[1] After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Suns had the ninth pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected high school basketball star Amar'e Stoudemire,[2][3][4][5] and signed free agent Scott Williams during the off-season.
[6] Frank Johnson returned as head coach, as the Suns held a 29–21 record at the All-Star break,[7] and posted eight additional wins from the previous season to finish fourth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record.
[8] The Suns returned to the playoffs after snapping a streak of 13 seasons in a row the year before, a franchise record.
[13][14][15] The Spurs would reach the Finals to defeat the New Jersey Nets in six games, winning their second championship.
[16][17][18] In Stoudemire, who earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, and became the first high school draft pick to become NBA Rookie of the Year,[19][20][21] the Suns had drafted an athletic big man to join the equally athletic Marion for the coming seasons.