1972–73_Phoenix_Suns_season
1972–73 Phoenix Suns season
NBA team 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.
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Quick Facts Phoenix Suns season, Head coach ...
| 1972–73 Phoenix Suns season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach |
| ||
| General manager | Jerry Colangelo | ||
| Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch | ||
| Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 38–44 (.463) | ||
| Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 6th (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | KTAR-TV | ||
| Radio | KTAR | ||
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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.
NBA draft
Main article: 1972 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| 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 |
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More information Phoenix Suns roster, Players ...
| Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Standings
More information W, L ...
| 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 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 1972–73 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | — |
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Game log
More information 1972–73 game log Total: 38–44 (home: 22–19; road: 16–25), Game ...
| 1972–73 game log Total: 38–44 (home: 22–19; road: 16–25) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
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November: 7–9 (home: 5–1; road: 2–8)
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December: 9–6 (home: 6–2; road: 3–4)
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January: 6–8 (home: 2–6; road: 4–2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 7–9 (home: 4–4; road: 3–5)
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March: 6–8 (home: 3–4; road: 3–4)
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| 1972–73 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All-Star
- Charlie Scott was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.
- Connie Hawkins was selected to replace Rick Barry in the All-Star Game. It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection.
More information Legend ...
| 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 | ||||
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Season
More information Player, GP ...
| 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 |
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Trades
| 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)
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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
Subtractions
More information Date, Player ...
| 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) |
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