1971–72 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Phoenix Suns 1972 49 33 Midwest 3 5 Cotton Fitzsimmons Jerry Colangelo Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Did not qualify PHO KTAR-TV KTAR 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 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 Phoenix Suns 1971–72 #702F8B #FFFFFF #FB4417 #702F8B 31 Mel Counts C 7 0 230 1941-10-16 Oregon State 16 Lamar Green F 6 7 210 1947-03-22 Morehead State 23 Art Harris G 6 4 185 1947-01-13 Stanford 11 Clem Haskins G 6 3 195 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky 42 Connie Hawkins F/C 6 8 210 1942-07-17 Iowa 1 Dennis Layton G 6 1 180 1948-12-24 USC 34 Otto Moore F/C 6 11 205 1946-08-27 Texas-Pan American 33 Charlie Scott basketball G 6 5 175 1948-12-15 North Carolina 29 Paul Silas F 6 7 220 1943-07-12 Creighton 5 Dick Van Arsdale G/F 6 5 210 1943-02-22 Indiana 41 Neal Walk C 6 10 220 1948-07-29 Florida 10 Jeff Webb basketball G 6 4 170 1948-07-06 Kansas State 25 John Wetzel basketball G/F 6 5 190 1944-10-22 Virginia Tech yes Cotton Fitzsimmons (Midwestern State) Regular season Standings PHO PHO Game log Phoenix Suns 1972 #423189 #FF8800 30 11 19 22 Phoenix Suns October no yes yes yes #FF8800 #423189 2 3 1 1!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 14 | Milwaukee | L 97–110 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,174 | 0–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 16 | Houston | W 128–108 | Paul Silas (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,572 | 1–1 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 22 | Detroit | L 109–116 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,337 | 1–2 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 24 | Chicago | L 104–105 | Paul Silas (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,970 | 1–3 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 26 | Cincinnati | W 126–99 | Paul Silas (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,901 | 2–3 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 29 | @ Philadelphia | W 137–135 (2OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | The Spectrum6,128 | 3–3 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 30 | @ Baltimore | L 94–101 | Dick Van Arsdale (29) | Baltimore Civic Center6,839 | 3–4 | L 1 |- Phoenix Suns November no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 4 0 4 7!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 2 | @ Chicago | L 101–108 | Clem Haskins (22) | Chicago Stadium5,843 | 3–5 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 3 | @ Buffalo | W 100–98 | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium5,417 | 4–5 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 5 | @ Cleveland | W 107–87 | Clem Haskins (24) | Cleveland Arena3,307 | 5–5 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 6 | @ Cincinnati | L 95–110 | Clem Haskins (22) | Cincinnati Gardens3,076 | 5–6 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 9 | @ Milwaukee | L 113–118 | Connie Hawkins (28) | Milwaukee Arena10,039 | 5–7 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 12 | Boston | W 128–119 | Connie Hawkins (33) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,470 | 6–7 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 14 | Cleveland | W 119–105 | Dick Van Arsdale (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,336 | 7–7 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 16 | @ New York | L 111–112 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Madison Square Garden18,344 | 7–8 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | November 17 | @ Boston | L 121–140 | Connie Hawkins (35) | Boston Garden9,440 | 7–9 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | November 18 | @ Detroit | L 126–128 | Neal Walk (30) | Cobo Arena3,418 | 7–10 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 20 | @ Atlanta | L 109–115 | Paul Silas (24) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum5,702 | 7–11 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffccc" | 19 | November 23 | Philadelphia | W 128–107 | Mo Layton (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,678 | 8–11 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | November 25 | Detroit | W 122–103 | Mo Layton (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,846 | 9–11 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 28 | @ Houston | W 116–110 | Mo Layton (25) | Hofheinz Pavilion3,643 | 10–11 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 30 | @ Portland | W 121–111 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Memorial Coliseum7,704 | 11–11 | W 4 |- Phoenix Suns December no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 7 3 4 2!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 1 | Portland | W 139–103 | Paul Silas (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,040 | 12–11 | W 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 4 | @ Golden State | W 128–92 | Clem Haskins (27) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,491 | 13–11 | W 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 5 | Golden State | W 120–87 | Connie Hawkins (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,886 | 14–11 | W 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 9 | Atlanta | W 135–115 | Connie Hawkins (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,524 | 15–11 | W 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 10 | @ Los Angeles | L 117–126 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | The Forum17,505 | 15–12 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | December 11 | Houston | L 110–111 | Hawkins, Silas (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,695 | 15–13 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 14 | @ New York | W 110–100 | Neal Walk (24) | Madison Square Garden19,253 | 16–13 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 15 | @ Cincinnati | W 127–108 | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Cincinnati Gardens2,038 | 17–13 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | December 17 | Detroit | W 123–102 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,808 | 18–13 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | December 18 | Los Angeles | L 106–132 | Neal Walk (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,534 | 18–14 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | December 19 | @ Seattle | L 127–130 (OT) | Paul Silas (29) | Seattle Center Coliseum9,189 | 18–15 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | December 21 | Philadelphia | W 124–119 | Paul Silas (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,272 | 19–15 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | December 23 | Chicago | L 108–117 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,289 | 19–16 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | December 25 | Seattle | W 116–86 | Connie Hawkins (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,026 | 20–16 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | December 29 | @ Houston | W 124–106 | Clem Haskins,Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Hofheinz Pavilion5,389 | 21–16 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | December 30 | Buffalo | W 123–102 | Mel Counts,Paul Silas,Dick Van Arsdale (19) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,272 | 22–16 | W 3 |- Phoenix Suns January no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 5 3 4 5!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 1 | Boston | W 114–104 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,056 | 23–16 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 2 | Atlanta | L 111–116 | Clem Haskins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,670 | 23–17 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 4 | @ Chicago | W 112–108 | Clem Haskins (23) | Chicago Stadium9,009 | 24–17 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 7 | @ Buffalo | W 123–110 | Connie Hawkins (32) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium10,247 | 25–17 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 8 | @ Philadelphia | L 119–130 | Otto Moore (21) | The Spectrum7,833 | 25–18 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | January 9 | @ Baltimore | L 103–109 | Connie Hawkins,Dick Van Arsdale (22) | College Park, MD7,235 | 25–19 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | January 11 | @ Milwaukee | W 115–114 | Neal Walk (42) | Milwaukee Arena10,111 | 26–19 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | January 14 | Cleveland | W 117–107 | Neal Walk (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,279 | 27–19 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | January 15 | @ Seattle | L 110–118 | Mel Counts,Paul Silas,Dick Van Arsdale (18) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,693 | 27–20 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | January 16 | Baltimore | L 104–107 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,385 | 27–21 | L 2 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | January 20 | New York | W 130–109 | Connie Hawkins (40) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,006 | 28–21 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | January 21 | @ Seattle | W 128–113 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,751 | 29–21 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | January 22 | Los Angeles | W 116–102 | Dick Van Arsdale (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,534 | 30–21 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | January 25 | @ Los Angeles | L 119–129 | Paul Silas (24) | The Forum17,505 | 30–22 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | January 28 | Chicago | L 102–116 | Paul Silas (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,245 | 30–23 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | January 29 | @ Golden State | L 110–111 | Paul Silas (28) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena6,488 | 30–24 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | January 30 | Atlanta | W 105–103 | Clem Haskins,Connie Hawkins,Neal Walk (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,839 | 31–24 | W 1 |- Phoenix Suns February no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 7 1 4 4!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | February 1 | @ Portland | W 129–117 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Memorial Coliseum4,961 | 32–24 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | February 2 | Milwaukee | L 103–106 | Connie Hawkins (37) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,365 | 32–25 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | February 4 | Golden State | W 113–105 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,486 | 33–25 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | February 5 | @ Portland | W 118–117 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Memorial Coliseum6,401 | 34–25 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | February 6 | Portland | W 107–94 | Paul Silas (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,160 | 35–25 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 8 | Philadelphia | W 120–108 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,532 | 36–25 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 10 | Baltimore | W 131–98 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,794 | 37–25 | W 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | February 12 | Cincinnati | W 117–95 | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,766 | 38–25 | W 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | February 16 | Los Angeles | W 110–109 | Neal Walk (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,534 | 39–25 | W 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | February 18 | Boston | W 126–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,005 | 40–25 | W 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | February 20 | @ Detroit | W 121–107 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Cobo Arena4,898 | 41–25 | W 9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | February 22 | @ Boston | L 103–114 | Connie Hawkins (30) | Boston Garden8,106 | 41–26 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | February 23 | @ Atlanta | L 118–120 | Paul Silas (26) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum5,073 | 41–27 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | February 25 | @ Chicago | L 107–115 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Chicago Stadium9,720 | 41–28 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | February 26 | @ Milwaukee | L 117–119 (OT) | Neal Walk (28) | Madison, WI9,371 | 41–29 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | February 27 | @ Cleveland | W 127–125 | Mo Layton (37) | Cleveland Arena6,889 | 42–29 | W 1 |- Phoenix Suns March no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 5 1 2 3!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | March 1 | Baltimore | L 90–95 | Paul Silas (16) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,002 | 42–30 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | March 5 | Buffalo | W 131–103 | Neal Walk (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,729 | 43–30 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | March 7 | @ Detroit | W 129–121 | Connie Hawkins (28) | Cobo Arena2,014 | 44–30 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | March 8 | @ Cincinnati | L 105–122 | Neal Walk (18) | Cincinnati Gardens2,387 | 44–31 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | March 11 | @ New York | W 110–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Madison Square Garden19,588 | 45–31 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | March 15 | Milwaukee | W 110–106 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,090 | 46–31 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | March 17 | New York | W 111–106 | Charlie Scott (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,571 | 47–31 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | March 18 | @ Golden State | L 116–134 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena9,399 | 47–32 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | March 21 | Portland | W 160–128 | Clem Haskins (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,045 | 48–32 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | March 24 | @ Los Angeles | L 110–112 | Charlie Scott (21) | The Forum17,505 | 48–33 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | March 25 | Seattle | W 118–99 | Charlie Scott (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,189 | 49–33 | W 1 |- PHO 1972 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 Paul Silas was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. 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 Counts, Mel Mel Counts 76 11.9 .427 .721 3.4 1.3 5.2 Green, Lamar Lamar Green 67 14.8 .446 .733 5.2 0.7 5.0 Harris, Art Art Harris 21 6.9 .329 .429 0.6 0.9 2.6 Haskins, Clem Clem Haskins 79 31.1 .483 .853^ 3.4 3.7 15.7 Hawkins, Connie Connie Hawkins 76 36.8 .459 .807 8.3 3.9 21.0 Layton, Mo Mo Layton 80 23.1 .424 .739 2.1 3.1 9.1 Moore, Otto Otto Moore 81 20.0 .436 .603 6.7 1.1 7.6 Scott, Charlie Charlie Scott* 6 29.5 .425 .810 3.8 4.3 18.8 Silas, Paul Paul Silas 80 38.5 .470 .773 11.9 4.3 17.5 Taylor, Fred Fred Taylor* 13 5.3 .222 .308 1.3 0.5 1.2 Van Arsdale, Dick Dick Van Arsdale 82 37.8 .463 .845^ 4.1 3.6 19.7 Walk, Neal Neal Walk 81 26.4 .479 .744 8.2 1.9 15.7 Webb, Jeff Jeff Webb* 27 4.8 .477 .500 0.6 0.6 2.5 Wetzel, John 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 (USA Bob Nash) To Phoenix Suns USA Otto Moore August 13, 1971 To Cleveland Cavaliers USA Greg Howard To Phoenix Suns 1972 third-round draft pick (USA Scott English) Future third-round draft pick December 27, 1971 To Cincinnati Royals USA Fred Taylor To Phoenix Suns 1973 third-round draft pick (USA Joe Reaves) March 14, 1971 To Boston Celtics Future considerations Cash considerations(USA Paul Silas was sent to Boston in September to complete trade) To Phoenix Suns Rights to USA 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 Standings on Basketball Reference Phoenix Category:Phoenix Suns seasons