1970–71 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season January 2011 March 2026 August 2023 Phoenix Suns 1971 48 34 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 1970–71 Phoenix Suns season was the third season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons lead the Suns, in the NBA's first season which separated the teams into both conferences and divisions as the league continued to gain more teams. It was the first season the Suns would be without the services of All-Star guard Gail Goodrich. With a 48–34 record (fourth best in the league), the Suns set the NBA record for the team with the best winning percentage not to make the playoffs. The team would break their own record the next year with a 49–33 finish. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Suns were led in scoring by Dick Van Arsdale with 21.9 points per game. Connie Hawkins finished the season averaging 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. Paul Silas led the Suns with 12.5 rebounds per game, the highest-ever average in Suns history, while Neal Walk garnered 8.2 rebounds to go with his 12.9 points a game. Goodrich, a native of Los Angeles and who played college ball at UCLA, was traded before the season back to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had played before being acquired in the expansion draft of 1968. In exchange, the Suns obtained the 29-year-old 7-footer Mel Counts, who was coming off a career-high 12.6 average in points. Goodrich would go on to play nine more seasons in the NBA, six of those with the Lakers. During those six years, he would average 22.3 points per game, appear in four All-Star Games and be named to an All-NBA First Team. Meanwhile, Counts averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds in his first of two seasons with the Suns. Offseason NBA draft 1970 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 10 Greg Howard Forward United States New Mexico 2 27 Fred Taylor Guard United States Texas-Pan Am 3 29 Joe DePre Guard United States St. John's 3 44 Greg McDivitt Forward United States Ohio 3 48 Vann Williford Forward United States North Carolina State 4 61 Bob Lienhard Center United States Georgia 5 78 John Canine Guard United States Ohio 6 95 Joe Thomas Forward United States Marquette 7 112 Heyward Dotson Guard United States Columbia 8 129 Steve Patterson Center United States UCLA 9 146 Carl Ashley Forward United States Wyoming 10 163 Gerhardus Schreur Forward United States Arizona State 11 178 Jim Walls Guard United States Clark 12 190 Ric Cobb Center United States Marquette 13 200 Fred Carpenter Forward United States Hawaii 14 210 Chad Calabria Guard United States Iowa 15 219 Walt Williams Forward United States Miami (Ohio) Roster Phoenix Suns 1970–71 #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 44 Greg Howard basketball F 6 9 215 1948-01-08 New Mexico 29 Paul Silas F 6 7 220 1943-07-12 Creighton 10 Fred Taylor basketball, born 1948 G 6 5 180 1948-02-05 Texas-Pan American 40 Joe Thomas basketball F 6 6 205 1948-03-09 Marquette 5 Dick Van Arsdale G/F 6 5 210 1943-02-22 Indiana 41 Neal Walk C 6 10 220 1948-07-29 Florida 25 John Wetzel basketball G/F 6 5 190 1944-10-22 Virginia Tech Cotton Fitzsimmons (Midwestern State) Regular season Standings PHO PHO Game log Phoenix Suns 1971 #423189 #FF8800 27 14 21 20 Phoenix Suns October no yes yes yes #FF8800 #423189 3 2 0 4!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 15 | San Diego | W 119–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,523 | 1–0 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 17 | Detroit | L 107–110 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,646 | 1–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 20 | @ San Diego | L 114–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | San Diego Sports Arena7,246 | 1–2 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 21 | @ Seattle | L 106–110 | Greg Howard (26) | Seattle Center Coliseum6,923 | 1–3 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 23 | Cleveland | W 108–104 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,822 | 2–3 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 25 | San Diego | W 117–98 | Clem Haskins (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,697 | 3–3 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 28 | Chicago | L 105–118 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,343 | 3–4 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 30 | @ Boston | L 112–127 | Paul Silas (23) | Boston Garden5,392 | 3–5 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 31 | @ Baltimore | L 103–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Baltimore Civic Center4,527 | 3–6 | L 3 |- Phoenix Suns November no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 5 1 6 5!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 2 | Buffalo | W 110–102 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,000 | 4–6 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 4 | @ Cincinnati | W 133–115 | Clem Haskins,Connie Hawkins,Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Cincinnati Gardens2,091 | 5–6 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 6 | @ Chicago | W 105–102 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Chicago Stadium8,107 | 6–6 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 7 | @ Atlanta | W 107–100 | Connie Hawkins (21) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum5,116 | 7–6 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 8 | @ Milwaukee | L 105–125 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 7–7 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | November 11 | Portland | W 114–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,020 | 8–7 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 13 | Cincinnati | W 115–109 | Clem Haskins,Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,802 | 9–7 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 15 | Detroit | W 108–104 | Clem Haskins (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,344 | 10–7 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 17 | @ New York | L 100–103 | Clem Haskins,Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Madison Square Garden18,275 | 10–8 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | November 19 | @ Detroit | L 110–112 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Cobo Arena3,594 | 10–9 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | November 20 | @ Baltimore | L 110–121 | Connie Hawkins (23) | Baltimore Civic Center4,572 | 10–10 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 21 | @ Philadelphia | W 125–119 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | The Spectrum6,519 | 11–10 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 22 | @ Cleveland | W 114–99 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Cleveland Arena2,405 | 12–10 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | November 24 | @ Buffalo | L 106–112 | Clem Haskins (25) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium7,209 | 12–11 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | November 26 | Seattle | W 126–115 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,192 | 13–11 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | November 27 | @ Los Angeles | W 116–105 | Paul Silas (27) | The Forum13,089 | 14–11 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | November 28 | San Diego | L 116–117 | Connie Hawkins (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,470 | 14–12 | L 1 Phoenix Suns December no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 7 4 2 3!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 2 | Atlanta | W 126–112 | Connie Hawkins (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,907 | 15–12 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 4 | @ Portland | W 126–121 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Memorial Coliseum3,927 | 16–12 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 5 | @ San Francisco | W 105–100 | Connie Hawkins (24) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,481 | 17–12 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 6 | San Diego | W 108–102 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,935 | 18–12 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | December 8 | Los Angeles | L 112–121 | Connie Hawkins (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,702 | 18–13 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | December 11 | @ San Diego | L 104–110 | Connie Hawkins (26) | San Diego Sports Arena8,365 | 18–14 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | December 12 | Milwaukee | W 113–111 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,002 | 19–14 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | December 15 | San Francisco | L 123–129 | Clem Haskins (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,901 | 19–15 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | December 17 | Detroit | W 117–114 (OT) | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,548 | 20–15 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | December 19 | @ Seattle | L 131–135 | Dick Van Arsdale (35) | Seattle Center Coliseum6,443 | 20–16 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | December 20 | New York | L 118–133 | Dick Van Arsdale (20) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,445 | 20–17 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | December 22 | Philadelphia | L 129–133 (OT) | Connie Hawkins (33) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,248 | 20–18 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | December 25 | Atlanta | W 127–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,186 | 21–18 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | December 26 | Portland | W 115–103 | Neal Walk (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,102 | 22–18 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | December 27 | @ Los Angeles | L 110–128 | Neal Walk (20) | The Forum15,163 | 22–19 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | December 30 | Los Angeles | W 132–114 | Clem Haskins (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,164 | 23–19 | W 1 |- Phoenix Suns January no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 7 2 4 2!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | January 2 | @ San Francisco | W 122–116 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Cow Palace3,812 | 24–19 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 3 | San Francisco | W 102–81 | Clem Haskins (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,196 | 25–19 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 8 | @ Boston | L 114–122 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Boston Garden7,124 | 25–20 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | January 9 | @ Philadelphia | L 112–123 | Clem Haskins (22) | The Spectrum7,826 | 25–21 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | January 10 | @ Atlanta | W 116–105 | Paul Silas (23) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum4,447 | 26–21 | W 1 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 14 | New York | W 107–88 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,051 | 27–21 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | January 16 | Baltimore | W 117–100 | Clem Haskins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,002 | 28–21 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | January 18 | @ Cincinnati | W 118–99 | Clem Haskins (29) | Omaha, Nebraska3,149 | 29–21 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | January 20 | Cincinnati | L 114–126 | Clem Haskins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,586 | 29–22 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | January 22 | Philadelphia | L 116–117 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,059 | 29–23 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | January 24 | Chicago | W 113–112 | Mel Counts,Paul Silas (18) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,923 | 30–23 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | January 26 | Buffalo | W 114–82 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,486 | 31–23 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | January 28 | Los Angeles | W 118–112 | Mel Counts (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,036 | 32–23 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | January 29 | @ Portland | W 131–122 | Dick Van Arsdale (36) | Memorial Coliseum5,877 | 33–23 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | January 30 | Seattle | W 134–116 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,412 | 34–23 | W 5 |- Phoenix Suns February no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 3 2 6 2!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 4 | San Francisco | L 105–117 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,711 | 34–24 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | February 6 | Cleveland | W 119–91 | Neal Walk,John Wetzel (22) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,812 | 35–24 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 8 | @ Milwaukee | L 94–118 | Connie Hawkins (23) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 35–25 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 9 | @ Baltimore | W 120–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Baltimore Civic Center4,054 | 36–25 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 12 | @ Cleveland | W 114–105 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Cleveland Arena4,297 | 37–25 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | February 13 | @ New York | L 97–114 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 37–26 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | February 14 | @ Buffalo | W 108–97 | Dick Van Arsdale (29) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium4,376 | 38–26 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | February 16 | @ Boston | W 119–116 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Boston Garden6,091 | 39–26 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | February 17 | Cincinnati | W 133–117 | Clem Haskins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,006 | 40–26 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | February 19 | Boston | W 116–112 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,256 | 41–26 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | February 21 | Milwaukee | L 97–125 | Dick Van Arsdale (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,371 | 41–27 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | February 26 | @ Philadelphia | W 108–94 | Connie Hawkins (30) | The Spectrum8,586 | 42–27 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | February 27 | @ Detroit | W 124–117 | Dick Van Arsdale (42) | Cobo Arena8,878 | 43–27 | W 2 |- Phoenix Suns March no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 2 3 3 4!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | March 3 | Chicago | W 115–90 | Clem Haskins (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,371 | 44–27 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | March 7 | Baltimore | L 108–117 | Connie Hawkins (19) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,370 | 44–28 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | March 9 | @ Detroit | W 114–108 | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Cobo Arena4,269 | 45–28 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | March 10 | @ Atlanta | L 98–139 | Dick Van Arsdale (19) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum6,266 | 45–29 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | March 12 | @ Chicago | L 92–116 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Chicago Stadium14,703 | 45–30 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | March 13 | @ Chicago | L 99–111 | Connie Hawkins (22) | Chicago Stadium17,505 | 45–31 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | March 14 | @ Milwaukee | W 125–113 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Madison, WI9,035 | 46–31 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | March 16 | Milwaukee | L 111–119 | Connie Hawkins,Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,640 | 46–32 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | March 18 | New York | L 123–131 (OT) | Connie Hawkins (35) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,454 | 46–33 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | March 19 | @ Los Angeles | W 111–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | The Forum17,254 | 47–33 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | March 20 | Seattle | W 114–107 | Paul Silas (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,134 | 48–33 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | March 21 | @ San Diego | L 114–132 | Clem Haskins (25) | San Diego Sports Arena5,840 | 48–34 | L 1 |- PHO 1971 Awards and honors All-Star Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive 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 80 20.9 .457 .753 6.3 1.7 11.0 Green, Lamar Lamar Green 68 19.5 .453 .604 6.9 0.8 5.9 Harris, Art Art Harris 56 17.0 .411 .611 1.8 2.4 8.3 Haskins, Clem Clem Haskins 82 33.7 .440 .784 4.0 4.7 17.8 Hawkins, Connie Connie Hawkins 71 37.5 .434 .816^ 9.1 4.5 20.9 Howard, Greg Greg Howard 44 9.7 .393 .638 2.7 0.6 3.9 Silas, Paul Paul Silas 81 36.3 .428 .685 12.5 3.0 11.9 Taylor, Fred Fred Taylor 54 10.2 .387 .624 1.6 0.9 5.5 Thomas, Joe Joe Thomas 39 5.2 .267 .450 1.1 0.4 1.4 Van Arsdale, Dick Dick Van Arsdale 81 39.0 .452 .811 3.9 4.1 21.9 Walk, Neal Neal Walk 82 24.8 .451 .765 8.2 1.4 12.9 Wetzel, John John Wetzel 70 15.6 .431 .822^ 2.2 1.6 4.7 ^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts. Transactions Trades April 23, 1970 To Chicago Bulls USA Jim Fox 1971 second-round draft pick To Phoenix Suns USA Clem Haskins May 20, 1970 To Los Angeles Lakers USA Gail Goodrich To Phoenix Suns USA Mel Counts July 8, 1970 To New York Knicks USA Heywood Dotson To Phoenix Suns 1971 fifth-round draft pick Free agents Subtractions Date Player Reason left New team May 11, 1970 Jerry Chambers Expansion draft Portland Trail Blazers May 11, 1970 Stan McKenzie Expansion draft Portland Trail Blazers July 27, 1970 Neil Johnson Waived Virginia Squires (ABA) References Standings on Basketball Reference Phoenix Category:Phoenix Suns seasons