Professional basketball season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1977–78 Phoenix Suns season was the tenth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . The team finished second in a Pacific division that did not have a team finish below .500, as the Suns returned to the playoffs for the third time in franchise history. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
Both Paul Westphal and Walter Davis , a rookie from the University of North Carolina , were selected to participate in the All-Star Game and by the end of the season, both were members of the All-NBA Second Team . Davis became the second Sun in three years to be selected as Rookie of the Year , an award teammate Alvan Adams had collected after the 1975–76 season .
Both Westphal and rookie Davis averaged career-highs in scoring, averaging 25.2 and 24.2 points a game. The combined averaged of 49.4 points made for the league's highest-scoring duo on the season. Additionally, Westphal and Davis broke a franchise record of 45.9 points a game, a mark set by Connie Hawkins and Dick Van Arsdale during the 1969–70 season .
The Suns used their first-round pick to select swingman Walter Davis from North Carolina . Davis averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in four years with the Tar Heels . He would make an immediate impact with the Suns, helping the team make a 15-game improvement and return to the playoffs. Averaging 24.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game his first season, Davis was named Rookie of the Year , receiving 49 1/4 of 66 votes.[ 1] He would also be named to the All-NBA Second Team , and would finish fifth in Most Valuable Player voting, behind winner Bill Walton , George Gervin , David Thompson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .[ 2] Davis spent his first eleven seasons with the Suns before joining the Denver Nuggets as the league's second unrestricted free agent in 1988. He left as the Suns' all-time leading scorer (15,666 points), and had his #6 jersey retired by the franchise in 1994.
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
C
21
Awtrey, Dennis
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1948-02-22
Santa Clara
G
23
Bratz, Mike
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1955-10-17
Stanford
G
10
Buse, Don
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1950-08-10
Evansville
G/F
6
Davis, Walter
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1954-09-09
North Carolina
C
35
Forrest, Bayard
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1954-07-08
Grand Canyon
F
25
Griffin, Greg
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1952-09-06
Idaho State
F
24
Heard, Garfield
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1948-05-03
Oklahoma
G
30
Lee, Ron
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1952-11-02
Oregon
F
18
Perry, Curtis
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1948-09-13
Missouri State
F
14
Scott, Alvin
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1955-09-14
Oral Roberts
F
32
Terrell, Ira (IN)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1954-06-19
SMU
G
44
Westphal, Paul
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1950-11-30
USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1977–78 NBA records
Team
ATL
BOS
BUF
CHI
CLE
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
KCK
LAL
MIL
NJN
NOJ
NYK
PHI
PHO
POR
SAS
SEA
WAS
Atlanta
—
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–1
1–3
Boston
2–2
—
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–1
2–2
1–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–3
Buffalo
1–3
1–3
—
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–3
3–1
1–3
1–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
Chicago
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–2
2–2
1–3
3–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–1
Cleveland
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–2
0–4
0–4
3–1
2–2
Denver
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
—
2–2
2–2
3–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–1
1–3
3–1
Detroit
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
—
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–0
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
Golden State
3–1
2–2
3–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
—
2–1
3–1
3–1
0–4
2–2
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
2–2
Houston
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–2
—
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
Indiana
1–3
1–2
3–1
1–3
1–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
3–1
Kansas City
1–2
2–2
2–1
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
Los Angeles
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
4–0
3–1
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–3
2–2
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
4–0
4–0
1–3
—
3–1
2–1
3–1
1–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
New Jersey
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
—
0–4
1–3
0–4
2–2
0–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
New Orleans
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–2
1–2
4–0
—
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
0–4
New York
2–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
1–3
3–1
3–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
—
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–1
2–2
Philadelphia
2–2
4–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–1
4–0
2–2
3–1
—
2–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
Phoenix
1–3
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
1–2
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
Portland
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
3–1
1–3
3–0
2–2
3–1
—
2–2
3–1
2–1
San Antonio
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
4–0
1–2
2–1
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
2–2
2–2
Seattle
1–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
4–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
—
1–3
Washington
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
2–2
3–1
—
1977–78 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 34–7; road: 15–26)
October: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2)
November: 8–4 (home: 6–0; road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
7
November 3
@ San Antonio
W 110–89
Walter Davis (24)
HemisFair Arena 8,394
4–3
8
November 4, 1977 6:05 p.m. MST
@ Washington
L 96–113
Ron Lee (21)
Capital Centre 8,742
4–4
9
November 5
@ Chicago
L 94–111
Walter Davis (25)
Chicago Stadium 13,424
4–5
10
November 10
New Orleans
W 127–111
Alvan Adams (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,297
5–5
11
November 13
Indiana
W 116–107
Ron Lee (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,550
6–5
12
November 18
Chicago
W 103–101
Walter Davis ,Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,543
7–5
13
November 20
San Antonio
W 134–112
Alvan Adams (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,677
8–5
14
November 22
Los Angeles
W 118–107
Walter Davis (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,130
9–5
15
November 24
@ Cleveland
L 82–97
Paul Westphal (22)
Coliseum at Richfield 15,445
9–6
16
November 25
@ Indiana
W 118–110
Alvan Adams ,Paul Westphal (30)
Market Square Arena 15,448
10–6
17
November 27
Denver
W 115–97
Paul Westphal (48)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,658
11–6
18
November 29
@ Portland
L 96–108
Walter Davis ,Paul Westphal (25)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
11–7
December: 10–6 (home: 5–2; road: 5–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
19
December 2
Portland
L 103–106
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
11–8
20
December 4
Atlanta
L 89–96
Alvan Adams (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,577
11–9
21
December 6
@ Kansas City
W 103–92
Walter Davis (29)
Kemper Arena 5,976
12–9
22
December 7
@ Detroit
W 113–107 (OT)
Walter Davis ,Paul Westphal (27)
Cobo Arena 3,588
13–9
23
December 10
Houston
W 110–93
Walter Davis (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,761
14–9
24
December 14
Buffalo
W 113–103
Paul Westphal (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,597
15–9
25
December 16
@ New Orleans
W 126–113
Walter Davis (24)
Louisiana Superdome 8,172
16–9
26
December 17
@ Houston
W 101–97
Paul Westphal (26)
The Summit 8,134
17–9
27
December 18
@ Atlanta
L 129–134 (2OT)
Walter Davis (33)
Omni Coliseum 8,062
17–10
28
December 20
@ New York
W 110–99
Paul Westphal (32)
Madison Square Garden 13,548
18–10
29
December 21
@ Philadelphia
L 119–125
Walter Davis (35)
The Spectrum 14,671
18–11
30
December 23
Boston
W 129–110
Paul Westphal (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
19–11
31
December 26
@ Denver
L 108–127
Walter Davis (23)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,297
19–12
32
December 27
Seattle
W 131–105
Ron Lee (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,543
20–12
33
December 29
Kansas City
W 110–104
Walter Davis ,Paul Westphal (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
21–12
34
December 30
@ Seattle
L 110–121
Paul Westphal (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,098
21–13
January: 12–2 (home: 8–0; road: 4–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
35
January 3
@ Milwaukee
W 125–103
Paul Westphal (34)
MECCA Arena 8,571
22–13
36
January 4
@ New Jersey
L 83–115
Paul Westphal (21)
Rutgers Athletic Center 4,067
22–14
37
January 5
@ Boston
W 121–111
Paul Westphal (43)
Hartford Civic Center 10,019
23–14
38
January 7
@ Buffalo
W 107–97
Paul Westphal (29)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 7,029
24–14
39
January 11
New Orleans
W 142–99
Walter Davis (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
25–14
40
January 13
Detroit
W 111–100
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
26–14
41
January 15
Cleveland
W 113–104
Walter Davis (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,787
27–14
42
January 19
New York
W 134–114
Paul Westphal (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,935
28–14
43
January 20
@ Golden State
L 104–119
Walter Davis (31)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,237
28–15
44
January 22, 1978 4:45 p.m. MST
Washington
W 114–101
Paul Westphal (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
29–15
45
January 25
Houston
W 118–96
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,277
30–15
46
January 27
Philadelphia
W 110–101
Walter Davis (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
31–15
47
January 29
New Jersey
W 131–100
Bayard Forrest (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,327
32–15
48
January 31
@ Kansas City
W 112–102
Walter Davis (21)
Omaha Civic Auditorium 5,182
33–15
February: 5–8 (home: 4–1; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
49
February 1
@ Detroit
L 120–127
Walter Davis (26)
Cobo Arena 5,143
33–16
50
February 3
Milwaukee
W 115–105
Walter Davis (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
34–16
All-Star Break
51
February 9
Atlanta
W 125–98
Walter Davis (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,877
35–16
52
February 12, 1978 4:45 p.m. MST
Washington
W 121–109
Paul Westphal (43)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,467
36–16
53
February 14
@ Portland
L 100–113
Walter Davis (39)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
36–17
54
February 16
Boston
L 95–98
Walter Davis (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
36–18
55
February 17
@ Golden State
L 92–111
Alvan Adams ,Walter Davis (16)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,185
36–19
56
February 18
Indiana
W 114–101
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
37–19
57
February 21
@ Buffalo
W 114–111
Walter Davis (32)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 4,409
38–19
58
February 22
@ Atlanta
L 95–107
Paul Westphal (37)
Charlotte Coliseum 5,843
38–20
59
February 24, 1978 6:05 p.m. MST
@ Washington
L 120–121 (OT)
Paul Westphal (35)
Capital Centre 12,432
38–21
60
February 25
@ New York
L 115–122
Paul Westphal (27)
Madison Square Garden 17,197
38–22
61
February 28
@ Chicago
L 115–126
Walter Davis (36)
Chicago Stadium 14,713
38–23
March: 9–7 (home: 7–2; road: 2–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
62
March 1
Detroit
L 102–115
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,161
38–24
63
March 3
Milwaukee
W 132–126
Paul Westphal (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,139
39–24
64
March 5
Philadelphia
L 92–104
Walter Davis (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,145
39–25
65
March 7
@ Denver
W 126–112
Walter Davis (34)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,428
40–25
66
March 9
Chicago
W 112–103
Paul Westphal (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,748
41–25
67
March 11
Los Angeles
W 120–114
Walter Davis (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
42–25
68
March 12
@ Los Angeles
L 112–128
Paul Westphal (29)
The Forum 17,505
42–26
69
March 14
@ Milwaukee
L 106–121
Walter Davis (38)
MECCA Arena 10,938
42–27
70
March 15
@ New Jersey
L 98–117
Alvan Adams (21)
Rutgers Athletic Center 4,260
42–28
71
March 17
@ Boston
L 108–115
Paul Westphal (24)
Boston Garden 15,276
42–29
72
March 19
@ Cleveland
W 123–112
Paul Westphal (39)
Coliseum at Richfield 15,622
43–29
73
March 21
@ Indiana
L 115–119
Walter Davis (27)
Market Square Arena 10,633
43–30
74
March 23
New York
W 120–108
Walter Davis (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
44–30
75
March 25
Buffalo
W 112–106
Alvan Adams (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,642
45–30
76
March 29
Portland
W 127–94
Paul Westphal (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
46–30
77
March 31
Kansas City
W 136–112
Paul Westphal (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,590
47–30
April: 2–3 (home: 2–1; road: 0–2)
1977–78 schedule
1978 playoff game log
First Round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
1978 schedule
Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game . It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 264,006 votes.
Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game . It was his first All-Star selection.
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Alvan Adams
70
49
27.3
.485
.730
8.1
3.2
1.2
.9
15.5
Dennis Awtrey
81
34
20.0
.424
.633
3.7
2.0
.2
.3
3.6
Mike Bratz
80
0
11.7
.403
.824
1.4
1.5
.5
.1
4.7
Don Buse
82
82
31.1
.458
.824
3.0
4.8
2.3
.2
8.4
Walter Davis
81
81
32.0
.526
.830
6.0
3.4
1.4
.2
24.2
Bayard Forrest
64
0
13.9
.466
.476
3.9
2.0
.4
.5
4.2
Greg Griffin
36
0
11.7
.361
.639
2.9
0.7
.4
.0
4.0
Garfield Heard
80
73
26.2
.424
.612
8.2
1.7
1.6
1.3
7.8
Ron Lee
82
2
23.5
.439
.746
3.1
3.7
2.7
.2
12.2
Curtis Perry
45
4
18.2
.453
.785
5.6
1.1
.8
.5
6.0
Alvin Scott
81
5
19.0
.488
.691
4.4
1.1
.6
.5
6.1
Paul Westphal
80
80
31.0
.516
.813
2.1
5.5
1.7
.4
25.2
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Alvan Adams
2
2
35.5
.455
1.000
8.0
2.0
1.0
.5
16.0
Dennis Awtrey
2
0
12.0
.250
1.000
1.0
1.5
.5
.0
1.5
Mike Bratz
2
0
4.5
.200
.
0.0
0.5
.0
.0
1.0
Don Buse
2
2
38.0
.364
.
2.5
2.0
2.0
.0
4.0
Walter Davis
2
2
33.0
.475
.750
8.5
4.0
1.5
.0
25.0
Bayard Forrest
1
0
3.0
1.000
.
0.0
0.0
.0
.0
2.0
Greg Griffin
2
0
12.5
.429
.
2.0
1.5
.5
.5
3.0
Garfield Heard
2
2
31.0
.353
.500
8.0
2.5
1.0
2.0
6.5
Ron Lee
2
0
20.5
.313
1.000
3.0
1.5
2.0
.0
6.0
Alvin Scott
2
0
18.5
.500
.833
3.0
1.5
1.0
.0
6.5
Paul Westphal
2
2
33.0
.468
.889
3.0
9.5
.5
.0
26.0
Date
Player
Contract
Old Team
July 23, 1977
Freeman Blade
Undisclosed
February 16, 1978
Greg Griffin
Undisclosed
Phoenix Suns
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s