1974–75 Phoenix Suns season

The 1974–75 Phoenix Suns season was the seventh season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The Suns' roster averaged 2.8 years of professional experience, and included four one-year players in addition to three rookies. Coming off a 30–52 season, the Suns only improved by two games, finishing 32–50 under second-year head coach John MacLeod. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1974–75 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record32–50 (.390)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR
< 1973–74 1975–76 >

Coming off an All-Star season, guard/forward Charlie Scott led the Suns in both points and assists with averages of 24.3 and 4.5 a game. For Scott, it was the third and final NBA All-Star Game selection of his career. 31-year-old Dick Van Arsdale, the only player remaining from the Suns' inaugural season roster, was second in scoring with a 16.1 average. Fourth-year forward Curtis Perry enjoyed his first season with Phoenix, posting career-highs in both points and rebounds, averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds per game.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 John Shumate Forward   United States Notre Dame
2 31 Fred Saunders Forward   United States Syracuse
3 40 George Gervin Guard   United States Eastern Michigan
3 49 Earl Williams Center   United States Winston-Salem State
4 58 Randy Allen Guard   United States Indiana (PA)
5 76 Ralph Bobik Guard   United States Creighton
6 94 Collis Temple Forward   United States Louisiana State
7 112 Clyde Dickey Guard   United States Boise State
8 130 Tom Holland Forward   United States Oklahoma
9 148 Ted Evans Forward   United States Oklahoma
10 165 Mark Wasley Forward   United States Arizona State

Roster

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Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
C 21 Awtrey, Dennis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948-02-22 Santa Clara
F/C 40 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951-12-03 Saint Joseph's
G/F 14 Erickson, Keith   6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
G 32 Hawthorne, Nate 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950-01-15 Southern Illinois
G 24 Jackson, Greg 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1952-08-02 Guilford
G 25 Melchionni, Gary 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1951-01-19 Duke
G/F 45 Owens, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1950-05-01 Arizona State
F 18 Perry, Curtis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-09-13 Missouri State
F 30 Saunders, Fred 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-06-13 Syracuse
G 33 Scott, Charlie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-12-15 North Carolina
F/C 34 Shumate, John   (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1952-04-06 Notre Dame
G/F 5 Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
F/C 55 Williams, Earl 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1951-03-24 Winston-Salem State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Regular season

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Standings

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W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585 31–10 17–24 19–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5 24–16 19–23 18–12
Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10 29–13 9–31 16–14
Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16 22–19 10–31 12–18
Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18 21–20 9–32 10–20
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585
2 y-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 1
3 x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings 44 38 .537 4
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5
5 x-Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488 8
6 Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10
6 Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 10
8 Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16
9 Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18

Record vs. opponents

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1974–75 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta 0–4 1–3 0–4 3–4 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–5
Boston 4–0 5–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 4–0 7–2 5–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2
Buffalo 3–1 4–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 4–0 5–3 6–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 3–5 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3
Cleveland 4–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 6–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5
Detroit 2–2 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–6 3–1 3–6 4–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3
Golden State 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–3 5–3 4–3 1–3
Houston 5–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 5–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–5
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–4 2–2 6–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 6–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3
Los Angeles 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 1–3 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–4 2–5 2–6 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 0–4 3–1 5–3 3–1 6–3 1–3 1–3 3–6 0–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4
New Orleans 5–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–6 0–4 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–7
New York 4–0 2–7 3–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 3–5 3–6 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3
Phoenix 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–6 4–3 1–3
Portland 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–5 2–2 1–3 5–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 6–1 2–6 1–3
Seattle 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 3–4 3–1 3–1 6–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–4 6–2 1–3
Washington 5–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–3 3–1 3–1 5–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 7–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1

Game log

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1974–75 game log
Total: 32–50 (home: 22–19; road: 10–31)
October: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
1 October 17 Seattle W 114–97 Charlie Scott (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,215
1–0 W 1
2 October 19 Kansas City-Omaha L 91–94 Charlie Scott (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,377
1–1 L 1
3 October 23 Detroit W 100–90 Charlie Scott (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,924
2–1 W 1
4 October 25 @ Seattle L 97–106 Gary Melchionni (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,191
2–2 L 1
5 October 27 @ Los Angeles L 116–123 Keith Erickson (29) The Forum
10,579
2–3 L 2
6 October 30 @ Philadelphia W 104–99 Charlie Scott (27) The Spectrum
5,089
3–3 W 1
November: 6–9 (home: 3–3; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
7 November 2 @ Washington L 94–108 Charlie Scott (28) Capital Centre
9,160
3–4 L 1
8 November 3 @ Cleveland L 101–104 Keith Erickson (19) Coliseum at Richfield
7,354
3–5 L 2
9 November 7 @ Atlanta L 108–109 Charlie Scott (31) Omni Coliseum
2,847
3–6 L 3
10 November 8 @ New Orleans W 105–102 Charlie Scott (34) Municipal Auditorium
3,118
4–6 W 1
11 November 9 @ Houston W 101–96 Charlie Scott (32) Hofheinz Pavilion
2,553
5–6 W 2
12 November 13 Philadelphia W 105–100 Charlie Scott (41) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,071
6–6 W 3
13 November 15 Chicago L 95–102 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,071
6–7 L 1
14 November 17 Golden State L 105–106 Charlie Scott (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,820
6–8 L 2
15 November 19 @ Milwaukee L 108–122 Charlie Scott (32) MECCA Arena
9,187
6–9 L 3
16 November 20 @ Detroit W 114–106 Charlie Scott (33) Cobo Arena
3,807
7–9 W 1
17 November 22 @ Boston L 94–95 Charlie Scott (27) Boston Garden
13,756
7–10 L 1
18 November 23 @ Buffalo L 104–117 Charlie Scott (23) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
12,743
7–11 L 2
19 November 26 New Orleans Jazz W 120–110 Charlie Scott (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,931
8–11 W 1
20 November 28 Portland L 85–88 Charlie Scott (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,461
8–12 L 1
21 November 30 Houston W 112–100 Gary Melchionni (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,187
9–12 W 1
December: 6–6 (home: 6–3; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
22 December 1 @ Los Angeles L 105–111 (OT) Charlie Scott (26) The Forum
10,157
9–13 L 1
23 December 3 Atlanta L 85–91 Charlie Scott (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,019
9–14 L 2
24 December 5 Golden State W 108–106 (2OT) Charlie Scott (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,053
10–14 W 1
25 December 7 Los Angeles W 92–88 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,603
11–14 W 2
26 December 8 @ Los Angeles L 102–107 Charlie Scott (28) The Forum
11,124
11–15 L 1
27 December 11 Portland W 104–100 Keith Erickson (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,768
12–15 W 1
28 December 13 Cleveland W 85–84 Charlie Scott (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,756
13–15 W 2
29 December 19 Milwaukee L 108–112 Keith Erickson (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,369
13–16 L 1
30 December 21 Los Angeles W 114–104 Keith Erickson (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,437
14–16 W 1
31 December 23 @ Golden State L 94–111 Keith Erickson,
Charlie Scott (20)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,240
14–17 L 1
32 December 25 Boston W 110–96 Charlie Scott (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,276
15–17 W 1
33 December 27 Buffalo L 92–108 Charlie Scott,
Dick Van Arsdale (17)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,205
15–18 L 1
January: 5–9 (home: 3–4; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
34 January 2 @ New York L 113–117 (OT) Charlie Scott (30) Madison Square Garden
18,570
15–19 L 2
35 January 3 @ Chicago L 99–126 Mike Bantom (20) Chicago Stadium
6,047
15–20 L 3
36 January 5 @ Cleveland L 86–97 Dennis Awtrey,
Gary Melchionni (15)
Coliseum at Richfield
6,138
15–21 L 4
37 January 8 Washington L 95–102 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,770
15–22 L 5
38 January 10 Portland L 110–113 Charlie Scott (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,068
15–23 L 6
39 January 11 New York W 113–107 Mike Bantom (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,592
16–23 W 1
All-Star Break
40 January 17 @ Chicago W 115–105 Charlie Scott (31) Chicago Stadium
7,174
17–23 W 2
41 January 18 @ Detroit L 77–86 Mike Bantom (19) Cobo Arena
6,053
17–24 L 1
42 January 19 @ Kansas City-Omaha W 109–97 Charlie Scott (28) Kemper Arena
13,155
18–24 W 1
43 January 21 Philadelphia L 95–101 Charlie Scott (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,267
18–25 L 1
44 January 25 New Orleans W 94–90 (OT) Charlie Scott (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,872
19–25 W 1
45 January 28 @ Portland L 107–115 Mike Bantom,
Charlie Scott (24)
Memorial Coliseum
10,291
19–26 L 1
46 January 29 Seattle L 85–99 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,273
19–27 L 2
47 January 31 Los Angeles W 105–101 Curtis Perry (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,871
20–27 W 1
February: 8–6 (home: 5–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
48 February 4 Washington W 90–89 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,263
21–27 W 2
49 February 5 @ Seattle W 107–102 Dick Van Arsdale (46) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,002
22–27 W 3
50 February 6 Seattle W 112–105 Mike Bantom (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,865
23–27 W 4
51 February 8 @ Golden State L 96–105 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,961
23–28 L 1
52 February 12 Buffalo W 108–96 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,255
24–28 W 1
53 February 14 Boston L 106–112 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,338
24–29 L 1
54 February 15 Atlanta L 107–111 Curtis Perry (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,147
24–30 L 2
55 February 18 @ Buffalo L 109–124 Charlie Scott (32) Maple Leaf Gardens
8,163
24–31 L 3
56 February 19 @ Washington L 97–120 Dick Van Arsdale (20) Capital Centre
6,201
24–32 L 4
57 February 21 @ New Orleans L 96–98 Gary Melchionni (17) Municipal Auditorium
4,563
24–33 L 5
58 February 23 @ Milwaukee W 106–97 Dennis Awtrey (24) Dane County Coliseum
8,832
25–33 W 1
59 February 25 @ Golden State W 111–97 Charlie Scott (26) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,550
26–33 W 2
60 February 26 Cleveland W 108–96 Charlie Scott (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,447
27–33 W 3
61 February 28 Golden State W 102–96 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,511
28–33 W 4
March: 3–15 (home: 2–5; road: 1–10)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
62 March 2 @ Houston L 104–110 Charlie Scott (26) Hofheinz Pavilion
4,827
28–34 L 1
63 March 4 @ Kansas City-Omaha L 99–103 Mike Bantom (23) Omaha Civic Auditorium
4,027
28–35 L 2
64 March 6 Chicago W 88–65 Mike Bantom (16) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,683
29–35 W 1
65 March 7 @ Portland L 98–120 Mike Bantom (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,080
29–36 L 1
66 March 8 Houston L 107–112 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,272
29–37 L 2
67 March 11 @ New York L 98–103 Charlie Scott (30) Madison Square Garden
17,443
29–38 L 3
68 March 12 @ Boston L 82–88 Nate Hawthorne (20) Hartford Civic Center
11,283
29–39 L 4
69 March 14 @ Philadelphia L 97–108 Mike Bantom (19) The Spectrum
7,127
29–40 L 5
70 March 16 @ Atlanta L 114–117 Charlie Scott (38) Omni Coliseum
2,786
29–41 L 6
71 March 18 @ Golden State L 103–133 Mike Bantom (26) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
6,795
29–42 L 7
72 March 19 New York L 96–101 Curtis Perry (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,492
29–43 L 8
73 March 21 Portland L 108–112 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,786
29–44 L 9
74 March 22 @ Portland L 92–94 Curtis Perry (18) Memorial Coliseum
11,142
29–45 L 10
75 March 23 @ Seattle W 102–96 Mike Bantom (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082
30–45 W 1
76 March 25 Milwaukee W 92–87 Charlie Scott (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,232
31–45 W 2
77 March 27 Detroit L 79–91 Charlie Scott (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,629
31–46 L 1
78 March 29 Kansas City-Omaha L 100–104 Dennis Awtrey,
Curtis Perry (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,450
31–47 L 2
79 March 30 @ Los Angeles L 90–104 Mike Bantom (20) The Forum
8,546
31–48 L 3
April: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
80 April 2 Los Angeles W 108–106 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,610
32–48 W 1
81 April 4 Golden State L 99–128 Mike Bantom (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,867
32–49 L 1
82 April 6 @ Seattle L 111–114 Charlie Scott (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082
32–50 L 2
1974–75 schedule

Awards and honors

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All-Star

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  • Charlie Scott was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, which was played in Phoenix for the first time. Scott finished third in voting among Western Conference guards with 40,736 votes. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.
  • Other Suns players who received All-Star votes were Keith Erickson (23,171), Curtis Perry (22,574), and Dick Van Arsdale (19,395).

Season

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Player statistics

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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

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Player GP GS MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dennis Awtrey 82 73 34.6 .470 .677 8.6 4.2 .7 .6 9.9
Mike Bantom 82 50 27.3 .461 .714 6.7 1.9 .8 .6 12.5
Corky Calhoun* 13 0 8.3 .375 .933^ 2.5 0.3 .5 .2 2.9
Keith Erickson 49 24 30.0 .425 .833^ 5.0 3.5 1.0 .2 12.3
Nate Hawthorne 50 2 12.4 .411 .649 1.8 0.8 .6 .4 5.9
Greg Jackson 44 18 17.6 .416 .581 1.5 2.1 .5 .2 4.0
Gary Melchionni 68 29 22.5 .430 .809 2.8 2.3 .7 .2 8.5
Jim Owens 41 5 10.5 .386 .750 1.0 1.2 .4 .0 3.0
Curtis Perry 79 78 34.0 .477 .719 11.9 2.4 1.4 1.0 13.4
Fred Saunders 69 12 15.3 .433 .695 3.7 1.2 .6 .2 6.1
Charlie Scott 69 60 37.6 .441 .781 4.0 4.5 1.6 .3 24.3
Dick Van Arsdale 70 50 34.6 .470 .832 2.7 2.8 1.2 .2 16.1
Earl Williams 79 9 13.2 .414 .437 5.8 1.2 .4 .4 4.7

* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Transactions

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Trades

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September 6, 1974 To Washington Bullets
  Clem Haskins
To Phoenix Suns
  Dave Stallworth
1975 second-round draft pick (  Allen Murphy)
September 16, 1974 To New Orleans Jazz
  Neal Walk
1975 second-round draft pick (  Clyde Mayes)
To Phoenix Suns
  Dennis Awtrey
  Nate Hawthorne
  Curtis Perry
1976 first-round draft pick (  Adrian Dantley)
November 27, 1974 To Los Angeles Lakers
  Corky Calhoun
To Phoenix Suns
1976 second-round draft pick (  Jacky Dorsey)
1977 third-round draft pick (  Mike Bratz)

Free agents

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Additions

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Date Player Contract Old Team
January 2, 1975 Greg Jackson Undisclosed New York Knicks

Subtractions

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Date Player Reason Left New Team
May 20, 1974 Lamar Green Expansion Draft New Orleans Jazz
July 31, 1974 Bob Christian Waived New York Knicks
September 24, 1974 Bill Chamberlain Waived — (Retired)
October 10, 1974 Dave Stallworth Waived New York Knicks

References

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