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.

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
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From
F 40 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951-12-03 Saint Joseph's
F 20 Calhoun, Corky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-11-01 Penn
F 24 Chamberlain, Bill 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1949-12-16 North Carolina
C 31 Christian, Bob 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1946-05-11 Grambling State
G/F 14 Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
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
G 25 Melchionni, Gary 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1951-01-19 Duke
G/F 45 Owens, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1950-05-01 Arizona State
G 33 Scott, Charlie Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948-12-15 North Carolina
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
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (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 47 35 .573 – 30–11 17–24 – 14–12
Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 3 23–18 20–20 1–0 15–11
Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 11 22–19 14–27 – 12–14
Phoenix Suns 30 52 .366 17 24–17 6–34 0–1 11–15
Portland Trail Blazers 27 55 .329 20 22–19 5–34 0–2 13–13
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 59 23 .720 –
2 x-Chicago Bulls 54 28 .659 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 7
4 y-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 12
5 Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 15
6 Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 23
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings 33 49 .402 26
8 Phoenix Suns 30 52 .366 29
9 Portland Trail Blazers 27 55 .329 32

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 — 1–5 2–4 4–4 1–3 4–3 0–4 1–3 5–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–5 3–3 1–3 2–2 4–0
Boston 5–1 — 5–2 2–4 2–2 4–2 3–1 3–1 4–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 7–1 3–1 4–0 2–2
Buffalo 4–2 2–5 — 3–3 1–3 5–1 1–3 1–3 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–4 6–1 3–1 3–1 2–2
Capital 4–4 4–2 3–3 — 1–3 6–1 2–2 3–1 4–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–3 4–2 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 4–0 5–2 4–2 4–0 5–2 1–5 3–3 2–2 3–1 4–2 4–2 4–2
Cleveland 3–4 2–4 1–5 1–6 0–4 — 2–2 0–4 4–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–5 5–1 1–3 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–5 2–2 — 5–1 3–1 4–2 4–2 3–4 1–3 2–2 6–0 5–1 5–1
Golden State 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–4 4–0 1–5 — 4–0 3–3 4–2 3–3 1–3 3–1 5–2 3–4 3–3
Houston 2–5 2–4 2–4 3–4 0–4 4–4 1–3 0–4 — 2–2 2–2 0–4 4–2 4–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Kansas City-Omaha 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 4–0 2–4 3–3 2–2 — 1–5 0–7 1–3 1–3 4–2 4–2 2–4
Los Angeles 0–4 2–2 4–0 2–2 5–1 1–3 2–4 2–4 2–2 5–1 — 4–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 4–3 4–3
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–3 4–0 4–3 3–3 4–0 7–0 2–4 — 2–2 4–0 5–1 6–0 4–2
New York 5–1 2–5 4–4 3–3 2–2 5–1 3–1 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 4–3 3–1 2–2 4–0
Philadelphia 3–3 1–7 1–6 2–4 1–3 1–5 2–2 1–3 2–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 3–4 — 3–1 2–2 0–4
Phoenix 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–1 0–6 2–5 2–2 2–4 2–4 1–5 1–3 1–3 — 3–3 4–3
Portland 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 4–3 1–3 2–4 3–4 0–6 2–2 2–2 3–3 — 3–3
Seattle 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–4 2–2 1–5 3–3 3–1 4–2 3–4 2–4 0–4 4–0 3–4 3–3 —

Game log

1973–74 game log
Total: 30–52 (home: 24–17; road: 6–35)
October: 2–8 (home: 2–3; road: 0–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Record Streak
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 Bantom 76 37 26.1 .399 .662 6.8 2.1 .7 .6 10.1
Corky Calhoun 77 54 28.7 .461 .760 5.3 1.8 .9 .4 8.2
Bill Chamberlain 28 1 13.1 .438 .696 2.9 1.3 .7 .4 5.5
Bob Christian 81 1 15.4 .486 .702 4.2 1.2 .2 .4 4.8
Keith Erickson* 66 48 30.8 .477 .801 6.3 3.1 1.0 .3 14.6
Lamar Green 72 20 15.3 .407 .559 4.9 0.6 .4 .5 4.1
Clem Haskins 81 20 22.5 .460 .842 2.7 3.2 1.0 .2 11.1
Connie Hawkins* 8 7 27.9 .486 .667 5.4 3.5 1.0 .4 11.3
Gary Melchionni 69 15 18.1 .460 .860^ 2.1 2.1 .6 .1 7.2
Jim Owens 17 0 5.9 .538† .786 0.5 0.9 .3 .0 3.1
Joe Reaves* 7 0 5.4 .545† .364 1.1 0.1 .0 .3 2.3
Charlie Scott 52 51 38.5+ .459 .781 4.3 5.2+ 1.9+ .4 25.4+
Dick Van Arsdale 78 76 36.3+ .500† .853^ 2.8 4.2+ 1.2+ .2 17.8+
Neal Walk 82 80 31.1 .460 .791 10.2 4.0 .9 .7 16.8

* – 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

Free agents

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

Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973%E2%80%9374_Phoenix_Suns_season
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