1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season

NBA professional basketball team season

1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

Head coach| John MacLeod
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| 30-52 (.366)
Place| Division: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish| Did not qualify

* * *

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television| KTAR-TV
Radio| KTAR
| < 1972–73  | 1974–75 >

|

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

[edit]

### NBA draft

[edit]

Main article: 1973 NBA draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | College

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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

[edit]

Phoenix Suns roster

Players | Coaches
| Pos. | # | Name | Height | Weight | DOB (Y-M-D) | From

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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 | 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

* John MacLeod (Bellarmine)

Assistant coach(es)

* Denny Price (Oklahoma)

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

## Regular season

[edit]

### Standings

[edit]

Pacific Division

* v
* t
* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Neutral  |  Div

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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

* v
* t
* e

|

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

|
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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

[edit]

### All-Star

[edit]

* Charlie Scott was selected to replace Jerry West in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.

### Season

[edit]

* Dick Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
* Mike Bantom was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

## Player statistics

[edit]

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

[edit]

Player  | GP  | GS  | MPG  | FG%  | FT%  | RPG  | APG  | SPG  | BPG  | PPG

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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

[edit]

### Trades

[edit]

October 8, 1973  | To Atlanta Hawks

* * *

1976 second-round draft pick ( Bob Carrington)

1977 third-round draft pick ( Eddie Johnson)
| To Phoenix Suns

* * *

Bob Christian

|
|

October 9, 1973  | To Capital Bullets

* * *

Walt Wesley | To Phoenix Suns

* * *

1974 third-round draft pick ( Earl Williams)

1975 third-round draft pick ( Bayard Forrest)
October 30, 1973  | To Los Angeles Lakers

* * *

Connie Hawkins | To Phoenix Suns

* * *

Keith Erickson

1974 second-round draft pick ( Fred Saunders)
January 24, 1974  | To Golden State Warriors

* * *

1975 third-round draft pick ( Otis Johnson)  | To Phoenix Suns

* * *

Bill Chamberlain

### Free agents

[edit]

#### Subtractions

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Standings on Basketball Reference

* v
* t
* e

Phoenix Suns seasons

* Franchise
* Seasons

1960s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  1968–69

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1970s|

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 |  1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

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* v
* t
* e

1973–74 NBA season by team

* 1973 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

| Atlantic|

* Boston
* Buffalo
* New York
* Philadelphia

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Central|

* Atlanta
* Capital
* Cleveland
* Houston

Western|

| Midwest|

* Chicago
* Detroit
* Kansas City-Omaha
* Milwaukee

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Pacific|

* Golden State
* Los Angeles
* Phoenix
* Portland
* Seattle

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Neutral ]: Neutral record
*[ Div ]: Division record