1972–73 Phoenix Suns season

(Redirected from 1972-73 Phoenix Suns season)

The 1972–73 Phoenix Suns season was the fifth for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, as well as the first season with Al McCoy taking on broadcasting duties for the team. The season began under head coach Butch Van Breda Kolff for the first seven games, before Jerry Colangelo finished coaching duties for the team. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1972–73 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record38–44 (.463)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

Charlie Scott had played in six games for the Suns one season ago, after a late-season switch to the NBA from the ABA, and his first full season with the Suns was arguably his best. Scott was named to his first NBA All-Star Team, joining teammate Connie Hawkins, who was selected to his fourth and final All-Star Game of his NBA career. In addition to Scott leading the Suns with his 6.1 assist per game average, his 2,048-season-point total was fifth in the league (and the only 2,000+-point season of his career). His average of 25.3 points per contest was sixth-best in the NBA. Center Neal Walk averaged career-bests in both points and rebounds, averaging 20.2 and 12.5 on the season. Walk's rebounding average was just shy of Paul Silas's franchise record of 12.5. Dick Van Arsdale averaged 18.4 points on the season, while Connie Hawkins contributed 16.1 per contest.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 4 David "Corky" Calhoun Forward   United States Pennsylvania
3 33 Scott English Forward   United States Texas El-Paso
3 34 Don Buse Guard   United States Evansville
3 42 Claude Terry Guard   United States Stanford
4 59 Matt Gantt Forward   United States St. Bonaventure
5 75 Wardell Dyson Center   United States Shaw
6 92 Charles Edge Forward   United States LeMoyne-Owen
7 109 Bernie Fryer Guard   United States Brigham Young
8 125 Russell Golden Forward   United States Jackson State
9 140 Bill Kennedy Guard   United States Arizona State
10 153 Al Vilcheck Center   United States Louisville
11 164 John Belcher Center   United States Arkansas State
12 172 Mark Soderberg Center   United States Utah
13 179 Kelly Utley Guard   United States Shaw
14 186 Ray Golson Forward   United States West Texas State

Roster

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Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
F 20 Calhoun, Corky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-11-01 Penn
F 14 English, Scott 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1947-01-13 Stanford
F 16 Green, Lamar 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State
G 11 Haskins, Clem 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1943-07-11 Western Kentucky
F/C 42 Hawkins, Connie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa
G 1 Layton, Dennis 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1948-12-24 USC
G 33 Scott, Charlie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-12-15 North Carolina
G/F 23 Stovall, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1948-08-16 Arizona State
G/F 5 Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
C 41 Walk, Neal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida
C 31 Wesley, Walt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945-01-25 Kansas
Head coach

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 Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 60 22 .732 30–11 28–11 2–0 22–4
x-Golden State Warriors 47 35 .573 13 27–14 18–20 2–1 14–12
Phoenix Suns 38 44 .463 22 22–19 15–25 1–0 14–12
Seattle SuperSonics 26 56 .317 34 16–25 10–29 0–2 9–17
Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256 39 13–28 8–32 0–1 6–20
#
Team W L PCT
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732
2 y-Los Angeles Lakers 60 22 .732
3 x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622
4 x-Golden State Warriors 47 35 .573
5 Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488
6 Phoenix Suns 38 44 .463
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings 36 46 .439
8 Seattle SuperSonics 26 56 .317
9 Portland Trail Blazers 21 61 .256

Record vs. opponents

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1972–73 NBA Records
Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta 3–4 1–5 5–1 2–2 3–4 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–3 6–0 3–1 4–0 3–1
Baltimore 4–3 1–5 5–1 0–4 8–0 2–2 3–1 5–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–3 5–1 2–2 4–0 4–0
Boston 5–1 5–1 7–0 3–1 5–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 4–4 7–0 4–0 4–0 4–0
Buffalo 1–5 1–5 0–7 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–6 7–1 1–3 2–2 2–2
Chicago 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–4 3–3 4–0 5–2 1–5 2–4 3–1 4–0 4–2 5–1 5–1
Cleveland 4–3 0–8 1–5 5–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 4–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–6 6–0 1–3 1–3 3–1
Detroit 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 4–3 3–1 2–4 1–3 3–3 1–5 2–5 1–3 3–1 4–2 6–0 2–4
Golden State 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–3 3–1 4–2 3–1 4–2 3–4 1–5 2–2 4–0 2–4 5–1 4–3
Houston 4–4 2–5 1–5 5–1 0–4 3–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–5 5–1 2–2 2–2 2–2
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–5 2–2 3–3 2–4 4–0 1–5 1–6 0–4 3–1 3–3 4–2 4–2
Los Angeles 1–3 3–1 0–4 4–0 5–1 3–1 5–1 4–3 3–1 5–1 3–3 2–2 4–0 6–1 6–0 6–0
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 3–1 5–2 5–1 3–1 6–1 3–3 2–2 3–1 5–1 5–1 5–1
New York 3–3 3–3 4–4 6–1 1–3 6–0 3–1 2–2 5–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 6–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Philadelphia 0–6 1–5 0–7 1–7 0–4 0–6 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–6 0–4 1–3 1–3
Phoenix 1–3 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–4 4–2 2–2 3–3 1–6 1–5 1–3 4–0 5–2 4–2
Portland 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 3–1 0–6 1–5 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 1–3 3–1 2–5 3–4
Seattle 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 1–3 4–2 3–4 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 0–4 3–1 2–4 4–3

Game log

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1972–73 game log
Total: 38–44 (home: 22–19; road: 16–25)
October: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
1 October 13 Milwaukee L 105–117 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,408
0–1 L 1
2 October 14 @ Portland W 124–120 Charlie Scott (38) Memorial Coliseum
6,804
1–1 W 1
3 October 15 Baltimore W 107–98 Neal Walk (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,372
2–1 W 2
4 October 21 Seattle W 129–117 Charlie Scott (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,315
3–1 W 3
5 October 24 Chicago L 106–107 Charlie Scott (42) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,039
3–2 L 1
6 October 27 @ Seattle L 115–120 Charlie Scott (23) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,201
3–3 L 2
7 October 29 @ Los Angeles L 123–133 Charlie Scott (25) The Forum
16,148
3–4 L 3
November: 7–9 (home: 5–1; road: 2–8)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
8 November 3 @ Chicago L 100–115 Neal Walk (19) Chicago Stadium
11,089
3–5 L 4
9 November 4 @ Milwaukee W 105–104 Charlie Scott,
Neal Walk (20)
Milwaukee Arena
10,746
4–5 W 1
10 November 5 @ Cleveland W 107–106 Dick Van Arsdale (28) Cleveland Arena
3,624
5–5 W 2
11 November 8 Cleveland W 107–99 Charlie Scott (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,264
6–5 W 3
12 November 10 Houston W 115–109 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,613
7–5 W 4
13 November 12 Philadelphia W 119–108 Charlie Scott (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,235
8–5 W 5
14 November 14 @ New York L 97–103 Charlie Scott (25) Madison Square Garden
18,720
8–6 L 1
15 November 15 @ Boston L 94–113 Charlie Scott (33) Boston Garden
8,979
8–7 L 2
16 November 17 @ Baltimore L 106–117 Charlie Scott (27) Baltimore Civic Center
5,429
8–8 L 3
17 November 18 @ Atlanta L 122–126 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Omni Coliseum
7,047
8–9 L 4
18 November 21 @ Kansas City-Omaha L 96–101 Charlie Scott (23) Municipal Auditorium
5,067
8–10 L 5
19 November 23 Detroit W 128–122 Charlie Scott (42) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,576
9–10 W 1
20 November 25 Los Angeles L 109–116 Neal Walk (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,482
9–11 L 1
21 November 26 @ Los Angeles L 107–112 Neal Walk (25) The Forum
17,505
9–12 L 2
22 November 28 @ Golden State L 102–110 Charlie Scott (24) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,043
9–13 L 3
23 November 29 Atlanta W 109–98 Connie Hawkins,
Charlie Scott (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,241
10–13 W 1
December: 9–6 (home: 6–2; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
24 December 1 Golden State W 115–106 Connie Hawkins (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,067
11–13 W 2
25 December 3 Milwaukee L 101–119 Connie Hawkins (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,531
11–14 L 1
26 December 5 @ Buffalo L 97–108 Dick Van Arsdale (29) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
3,573
11–15 L 2
27 December 6 @ Detroit L 105–114 Charlie Scott (28) Cobo Arena
2,864
11–16 L 3
28 December 7 @ Philadelphia W 117–102 Neal Walk (27) Pittsburgh, PA
3,878
12–16 W 1
29 December 9 Portland W 116–97 Neal Walk (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,801
13–16 W 2
30 December 10 @ Seattle L 102–110 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,628
13–17 L 1
31 December 13 Boston L 100–105 Connie Hawkins (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,596
13–18 L 2
32 December 17 Kansas City-Omaha W 112–102 Charlie Scott (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,537
14–18 W 1
33 December 19 New York W 117–84 Clem Haskins (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,197
15–18 W 2
34 December 22 @ Los Angeles W 118–110 Neal Walk (33) The Forum
16,733
16–18 W 3
35 December 25 Chicago W 115–108 Dick Van Arsdale (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,420
17–18 W 4
36 December 26 @ Houston L 110–113 Charlie Scott (32) Hofheinz Pavilion
3,577
17–19 L 1
37 December 29 Portland W 106–99 Charlie Scott (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,310
18–19 W 1
38 December 30 @ Portland W 107–104 Charlie Scott (38) Memorial Coliseum
8,349
19–19 W 2
January: 6–8 (home: 2–6; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
39 January 2 @ Cleveland L 88–111 Connie Hawkins (19) Cleveland Arena
2,850
19–20 L 1
40 January 3 @ Detroit L 105–119 Charlie Scott (27) Cobo Arena
3,626
19–21 L 2
41 January 5 @ Chicago W 126–115 Dick Van Arsdale (37) Chicago Stadium
9,091
20–21 W 1
42 January 6 @ Kansas City-Omaha W 118–112 Charlie Scott (28) Omaha Civic Auditorium
5,183
21–21 W 2
43 January 10 Detroit W 123–121 Charlie Scott (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,099
22–21 W 3
44 January 12 Golden State L 107–108 Charlie Scott (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,103
22–22 L 1
45 January 13 @ Golden State W 116–110 Neal Walk (28) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,484
23–22 W 1
46 January 14 Baltimore L 94–95 Charlie Scott (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,186
23–23 L 1
47 January 16 New York L 101–102 Dick Van Arsdale (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,252
23–24 L 2
48 January 18 Kansas City-Omaha L 96–119 Dick Van Arsdale (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,117
23–25 L 3
49 January 20 Los Angeles L 104–124 Neal Walk (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,608
23–26 L 4
All-Star Break
50 January 25 Seattle W 112–109 Charlie Scott (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,701
24–26 W 1
51 January 26 @ Portland W 120–116 Charlie Scott (33) Memorial Coliseum
10,057
25–26 W 2
52 January 27 Portland L 109–117 Dick Van Arsdale (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,215
25–27 L 1
February: 7–9 (home: 4–4; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
53 February 1 Los Angeles L 106–120 Neal Walk (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,705
25–28 L 2
54 February 3 Houston W 132–123 Charlie Scott,
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,282
26–28 W 1
55 February 6 @ Milwaukee L 111–126 Charlie Scott (29) Milwaukee Arena
9,285
26–29 L 1
56 February 7 @ Detroit L 107–113 Charlie Scott,
Dick Van Arsdale (21)
Cobo Arena
4,491
26–30 L 2
57 February 8 Seattle W 125–112 Charlie Scott (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,084
27–30 W 1
58 February 10 Philadelphia W 126–121 Charlie Scott (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,176
28–30 W 2
59 February 14 Buffalo W 124–107 Neal Walk (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,871
29–30 W 3
60 February 16 Atlanta L 104–111 Dick Van Arsdale (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,155
29–31 L 1
61 February 17 @ Houston L 111–127 Charlie Scott (41) Hofheinz Pavilion
3,119
29–32 L 2
62 February 18 Portland L 118–119 Neal Walk (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,260
29–33 L 3
63 February 20 @ Boston L 97–107 Charlie Scott (25) Boston Garden
9,954
29–34 L 4
64 February 21 @ Baltimore W 107–98 Charlie Scott (27) Baltimore Civic Center
5,525
30–34 W 1
65 February 23 @ Buffalo W 125–106 Charlie Scott (29) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
5,830
31–34 W 2
66 February 24 @ Chicago L 100–122 Charlie Scott (26) Chicago Stadium
12,753
31–35 L 1
67 February 25 @ Kansas City-Omaha W 111–109 Charlie Scott (24) Municipal Auditorium
10,007
32–35 W 1
68 February 28 Kansas City-Omaha L 107–109 Charlie Scott (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,230
32–36 L 1
March: 6–8 (home: 3–4; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance
Record Streak
69 March 4 Chicago L 117–118 (OT) Neal Walk (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,085
32–37 L 2
70 March 6 Cleveland W 110–102 Neal Walk (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,236
33–37 W 1
71 March 8 Boston L 134–141 (OT) Charlie Scott (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,052
33–38 L 1
72 March 10 Detroit L 110–117 Clem Haskins,
Charlie Scott (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,510
33–39 L 2
73 March 12 @ Milwaukee L 95–126 Neal Walk (22) Milwaukee Arena
10,746
33–40 L 3
74 March 13 @ New York L 111–115 Charlie Scott (33) Madison Square Garden
19,674
33–41 L 4
75 March 14 @ Philadelphia W 120–114 Charlie Scott (32) The Spectrum
5,641
34–41 W 1
76 March 16 @ Atlanta L 127–135 Charlie Scott (31) Omni Coliseum
6,512
34–42 L 1
77 March 18 @ Los Angeles L 113–131 Charlie Scott (35) The Forum
17,505
34–43 L 2
78 March 21 Buffalo W 134–124 (OT) Charlie Scott (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,603
35–43 W 1
79 March 23 Golden State W 125–124 Charlie Scott (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,197
36–43 W 2
80 March 25 Milwaukee L 112–114 Neal Walk (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,386
36–44 L 1
81 March 26 @ Golden State W 120–114 Connie Hawkins (29) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,677
37–44 W 1
82 March 28 @ Seattle W 127–125 Neal Walk (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,246
38–44 W 2
1972–73 schedule

Awards and honors

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All-Star

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Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played  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

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Player GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
Corky Calhoun 82 24.7 .469 .740 4.1 0.9 6.0
Scott English 29 6.8 .387 .724 1.5 0.5 3.2
Lamar Green 80 25.6 .431 .754 9.3 1.1 6.7
Clem Haskins 77 20.5 .464 .833 2.2 2.6 10.5
Connie Hawkins 75 36.9 .479 .797 8.5 4.1 16.1
Gus Johnson* 21 19.9 .381 .694 6.5 1.5 7.8
Mo Layton 65 15.2 .431 .756 1.2 2.1 7.1
Charlie Scott 81 37.8 .446 .784 4.2 6.1 25.3
Paul Stovall 25 8.4 .342 .632 2.4 0.5 3.0
Dick Van Arsdale 81 36.8 .476 .859 4.0 3.3 18.4
Neal Walk 81 38.4 .466 .786 12.4 3.5 20.2
Walt Wesley* 45 8.1 .406 .529 2.5 0.5 3.2

Transactions

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Trades

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April 7, 1972 To Houston Rockets
  Otto Moore
To Phoenix Suns
1972 first-round draft pick (  Corky Calhoun)
April 10, 1972 To Baltimore Bullets
1972 second-round draft pick (  Tom Patterson)
To Phoenix Suns
  Gus Johnson
September 19, 1972 To Los Angeles Lakers
1974 second-round draft pick (  Truck Robinson)
Future draft pick
To Phoenix Suns
  Paul Stovall
October 10, 1972 To Philadelphia 76ers
  Mel Counts
To Phoenix Suns
1973 second-round draft pick (  Gary Melchionni)
November 22, 1972 To Cleveland Cavaliers
1973 second-round draft pick (  Allan Hornyak)
To Phoenix Suns
  Walt Wesley

Free agents

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Subtractions

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Date Player Reason Left New Team
September 25, 1972 Jeff Webb Waived — (Retired)
September 29, 1972 Art Harris Waived Belgium Lions
October 9, 1972 John Wetzel Waived Atlanta Hawks
December 1, 1972 Gus Johnson Waived Indiana Pacers (ABA)

References

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