1971–72 Phoenix Suns season

1971–72 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR

The 1971–72 Phoenix Suns season was the fourth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With a 49–33 record, the Suns hold the NBA record as the team with the best winning percentage to not make the playoffs. The team broke the record they set the previous year with a 48–34 finish. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Suns in their debut season as members of the Pacific division. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Paul Silas again led the team in rebounds, averaging 11.9 per game, while also leading the Suns in assists with a 4.3 average. Connie Hawkins's 21 points a game led the club, while Dick Van Arsdale was second with his 19.7 average. Silas averaged 17.5 for the season, while both Clem Haskins and Neal Walk averaged 15.7.

Draft picks

Main article: 1971 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 14 John Roche Guard  United States South Carolina
3 48 Dennis "Mo" Layton Guard  United States USC
4 65 Walt Szczerbiak Forward  United States George Washington
5 82 Ken Gardner Forward  United States Utah
5 84 Bob Kissane Center  United States Holy Cross
6 99 William Graham Forward  United States Kentucky State
7 116 Ralph Brateris Forward  United States Trenton State
8 133 Vernell Ellzy Forward  United States Florida State
9 149 Mike Johnson Guard  United States Kansas State
10 165 Tom Newell Guard  United States Hawaii
11 179 Paul Leitz Forward  United States Western Carolina
12 192 Floyd Mason Forward  United States Alcorn A&M
13 204 Ron Dorsey Guard  United States Tennessee State
14 213 Ken Booker Guard  United States UCLA
15 222 Curtis Carter Forward  United States Bishop

Roster

1971–72 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 31 Mel Counts 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1941-10-16 Oregon State
F 16 Lamar Green 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State
G 23 Art Harris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947-01-13 Stanford
G 11 Clem Haskins 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky
F/C 42 Connie Hawkins 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa
G 1 Dennis Layton 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1948-12-24 USC
F/C 34 Otto Moore 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1946-08-27 Texas–Pan American
G 33 Charlie Scott 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-12-15 North Carolina
F 29 Paul Silas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-07-12 Creighton
G/F 5 Dick Van Arsdale 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
C 41 Neal Walk 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
G 10 Jeff Webb 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1948-07-06 Kansas State
G/F 25 John Wetzel  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1944-10-22 Virginia Tech
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 63 19 .768 – 31–5 27–12 5–2 13–5
x-Chicago Bulls 57 25 .695 6 29–12 26–12 2–1 12–6
Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 14 30–11 19–20 0–2 7–11
Detroit Pistons 26 56 .317 37 16–25 9–30 1–1 4–14
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 69 13 .841
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 63 19 .768
3 x-Chicago Bulls 57 25 .695
4 x-Golden State Warriors 51 31 .622
5 Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598
6 Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573
7 Houston Rockets 34 48 .415
8 Detroit Pistons 26 56 .317
9 Portland Trail Blazers 18 64 .220

Game log

1971–72 game log
Total: 49–33 (home: 30–11; road: 19–22)
October: 3–4 (home: 2–3; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
1 October 14 Milwaukee L 97–110 Connie Hawkins (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,174 		0–1 L 1
2 October 16 Houston W 128–108 Paul Silas (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,572 		1–1 W 1
3 October 22 Detroit L 109–116 Connie Hawkins (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,337 		1–2 L 1
4 October 24 Chicago L 104–105 Paul Silas (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,970 		1–3 L 2
5 October 26 Cincinnati W 126–99 Paul Silas (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,901 		2–3 W 1
6 October 29 @ Philadelphia W 137–135 (2OT) Dick Van Arsdale (28) The Spectrum
6,128 		3–3 W 2
7 October 30 @ Baltimore L 94–101 Dick Van Arsdale (29) Baltimore Civic Center
6,839 		3–4 L 1
November: 8–7 (home: 4–0; road: 4–7)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
8 November 2 @ Chicago L 101–108 Clem Haskins (22) Chicago Stadium
5,843 		3–5 L 2
9 November 3 @ Buffalo W 100–98 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
5,417 		4–5 W 1
10 November 5 @ Cleveland W 107–87 Clem Haskins (24) Cleveland Arena
3,307 		5–5 W 2
11 November 6 @ Cincinnati L 95–110 Clem Haskins (22) Cincinnati Gardens
3,076 		5–6 L 1
12 November 9 @ Milwaukee L 113–118 Connie Hawkins (28) Milwaukee Arena
10,039 		5–7 L 2
13 November 12 Boston W 128–119 Connie Hawkins (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,470 		6–7 W 1
14 November 14 Cleveland W 119–105 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,336 		7–7 W 2
15 November 16 @ New York L 111–112 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Madison Square Garden
18,344 		7–8 L 1
16 November 17 @ Boston L 121–140 Connie Hawkins (35) Boston Garden
9,440 		7–9 L 2
17 November 18 @ Detroit L 126–128 Neal Walk (30) Cobo Arena
3,418 		7–10 L 3
18 November 20 @ Atlanta L 109–115 Paul Silas (24) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,702 		7–11 L 4
19 November 23 Philadelphia W 128–107 Mo Layton (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,678 		8–11 W 1
20 November 25 Detroit W 122–103 Mo Layton (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,846 		9–11 W 2
21 November 28 @ Houston W 116–110 Mo Layton (25) Hofheinz Pavilion
3,643 		10–11 W 3
22 November 30 @ Portland W 121–111 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (23) Memorial Coliseum
7,704 		11–11 W 4
December: 11–5 (home: 7–3; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
23 December 1 Portland W 139–103 Paul Silas (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,040 		12–11 W 5
24 December 4 @ Golden State W 128–92 Clem Haskins (27) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,491 		13–11 W 6
25 December 5 Golden State W 120–87 Connie Hawkins (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,886 		14–11 W 7
26 December 9 Atlanta W 135–115 Connie Hawkins (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,524 		15–11 W 8
27 December 10 @ Los Angeles L 117–126 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (31) The Forum
17,505 		15–12 L 1
28 December 11 Houston L 110–111 Hawkins, Silas (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,695 		15–13 L 2
29 December 14 @ New York W 110–100 Neal Walk (24) Madison Square Garden
19,253 		16–13 W 1
30 December 15 @ Cincinnati W 127–108 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Cincinnati Gardens
2,038 		17–13 W 2
31 December 17 Detroit W 123–102 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,808 		18–13 W 3
32 December 18 Los Angeles L 106–132 Neal Walk (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,534 		18–14 L 1
33 December 19 @ Seattle L 127–130 (OT) Paul Silas (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,189 		18–15 L 2
34 December 21 Philadelphia W 124–119 Paul Silas (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,272 		19–15 W 1
35 December 23 Chicago L 108–117 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,289 		19–16 L 1
36 December 25 Seattle W 116–86 Connie Hawkins (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,026 		20–16 W 1
37 December 29 @ Houston W 124–106 Clem Haskins,
Dick Van Arsdale (27) 		Hofheinz Pavilion
5,389 		21–16 W 2
38 December 30 Buffalo W 123–102 Mel Counts,
Paul Silas,
Dick Van Arsdale (19) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,272 		22–16 W 3
January: 9–8 (home: 5–3; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
39 January 1 Boston W 114–104 Connie Hawkins (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,056 		23–16 W 4
40 January 2 Atlanta L 111–116 Clem Haskins (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,670 		23–17 L 1
41 January 4 @ Chicago W 112–108 Clem Haskins (23) Chicago Stadium
9,009 		24–17 W 1
42 January 7 @ Buffalo W 123–110 Connie Hawkins (32) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
10,247 		25–17 W 2
43 January 8 @ Philadelphia L 119–130 Otto Moore (21) The Spectrum
7,833 		25–18 L 1
44 January 9 @ Baltimore L 103–109 Connie Hawkins,
Dick Van Arsdale (22) 		College Park, MD
7,235 		25–19 L 2
45 January 11 @ Milwaukee W 115–114 Neal Walk (42) Milwaukee Arena
10,111 		26–19 W 1
46 January 14 Cleveland W 117–107 Neal Walk (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,279 		27–19 W 2
47 January 15 @ Seattle L 110–118 Mel Counts,
Paul Silas,
Dick Van Arsdale (18) 		Seattle Center Coliseum
12,693 		27–20 L 1
48 January 16 Baltimore L 104–107 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,385 		27–21 L 2
All-Star Break
49 January 20 New York W 130–109 Connie Hawkins (40) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,006 		28–21 W 1
50 January 21 @ Seattle W 128–113 Connie Hawkins (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,751 		29–21 W 2
51 January 22 Los Angeles W 116–102 Dick Van Arsdale (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,534 		30–21 W 3
52 January 25 @ Los Angeles L 119–129 Paul Silas (24) The Forum
17,505 		30–22 L 1
53 January 28 Chicago L 102–116 Paul Silas (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,245 		30–23 L 2
54 January 29 @ Golden State L 110–111 Paul Silas (28) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
6,488 		30–24 L 3
55 January 30 Atlanta W 105–103 Clem Haskins,
Connie Hawkins,
Neal Walk (21) 		Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,839 		31–24 W 1
February: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
56 February 1 @ Portland W 129–117 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Memorial Coliseum
4,961 		32–24 W 2
57 February 2 Milwaukee L 103–106 Connie Hawkins (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,365 		32–25 L 1
58 February 4 Golden State W 113–105 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,486 		33–25 W 1
59 February 5 @ Portland W 118–117 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (28) Memorial Coliseum
6,401 		34–25 W 2
60 February 6 Portland W 107–94 Paul Silas (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,160 		35–25 W 3
61 February 8 Philadelphia W 120–108 Connie Hawkins (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,532 		36–25 W 4
62 February 10 Baltimore W 131–98 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,794 		37–25 W 5
63 February 12 Cincinnati W 117–95 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,766 		38–25 W 6
64 February 16 Los Angeles W 110–109 Neal Walk (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,534 		39–25 W 7
65 February 18 Boston W 126–115 Dick Van Arsdale (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,005 		40–25 W 8
66 February 20 @ Detroit W 121–107 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Cobo Arena
4,898 		41–25 W 9
67 February 22 @ Boston L 103–114 Connie Hawkins (30) Boston Garden
8,106 		41–26 L 1
68 February 23 @ Atlanta L 118–120 Paul Silas (26) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
5,073 		41–27 L 2
69 February 25 @ Chicago L 107–115 Connie Hawkins (25) Chicago Stadium
9,720 		41–28 L 3
70 February 26 @ Milwaukee L 117–119 (OT) Neal Walk (28) Madison, WI
9,371 		41–29 L 4
71 February 27 @ Cleveland W 127–125 Mo Layton (37) Cleveland Arena
6,889 		42–29 W 1
March: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
72 March 1 Baltimore L 90–95 Paul Silas (16) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,002 		42–30 L 1
73 March 5 Buffalo W 131–103 Neal Walk (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,729 		43–30 W 1
74 March 7 @ Detroit W 129–121 Connie Hawkins (28) Cobo Arena
2,014 		44–30 W 2
75 March 8 @ Cincinnati L 105–122 Neal Walk (18) Cincinnati Gardens
2,387 		44–31 L 1
76 March 11 @ New York W 110–106 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Madison Square Garden
19,588 		45–31 W 1
77 March 15 Milwaukee W 110–106 Connie Hawkins (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,090 		46–31 W 2
78 March 17 New York W 111–106 Charlie Scott (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,571 		47–31 W 3
79 March 18 @ Golden State L 116–134 Connie Hawkins (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9,399 		47–32 L 1
80 March 21 Portland W 160–128 Clem Haskins (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,045 		48–32 W 1
81 March 24 @ Los Angeles L 110–112 Charlie Scott (21) The Forum
17,505 		48–33 L 1
82 March 25 Seattle W 118–99 Charlie Scott (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,189 		49–33 W 1
1971–72 schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star

  • Connie Hawkins was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.
  • Paul Silas was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

Season

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game
 PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
Mel Counts 76 11.9 .427 .721 3.4 1.3 5.2
Lamar Green 67 14.8 .446 .733 5.2 0.7 5.0
Art Harris 21 6.9 .329 .429 0.6 0.9 2.6
Clem Haskins 79 31.1 .483 .853^ 3.4 3.7 15.7
Connie Hawkins 76 36.8 .459 .807 8.3 3.9 21.0
Mo Layton 80 23.1 .424 .739 2.1 3.1 9.1
Otto Moore 81 20.0 .436 .603 6.7 1.1 7.6
Charlie Scott* 6 29.5 .425 .810 3.8 4.3 18.8
Paul Silas 80 38.5 .470 .773 11.9 4.3 17.5
Fred Taylor* 13 5.3 .222 .308 1.3 0.5 1.2
Dick Van Arsdale 82 37.8 .463 .845^ 4.1 3.6 19.7
Neal Walk 81 26.4 .479 .744 8.2 1.9 15.7
Jeff Webb* 27 4.8 .477 .500 0.6 0.6 2.5
John Wetzel 51 8.2 .378 .800 1.3 1.1 1.7

* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.

Transactions

Trades

April 2, 1971 To Detroit Pistons
1972 first-round draft pick ( Bob Nash) 		To Phoenix Suns
Otto Moore
August 13, 1971 To Cleveland Cavaliers
Greg Howard 		To Phoenix Suns
1972 third-round draft pick ( Scott English)
Future third-round draft pick
December 27, 1971 To Cincinnati Royals
Fred Taylor 		To Phoenix Suns
1973 third-round draft pick ( Joe Reaves)
March 14, 1971 To Boston Celtics
Future considerations
Cash considerations
( Paul Silas was sent to Boston in September to complete trade)
 To Phoenix Suns
Rights to Charlie Scott

Free agents

Additions

Date Player Contract Former Team
January 4, 1972 Jeff Webb Undisclosed Milwaukee Bucks

Subtractions

Date Player Reason left New team
September 21, 1971 Joe Thomas Waived n/a

References

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