The Ring of Honor is an award given to prominent players and employees of the professional basketball team, the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Awardees are selected to recognize the significant role the individual has had for the Suns organization (not specifically their prominence in the NBA). While Phoenix retired numbers early in the franchise's history, recent players inducted into the Ring of Honor had their names and numbers displayed at the Suns' home arena, Footprint Center, but the numbers could be reused in the future.[1][2] However, beginning in the 2023–24 season, under new owner Mat Ishbia, the Suns resumed retiring jersey numbers on the Ring of Honor starting with No. 31 for Shawn Marion and No. 32 for Amar'e Stoudemire. Numbers who were previously deemed "honored" by the franchise were once again considered retired.[3]
The Ring of Honor was opened on April 18, 1999. Tom Chambers was honored that day, joined by Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale, Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal and Walter Davis, who were moved from the Banners for Retired Numbers section at then-named America West Arena into the new ring. At the time, the Suns' Tom Gugliotta was already wearing No. 24, Chambers' former number, and would be the last player to date to wear the number.[4] In 2001, Phoenix added Kevin Johnson to the ring while also making an exception and retiring his No. 7.[5] Since Johnson's number retirement, former athletic trainer Joe Proski, Dan Majerle, Charles Barkley, former coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, former team owner and general manager Jerry Colangelo, Steve Nash, and broadcaster Al McCoy were also honored by the Suns, though the numbers for Barkley, Majerle, and Nash were only honored and not officially considered retired numbers at the time. However, with the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor being "reimagined" and unveiled with permanent banners and murals once again on October 28, 2023, the numbers worn by Barkley, Chambers, Majerle, and Nash are considered properly retired.[6] Shawn Marion joined the Ring of Honor on December 15, 2023,[7] while Amar'e Stoudemire's #32 joined on March 2, 2024.[8]