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1986–87 Phoenix Suns season

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The 1986–87 Phoenix Suns season was the 18th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and their final season under the original ownership group led by Karl Eller, Donald Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, and Richard L. Bloch.[1] The Suns started their fourteenth season under head coach John MacLeod. At 22–34 (.393) in late February, management decided to replace the longstanding MacLeod with Dick Van Arsdale,[2] a former Suns player from the 1975–76 Finals team (coached by MacLeod), who was working as the team's color commentator for TV and radio at the time, despite having no prior coaching experience.

1986–87 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod    (22–34)
Dick Van Arsdale (14–12)
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch[1]
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKNXV-TV
RadioKTAR
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

Phoenix went 14–12 (.538) in those last 26 games under Van Arsdale to finish at 36–46 (.439), and missed the 16-team playoffs by one game. All of the Suns' home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Walter Davis again led the Suns in scoring, averaging 23.6 points for the season. The Suns had another 20-point scorer in Larry Nance, who garnered a career-high 22.5 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds a game. Third-year point guard Jay Humphries averaged 7.7 assists per game to go with 11.3 points per game. For the 32-year-old Davis, it was an All-Star season for him, his 6th in 10 seasons with the Suns, and would be the last time of his career he was honored as an All-Star.

This season was notably infamous for being the key point where the Phoenix Suns organization was hit with a drug scandal that stayed behind the scenes until around the end of this season. On April 17, 1987, one day before the Suns would play their final game of the regular season against the Los Angeles Clippers, Maricopa County law enforcement officials revealed that five present at the time or former Suns players were indicted on drug-related charges, with six more present at the time or former Suns players being linked to the case by that time.[3] Despite the indictments, Jay Humphries and Grant Gondrezick were both allowed to play in the final game of the season while All-Star Walter Davis and rookie William Bedford were not allowed to do so despite their immunity from the case.[4][5] The scandal would also involve a gambling case regarding a February 21, 1987 game between the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks where at a nightclub called Malarkey's, James Edwards and two Bucks players named Jack Sikma and Paul Mokeski (according to Malarkey's manager James Jordan) allegedly claimed that the game between them would not exceed a total of 226 points scored (which was correct since it favored the Bucks 115–107 that night).[6][7] While the scandal would eventually end with no major punishments being involved for any of the players that were named in the case outside of Gondrezick serving three years of probation for tampering with a witness,[8][9] it would lead to a very hectic and uncertain offseason period for the Suns as they entered the upcoming season following this one.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Main article: 1986 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 6 William Bedford Center   United States Memphis State
2 31 Joe Ward Guard   United States Georgia
2 39 Rafael Addison Forward   United States Syracuse
2 46 Jeff Hornacek Guard   United States Iowa State
3 55 Kenny Gattison Forward   United States Old Dominion
4 77 Grant Gondrezick Guard   United States Pepperdine
5 101 Greg Spurling Center   United States Carson–Newman
6 123 Jim McCaffrey Guard   United States Holy Cross
7 147 Damon Goodwin Guard   United States Dayton

Roster

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Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
C 33 Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma
F 12 Addison, Rafael 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1964-07-22 Syracuse
C 50 Bedford, William   7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963-12-14 Memphis
G 6 Davis, Walter 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1954-09-09 North Carolina
C 53 Edwards, James   7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955-11-22 Washington
F 44 Gattison, Kenny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1964-05-23 Old Dominion
G 3 Gondrezick, Grant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963-01-19 Pepperdine
G 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-05-03 Iowa State
G 24 Humphries, Jay 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962-10-17 Colorado
F 22 Nance, Larry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959-02-12 Clemson
F 54 Pinckney, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963-03-27 Villanova
G/F 11 Sanders, Mike 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1960-05-07 UCLA
G/F 7 Thompson, Bernard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962-08-30 Fresno State
C 30 Vanos, Nick 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963-04-13 Santa Clara
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 65 17 .793 – 37–4 28–13 24–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 16 34–7 15–26 17–13
x-Golden State Warriors 42 40 .512 23 25–16 17–24 17–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics 39 43 .476 26 25–16 14–27 15–15
Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 29 26–15 10–31 14–16
Los Angeles Clippers 12 70 .146 53 9–32 3–38 3–27
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 –
2 y-Dallas Mavericks 55 27 .671 10
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 16
4 x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 21
5 x-Golden State Warriors 42 40 .512 23
6 x-Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 23
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 39 43 .476 26
8 x-Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 28
9 Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 29
10 Sacramento Kings 29 53 .354 36
11 San Antonio Spurs 28 54 .341 37
12 Los Angeles Clippers 12 70 .146 53

Record vs. opponents

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1986-87 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Boston 3–3 — 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–6 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3
Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 — 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 — 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 — 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1
Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 — 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 — 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1
Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 — 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 — 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 — 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 — 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2
Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 — 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 — 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 — 1–4 2–4 0–2
Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 — 3–2 1–1
Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 — 1–1
Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —

Awards and honors

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All-Star

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  • Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his sixth and final All-Star selection.
  • The only other Suns player to receive All-Star votes this season was Larry Nance (314,193).

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 68 40 24.9 .503 .000 .788 5.0 3.3 .9 .5 11.1
Rafael Addison 62 12 11.5 .441 .320 .797 1.7 0.7 .4 .1 5.8
William Bedford 50 18 19.6 .397 .000 .581 4.9 1.1 .4 .7 6.7
Walter Davis 79 79 33.5 .514 .259 .862 3.1 4.6 1.2 .1 23.6
James Edwards 14 9 21.7 .518 . .771 4.3 1.4 .4 .5 12.0
Kenny Gattison 77 14 14.3 .476 .000 .632 3.5 0.5 .3 .4 5.2
Grant Gondrezick 64 1 13.1 .450 .235 .701 1.7 1.3 .4 .1 5.5
Jeff Hornacek 80 3 19.5 .454 .279 .777 2.3 4.5 .9 .1 5.3
Jay Humphries 82 82 31.5 .477 .185 .769 3.2 7.7 1.4 .1 11.3
Larry Nance 69 67 37.2 .551 .200 .773 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 22.5
Ed Pinckney 80 65 28.1 .584 .000 .739 7.3 1.5 1.1 .7 10.5
Mike Sanders 82 4 20.2 .494 .118 .781 3.3 1.5 .7 .3 10.5
Bernard Thompson 24 2 13.8 .400 .000 .818 1.3 0.8 .5 .2 4.6
Nick Vanos 57 14 11.2 .411 .000 .644 3.2 0.8 .3 .4 2.9

Transactions

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Free agents

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Additions

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Date Player Contract Old Team
October 1, 1986 Walter Davis Re-signed to 3-year contract Phoenix Suns

Subtractions

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Date Player Reason Left New Team
June 8, 1986 Rod Foster Waived
July 31, 1986 Rick Robey Free agent
August 13, 1986 Charles Pittman Free agent Pallacanestro Varese (Italy)
August 20, 1986 Georgi Glouchkov Waived Mobilgirgi Caserta (Italy)
October 23, 1986 Sedric Toney Waived New York Knicks
October 28, 1986 Charles Jones Waived Portland Trail Blazers

References

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  1. ^ a b "Phoenix Suns Staff & Executives - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  2. ^ "Van Arsdale chosen Phoenix head coach". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). combined reports. February 27, 1987. p. 21.
  3. ^ Keteyian, Armen. "DARK CLOUDS OVER SUN COUNTRY". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "3 SUNS PLAYERS ARE INDICTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION". The New York Times. April 18, 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "Clippers vs Suns, April 18, 1987". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Anderson, Dave (April 21, 1987). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; THE N.B.A. HOLDS ITS BREATH". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bucks vs Suns, February 21, 1987". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "After an off-season darkened by drugs and death, – 11.23.87 – SI Vault". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012.
  9. ^ "Last of the Suns' drug cases won't be pursued". Eugene Register-Guard.
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