The 1969–70 Phoenix Suns season was the second season of the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, who was a star in the ABA before switching to the NBA to join the Suns. Head coach Johnny "Red" Kerr was replaced by general manager Jerry Colangelo after the Suns started 15–23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
| 1969–70 Phoenix Suns season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach |
|
| General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
| Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch |
| Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 39–43 (.476) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Division semifinals (lost to Lakers 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KTAR-TV |
| Radio | KTAR |
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 49.4 points.
After a 16–66 finish in 1968–69, Hawkins and the Suns made a 23-game improvement to 39–43, making their first playoff appearance in only their second season. Facing off against Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division semifinals, the Suns took an improbable 3–1 lead, before falling to the Lakers in seven games. The Suns wouldn't return to the playoffs again until their cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 1976.
Offseason
editNBA draft
edit| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Neal Walk | Center |  United States
|
Florida |
| 2 | 24 | Gene Williams | Forward | United States
|
Kansas State |
| 3 | 30 | Floyd Kerr | Guard | United States
|
Colorado State |
| 3 | 33 | Lamar Green | Forward | United States
|
Morehead State |
| 3 | 39 | Lloyd Kerr | Guard | United States
|
Colorado State |
| 4 | 41 | Dennis Stewart | Forward | United States
|
Michigan |
| 5 | 58 | Rich Jones | Forward | United States
|
Memphis |
| 6 | 72 | Dan Sadlier | Forward | United States
|
Dayton |
| 7 | 86 | Bill Sweek | Guard | United States
|
UCLA |
| 8 | 100 | Bob Edwards | Center | United States
|
Arizona State |
| 9 | 14 | Steve Jennings | Guard | United States
|
USC |
| 10 | 128 | Rich Abrahamson | Guard | United States
|
Oregon |
| 11 | 142 | Fred Lind | Forward | United States
|
Duke |
| 12 | 156 | Bob Miller | Forward | United States
|
Toledo |
| 13 | 169 | Andy White | Guard | United States
|
UTEP |
| 14 | 180 | Marv Schmidt | Guard | United States
|
Western New Mexico |
| 15 | 189 | Bob Beamon | Guard | United States
|
UTEP |
| 16 | 195 | Wayne Huckel | Guard | United States
|
Davidson |
| 17 | 201 | Howie Dickenman | Center | United States
|
Central Connecticut |
| 18 | 207 | Al Nuness | Guard | United States
|
Minnesota |
| 19 | 212 | Solomon Davis | Forward | United States
|
Kentucky State |
| 20 | 216 | Jim Plump | Forward | United States
|
Northern Arizona |
Prior to the inception of the NBA draft lottery, the first pick in the draft was decided by a coin flip between the teams with the worst record in the league's two divisions. The NBA's two expansion teams from 1968, the Suns (16–66) and the Milwaukee Bucks (27–55), finished last in the Western Division and Eastern Division, respectively. Prior to the flip, Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo chose "heads", losing the first pick to the Bucks when the coin landed "tails".[1] According to Jerry Colangelo, the coin flip originally landed on heads from what he heard on the phone, but then-commissioner J. Walter Kennedy flip the coin onto his hand to showcase tails instead.[2] The Bucks would select prized UCLA center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) with the first pick. Alcindor, in three years at UCLA, led the Bruins to three national championships and an 88–2 record. Considered by many to be the greatest college basketball player of all-time,[3][4][5] Abdul-Jabbar would lead the Bucks to a championship in just his second season, and would eventually win six Most Valuable Player awards, six NBA Championships, and retire as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
The Suns would use the second pick to select center Neal Walk from Florida. Walk averaged 25.2 points and 18.4 rebounds per game in his final two seasons with the Gators.[6] Walk would play five seasons with the Suns before being traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974. While overshadowed by Abdul-Jabbar, Walk was productive for the Suns, averaging a double-double in two consecutive seasons (20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in 1972–73 and 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in 1973–74).[7] The only other draft pick who played for the franchise was Lamar Green, who, like Walk, would play five seasons with the Suns before being drafted by the Jazz in the 1974 Expansion Draft. "Leapin' Lamar" was known for his vertical leap and rebounding ability,[8] averaging a career high 9.3 rebounds per game in 1972–73 while playing 25.6 minutes a game.[9] In the fifteenth round, the Suns selected Bob Beamon, a famous track and field athlete who broke Jesse Owens' 25-year world record in the long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics.[10]
Free agency
editDespite losing the number one draft pick to the Bucks, the Suns would win another significant coin flip. The Suns bested the Seattle SuperSonics for the rights to ABA star Connie Hawkins. In his freshman year with Iowa, Hawkins was implicated, without evidence, in a point shaving scandal, which led to his expulsion from the university. While eligible, Hawkins went undrafted in the 1964, 1965 and 1966 NBA drafts, before being officially barred from the league.[11] Hawkins would star in the upstart American Basketball League (ABL), winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the ABL's inaugural 1961–62 season.[12] Hawkins would then spend four years with the Harlem Globetrotters, before joining the Pittsburgh Pipers of the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. Hawkins led the league in scoring, while leading the Pipers to the first ABA championship, and receiving the ABA's first Most Valuable Player Award in 1968.[13] In 1966, Hawkins' attorneys filed a $6 million anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA. In 1969, a Time Magazine article absolved Hawkins from involvement in the point shaving scandal, leading the NBA to pay a $1.3 million settlement and allow Hawkins into the league.[14] "The Hawk" would become the Suns first official star, making the All-NBA First Team in 1970, and appearing in four consecutive All-Star Games. On November 19, 1976, Hawkins became the first player in Suns franchise history to have his number retired.[15] On September 11, 1969, the Suns waived swingman Bob Warlick. Warlick would sign as a free agent with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA.[16] On October 1, 1969, Dave "Big Daddy D" Lattin was waived. Lattin would later sign with the Pittsburgh Condors of the ABA.[17]
Trades
editOn May 8, 1969, the Suns traded Gary Gregor to the Atlanta Hawks for Paul Silas. Gregor, the Suns first draft pick, was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1969 after averaging 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.[18] Silas would join Connie Hawkins and Jim Fox to form a formidable starting frontcourt that would combine to average over 50 points and 29 rebounds a game. As a Sun, Silas would become an All-Star, and be selected to two All-Defensive teams.[19] The Suns also traded the rights to expansion draft picks Bill Melchionni and Bumper Tormohlen for a 1970 second-round draft pick (Joe DePre) and a 1970 third-round draft pick (Vann Williford). Neither pick would play for the franchise.[20]
Roster
edit| Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
editStandings
edit| W | L | PCT | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 48 | 34 | .585 | – |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 39 | 43 | .476 | 9 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 12 |
| San Francisco Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 |
| San Diego Rockets | 27 | 55 | .329 | 21 |
Record vs. opponents
edit| 1969–70 NBA records | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–2 | 4–2 |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 |
| Boston | 0–6 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 1–6 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 |
| Chicago | 2–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 4–3 |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
| Los Angeles | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 5–2 | 6–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 |
| New York | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 5–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–6 |
| Phoenix | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | — | 7–0 | 3–3 | 4–3 |
| San Diego | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–7 | — | 5–2 | 4–2 |
| San Francisco | 2–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–5 | — | 3–4 |
| Seattle | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — |
Game log
editTeam-by-team results
edit| Opponent | Home | Road | Total | All-time record | Suns leading scorer | Opp. leading scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–8 (.333%) | Connie Hawkins (25.8) | Joe Caldwell (24.0) |
| Baltimore Bullets | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 3–9 (.250%) | Dick Van Arsdale (22.7) | Earl Monroe (20.2) |
| Boston Celtics | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 4–8 (.333%) | Dick Van Arsdale (25.5) | John Havlicek (24.8) |
| Chicago Bulls | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–5 | 4–9 (.308%) | Dick Van Arsdale (25.4) | Bob Love (27.1) |
| Cincinnati Royals | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Connie Hawkins (26.5) | Oscar Robertson (24.7) |
| Detroit Pistons | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Dick Van Arsdale (23.0) | Dave Bing (22.2) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 4–9 (.308%) | Connie Hawkins (22.4) | Elgin Baylor (29.0) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 2–12 (.143%) | Connie Hawkins (26.5) | Lew Alcindor (25.8) |
| New York Knicks | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–6 | 1–11 (.083%) | Connie Hawkins (28.0) | Willis Reed (27.3) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 3–9 (.250%) | Dick Van Arsdale (21.5) | Billy Cunningham (25.8) |
| San Diego Rockets | 4–0 | 3–0 | 7–0 | 8–7 (.533%) | Connie Hawkins (25.7) | Elvin Hayes (28.7) |
| San Francisco Warriors | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 5–7 (.417%) | Connie Hawkins (24.5) | Jerry Lucas (19.5) |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 7–6 (.538%) | Connie Hawkins (29.9) | Bob Rule (24.3) |
Playoffs
editGame log
edit| 1970 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards and honors
editAll-Star
edit- Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Hawkins led all Western Conference forwards in voting. It was his first All-Star selection in the NBA.
- Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.
Season
edit- Connie Hawkins was named to the All-NBA First Team. Hawkins also finished fifth in MVP voting.
Player statistics
edit| 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 | PPG | Points per game | ||
Season
edit| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Chambers | 79 | 14.4 | .430 | .728 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 8.3 |
| Jim Fox | 81 | 25.2 | .524 | .770 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
| Gail Goodrich | 81 | 39.9 | .454 | .808^ | 4.2 | 7.5 | 20.0 |
| Lamar Green | 58 | 12.1 | .432 | .586 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 4.2 |
| Art Harris* | 76 | 18.1 | .395 | .656 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 7.8 |
| Connie Hawkins | 81 | 40.9 | .490 | .779 | 10.4 | 4.8 | 24.6 |
| Neil Johnson | 28 | 4.9 | .333 | .667 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| Stan McKenzie (basketball) | 58 | 9.1 | .393 | .795 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.8 |
| Paul Silas | 78 | 36.4 | .464 | .607 | 11.7 | 2.7 | 12.8 |
| Dick Snyder* | 6 | 24.5 | .489 | .875^ | 2.5 | 1.5 | 8.5 |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 77 | 38.5 | .508 | .798 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 21.3 |
| Neal Walk | 82 | 17.0 | .470 | .640 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 8.2 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 70 games played.
Playoffs
edit| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Chambers | 7 | 0 | 10.4 | .378 | .625 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 4.7 |
| Jim Fox | 6 | 6 | 29.0 | .362 | .708 | 10.7 | 1.3 | 11.2 |
| Gail Goodrich | 7 | 7 | 37.9 | .475 | .857 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 20.3 |
| Lamar Green | 6 | 0 | 11.5 | .286 | .400 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 |
| Art Harris | 7 | 0 | 12.7 | .357 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 4.3 |
| Connie Hawkins | 7 | 7 | 46.9 | .413 | .818 | 13.9 | 5.9 | 25.4 |
| Neil Johnson | 2 | 0 | 3.5 | .333 | . | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Stan McKenzie (basketball) | 7 | 0 | 10.1 | .276 | .800 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.9 |
| Paul Silas | 7 | 7 | 40.9 | .422 | .656 | 15.9 | 4.3 | 16.1 |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 7 | 7 | 36.4 | .430 | .879 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 16.4 |
| Neal Walk | 5 | 1 | 12.6 | .395 | .750 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 8.0 |
Transactions
editTrades
edit| May 8, 1969 | To Atlanta Hawks
Gary Gregor
|
To Phoenix Suns
Paul Silas
|
| September 13, 1969 | To Philadelphia 76ers
Bill Melchionni
|
To Phoenix Suns
1970 second-round draft pick ( Joe DePre)
|
| September 20, 1969 | To Atlanta Hawks
Bumper Tormohlen
|
To Phoenix Suns
1970 third-round draft pick ( Vann Williford)
|
| October 26, 1969 | To Seattle SuperSonics
Dick Snyder
|
To Phoenix Suns
Art Harris
|
Free agents
editAdditions
edit| Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 1969 | Connie Hawkins | Undisclosed | Minnesota Pipers (ABA) |
Subtractions
edit| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 11, 1969 | Bob Warlick | Waived | Los Angeles Stars (ABA) |
| October 1, 1969 | Dave Lattin | Waived | Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) |
References
edit- ^ "Tip-Off Timer: How '69 Coin Flip Cursed The Phoenix Suns". AOLnews.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ Phoenix Suns Since '68: The Coin Flip (Television production). July 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chuck Klosterman on Lew Alcindor, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, and the 50 greatest basketball players in college basketball history". Grantland.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "100 Best Players in College Basketball History". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "25 Greatest Players In College Basketball". ESPN.go.com. March 8, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Neal Walk". TheDraftReview.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Neal Walk NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Green leaping into spotlight". Rome News-Tribune. January 7, 1973. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Lamar Green NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "NBA.com: Draft Oddities". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Layups: More Info on Connie Hawkins". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "NBA.com: Connie Hawkins Summary". NBA. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Remember the ABA: Connie Hawkins". RemembertheABA.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Connie Hawkins Biography". vegasbettinglines.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "SUNS: The Starting Five". NBA.com/Suns. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Bob Warlick NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dave Lattin NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Gary Gregor NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "Paul Silas NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ "1969–70 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.