The Suns' regular-season finale Wednesday night could have been a what-if night as they watched the shooting guard they passed on in the draft. Sacramento's Ben McLemore, a No. 7 pick, posted a season-high 31 points. But not when they feel just as strongly about their rookie shooting guard from the No. 29 pick.
Archie Goodwin obliterated his season high with 29 points off the bench to help the Suns close the season with a 104-99 victory over the Kings at Sleep Train Arena.
In a season that was pegged to be full of meaningless games, the Suns had only one and still made it feel meaningful by having their rookie leave them longing for more next season, just as the team did by going 48-34 to tie the 2007-08 Golden State team for the most victories by a non-playoff team in the 16-team playoff era of the past 30 years.
The Suns finished one win shy of NBA history's winningest non-playoff team, the 49-win Suns of 1971-72.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.