1969–70 Phoenix Suns season
Encyclopedia
The 1969–70 Phoenix Suns season was the second season for the Phoenix Suns
of the National Basketball Association
. It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Fame member Connie Hawkins
, who had been playing the ABA
before switching to the NBA with the Suns. Head coach
Red Kerr was replaced by Jerry Colangelo
after the Suns started 15–23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
.
Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6 points
per game, which was also sixth in the league. He teamed with Dick Van Arsdale
's 21.3 points to create the highest-scoring season for a Suns duo until the 1977–78 Suns season, when Paul Westphal
and Walter Davis
combined for more points.
was the 23rd draft in the NBA.
* - Stats with the Suns.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Fame member Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins
Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend...
, who had been playing the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
before switching to the NBA with the Suns. Head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Red Kerr was replaced by Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
after the Suns started 15–23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair...
.
Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6 points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
per game, which was also sixth in the league. He teamed with Dick Van Arsdale
Dick Van Arsdale
Richard Albert Van Arsdale is a former professional basketball player and coach, and a current NBA executive. A graduate of Indianapolis Emmerich Manual High School, the 6'5" guard played collegiately at Indiana University, Van Arsdale was selected by the New York Knickerbockers in the 2nd round...
's 21.3 points to create the highest-scoring season for a Suns duo until the 1977–78 Suns season, when Paul Westphal
Paul Westphal
Paul Westphal is a retired American basketball player and current head coach of the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings. Westphal has had a storied career in the NBA, both as a player and as a coach. As a player, he won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in the 1974 NBA...
and Walter Davis
Walter Davis (basketball)
Walter Paul Davis is a retired American basketball player. A 6'6" forward/guard, Davis spent 15 years in the National Basketball Association, spending the bulk of those years with the Phoenix Suns...
combined for more points.
Standings
Team | W | L | PCT. | GB |
---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... |
48 | 34 | .584 | |
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
46 | 36 | .561 | 2 |
Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center... |
39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
Phoenix Suns | 39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... |
36 | 46 | .439 | 12 |
San Francisco Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 |
San Diego Rockets | 27 | 55 | .329 | 21 |
NBA Draft
The 1969 NBA DraftNBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
was the 23rd draft in the NBA.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Neal Walk Neal Walk Neal Eugene Walk is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association for seven seasons during the late 1960s and 1970s. Walk played college basketball for the University of Florida, and still remains the Florida Gators' all-time... |
Center | Florida Florida Gators men's basketball The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference... |
|
2 | 24 | Gene Williams | Forward | Kansas State Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball The Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team represents Kansas State University in college basketball competition. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The current head coach is Frank Martin.... |
|
3 | 30 | Floyd Kerr | Colorado State Colorado State Rams men's basketball The Colorado State Rams men's basketball team represents Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Moby Arena and are members of the Mountain West Conference. Their current head coach is Tim Miles.-NCAA... |
||
3 | 33 | Lamar Green | Forward/Center | Morehead State | |
3 | 39 | Lloyd Kerr | Colorado State Colorado State Rams men's basketball The Colorado State Rams men's basketball team represents Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Moby Arena and are members of the Mountain West Conference. Their current head coach is Tim Miles.-NCAA... |
||
4 | 41 | Dennis Stewart | Forward | Michigan Michigan Wolverines men's basketball The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the... |
|
5 | 58 | Rich Jones Rich Jones (basketball) Richard Wesley "House" Jones is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'6" forward from the University of Memphis, Jones played seven seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals, the San Antonio Spurs, and the New York Nets... |
Forward/Center | Memphis | |
6 | 72 | Dan Sadlier | Dayton Dayton Flyers men's basketball The Dayton Flyers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Ten Conference representing the University of Dayton. They are known for a rivalry with Xavier University, playing for the Blackburn/McCafferty Trophy each year.-History:The... |
||
7 | 86 | Bill Sweet | UCLA UCLA Bruins men's basketball The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,... |
||
8 | 100 | Bob Edwards | Arizona State | ||
9 | 14 | Steve Jennings | USC | ||
10 | 128 | Rich Abramson | Oregon Oregon Ducks men's basketball Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won... |
||
11 | 142 | Fred Lind | Duke Duke Blue Devils men's basketball The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I... |
||
12 | 156 | Bob Miller | Toledo Toledo Rockets men's basketball The Toledo Rockets team is the basketball team that represent the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1980. Stan Joplin was released from his duties as... |
||
13 | 169 | Andy White | UTEP UTEP Miners men's basketball The UTEP Miners basketball team is an NCAA Division I men's college basketball team competing in the Conference USA. Home games are played at Don Haskins Center, located on University of Texas at El Paso's campus in El Paso.-Don Haskins Center:... |
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14 | 180 | Marv Schmidt | Western New Mexico Western New Mexico University Western New Mexico University, a public university located in Silver City, New Mexico, has served the people of the state of New Mexico and its surrounding areas as a comprehensive, regional, rural, public coeducational university since 1893 and caters to a student body diverse in age, culture,... |
Roster
Depth chart
Pos. | Starter | Bench | Reserve | Inactive |
---|---|---|---|---|
C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
Jim Fox Jim Fox (basketball) James L. Fox is an American former professional basketball player. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia.A 6'10" center, Fox played one season at the University of South Carolina, where he led his team in both scoring and rebounding... |
Neal Walk Neal Walk Neal Eugene Walk is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association for seven seasons during the late 1960s and 1970s. Walk played college basketball for the University of Florida, and still remains the Florida Gators' all-time... |
||
PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
Connie Hawkins Connie Hawkins Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend... |
Lamar Green | Neil Johnson Neil Johnson (basketball) Neil A. Johnson is a retired American basketball player.A 6'7" forward/center from Creighton University, Johnson played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns , then spent three seasons in the American Basketball Association... |
|
SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... |
Paul Silas Paul Silas Paul Theron Silas is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. He attended Creighton University, where he set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in three seasons and averaged 20.6 rebounds per game in 1963... |
Jerry Chambers Jerry Chambers Jerome Purcell "Jerry" Chambers is a retired American professional basketball player. At 6'5" and 185 pounds, he played as a forward.... |
||
SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
Dick Van Arsdale Dick Van Arsdale Richard Albert Van Arsdale is a former professional basketball player and coach, and a current NBA executive. A graduate of Indianapolis Emmerich Manual High School, the 6'5" guard played collegiately at Indiana University, Van Arsdale was selected by the New York Knickerbockers in the 2nd round... |
Stan McKenzie Stan McKenzie Stanley McKenzie is an American 6'5" retired American professional National Basketball Association player. McKenzie played college basketball at New York University. He was selected by the Baltimore Bullets in the 11th round of the 1966 NBA Draft.-External links:* @ basketballreference.com... |
||
PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
Gail Goodrich Gail Goodrich Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He is best-known for scoring a then record 42 points in the 1965 NCAA championship game vs. Michigan, and his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971–72 season... |
Art Harris Art Harris Arthur Carlos Harris, Jr. was an American professional basketball player.After graduating from Jordan High School, in Watts, Los Angeles, Harris went on to become one of Stanford University's best players. The 6'4" guard received All Pac 8 honors as a sophomore and averaged 20.7 ppg as a senior... |
Season
Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
79 | 14.4 | .430 | .728 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 8.3 | |
81 | 25.2 | .524 | .770 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 12.9 | |
81 | 39.9 | .454 | .808 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 20.0 | |
58 | 12.1 | .432 | .586 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 4.2 | |
* | 76 | 18.1 | .395 | .656 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 7.8 |
81 | 40.9 | .490 | .779 | 10.4 | 4.8 | 24.6 | |
28 | 4.9 | .333 | .667 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 | |
58 | 9.1 | .393 | .795 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 | |
78 | 36.4 | .464 | .607 | 11.7 | 2.7 | 12.8 | |
* | 6 | 24.5 | .489 | .875 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 8.5 |
77 | 38.5 | .508 | .798 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 21.3 | |
82 | 17.0 | .470 | .640 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 8.2 |
* - Stats with the Suns.
Playoffs
Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 10.4 | .378 | .625 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.7 | |
6 | 29.0 | .362 | .708 | 10.7 | 1.3 | 11.2 | |
7 | 37.9 | .475 | .857 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 20.3 | |
6 | 11.5 | .286 | .400 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | |
7 | 12.7 | .357 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 4.3 | |
7 | 46.9 | .413 | .818 | 13.9 | 5.9 | 25.4 | |
2 | 3.5 | .333 | . | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
7 | 10.1 | .276 | .800 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.9 | |
7 | 40.9 | .422 | .656 | 15.9 | 4.3 | 16.1 | |
7 | 36.4 | .430 | .879 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 16.4 | |
5 | 12.6 | .395 | .750 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 8.0 |
Trades
May 8, 1969 |
To Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... Gary Gregor Gary Gregor Gary W. Gregor is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward/center from the University of South Carolina, Gregor played in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association as a member of the Phoenix Suns , Atlanta Hawks , Portland Trail Blazers ,... |
To Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... Paul Silas Paul Silas Paul Theron Silas is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. He attended Creighton University, where he set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in three seasons and averaged 20.6 rebounds per game in 1963... |
September 13, 1969 |
To Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA... Bill Melchionni Bill Melchionni William P. "Bill" Melchionni is a former NBA and ABA player.Melchionni was a wispy guard from Bishop Eustace Prep who was a collegiate star in the mid-1960s at Villanova University and was the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 NIT... |
To Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
|
September 20, 1969 |
To Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... Bumper Tormohlen Bumper Tormohlen Eugene R. "Bumper" Tormohlen is a retired American professional basketball player and coach. After a college career at the University of Tennessee, Tormohlen was selected with the fifth pick in the second round of the 1959 NBA Draft. However, his first years as a pro were spent with the... |
To Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... 1970 NBA Draft The 1970 NBA Draft was the 24th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 23, 1970 before the 1970–71 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players... |
October 26, 1969 |
To Seattle SuperSonics Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as... Dick Snyder Dick Snyder Richard J. Snyder is an American former National Basketball Association player for the St. Louis Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Snyder attended college at Davidson College, and was drafted by the Hawks in the second round of the 1966 NBA Draft... |
To Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... Art Harris Art Harris Arthur Carlos Harris, Jr. was an American professional basketball player.After graduating from Jordan High School, in Watts, Los Angeles, Harris went on to become one of Stanford University's best players. The 6'4" guard received All Pac 8 honors as a sophomore and averaged 20.7 ppg as a senior... |
Additions
Date | Player | Former Team |
---|---|---|
June 20, 1969 | Connie Hawkins Connie Hawkins Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend... |
Minnesota Pipers (ABA American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:... ) |
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
---|---|---|---|
September 11, 1969 | Bob Warlick Bob Warlick Robert Warlick was an American professional basketball player.Warlick was born in Hickory, North Carolina and attended Ridgeview High School. The 6'5" guard/forward played at Pueblo Junior College in Colorado, where he was named National Junior College Player of the Year, then transferred to... |
Waived | Los Angeles Stars (ABA American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:... ) |
October 1, 1969 | Dave Lattin Dave Lattin David "Big Daddy D" Lattin was the starting center for the Texas Western Miners in their NCAA championship year in 1966. During his playing career, he was listed at 6 feet 6 inches tall, and 225 pounds.... |
Waived | Pittsburgh Condors Pittsburgh Condors The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA... (ABA American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:... ) |