Dan Majerle will play his final NBA game Wednesday night when the Phoenix Suns host the Utah Jazz, but it won't be the last time fans are reminded of his tenure in the Valley when they visit America West Arena.
Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo said last week that he plans to induct Majerle into the organization's Ring of Honor sometime next season. As a member of the Ring of Honor, Majerle will have his picture and jersey number hung from a wall at the Purple Palace.
Who's next, Joe Klein?
Majerle was a very good player and a great personality. During the height of the Suns' most successful years in the late 1980s and early '90s, Majerle was living the life of a star. He had it all — money, fame and good looks, not to mention loads of athletic ability that permitted him to throw down thunderous dunks and earn the nickname "Thunder Dan."
Majerle even had his own theme restaurant — Majerle's Sports Grill in downtown Phoenix — long before Alice Cooper and many others moved into the neighborhood.
Away from the court, Majerle was the man. But on the court, he was far from great.
Majerle spent the first seven years of his professional career in Phoenix, averaging 14.6 points per game and making three All-star appearances during the franchise's most successful run. The stretch included showings in the NBA Finals and three Western Conference Finals.
However, Majerle was nothing more than a role player on those teams. He was an athletic slasher and occasional long-range threat on teams dominated at first by Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, and later by Charles Barkley.
It would be hard to classify the other seven players (head trainer Joe Proski is the only non-player in the ring) in the Suns' Ring of Honor as role players. Chambers, Johnson, Alvan Adams, Walter Davis, Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale and Paul Westphal are all Suns legends. The most controversial member in the Ring of Honor is Chambers, but at least he was a franchise player during the early part of his five-year stay in Phoenix.
By including a good role player like Majerle, the Suns will cheapen the meaning of their Ring of Honor.
Matt Kee wants to hear your take on ASU athletics. Reach him at matthew.simpson@asu.edu.
