, what a gross oversight by me!

You should post more with takes like these

Bogyo wrote:

TheLoon wrote:Raja and it's not really close for me

Damn, what a gross oversight by me!

You should post more with takes like these

Every team needs a pest and he was a fantastic pest without being dirty...unlike Horry and guys like Beverley...plus he was great at containing Kobe

Barbosa during the nash era. Cam Payne really reminds me of him now

Crives wrote:Barbosa during the nash era. Cam Payne really reminds me of him now

I love Payne but Leandro was a MUCH better player...to me Bridges is more on par with Barbosa but Bridges is a much better defender but they both can fly...Payne plays below the rim more but he and Barbosa might be tied for ugliest shooting form

Definitely Bridges.

bwgood77 wrote:Definitely Bridges.

Bridges has gone beyond just a role player for me. (He’s my favorite ever though)

Crives wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:Definitely Bridges.

Bridges has gone beyond just a role player for me. (He’s my favorite ever though)

Oh, he seems like a prototypical role player to me, 3&D like Raja Bell, though I obviously think he can do more, and is a great cutter. I think most think of players outside of star names or main scorers/PGs role players.

Marion came to mind next but he was around so much, an all star and arguably one of best Suns ever, even though he was kind of a super role player.

Then Boris Diaw maybe.

Though if you want to get down into lesser names, I would go Aron Baynes, even though I wanted to keep Holmes who I also liked.

I loved Richard Dumas at the time...LOVED, but his time was too short lived. I liked Eddie Johnson too, but a bit short lived as well.

Would expect to see some Lou Amundson as much as people mention him or Jevon Carter or even Torrey Craig.

I was going to Xavier McDaniel whenst we traded Eddie Johnson and two firsts for him back in 1990. Really loved the X Man's tenacity. But I think I'll go more recent with Rodney Rogers ( The original Zion Williamson of the NBA).

Raja Bell. He was a tough mf, one of my favourite Suns ever.

Barbosa. Loved his story coming into the league and making a name for himself.

More recently it's Bridges

Barkley era: either Dumas or Majerle. I know Majerle is kinda borderline but he's still more of a role player in my eyes.

Nash era: Either Diaw or Grant Hill

Current era: Bridges for sure.

Just a name that I haven't seen mentioned yet and I loved growing up, Danny Manning.

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Diaw, Barbosa, Raja, Bridges (soon to be an all star), Chapman, Q Richardson ( I used to do head bump after hitting three just like him), Tucker, Vinny Del Negro, Rodney Rodgers ( loved watching him even he played for few seasons here), Delk & Googs. I may be missing a few more but there were a ton of good to great role players when I began following Suns since the early 2000s. Loved those early 00s Suns but they kept getting eliminated in first rounds especially to kobe/shaq's lakers.

You guys took the "role player" fairly liberal. I see some legit multiple all stars here.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Majerle was (is) my favourite Sun ever. Some of you mentioned him too, and I thought about it, but I figured even tho he was a 3rd guy after Chuck and KJ he was not a role player. Or was he?

But if we are in this neck of the woods - Finley was awsome, loved watching him here. The play when he yanked one on David Robinson is right up there with any Suns player dunk (minus the KJ on Hakeem, that will never be dethroned).

Edit: Link for the youngsters who might not know what I'm talking about