1968–69 Phoenix Suns season
The 1968–69 Phoenix Suns season was the inaugural season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. In the season Suns' debut, head coach Red Kerr led the franchise to its first win in a victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. No other season for the Suns contained as many losses as the franchise's first season, and it would not be long before the team provided the city of Phoenix with its first opportunity to host a home playoff game. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Dick Van Arsdale would become the franchise's first All-Star selection when he was selected to play in the 1969 All-Star Game. He was the team's second leading scorer at 21 points per game, behind eventual Hall of Fame member Gail Goodrich, who averaged 23.8, the seventh-highest in the league for the season. Goodrich was selected to replace an injured Jerry West in the All-Star Game.
Offseason
NBA Expansion Draft
Along with the other expansion team that joined the league in 1968, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns participated in the league's fourth expansion draft. Each of the league's 12 existing teams protected seven of their top players, with the remaining unprotected players available in the draft. The two expansion teams would select three players from each team, totaling 18 selections each.
The Suns received the first, fourth and fifth picks, while the (as yet unnamed) Bucks received the second and third picks. The Suns' first selection was swingman Dick Van Arsdale of the New York Knicks. The Bucks then selected center Wayne Embry of the Boston Celtics, and power forward Fred Hetzel of the San Francisco Warriors. The Suns rounded out the top five by picking point guard Gail Goodrich of the Los Angeles Lakers and shooting guard Dick Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks.[1]
NBA Draft
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster |
Players | Coaches |
|
- Head coach
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
1968–69 NBA records |
Team |
ATL |
BAL |
BOS |
CHI |
CIN |
DET |
LAL |
MIL |
NYK |
PHI |
PHO |
SDR |
SFW |
SEA |
Atlanta |
— | 2–4 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 4–2 |
Baltimore |
4–2 | — | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–3 | 7–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 |
Boston |
3–3 | 2–5 | — | 4–2 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–6 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
Chicago |
1–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–3 |
Cincinnati |
2–4 | 3–4 | 2–5 | 5–1 | — | 3–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 |
Detroit |
0–6 | 0–7 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 |
Los Angeles |
4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 5–1 |
Milwaukee |
2–4 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 0–6 | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–5 |
New York |
4–2 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 6–0 | — | 4–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 |
Philadelphia |
5–1 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–4 | — | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 6–0 |
Phoenix |
0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 1–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 |
San Diego |
4–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 7–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 |
San Francisco |
3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–3 |
Seattle |
2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 5–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | — |
Game log
1968–69 game log Total: 16–66 (Home: 12–29; Road: 4–37) |
October: 4–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 1–1)
|
November: 1–12 (Home: 1–5; Road: 0–7)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
Location Attendance |
Record |
Streak |
8 |
November 3 |
Los Angeles |
L 109–127 |
Dick Van Arsdale (38) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,150 |
4–4 |
L 1 |
9 |
November 4 |
San Francisco |
L 108–119 |
Dick Van Arsdale (29) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,019 |
4–5 |
L 2 |
10 |
November 10 |
Detroit |
W 130–128 (OT) |
George Wilson (33) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,440 |
5–5 |
W 1 |
11 |
November 14 |
Detroit |
L 109–111 |
Gail Goodrich (25) |
Tucson, AZ 2,712 |
5–6 |
L 1 |
12 |
November 15 |
@ Seattle |
L 124–128 (2OT) |
Dick Van Arsdale (34) |
Seattle Center Coliseum 4,368 |
5–7 |
L 2 |
13 |
November 17 |
Boston |
L 98–130 |
Gail Goodrich, Dave Lattin (13) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,109 |
5–8 |
L 3 |
14 |
November 19 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 110–126 |
Dick Van Arsdale (29) |
New York City, NY 16,664 |
5–9 |
L 4 |
15 |
November 22 |
@ Boston |
L 106–133 |
McCoy McLemore (18) |
Boston Garden 8,224 |
5–10 |
L 5 |
16 |
November 23 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 112–115 |
McCoy McLemore (28) |
Milwaukee Arena 6,090 |
5–11 |
L 6 |
17 |
November 26 |
Philadelphia |
L 119–126 |
Gail Goodrich (32) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,209 |
5–12 |
L 7 |
18 |
November 27 |
@ Detroit |
L 111–125 |
George Wilson (24) |
Cobo Arena 11,016 |
5–13 |
L 8 |
19 |
November 29 |
@ Baltimore |
L 106–124 |
Gail Goodrich, Dick Van Arsdale (24) |
Baltimore Civic Center 6,596 |
5–14 |
L 9 |
20 |
November 30 |
@ Chicago |
L 96–100 |
Dick Van Arsdale (29) |
Chicago Stadium 3,246 |
5–15 |
L 10 |
|
December: 3–15 (Home: 2–5; Road: 1–10)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
Location Attendance |
Record |
Streak |
21 |
December 2 |
Seattle |
L 108–118 |
Gail Goodrich (26) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,171 |
5–16 |
L 11 |
22 |
December 3 |
@ Los Angeles |
L 108–122 |
Gail Goodrich (23) |
The Forum 8,277 |
5–17 |
L 12 |
23 |
December 4 |
San Francisco |
W 126–97 |
Gail Goodrich (32) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,387 |
6–17 |
W 1 |
24 |
December 6 |
@ San Diego |
L 106–117 |
Dick Van Arsdale (33) |
San Diego Sports Arena 5,782 |
6–18 |
L 1 |
25 |
December 8 |
Atlanta |
L 99–121 |
Dick Van Arsdale (17) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,243 |
6–19 |
L 2 |
26 |
December 10 |
@ New York |
L 106–111 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
Madison Square Garden 16,337 |
6–20 |
L 3 |
27 |
December 11 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 123–143 |
Gail Goodrich (19) |
The Spectrum 6,780 |
6–21 |
L 4 |
28 |
December 13 |
@ Cincinnati |
L 123–130 (OT) |
Dick Van Arsdale (31) |
Cleveland, OH 2,114 |
6–22 |
L 5 |
29 |
December 14 |
@ Detroit |
W 123–118 |
Gail Goodrich (41) |
Cobo Arena 5,024 |
7–22 |
W 1 |
30 |
December 15 |
@ Cincinnati |
L 101–119 |
Stan McKenzie (28) |
Omaha, NE 5,886 |
7–23 |
L 1 |
31 |
December 17 |
Philadelphia |
L 128–145 |
Dick Snyder (25) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1,946 |
7–24 |
L 2 |
32 |
December 18 |
Cincinnati |
W 123–114 |
Gail Goodrich (34) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,462 |
8–24 |
W 1 |
33 |
December 21 |
@ Baltimore |
L 117–131 |
Gail Goodrich (28) |
Baltimore Civic Center 8,529 |
8–25 |
L 1 |
34 |
December 22 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 116–127 |
Dick Van Arsdale (26) |
Milwaukee Arena 3,466 |
8–26 |
L 2 |
35 |
December 25 |
Los Angeles |
L 99–119 |
Dick Van Arsdale (27) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,355 |
8–27 |
L 3 |
36 |
December 26 |
@ San Francisco |
L 118–119 |
Gail Goodrich (40) |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4,916 |
8–28 |
L 4 |
37 |
December 28 |
San Diego |
L 126–136 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,749 |
8–29 |
L 5 |
38 |
December 30 |
@ Seattle |
L 118–120 |
Jim Fox (24) |
Seattle Center Coliseum 3,920 |
8–30 |
L 6 |
|
January: 3–12 (Home: 3–6; Road: 0–6)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
Location Attendance |
Record |
Streak |
39 |
January 1 |
Boston |
L 87–93 |
Dick Van Arsdale (22) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,757 |
8–31 |
L 7 |
40 |
January 3 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 104–121 |
Dick Snyder (22) |
Milwaukee Arena 4,230 |
8–32 |
L 8 |
41 |
January 4 |
@ Chicago |
L 92–103 |
Jim Fox (27) |
Chicago Stadium 3,107 |
8–33 |
L 9 |
42 |
January 5 |
@ Atlanta |
L 96–97 |
Dick Snyder, Dick Van Arsdale (22) |
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 3,235 |
8–34 |
L 10 |
43 |
January 7 |
Seattle |
W 116–112 |
Gail Goodrich (35) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,875 |
9–34 |
W 1 |
44 |
January 9 |
New York |
L 120–134 |
Stan McKenzie (18) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,591 |
9–35 |
L 1 |
45 |
January 11 |
Baltimore |
L 107–118 |
|
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,807 |
9–36 |
L 2 |
All-Star Break |
46 |
January 16 |
@ Atlanta |
L 107–112 |
Gary Gregor (26) |
Columbia, SC 5,815 |
9–37 |
L 3 |
47 |
January 17 |
@ Atlanta |
L 107–112 |
Gail Goodrich (27) |
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,565 |
9–38 |
L 4 |
48 |
January 19 |
San Diego |
L 118–136 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
San Diego Sports Arena 2,867 |
9–39 |
L 5 |
49 |
January 22 |
Atlanta |
L 107–125 |
Bob Warlick (23) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,527 |
9–40 |
L 6 |
50 |
January 24 |
Chicago |
W 117–106 |
Dick Van Arsdale (27) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,275 |
10–40 |
W 1 |
51 |
January 25 |
@ San Diego |
L 120–133 |
Jim Fox, Gail Goodrich (22) |
San Diego Sports Arena 4,128 |
10–41 |
L 1 |
52 |
January 26 |
San Francisco |
L 93–117 |
Neil Johnson (22) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,452 |
10–42 |
L 2 |
53 |
January 29 |
Milwaukee |
W 111–107 |
Gail Goodrich (33) |
Tacoma, WA 3,013 |
11–42 |
W 1 |
|
February: 3–14 (Home: 2–4; Road: 1–10)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
Location Attendance |
Record |
Streak |
54 |
February 2 |
Milwaukee |
W 122–121 |
Gail Goodrich (37) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,926 |
12–42 |
W 2 |
55 |
February 4 |
Philadelphia |
W 125–116 |
Jim Fox, Dick Van Arsdale (25) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,317 |
13–42 |
W 3 |
56 |
February 6 |
Cincinnati |
L 103–124 |
Gail Goodrich (35) |
Tucson, AZ 3,849 |
13–43 |
L 1 |
57 |
February 7 |
@ San Diego |
L 119–130 |
Gail Goodrich (33) |
San Diego Sports Arena 6,214 |
13–44 |
L 2 |
58 |
February 8 |
Los Angeles |
L 104–122 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,106 |
13–45 |
L 3 |
59 |
February 9 |
@ Los Angeles |
L 116–134 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
The Forum 8,840 |
13–46 |
L 4 |
60 |
February 12 |
@ New York |
L 105–112 |
Gail Goodrich (26) |
Madison Square Garden 12,017 |
13–47 |
L 5 |
61 |
February 14 |
@ Detroit |
L 123–128 |
Jim Fox (24) |
Cobo Arena 2,853 |
13–48 |
L 6 |
62 |
February 16 |
@ Cincinnati |
W 125–113 |
Gail Goodrich (25) |
Cincinnati Gardens 3,922 |
14–48 |
W 1 |
63 |
February 18 |
@ Boston |
L 110–116 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
Boston Garden 7,022 |
14–49 |
L 1 |
64 |
February 20 |
@ Baltimore |
L 121–124 |
Dick Van Arsdale (44) |
Detroit, MI 7,066 |
14–50 |
L 2 |
65 |
February 21 |
Chicago |
L 121–133 |
Gail Goodrich (43) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,939 |
14–51 |
L 3 |
66 |
February 22 |
Boston |
L 100–124 |
Dick Van Arsdale (21) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,295 |
14–52 |
L 4 |
67 |
February 23 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 103–107 |
Gail Goodrich (29) |
Green Bay, WI 4,347 |
14–53 |
L 5 |
68 |
February 25 |
@ Boston |
L 99–112 |
Dick Van Arsdale (22) |
New York City, NY 19,500 |
14–54 |
L 6 |
69 |
February 26 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 97–104 |
Dick Van Arsdale (22) |
The Spectrum 7,781 |
14–55 |
L 7 |
70 |
February 28 |
@ Los Angeles |
L 117–121 |
Gail Goodrich (43) |
The Forum 15,728 |
14–56 |
L 8 |
|
March: 2–10 (Home: 1–7; Road: 1–3)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
Location Attendance |
Record |
Streak |
71 |
March 1 |
@ San Francisco |
W 119–118 |
Gail Goodrich (33) |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,580 |
15–56 |
W 1 |
72 |
March 4 |
Cincinnati |
L 122–141 |
Gail Goodrich (37) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,165 |
15–57 |
L 1 |
73 |
March 6 |
@ Chicago |
L 117–125 (OT) |
Gail Goodrich (33) |
Carbondale, IL 3,125 |
15–58 |
L 2 |
74 |
March 7 |
@ New York |
L 87–119 |
Bob Warlick (18) |
Philadelphia, PA 15,244 |
15–59 |
L 3 |
75 |
March 9 |
San Diego |
W 146–133 |
Gail Goodrich (47) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,384 |
16–59 |
W 1 |
76 |
March 10 |
Baltimore |
L 121–140 |
Dick Van Arsdale (37) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,133 |
16–60 |
L 1 |
77 |
March 11 |
@ San Diego |
L 106–116 |
Dick Van Arsdale (26) |
San Diego Sports Arena 4,172 |
16–61 |
L 2 |
78 |
March 15 |
San Diego |
L 124–141 |
Gail Goodrich (38) |
Tucson, AZ 2,616 |
16–62 |
L 3 |
79 |
March 17 |
Detroit |
L 95–119 |
Stan McKenzie (18) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,128 |
16–63 |
L 4 |
80 |
March 19 |
Milwaukee |
L 110–117 |
Dick Van Arsdale (32) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,033 |
16–64 |
L 5 |
81 |
March 21 |
New York |
L 104–139 |
Gary Gregor (23) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,175 |
16–65 |
L 6 |
82 |
March 23 |
Milwaukee |
L 118–128 |
Dick Van Arsdale (31) |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,204 |
16–66 |
L 7 |
|
1968–69 season schedule |
Team-by-team results
Awards and honors
All-Star
Season
Player statistics
Season
Player |
GP |
MPG |
FG% |
FT% |
RPG |
APG |
PPG |
Biedenbach, Ed !Ed Biedenbach | 7 | 2.6 | .000 | .667 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Fox, Jim !Jim Fox* | 51 | 38.8 | .470 | .734 | 13.3 | 2.8 | 13.8 |
Goodrich, Gail !Gail Goodrich | 81 | 40.0 | .411 | .747 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 23.8 |
Gregor, Gary !Gary Gregor | 80 | 27.3 | .415 | .649 | 8.9 | 1.2 | 11.1 |
Johnson, Neil !Neil Johnson | 80 | 16.5 | .481^ | .621 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 5.8 |
Knowles, Rod !Rod Knowles* | 8 | 5.0 | .286 | .333 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.1 |
Lattin, Dave !Dave Lattin | 68 | 14.5 | .410 | .634 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 6.0 |
McKenzie, Stan !Stan McKenzie | 80 | 19.6 | .427 | .763+ | 3.1 | 1.5 | 9.3 |
McLemore, McCoy !McCoy McLemore* | 31 | 22.9 | .385 | .773+ | 5.4 | 1.6 | 11.8 |
Snyder, Dick !Dick Snyder | 81 | 26.0 | .472^ | .725 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 12.1 |
Van Arsdale, Dick !Dick Van Arsdale | 80 | 42.4 | .442 | .705 | 6.9 | 4.8 | 21.0 |
Warlick, Bob !Bob Warlick* | 63 | 15.5 | .423 | .606 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 8.0 |
Wilson, George !George Wilson* | 41 | 31.6 | .397 | .616 | 12.3 | 1.9 | 11.6 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 230 field goals.
+ – Minimum 230 free throws.
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Additions
Subtractions
References
- ↑ Boatner, Verne (May 7, 1968), "Suns Stress Youth in Draft Choices", Arizona Republic
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