NBA team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1979–80 Phoenix Suns season was the 12th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and at 55–27, the team's best regular season record since the franchise's inception. The Suns defeated Western Conference foe Kansas City in the opening round of the playoffs , marking the first time the Suns had won a playoff series in back-to-back seasons. In the Western Conference semifinals, the Suns would lose to the Pacific-winning Los Angeles Lakers , who later went on to win the season's championship. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod , his seventh season with the team, and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
Paul Westphal led the Suns in scoring with a 21.9 point -per-game average and earned All-NBA First Team honors, while Walter Davis was second in team scoring with a 21.5 average. Both Westphal and Davis would return as selections to the All-Star Game . Truck Robinson and Alvan Adams provided an inside presence, averaging 17 and 15 points per game to go with nine and eight rebounds each. Robinson would play in just three of the eight Suns' playoff games, however.
Offseason [ edit ] NBA draft [ edit ] 1979–80 Phoenix Suns roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F/C 33 Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma 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 F/C 45 Cook, Jeff 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1956-10-21 Idaho State 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 (IN) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1954-07-08 Grand Canyon F 24 Heard, Garfield 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1948-05-03 Oklahoma G 22 High, Johnny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1957-04-25 Nevada C 53 Kelley, Rich 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1953-03-23 Stanford F 50 Kramer, Joel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1955-11-30 San Diego State F 21 Robinson, Leonard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1951-10-04 Tennessee State F 14 Scott, Alvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1955-09-14 Oral Roberts 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
Regular season [ edit ] Standings [ edit ] Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1979–80 NBA records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta — 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 4–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 4–2 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 Boston 4–2 — 2–0 4–2 2–0 6–0 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 5–1 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2 Chicago 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–5 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–4 2–4 0–2 Cleveland 2–4 2–4 0–2 — 1–1 6–0 2–0 2–4 2–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–5 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 Denver 1–1 0–2 4–2 1–1 — 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–6 1–5 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–1 3–3 1–5 3–3 1–1 Detroit 0–6 0–6 1–1 0–6 1–1 — 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 Golden State 0–2 0–2 2–4 0–2 3–3 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–5 0–6 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 0–2 3–3 0–6 3–3 0–2 Houston 4–2 0–6 1–1 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 — 4–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–3 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–4 Indiana 2–4 2–4 2–0 4–2 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–4 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–4 4–2 1–5 0–2 2–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 Kansas City 2–0 1–1 3–3 0–2 6–0 2–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 2–4 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 1–1 5–1 3–3 6–0 2–0 Los Angeles 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 4–2 — 3–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–4 2–0 5–1 4–2 6–0 1–1 Milwaukee 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 4–2 1–1 New Jersey 2–4 1–5 1–1 3–3 1–1 4–2 0–2 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 New York 2–4 1–5 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 — 0–6 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 Philadelphia 2–4 3–3 1–1 5–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 4–2 5–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 — 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 Phoenix 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 6–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 6–0 2–0 Portland 0–2 0–2 3–3 2–0 4–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 4–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 — 1–1 4–2 1–5 3–3 1–1 San Antonio 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–4 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 San Diego 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 3–3 2–0 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 — 3–3 5–1 1–1 Seattle 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 5–1 2–0 6–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 5–1 1–1 3–3 — 5–1 1–1 Utah 0–2 0–2 4–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 0–6 0–6 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 3–3 1–1 1–5 1–5 — 0–2 Washington 3–3 2–4 2–0 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 4–2 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 3–3 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 —
Game log [ edit ] 1979–80 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 36–5; road: 19–22) October: 7–4 (home: 4–1; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 1 October 12 Golden State W 97–89 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,785 1–0 W 1 2 October 14 Chicago W 112–102 Walter Davis (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,039 2–0 W 2 3 October 16 Seattle W 102–86 Alvan Adams (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,253 3–0 W 3 4 October 19 @ Milwaukee L 94–95 Paul Westphal (29) MECCA Arena 10,938 3–1 L 1 5 October 20 @ Chicago L 104–116 Alvan Adams (32) Chicago Stadium 12,117 3–2 L 2 6 October 21 @ Kansas City L 85–122 Truck Robinson (21) Kemper Arena 6,648 3–3 L 3 7 October 23 Milwaukee L 108–114 Truck Robinson (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,538 3–4 L 4 8 October 24 @ Golden State W 110–108 (OT) Paul Westphal (37) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,296 4–4 W 1 9 October 26 @ Seattle W 92–86 Walter Davis (22) Kingdome 18,514 5–4 W 2 10 October 28 @ Portland W 89–88 Paul Westphal (25) Memorial Coliseum 12,66 6–4 W 3 11 October 30 San Antonio W 142–109 Truck Robinson (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,489 7–4 W 4
November: 9–5 (home: 6–2; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 12 November 2 @ Los Angeles L 110–112 Alvan Adams (29) The Forum 14,344 7–5 L 1 13 November 6 @ Utah W 120–107 Paul Westphal (31) Salt Palace 6,197 8–5 W 1 14 November 7 San Diego L 102–114 Alvan Adams (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,097 8–6 L 1 15 November 9 Cleveland W 110–106 Truck Robinson (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,911 9–6 W 1 16 November 11 Denver W 116–91 Truck Robinson (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,118 10–6 W 2 17 November 14 Indiana W 104–100 Walter Davis (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,762 11–6 W 3 18 November 16 Portland W 98–97 Walter Davis (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,464 12–6 W 4 19 November 18 Golden State L 95–99 Walter Davis Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,409 12–7 L 1 20 November 20 @ San Diego L 110–117 Walter Davis (23) San Diego Sports Arena 6,992 12–8 L 2 21 November 21 Kansas City W 128–120 Walter Davis (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,704 13–8 W 1 22 November 23 Los Angeles W 126–112 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 14–8 W 2 23 November 24 @ Denver W 115–101 Walter Davis (40) McNichols Sports Arena 13,664 15–8 W 3 24 November 25 @ Portland W 87–86 Walter Davis (22) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 16–8 W 4 25 November 28 @ Seattle L 116–127 Paul Westphal (30) Kingdome 28,248 16–9 L 1
December: 10–5 (home: 6–0; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 26 December 1 Chicago W 99–86 Truck Robinson ,Paul Westphal (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 17–9 W 1 27 December 4 @ New York L 114–118 Paul Westphal (35) Madison Square Garden 11,042 17–10 L 1 28 December 5 @ New Jersey L 100–115 Walter Davis (28) Rutgers Athletic Center 5,162 17–11 L 2 29 December 7 @ Boston L 92–100 Walter Davis (27) Boston Garden 15,320 17–12 L 3 30 December 8 @ Philadelphia L 96–117 Truck Robinson (19) The Spectrum 12,051 17–13 L 4 31 December 11 @ Washington W 123–99 Paul Westphal (27) Capital Centre 8,216 18–13 W 1 32 December 13 Houston W 121–113 Walter Davis (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,841 19–13 W 2 33 December 15 Detroit W 126–105 Walter Davis (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,844 20–13 W 3 34 December 19 Utah W 117–99 Paul Westphal (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,501 21–13 W 4 35 December 21 @ Chicago W 127–117 Truck Robinson (27) Chicago Stadium 5,706 22–13 W 5 36 December 22 @ Kansas City W 115–111 Paul Westphal (30) Kemper Arena 8,868 23–13 W 6 37 December 23 @ Milwaukee W 106–103 Paul Westphal (26) MECCA Arena 10,938 24–13 W 7 38 December 26 Portland W 119–99 Truck Robinson (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 25–13 W 8 39 December 28 Kansas City W 118–112 Paul Westphal (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 26–13 W 9 40 December 30 @ Los Angeles L 105–113 Paul Westphal (29) The Forum 15,544 26–14 L 1
January: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 41 January 2 @ San Antonio L 109–118 Truck Robinson (29) HemisFair Arena 8,276 26–15 L 2 42 January 5 @ Houston L 110–111 Paul Westphal (26) The Summit 9,122 26–16 L 3 43 January 9 Golden State W 113–100 Walter Davis (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,706 27–16 W 1 44 January 12 @ Golden State L 96–107 Walter Davis (19) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,547 27–17 L 1 45 January 13 Utah W 106–103 Paul Westphal (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,725 28–17 W 1 46 January 15 @ Denver W 107–99 Paul Westphal (19) McNichols Sports Arena 13,057 29–17 W 2 47 January 16 @ Utah W 115–108 Truck Robinson (27) Salt Palace 6,588 30–17 W 3 48 January 17 Atlanta W 101–99 Paul Westphal (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 31–17 W 4 49 January 19 San Diego W 137–123 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 32–17 W 5 50 January 23 New York L 109–119 Paul Westphal (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,504 32–18 L 1 51 January 25 Milwaukee W 110–96 Truck Robinson (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 33–18 W 1 52 January 27 Philadelphia W 125–118 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 34–18 W 2 53 January 29 @ San Diego L 121–133 Truck Robinson (31) San Diego Sports Arena 11,428 34–19 L 1 54 January 30 Denver W 122–114 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,069 35–19 W 1
February: 8–5 (home: 4–1; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 55 February 6 Kansas City W 97–95 Walter Davis (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,310 36–19 W 2 56 February 8 @ Chicago W 113–109 Mike Bratz (20) Chicago Stadium 10,403 37–19 W 3 57 February 10 @ Milwaukee L 107–109 Walter Davis (27) MECCA Arena 10,938 37–20 L 1 58 February 13 Boston W 135–134 Paul Westphal (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 38–20 W 1 59 February 15 Washington W 116–104 Truck Robinson (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 39–20 W 2 60 February 17 New Jersey W 128–98 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,466 40–20 W 3 61 February 19 @ Cleveland L 109–128 Walter Davis (32) Coliseum at Richfield 5,739 40–21 L 1 62 February 21 @ Detroit W 125–116 Paul Westphal (49) Pontiac Silverdome 5,317 41–21 W 1 63 February 22 @ Atlanta L 104–111 Alvan Adams (19) Omni Coliseum 13,150 41–22 L 1 64 February 24 @ Indiana W 113–105 Walter Davis (29) Market Square Arena 9,174 42–22 W 1 65 February 26 @ Denver L 112–121 Truck Robinson (25) McNichols Sports Arena 11,149 42–23 L 1 66 February 27 Milwaukee L 110–119 (OT) Walter Davis (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,683 42–24 L 2 67 February 28 @ Utah W 111–101 Paul Westphal (30) Salt Palace 6,903 43–24 W 1
March: 12–3 (home: 9–0; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 68 March 2 Los Angeles W 125–115 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 44–24 W 2 69 March 5 Seattle W 127–111 Walter Davis (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 45–24 W 3 70 March 7 Utah W 110–94 Walter Davis ,Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,245 46–24 W 4 71 March 9 Chicago W 113–103 (OT) Paul Westphal (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,210 47–24 W 5 72 March 12 @ Golden State W 122–113 Paul Westphal (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,936 48–24 W 6 73 March 15 @ San Diego L 109–120 Truck Robinson (29) San Diego Sports Arena 10,635 48–25 L 1 74 March 16 @ Los Angeles L 106–128 Truck Robinson (26) The Forum 16,587 48–26 L 2 75 March 18 @ Kansas City W 112–109 Walter Davis (25) Kemper Arena 11,448 49–26 W 1 76 March 19 Los Angeles W 112–108 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 50–26 W 2 77 March 21 @ Portland W 111–100 Truck Robinson (23) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 51–26 W 3 78 March 23 Denver W 118–102 Walter Davis (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,705 52–26 W 4 79 March 25 @ Seattle L 95–104 Walter Davis (21) Kingdome 34,152 52–27 L 1 80 March 26 Seattle W 109–99 Walter Davis (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 53–27 W 1 81 March 28 Portland W 114–100 Walter Davis (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,224 54–27 W 2 82 March 30 San Diego W 122–104 Walter Davis (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,807 55–27 W 3
1979 schedule
Playoffs [ edit ] Game log [ edit ] 1980 playoff game log First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
1980 schedule
Awards and honors [ edit ] All-Star [ edit ] Paul Westphal was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game . It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished fourth in voting among Western Conference guards with 127,409 votes. Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game . It was his third consecutive All-Star selection. Davis finished fourth in voting among Western Conference forwards with 100,546 votes. Player statistics [ edit ] * – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 25 three-pointers made. + – Minimum 50 games played.
Playoffs [ edit ] † – Minimum 20 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.
Transactions [ edit ] Free agents [ edit ] Additions [ edit ] Date Player Contract Old Team May 22, 1979 Jeff Cook Undisclosed Washington Lumberjacks (WBA ) September 13, 1979 Greg Griffin Undisclosed Phoenix Suns
Subtractions [ edit ] References [ edit ]
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s