1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

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.

1973–74 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record30–52 (.366)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR

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
Main article: 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  Finland Brigham Young

Roster
Phoenix Suns roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOB (Y-M-D)From
F 40 United States Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951-12-03 Saint Joseph's
F 20 United States Calhoun, Corky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-11-01 Penn
F 24 United States Chamberlain, Bill 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1949-12-16 North Carolina
C 31 United States Christian, Bob 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1946-05-11 Grambling State
G/F 14 United States Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
F 16 United States Green, Lamar 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State
G 11 United States Haskins, Clem 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky
G 25 United States Melchionni, Gary 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1951-01-19 Duke
G/F 45 United States Owens, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1950-05-01 Arizona State
G 33 United States Scott, Charlie Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-12-15 North Carolina
G/F 5 United States Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
C 41 United States Walk, Neal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 4735.573–30–1117–24–14–12
Golden State Warriors 4438.537323–1820–201–015–11
Seattle SuperSonics 3646.4391122–1914–27–12–14
Phoenix Suns 3052.3661724–176–340–111–15
Portland Trail Blazers 2755.3292022–195–340–213–13
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks5923.720–
2 x-Chicago Bulls5428.6595
3 x-Detroit Pistons5230.6347
4 y-Los Angeles Lakers4735.57312
5 Golden State Warriors4438.53715
6 Seattle SuperSonics3646.43923
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings3349.40226
8 Phoenix Suns3052.36629
9 Portland Trail Blazers2755.32932

Record vs. opponents
1973–74 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CAP CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta —1–52–44–41–34–30–41–35–21–34–01–31–53–31–32–24–0
Boston 5–1—5–22–42–24–23–13–14–23–12–22–25–27–13–14–02–2
Buffalo 4–22–5—3–31–35–11–31–34–22–20–41–34–46–13–13–12–2
Capital 4–44–23–3—1–36–12–23–14–33–12–21–33–34–22–23–12–2
Chicago 3–12–23–13–1—4–05–24–24–05–21–53–32–23–14–24–24–2
Cleveland 3–42–41–51–60–4—2–20–44–40–43–10–41–55–11–34–02–2
Detroit 4–01–33–12–22–52–2—5–13–14–24–23–41–32–26–05–15–1
Golden State 3–11–33–11–32–44–01–5—4–03–34–23–31–33–15–23–43–3
Houston 2–52–42–43–40–44–41–30–4—2–22–20–44–24–22–23–11–3
Kansas City-Omaha 3–11–32–21–32–54–02–43–32–2—1–50–71–31–34–24–22–4
Los Angeles 0–42–24–02–25–11–32–42–42–25–1—4–22–24–04–24–34–3
Milwaukee 3–12–23–13–13–34–04–33–34–07–02–4—2–24–05–16–04–2
New York 5–12–54–43–32–25–13–13–12–43–12–22–2—4–33–12–24–0
Philadelphia 3–31–71–62–41–31–52–21–32–43–10–40–43–4—3–12–20–4
Phoenix 3–11–31–32–22–43–10–62–52–22–42–41–51–31–3—3–34–3
Portland 2–20–41–31–32–40–41–54–31–32–43–40–62–22–23–3—3–3
Seattle 0–42–22–22–22–42–21–53–33–14–23–42–40–44–03–43–3—

Game log
1973–74 game log
Total: 30–52 (home: 24–17; road: 6–35)
October: 2–8 (home: 2–3; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
1 October 10 Seattle W 115–111 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,738		 1–0 W 1
2 October 12 Milwaukee L 84–107 Lamar Green (14) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,033		 1–1 L 1
3 October 14 Golden State L 95–120 Charlie Scott (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,030		 1–2 L 2
4 October 20 Atlanta W 118–108 Dick Van Arsdale (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,009		 2–2 W 1
5 October 21 @ Seattle L 112–116 Charlie Scott (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,964		 2–3 L 1
6 October 23 @ Golden State L 109–121 Charlie Scott,
Dick Van Arsdale (23)		 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,007		 2–4 L 2
7 October 24 Detroit L 99–115 Mike Bantom (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,307		 2–5 L 3
8 October 26 @ Kansas City-Omaha L 93–98 Charlie Scott (26) Municipal Auditorium
4,917		 2–6 L 4
9 October 27 @ Milwaukee L 95–104 Milwaukee Arena
9,975		 2–7 L 5
10 October 30 @ Atlanta L 101–122 Joe Reaves (21) Omni Coliseum
9,070		 2–8 L 6
November: 5–8 (home: 3–1; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
11 November 2 @ Detroit L 107–114 Charlie Scott (30) Cobo Arena
5,317		 2–9 L 7
12 November 4 @ Capital L 99–102 Dick Van Arsdale,
Neal Walk (19)		 Capital Centre
5,316		 2–10 L 8
13 November 7 @ Philadelphia L 115–122 Charlie Scott (31) The Spectrum
4,366		 2–11 L 9
14 November 9 @ Boston L 107–122 Charlie Scott (24) Boston Garden
9,953		 2–12 L 10
15 November 13 Chicago W 116–108 Charlie Scott (38) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,045		 3–12 W 1
16 November 15 Philadelphia W 116–94 Charlie Scott (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,142		 4–12 W 2
17 November 17 Los Angeles L 110–130 Charlie Scott (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,498		 4–13 L 1
18 November 20 @ Buffalo L 100–127 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
6,088		 4–14 L 2
19 November 21 @ Detroit L 104–107 Charlie Scott,
Neal Walk (32)		 Cobo Arena
3,534		 4–15 L 3
20 November 23 @ Chicago W 99–94 Charlie Scott (30) Chicago Stadium
8,742		 5–15 W 1
21 November 27 @ Houston L 111–125 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Hofheinz Pavilion
2,756		 5–16 L 1
22 November 29 Kansas City-Omaha W 119–99 Mike Bantom (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,386		 6–16 W 1
23 November 30 @ Portland W 107–99 Clem Haskins (36) Memorial Coliseum
10,720		 7–16 W 2
December: 8–8 (home: 6–4; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
24 December 1 Detroit L 109–121 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,496		 7–17 L 1
25 December 4 @ Los Angeles L 103–120 Charlie Scott (23) The Forum
11,746		 7–18 L 2
26 December 5 Golden State W 103–97 Charlie Scott (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,553		 8–18 W 1
27 December 7 Capital W 114–92 Charlie Scott (40) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,089		 9–18 W 2
28 December 9 @ Cleveland W 117–106 Charlie Scott (31) Cleveland Arena
3,042		 10–18 W 3
29 December 11 @ New York L 97–105 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Madison Square Garden
18,366		 10–19 L 1
30 December 13 Portland L 108–119 Charlie Scott (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,494		 10–20 L 2
31 December 15 Boston W 121–120 Charlie Scott (41) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,362		 11–20 W 1
32 December 16 @ Seattle W 113–109 Charlie Scott (38) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,778		 12–20 W 2
33 December 18 @ Portland L 117–133 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Memorial Coliseum
5,982		 12–21 L 1
34 December 19 Philadelphia L 98–101 Charlie Scott (44) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,246		 12–22 L 2
35 December 22 Milwaukee W 121–112 Charlie Scott (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,013		 13–22 W 1
36 December 25 Los Angeles W 135–100 Charlie Scott (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,253		 14–22 W 2
37 December 27 Seattle W 111–100 Charlie Scott (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,755		 15–22 W 3
38 December 28 @ Los Angeles L 107–119 Charlie Scott (29) The Forum
13,685		 15–23 L 1
39 December 29 Buffalo L 108–120 Charlie Scott (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,116		 15–24 L 2
January: 6–7 (home: 5–3; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
40 January 2 @ Atlanta W 116–113 Dick Van Arsdale (28) Omni Coliseum
9,232		 16–24 W 1
41 January 4 @ Kansas City-Omaha L 97–122 Charlie Scott (28) Municipal Auditorium
4,837		 16–25 L 1
42 January 5 @ Milwaukee L 109–118 Dick Van Arsdale (22) Milwaukee Arena
9,812		 16–26 L 2
43 January 6 @ Chicago L 116–120 (OT) Charlie Scott (30) Chicago Stadium
6,013		 16–27 L 3
44 January 9 Houston W 105–101 Charlie Scott (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,924		 17–27 W 1
45 January 11 Kansas City-Omaha L 100–117 Charlie Scott (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,747		 17–28 L 1
46 January 13 Seattle L 112–123 Neal Walk (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,769		 17–29 L 2
All-Star Break
47 January 17 @ Golden State L 120–127 Charlie Scott (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,011		 17–30 L 3
48 January 19 New York W 112–89 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,468		 18–30 W 1
49 January 23 Cleveland W 110–103 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,017		 19–30 W 2
50 January 25 Milwaukee L 108–112 Charlie Scott (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,660		 19–31 L 1
51 January 27 Capital W 127–107 Keith Erickson (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,277		 20–31 W 1
52 January 31 Portland W 112–100 Charlie Scott (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,252		 21–31 W 2
February: 4–12 (home: 4–3; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
53 February 1 @ Los Angeles L 110–121 Gary Melchionni,
Dick Van Arsdale (20)		 The Forum
13,478		 21–32 L 1
54 February 2 Los Angeles W 119–112 Dick Van Arsdale,
Neal Walk (25)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,068		 22–32 W 1
55 February 5 @ New York L 90–106 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Madison Square Garden
18,884		 22–33 L 1
56 February 6 @ Capital L 101–109 Clem Haskins (23) Capital Centre
6,738		 22–34 L 2
57 February 8 Detroit L 94–99 Dick Van Arsdale (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,511		 22–35 L 3
58 February 10 Golden State L 105–121 Bob Christian (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,121		 22–36 L 4
59 February 12 @ Portland L 104–113 Keith Erickson (24) Memorial Coliseum
4,189		 22–37 L 5
60 February 14 Houston W 107–99 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,661		 23–37 W 1
61 February 16 Atlanta W 124–123 (OT) Neal Walk (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,518		 24–37 W 2
62 February 17 Portland W 112–100 Mike Bantom (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,575		 25–37 W 3
63 February 19 @ Chicago L 96–130 Dick Van Arsdale (20) Chicago Stadium
7,451		 25–38 L 1
64 February 22 @ Kansas-City Omaha L 104–119 Keith Erickson (23) Municipal Auditorium
8,322		 25–39 L 2
65 February 23 @ Detroit L 107–119 Dick Van Arsdale (18) Cobo Arena
7,926		 25–40 L 3
66 February 24 @ Cleveland L 97–101 Keith Erickson,
Neal Walk (22)		 Cleveland Arena
3,288		 25–41 L 4
67 February 26 @ Golden State L 100–120 Clem Haskins (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,234		 25–42 L 5
68 February 27 Chicago L 95–107 Keith Erickson (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,105		 25–43 L 6
March: 5–9 (home: 4–3; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
69 March 1 @ Houston L 111–117 Keith Erickson (23) Hofheinz Pavilion
2,547		 25–44 L 7
70 March 3 Kansas City-Omaha W 113–100 Dick Van Arsdale,
Neal Walk (23)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,780		 26–44 W 1
71 March 5 Chicago L 91–111 Neal Walk (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,156		 26–45 L 1
72 March 7 Boston L 97–99 Gary Melchionni (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,242		 26–46 L 2
73 March 9 Cleveland W 109–100 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,153		 27–46 W 1
74 March 11 @ Milwaukee L 92–105 Neal Walk (20) Milwaukee Arena
9,027		 27–47 L 1
75 March 12 @ Buffalo L 94–124 Keith Erickson (20) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
14,244		 27–48 L 2
76 March 13 @ Boston L 97–104 Corky Calhoun,
Keith Erickson,
Dick Van Arsdale (15)		 Boston Garden
6,751		 27–49 L 3
77 March 15 @ Philadelphia L 101–108 Keith Erickson (24) Hershey, PA
4,473		 27–50 L 4
78 March 17 @ Seattle W 133–108 Keith Erickson (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,007		 28–50 W 1
79 March 20 New York L 104–106 (OT) Keith Erickson,
Neal Walk (18)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,054		 28–51 L 1
80 March 22 Buffalo W 126–119 Mike Bantom,
Clem Haskins,
Gary Melchionni (22)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,687		 29–51 W 1
81 March 24 Golden State W 134–121 Keith Erickson (40) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,011		 30–51 W 2
82 March 27 @ Seattle L 123–127 Clem Haskins (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,528		 30–52 L 1
1973–74 schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star

Season

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
Mike Bantom763726.1.399.6626.82.1.7.610.1
Corky Calhoun775428.7.461.7605.31.8.9.48.2
Bill Chamberlain28113.1.438.6962.91.3.7.45.5
Bob Christian81115.4.486.7024.21.2.2.44.8
Keith Erickson*664830.8.477.8016.33.11.0.314.6
Lamar Green722015.3.407.5594.90.6.4.54.1
Clem Haskins812022.5.460.8422.73.21.0.211.1
Connie Hawkins*8727.9.486.6675.43.51.0.411.3
Gary Melchionni691518.1.460.860^2.12.1.6.17.2
Jim Owens1705.9.538†.7860.50.9.3.03.1
Joe Reaves*705.4.545†.3641.10.1.0.32.3
Charlie Scott525138.5+.459.7814.35.2+1.9+.425.4+
Dick Van Arsdale787636.3+.500†.853^2.84.2+1.2+.217.8+
Neal Walk828031.1.460.79110.24.0.9.716.8

* – 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 (United States Bob Carrington)
1977 third-round draft pick (United States Eddie Johnson)
 To Phoenix Suns
United States Bob Christian
October 9, 1973 To Capital Bullets
United States Walt Wesley		 To Phoenix Suns
1974 third-round draft pick (United States Earl Williams)
1975 third-round draft pick (United States Bayard Forrest)
October 30, 1973 To Los Angeles Lakers
United States Connie Hawkins		 To Phoenix Suns
United States Keith Erickson
1974 second-round draft pick (United States Fred Saunders)
January 24, 1974 To Golden State Warriors
1975 third-round draft pick (United States Otis Johnson)		 To Phoenix Suns
United States Bill Chamberlain

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
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