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1981–82 Phoenix Suns season

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The 1981–82 Phoenix Suns season was the 14th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The Suns were in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, extending a then-franchise record. In the first round, Denver was taken down by the Suns, two games to one. Phoenix would find a tougher opponent, however, in the Western Conference Semifinals, getting swept four games to zero by the eventual league champions, Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1981–82 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
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Lakers 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKNXV
RadioKTAR
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

Dennis Johnson again earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors and was the lone All-Star Game participant from the Suns. Additionally, he led the Suns in scoring with his 19.5 points average, a personal career-high. Truck Robinson was not far behind with his 19.1 average, and paired that with rebounding average of 9.7 a game. Fellow big man Alvan Adams brought in 7 rebounds and 15 points a contest.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Main article: 1981 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 20 Larry Nance Forward   United States Clemson
3 62 Sam Clancy Jr. Forward   United States Pittsburgh
3 66 Craig Dykema Forward   United States Long Beach State
5 112 Paul Heuerman Center   United States Michigan
6 135 Pete Harris Guard   United States Northeastern
7 158 David Williams Forward   United States Southern
8 180 Steve Risley Forward   United States Indiana
9 200 Brian Johnson Forward   United States Colorado
10 220 Felton Sealey Forward   United States Oregon

Roster

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Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
F/C 33 Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma
G/F 7 Bradley, Dudley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957-03-19 North Carolina
F/C 45 Cook, Jeff 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1956-10-21 Idaho State
G/F 6 Davis, Walter 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1954-09-09 North Carolina
F 35 Dykema, Craig 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959-06-11 Long Beach State
G 24 Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954-09-18 Pepperdine
C 53 Kelley, Rich 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1953-03-23 Stanford
F 50 Kramer, Joel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1955-11-30 San Diego State
G 4 Macy, Kyle 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1957-04-09 Kentucky
F/C 22 Nance, Larry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959-02-12 Clemson
F 21 Robinson, Leonard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1951-10-04 Tennessee State
F 14 Scott, Alvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1955-09-14 Oral Roberts
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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Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 57 25 .695 – 30–11 27–14 21–9
x-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 5.0 31–10 21–20 18–12
x-Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 11.0 31–10 15–26 14–16
Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12.0 28–13 17–24 15–15
Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15.0 27–14 15–26 15–15
San Diego Clippers 17 65 .207 40.0 11–30 6–35 7–23
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 57 25 .695 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585 9
3 x-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 5
4 x-Denver Nuggets 46 36 .561 11
5 x-Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 11
6 x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 11
7 Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12
8 Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15
9 Kansas City Kings 30 52 .366 27
10 Dallas Mavericks 28 54 .341 29
11 Utah Jazz 25 57 .305 32
12 San Diego Clippers 17 65 .207 40

Record vs. opponents

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1981–82 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–2 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4
Boston 5–1 — 4–2 5–0 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 6–0
Chicago 3–2 2–4 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 0–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–5 2–4 3–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4
Cleveland 2–4 0–5 1–5 — 2–0 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–6 0–6 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–5
Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 1–5 1–1 0–5 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 1–5 2–3 1–4 3–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 — 1–1 3–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 2–4 5–0 2–3 3–3 2–0
Detroit 4–2 0–6 6–0 5–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 2–0 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–4
Golden State 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–3 0–2 — 1–4 2–0 3–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 3–2 5–1 1–5 3–2 1–1
Houston 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–5 0–2 4–1 — 2–0 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 4–1 3–3 4–1 2–3 6–0 2–0
Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 0–2 — 1–1 0–2 0–6 4–2 3–2 0–6 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Kansas City 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–4 0–2 2–3 3–3 1–1 — 1–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 0–5 1–5 4–1 2–3 3–3 0–2
Los Angeles 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 3–3 4–1 2–0 4–1 — 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 5–1 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 2–0
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 5–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 3–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–2
New Jersey 2–3 1–5 4–2 6–0 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 — 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2
New York 1–5 1–5 2–3 6–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 — 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–5
Philadelphia 3–3 2–4 5–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 5–1 — 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 6–0
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 3–2 2–0 2–4 2–3 1–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 4–1 4–2 3–3 3–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–2 2–0 4–2 1–4 1–1 5–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3 — 3–2 4–2 3–3 4–1 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–4 2–3 — 3–2 4–1 3–3 1–1
San Diego 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 0–5 0–2 1–5 1–4 0–2 1–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–3 — 1–5 1–4 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–4 5–1 — 5–0 1–1
Utah 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–6 1–1 3–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 3–3 4–1 0–5 — 1–1
Washington 4–2 0–6 4–2 5–1 1–1 0–2 4–1 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–4 5–1 0–6 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —

Playoffs

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Game log

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1982 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 1–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 20 @ Denver L 113–129 Kyle Macy (22) Truck Robinson (13) Truck Robinson (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,298 		0–1
2 April 23 Denver W 126–110 Dennis Johnson (29) Alvan Adams (9) Dennis Johnson (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,798 		1–1
3 April 24 @ Denver W 124–119 Dennis Johnson (26) Truck Robinson (9) Rich Kelley (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,443 		2–1
Conference semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 27 @ Los Angeles L 96–115 Johnson, Adams (20) Truck Robinson (14) three players tied (4) The Forum
13,623 		0–1
2 April 28 @ Los Angeles L 98–117 Dennis Johnson (27) Larry Nance (11) Dennis Johnson (6) The Forum
15,558 		0–2
3 April 30 Los Angeles L 106–114 Alvan Adams (23) Alvan Adams (12) three players tied (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		0–3
4 May 2 Los Angeles L 107–112 Dennis Johnson (31) Macy, Nance (6) Alvan Adams (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,932 		0–4
1982 schedule

Awards and honors

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All-Star

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  • Dennis Johnson was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Johnson finished fourth in voting among Western Conference guards with 220,914 votes. It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection.
  • The other Suns player who received All-Star votes was Alvan Adams (134,441).

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  3P%  3-point 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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Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Alvan Adams 79 75 30.3 .494 .000 .781 7.4 4.5 1.4 1.0 15.1
Dudley Bradley 64 3 14.6 .445 .250 .740 1.4 1.3 1.2 .2 5.1
Jeff Cook 76 22 17.1 .422 .000 .664 4.0 1.3 .5 .3 5.1
Walter Davis 55 12 21.5 .523† .188 .820 1.9 2.9 .8 .1 14.4
Craig Dykema 32 0 3.2 .459 .500^ .778 0.4 0.5 .1 .0 1.3
Dennis Johnson 80 77 36.7 .470 .190 .806 5.1 4.6 1.3 .7 19.5
Rich Kelley 81 39 23.4 .467 .000 .749 6.1 3.6 .8 .9 7.9
Joel Kramer 56 0 9.8 .414 . .786 1.9 0.9 .3 .2 2.6
Kyle Macy 82 72 34.7 .514 .390^ .899 3.2 4.7 1.7 .1 14.2
John McCullough 8 0 2.9 .692† . .600 0.5 0.4 .3 .0 2.6
Larry Nance 80 0 14.8 .521 .000 .641 3.2 1.0 .5 .9 6.6
Truck Robinson 74 72 37.1 .513 1.000^ .687 9.7 2.4 .6 .4 19.1
Alvin Scott 81 38 21.5 .497 .000 .730 3.6 1.8 .7 .9 6.0

† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 25 three-pointers made.

Playoffs

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Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Alvan Adams 7 7 33.3 .522 . .786 7.3 3.7 2.0 1.4 16.9
Dudley Bradley 7 0 3.4 .250 . 1.000^ 0.1 0.7 .1 .1 0.7
Jeff Cook 7 0 6.4 .500 . . 1.3 1.0 .3 .3 1.1
Walter Davis 7 0 24.7 .448 .333 .917 3.1 4.3 .7 .1 18.1
Craig Dykema 6 0 2.0 .167 . . 0.7 0.3 .0 .0 0.3
Dennis Johnson 7 7 38.7 .477 .000 .769 4.4 4.6 2.1 .6 22.3
Rich Kelley 7 7 27.3 .500 . .700 6.9 4.3 .9 .4 9.7
Joel Kramer 4 0 5.0 .714† . .667 1.3 0.3 .3 .0 3.0
Kyle Macy 7 7 34.7 .427 .364 .938^ 3.1 4.0 1.0 .1 13.6
Larry Nance 7 0 18.3 .610† . .500 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 7.7
Truck Robinson 7 7 30.4 .563 . .300 7.6 2.7 .7 .1 13.3
Alvin Scott 7 0 18.1 .438 .000 .500 2.3 2.0 1.1 1.9 4.6

† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions

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Trades

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June 8, 1981 To Indiana Pacers
1981 second-round draft pick (  El Leslie)
1982 second-round draft pick (  Jose Slaughter)
Relinquished right to swap 1983 first round picks
 To Phoenix Suns
  Dudley Bradley
October 1, 1981 To Chicago Bulls
  Johnny High 		To Phoenix Suns
1983 third-round draft pick (  Winfred King)

Free agents

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Additions

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Date Player Contract Old Team
June 19, 1981 Alvin Scott Re-signed to four-year contract Phoenix Suns
October 26, 1981 John McCullough Undisclosed

Subtractions

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Date Player Reason Left New Team
June 18, 1981 Mike Niles Waived
December 18, 1981 John McCullough Waived Billings Volcanos (CBA)

References

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