1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Phoenix Suns 1974 30 52 Pacific 4 8 John MacLeod 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 1973–74 Phoenix Suns season was the sixth for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. It was the first of 14 seasons head coach John MacLeod spent with Phoenix. The season would also be the last for former All-Star forward/center Connie Hawkins, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after appearing in nine games for the Suns. Charlie Scott would repeat as an All-Star, but who missed 30 games due to injury despite his NBA career-high 25.4 points a game. The team went on to finish the season 30–52, a career-worst for MacLeod and the franchise's poorest record since their inaugural season. Dick Van Arsdale averaged 17.8 points on the season, while Neal Walk averaged 16.8 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per contest. Keith Erickson, obtained by the Suns along with a future second-round pick in the Hawkins trade, enjoyed a career-high 14.6 points a game in his ninth year in the NBA and first with Phoenix. Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Mike Bantom, a rookie out of Saint Joseph's, was named to the All-Rookie Team. Offseason NBA draft 1973 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 8 Mike Bantom Forward United States Saint Joseph's 2 33 Gary Melchionni Guard United States Duke 3 42 Joe Reaves Forward United States Bethel (Tennessee) 3 43 Steve Mitchell Center United States Kansas State 4 60 Ron Robinson Forward United States Memphis State 5 77 Clinton Harris Forward United States Iowa State 6 94 Gene Doyle Center United States Holy Cross 7 111 Jerry Bisbano Guard United States Southwestern Louisiana 8 128 Jim Owens Forward United States Arizona State 9 144 Sandy Smith Guard United States Winston-Salem 10 158 Claude White Guard United States Elmhurst 11 170 Lynn Greer Guard United States Virginia State 12 179 Lyman Williamson Forward United States Samford 13 186 Kalevi Sarkalahti Forward Brigham Young Roster Phoenix Suns 1973–74 #702F8B #FFFFFF #FB4417 #702F8B 40 Mike Bantom F 6 9 200 1951-12-03 Saint Joseph's 20 Corky Calhoun F 6 7 210 1950-11-01 Pennsylvania 24 Bill Chamberlain F 6 6 188 1949-12-16 North Carolina 31 Bob Christian basketball C 6 10 255 1946-05-11 Grambling State 14 Keith Erickson G/F 6 5 195 1944-04-19 UCLA 16 Lamar Green F 6 7 210 1947-03-22 Morehead State 11 Clem Haskins G 6 3 195 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky 25 Gary Melchionni G 6 2 185 1951-01-19 Duke 45 Jim Owens basketball, born 1950 G/F 6 5 200 1950-05-01 Arizona State 33 Charlie Scott basketball G 6 5 175 1948-12-15 North Carolina yes 5 Dick Van Arsdale G/F 6 5 210 1943-02-22 Indiana 41 Neal Walk C 6 10 220 1948-07-29 Florida John MacLeod (Bellarmine) Denny Price (Oklahoma) Regular season Standings PHO PHO Game log Phoenix Suns 1974 #423189 #FF8800 24 17 6 35 Phoenix Suns October no yes yes yes #FF8800 #423189 2 3 0 5!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 10 | Seattle | W 115–111 | Charlie Scott (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,738 | 1–0 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 12 | Milwaukee | L 84–107 | Lamar Green (14) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,033 | 1–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 14 | Golden State | L 95–120 | Charlie Scott (19) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,030 | 1–2 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | October 20 | Atlanta | W 118–108 | Dick Van Arsdale (37) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,009 | 2–2 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | October 21 | @ Seattle | L 112–116 | Charlie Scott (25) | Seattle Center Coliseum11,964 | 2–3 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 23 | @ Golden State | L 109–121 | Charlie Scott,Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena3,007 | 2–4 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 24 | Detroit | L 99–115 | Mike Bantom (22) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,307 | 2–5 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 26 | @ Kansas City-Omaha | L 93–98 | Charlie Scott (26) | Municipal Auditorium4,917 | 2–6 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 27 | @ Milwaukee | L 95–104 | | Milwaukee Arena9,975 | 2–7 | L 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | October 30 | @ Atlanta | L 101–122 | Joe Reaves (21) | Omni Coliseum9,070 | 2–8 | L 6 |- Phoenix Suns November no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 3 1 2 7!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 2 | @ Detroit | L 107–114 | Charlie Scott (30) | Cobo Arena5,317 | 2–9 | L 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 4 | @ Capital | L 99–102 | Dick Van Arsdale,Neal Walk (19) | Capital Centre5,316 | 2–10 | L 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 7 | @ Philadelphia | L 115–122 | Charlie Scott (31) | The Spectrum4,366 | 2–11 | L 9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 9 | @ Boston | L 107–122 | Charlie Scott (24) | Boston Garden9,953 | 2–12 | L 10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | November 13 | Chicago | W 116–108 | Charlie Scott (38) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,045 | 3–12 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 15 | Philadelphia | W 116–94 | Charlie Scott (33) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,142 | 4–12 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | November 17 | Los Angeles | L 110–130 | Charlie Scott (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,498 | 4–13 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 20 | @ Buffalo | L 100–127 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium6,088 | 4–14 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | November 21 | @ Detroit | L 104–107 | Charlie Scott,Neal Walk (32) | Cobo Arena3,534 | 4–15 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | November 23 | @ Chicago | W 99–94 | Charlie Scott (30) | Chicago Stadium8,742 | 5–15 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | November 27 | @ Houston | L 111–125 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Hofheinz Pavilion2,756 | 5–16 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 29 | Kansas City-Omaha | W 119–99 | Mike Bantom (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,386 | 6–16 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | November 30 | @ Portland | W 107–99 | Clem Haskins (36) | Memorial Coliseum10,720 | 7–16 | W 2 |- Phoenix Suns December no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 6 4 2 4!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 1 | Detroit | L 109–121 | Dick Van Arsdale (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,496 | 7–17 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | December 4 | @ Los Angeles | L 103–120 | Charlie Scott (23) | The Forum11,746 | 7–18 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 5 | Golden State | W 103–97 | Charlie Scott (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,553 | 8–18 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 7 | Capital | W 114–92 | Charlie Scott (40) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,089 | 9–18 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 9 | @ Cleveland | W 117–106 | Charlie Scott (31) | Cleveland Arena3,042 | 10–18 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | December 11 | @ New York | L 97–105 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Madison Square Garden18,366 | 10–19 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | December 13 | Portland | L 108–119 | Charlie Scott (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,494 | 10–20 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | December 15 | Boston | W 121–120 | Charlie Scott (41) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,362 | 11–20 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | December 16 | @ Seattle | W 113–109 | Charlie Scott (38) | Seattle Center Coliseum9,778 | 12–20 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | December 18 | @ Portland | L 117–133 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Memorial Coliseum5,982 | 12–21 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | December 19 | Philadelphia | L 98–101 | Charlie Scott (44) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,246 | 12–22 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | December 22 | Milwaukee | W 121–112 | Charlie Scott (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,013 | 13–22 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | December 25 | Los Angeles | W 135–100 | Charlie Scott (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,253 | 14–22 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | December 27 | Seattle | W 111–100 | Charlie Scott (33) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,755 | 15–22 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | December 28 | @ Los Angeles | L 107–119 | Charlie Scott (29) | The Forum13,685 | 15–23 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | December 29 | Buffalo | L 108–120 | Charlie Scott (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,116 | 15–24 | L 2 |- Phoenix Suns January no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 5 3 1 4!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 2 | @ Atlanta | W 116–113 | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Omni Coliseum9,232 | 16–24 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 4 | @ Kansas City-Omaha | L 97–122 | Charlie Scott (28) | Municipal Auditorium4,837 | 16–25 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 5 | @ Milwaukee | L 109–118 | Dick Van Arsdale (22) | Milwaukee Arena9,812 | 16–26 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 6 | @ Chicago | L 116–120 (OT) | Charlie Scott (30) | Chicago Stadium6,013 | 16–27 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 9 | Houston | W 105–101 | Charlie Scott (19) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,924 | 17–27 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 11 | Kansas City-Omaha | L 100–117 | Charlie Scott (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,747 | 17–28 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | January 13 | Seattle | L 112–123 | Neal Walk (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,769 | 17–29 | L 2 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | January 17 | @ Golden State | L 120–127 | Charlie Scott (31) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena3,011 | 17–30 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 19 | New York | W 112–89 | Charlie Scott (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,468 | 18–30 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | January 23 | Cleveland | W 110–103 | Charlie Scott (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,017 | 19–30 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | January 25 | Milwaukee | L 108–112 | Charlie Scott (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,660 | 19–31 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | January 27 | Capital | W 127–107 | Keith Erickson (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,277 | 20–31 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | January 31 | Portland | W 112–100 | Charlie Scott (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,252 | 21–31 | W 2 |- Phoenix Suns February no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 4 3 0 9!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 1 | @ Los Angeles | L 110–121 | Gary Melchionni,Dick Van Arsdale (20) | The Forum13,478 | 21–32 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | February 2 | Los Angeles | W 119–112 | Dick Van Arsdale,Neal Walk (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,068 | 22–32 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | February 5 | @ New York | L 90–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Madison Square Garden18,884 | 22–33 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | February 6 | @ Capital | L 101–109 | Clem Haskins (23) | Capital Centre6,738 | 22–34 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | February 8 | Detroit | L 94–99 | Dick Van Arsdale (18) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,511 | 22–35 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 10 | Golden State | L 105–121 | Bob Christian (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,121 | 22–36 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | February 12 | @ Portland | L 104–113 | Keith Erickson (24) | Memorial Coliseum4,189 | 22–37 | L 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | February 14 | Houston | W 107–99 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,661 | 23–37 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 16 | Atlanta | W 124–123 (OT) | Neal Walk (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,518 | 24–37 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 17 | Portland | W 112–100 | Mike Bantom (22) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,575 | 25–37 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | February 19 | @ Chicago | L 96–130 | Dick Van Arsdale (20) | Chicago Stadium7,451 | 25–38 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | February 22 | @ Kansas-City Omaha | L 104–119 | Keith Erickson (23) | Municipal Auditorium8,322 | 25–39 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | February 23 | @ Detroit | L 107–119 | Dick Van Arsdale (18) | Cobo Arena7,926 | 25–40 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | February 24 | @ Cleveland | L 97–101 | Keith Erickson,Neal Walk (22) | Cleveland Arena3,288 | 25–41 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | February 26 | @ Golden State | L 100–120 | Clem Haskins (31) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena3,234 | 25–42 | L 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | February 27 | Chicago | L 95–107 | Keith Erickson (34) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,105 | 25–43 | L 6 |- Phoenix Suns March no yes yes #FF8800 #423189 4 3 1 6!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 1 | @ Houston | L 111–117 | Keith Erickson (23) | Hofheinz Pavilion2,547 | 25–44 | L 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 3 | Kansas City-Omaha | W 113–100 | Dick Van Arsdale,Neal Walk (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum4,780 | 26–44 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 5 | Chicago | L 91–111 | Neal Walk (21) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,156 | 26–45 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | March 7 | Boston | L 97–99 | Gary Melchionni (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,242 | 26–46 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | March 9 | Cleveland | W 109–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,153 | 27–46 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | March 11 | @ Milwaukee | L 92–105 | Neal Walk (20) | Milwaukee Arena9,027 | 27–47 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | March 12 | @ Buffalo | L 94–124 | Keith Erickson (20) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium14,244 | 27–48 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | March 13 | @ Boston | L 97–104 | Corky Calhoun,Keith Erickson,Dick Van Arsdale (15) | Boston Garden6,751 | 27–49 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | March 15 | @ Philadelphia | L 101–108 | Keith Erickson (24) | Hershey, PA4,473 | 27–50 | L 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | March 17 | @ Seattle | W 133–108 | Keith Erickson (30) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,007 | 28–50 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | March 20 | New York | L 104–106 (OT) | Keith Erickson,Neal Walk (18) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,054 | 28–51 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | March 22 | Buffalo | W 126–119 | Mike Bantom,Clem Haskins,Gary Melchionni (22) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,687 | 29–51 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | March 24 | Golden State | W 134–121 | Keith Erickson (40) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,011 | 30–51 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | March 27 | @ Seattle | L 123–127 | Clem Haskins (28) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,528 | 30–52 | L 1 |- PHO 1974 Awards and honors All-Star Charlie Scott was selected to replace Jerry West in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Season Dick Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Mike Bantom was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Player statistics Legend   GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game Season Player GP GS MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Bantom, Mike Mike Bantom 76 37 26.1 .399 .662 6.8 2.1 .7 .6 10.1 Calhoun, Corky Corky Calhoun 77 54 28.7 .461 .760 5.3 1.8 .9 .4 8.2 Chamberlain, Bill Bill Chamberlain 28 1 13.1 .438 .696 2.9 1.3 .7 .4 5.5 Christian, Bob Bob Christian 81 1 15.4 .486 .702 4.2 1.2 .2 .4 4.8 Erickson, Keith Keith Erickson* 66 48 30.8 .477 .801 6.3 3.1 1.0 .3 14.6 Green, Lamar Lamar Green 72 20 15.3 .407 .559 4.9 0.6 .4 .5 4.1 Haskins, Clem Clem Haskins 81 20 22.5 .460 .842 2.7 3.2 1.0 .2 11.1 Hawkins, Connie Connie Hawkins* 8 7 27.9 .486 .667 5.4 3.5 1.0 .4 11.3 Melchionni, Gary Gary Melchionni 69 15 18.1 .460 .860^ 2.1 2.1 .6 .1 7.2 Jim Owens basketball, born 1950 17 0 5.9 .538† .786 0.5 0.9 .3 .0 3.1 Reaves, Joe Joe Reaves* 7 0 5.4 .545† .364 1.1 0.1 .0 .3 2.3 Scott, Charlie Charlie Scott 52 51 38.5+ .459 .781 4.3 5.2+ 1.9+ .4 25.4+ Van Arsdale, Dick Dick Van Arsdale 78 76 36.3+ .500† .853^ 2.8 4.2+ 1.2+ .2 17.8+ Walk, Neal Neal Walk 82 80 31.1 .460 .791 10.2 4.0 .9 .7 16.8 * – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 560 field goal attempts. ^ – Minimum 160 free throw attempts. + – Minimum 70 games played. Transactions Trades October 8, 1973 To Atlanta Hawks 1976 second-round draft pick (USA Bob Carrington) 1977 third-round draft pick (USA Eddie Johnson) To Phoenix Suns USA Bob Christian October 9, 1973 To Capital Bullets USA Walt Wesley To Phoenix Suns 1974 third-round draft pick (USA Earl Williams) 1975 third-round draft pick (USA Bayard Forrest) October 30, 1973 To Los Angeles Lakers USA Connie Hawkins To Phoenix Suns USA Keith Erickson 1974 second-round draft pick (USA Fred Saunders) January 24, 1974 To Golden State Warriors 1975 third-round draft pick (USA Otis Johnson) To Phoenix Suns USA Bill Chamberlain Free agents Subtractions Date Player Reason left New team September 14, 1973 Paul Stovall Waived San Diego Conquistadors (ABA) September 18, 1973 Scott English Waived Virginia Squires (ABA) September 19, 1973 Mo Layton Waived Portland Trail Blazers November 27, 1973 Joe Reaves Waived Memphis Tams (ABA) References Standings on Basketball Reference Phoenix Category:Phoenix Suns seasons