1976–77 Phoenix Suns season

The 1976–77 Phoenix Suns season was the ninth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With injuries limiting the team to only six games with a full roster, the Suns plummeted to the bottom of the Pacific division standings, missing the playoffs after appearing in the Finals just one season prior.[1] The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1976–77 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record34–48 (.415)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTAR-TV
RadioKTAR

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1976 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Ron Lee Guard  United States Oregon
2 30 Al Fleming Forward  United States Arizona
2 33 Raymond "Butch" Feher Guard  United States Vanderbilt
3 45 Ira Terrell Forward  United States Southern Methodist
4 62 Paul Miller Forward  United States Oregon
5 79 Ralph Walker Guard  United States Saint Mary's (CA)
6 97 Carl Brown Guard  United States Eastern Kentucky
7 115 Brad Warble Forward  United States Eastern Illinois
8 133 Tom DeBerry Guard  United States Northern Arizona
9 150 John Irving Center  United States Hofstra
10 166 Gary Jackson Forward  United States Arizona State

Roster
Phoenix Suns roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOB (Y-M-D)From
F/C 33 United States Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma
C 21 United States Awtrey, Dennis Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948-02-22 Santa Clara
G/F 14 United States Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
G 7 United States Feher, Butch 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954-05-19 Vanderbilt
F 24 United States Heard, Garfield Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1948-05-03 Oklahoma
G 30 United States Lee, Ron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1952-11-02 Oregon
F 18 United States Perry, Curtis Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-09-13 Missouri State
C 54 United States Schlueter, Dale 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1945-11-12 Colorado State
G 40 United States Sobers, Ricky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1953-01-15 UNLV
F 32 United States Terrell, Ira 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1954-06-19 SMU
G/F 5 United States Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
G/F 4 United States Van Arsdale, Tom 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana
G 44 United States Westphal, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1950-11-30 USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 5329.646–37–416–2511–5
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4933.598435–614–2710–6
x-Golden State Warriors 4636.561729–1217–248–8
Seattle SuperSonics 4042.4881327–1413–286–10
Phoenix Suns 3448.4151926–158–335–11
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers5329.646–
2 y-Denver Nuggets5032.6103
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.5984
4 x-Golden State Warriors4636.5617
5 x-Detroit Pistons4438.5379
6 x-Chicago Bulls4438.5379
7 Kansas City Kings4042.48813
8 Seattle SuperSonics4042.48813
9 Indiana Pacers3646.43917
10 Phoenix Suns3448.41519
11 Milwaukee Bucks3052.36623

Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia 3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Game log
1976–77 game log
Total: 34–48 (home: 26–15; road: 8–33)
October: 1–4 (home: 0–0; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
1 October 22 @ New Orleans L 98–111 Alvan Adams (29) Louisiana Superdome
12,234		 0–1 L 1
2 October 23 @ Houston L 126–129 Alvan Adams (29) The Summit
6,385		 0–2 L 2
3 October 27 @ San Antonio L 106–115 Alvan Adams (24) HemisFair Arena
8,919		 0–3 L 3
4 October 29 @ Chicago W 95–82 Gar Heard (23) Chicago Stadium
9,318		 1–3 W 1
5 October 30 @ Denver L 107–113 Gar Heard (28) McNichols Sports Arena
17,608		 1–4 L 1
November: 5–5 (home: 5–2; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
6 November 5 @ Seattle L 84–88 Ricky Sobers (18) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,902		 1–5 L 2
7 November 11 Indiana W 108–98 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (18)		 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,152		 2–5 W 1
8 November 13 Cleveland L 90–103 Ricky Sobers (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,671		 2–6 L 1
9 November 17 Milwaukee W 103–95 Dick Van Arsdale (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,017		 3–6 W 1
10 November 18 @ Golden State L 111–131 Ricky Sobers (19) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9,965		 3–7 L 1
11 November 19 N.Y. Nets L 88–90 Paul Westphal (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,506		 3–8 L 2
12 November 21 Chicago W 101–96 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,589		 4–8 W 1
13 November 25 Washington W 104–98 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,614		 5–8 W 2
14 November 27 Seattle W 119–107 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,553		 6–8 W 3
15 November 30 @ Indiana L 97–103 Paul Westphal (27) Market Square Arena
8,581		 6–9 L 1
December: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
16 December 1 @ N.Y. Nets W 106–96 Paul Westphal (23) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,103		 7–9 W 1
17 December 3 Portland L 99–113 Ricky Sobers (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,339		 7–10 L 1
18 December 5 San Antonio W 103–98 (OT) Paul Westphal (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,235		 8–10 W 1
19 December 8 Houston W 116–95 Paul Westphal (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,117		 9–10 W 2
20 December 10 @ Boston W 107–103 Ricky Sobers (25) Boston Garden
12,878		 10–10 W 3
21 December 11 @ N.Y. Knicks L 96–112 Alvan Adams (17) Madison Square Garden
15,263		 10–11 L 1
22 December 12 @ Atlanta W 106–91 Paul Westphal (28) Omni Coliseum
2,507		 11–11 W 1
23 December 14 @ Buffalo L 99–108 Ricky Sobers (23) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
7,132		 11–12 L 1
24 December 15 @ Philadelphia L 87–87 Alvan Adams (27) The Spectrum
11,363		 11–13 L 2
25 December 17 @ Los Angeles L 105–118 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (25)		 The Forum
9,816		 11–14 L 3
26 December 18 Kansas City L 90–89 Ricky Sobers (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,482		 11–15 L 4
27 December 23 Buffalo W 107–92 Ricky Sobers (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,834		 12–15 W 1
28 December 25 Los Angeles W 113–96 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 13–15 W 2
29 December 28 @ Denver L 102–110 Paul Westphal (27) McNichols Sports Arena
17,595		 13–16 L 1
30 December 29 Boston W 97–87 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 14–16 W 1
January: 8–9 (home: 7–1; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
31 January 2 @ Kansas City L 88–89 Paul Westphal (20) Omaha Civic Auditorium
4,226		 14–17 L 1
32 January 4 @ Milwaukee L 111–139 Curtis Perry,
Ira Terrell (20)		 MECCA Arena
8,871		 14–18 L 2
33 January 5 @ Detroit L 115–118 Alvan Adams (24) Cobo Arena
6,249		 14–19 L 3
34 January 7 @ Washington L 89–99 Paul Westphal (15) Capital Centre
6,072		 14–20 L 4
35 January 8 @ N.Y. Knicks L 95–102 Paul Westphal (31) Madison Square Garden
18,589		 14–21 L 5
36 January 10 @ Atlanta W 93–92 Paul Westphal (20) Omni Coliseum
2,408		 15–21 W 1
37 January 11 @ Chicago L 90–93 Paul Westphal (31) Chicago Stadium
6,446		 15–22 L 1
38 January 13 Detroit W 131–101 Paul Westphal (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 16–22 W 1
39 January 15 Cleveland W 94–79 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 17–22 W 2
40 January 19 N.Y. Knicks W 97–90 Paul Westphal (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,035		 18–22 W 3
41 January 20 @ Golden State L 103–107 Paul Westphal (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
10,886		 18–23 L 1
42 January 21 Indiana W 125–96 Alvan Adams (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,957		 19–23 W 1
43 January 23 Seattle W 98–88 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 20–23 W 2
44 January 25 San Antonio L 108–116 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,814		 20–24 L 1
45 January 27 Philadelphia W 111–94 Ron Lee (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 21–24 W 1
46 January 29 New Orleans W 118–102 Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,274		 22–24 W 2
47 January 30 @ Portland L 91–97 Paul Westphal (24) Memorial Coliseum
12,311		 22–25 L 1
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
48 February 2 Milwaukee W 130–113 Paul Westphal (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,364		 23–25 W 1
49 February 4 Golden State L 106–109 Alvan Adams (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,849		 23–26 L 1
50 February 6 Denver W 115–104 Paul Westphal (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,826		 24–26 W 1
51 February 8 Atlanta W 117–104 Alvan Adams (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,495		 25–26 W 2
52 February 10 Washington L 103–109 Paul Westphal (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,352		 25–27 L 1
53 February 15 @ Kansas City L 96–102 Paul Westphal (30) Kemper Arena
7,313		 25–28 L 2
54 February 16 @ Indiana L 93–111 Ira Terrell (15) Market Square Arena
9,553		 25–29 L 3
55 February 18 @ Philadelphia W 102–96 Paul Westphal (22) The Spectrum
16,660		 26–29 W 1
56 February 19 @ Cleveland L 88–92 Paul Westphal (23) Coliseum at Richfield
17,882		 26–30 L 1
57 February 20 @ Detroit L 107–109 Ricky Sobers (25) Cobo Arena
7,233		 26–31 L 2
58 February 22 @ Buffalo L 114–115 Alvan Adams (47) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
6,143		 26–32 L 3
59 February 24 Houston L 106–109 Paul Westphal (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,835		 26–33 L 4
60 February 26 Boston L 104–108 Paul Westphal (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,353		 26–34 L 5
March: 4–12 (home: 2–5; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
61 March 2 Chicago L 104–108 (OT) Paul Westphal (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,823		 26–35 L 6
62 March 4 Golden State L 87–101 Alvan Adams (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,750		 26–36 L 7
63 March 6 @ Washington L 110–118 Ricky Sobers (32) Capital Centre
14,189		 26–37 L 8
64 March 8 @ San Antonio L 115–122 Ricky Sobers,
Paul Westphal (24)		 HemisFair Arena
10,011		 26–38 L 9
65 March 9 @ Houston L 100–105 Alvan Adams (26) The Summit
6,421		 26–39 L 10
66 March 11 @ N.Y. Nets L 73–82 Paul Westphal (16) Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,730		 26–40 L 11
67 March 13 @ Boston L 107–124 Alvan Adams (29) Boston Garden
14,859		 26–41 L 12
68 March 16 N.Y. Knicks W 124–91 Paul Westphal (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,177		 27–41 W 1
69 March 18 New Orleans L 100–104 Paul Westphal (35) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,285		 27–42 L 1
70 March 20 Portland W 126–106 Alvan Adams (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,174		 28–42 W 1
71 March 24 Buffalo L 102–107 Paul Westphal (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,410		 28–43 L 1
72 March 25 @ Los Angeles L 93–118 Ira Terrell (22) The Forum
13,507		 28–44 L 2
73 March 26 Los Angeles L 102–109 Alvan Adams (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,150		 28–45 L 3
74 March 27 @ Seattle W 121–100 Ron Lee (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096		 29–45 W 1
75 March 29 @ Milwaukee W 122–110 Paul Westphal (34) MECCA Arena
8,945		 30–45 W 2
76 March 30 @ New Orleans L 100–112 Alvan Adams (19) Louisiana Superdome
6,237		 30–46 L 1
April: 4–2 (home: 4–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation
Attendance		RecordStreak
77 April 1 Detroit W 133–116 Paul Westphal (40) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,506		 31–46 W 1
78 April 3 Denver L 109–124 Ron Lee (28) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,501		 31–47 L 1
79 April 5 Atlanta W 108–102 Ricky Sobers (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,668		 32–47 W 1
80 April 7 Kansas City W 121–110 Paul Westphal (30) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,462		 33–47 W 2
81 April 8 @ Portland L 111–122 Alvan Adams (26) Memorial Coliseum
12,536		 33–48 L 1
82 April 10 N.Y. Nets W 128–104 Ron Lee (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,476		 34–48 W 1
1976–77 schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star
  • Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection. Westphal finished first in voting among Western Conference guards with 163,173 votes.

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
Alvan Adams726731.6.474.7549.1+4.51.31.218.0
Dennis Awtrey722624.4.429.7224.92.5.3.45.7
Keith Erickson50319.0.483.7402.92.1.6.16.4
Butch Feher48910.1.531+.7681.50.8.2.15.2
Garfield Heard463529.6.379.7259.6+1.91.21.29.7
Ron Lee823422.5.441.6763.63.21.9.410.2
Curtis Perry444231.6.432.7899.01.81.1.610.7
Dale Schlueter3908.6.361.5812.11.0.2.21.8
Ricky Sobers794825.4.496.8413.03.01.2.213.6
Ira Terrell783622.4.508.6315.01.3.5.68.5
Dick Van Arsdale78319.7.456.8731.51.5.4.17.7
Tom Van Arsdale772818.5.433.7032.40.9.3.05.8
Paul Westphal817932.1.518+.8252.35.71.7.321.3

+ – Minimum 50 games played.

Transactions

Trades
August 25, 1976 To Buffalo Braves
1977 second-round draft pick (United States Glenn Williams)
Cash considerations
 To Phoenix Suns
United States Tom Van Arsdale
March 18, 1977 To Seattle SuperSonics
1979 second-round draft pick (United States Paul Mokeski)
Cash considerations
 To Phoenix Suns
Rights to United States Bayard Forrest

Additions
Date Player Contract Old Team
September 23, 1976 Marv Roberts Undisclosed Virginia Squires (ABA)
December 7, 1976 Dale Schlueter Undisclosed Buffalo Braves

Subtractions
Date Player Reason Left New Team
August 26, 1976 John Wetzel Retired —
September 15, 1976 Paul Miller Waived — (Retired)
September 21, 1976 Pat Riley Retired —
October 3, 1976 Carl Brown Waived — (Retired)
October 4, 1976 Al Fleming Waived Indiana Pacers
October 15, 1976 Marv Roberts Waived Los Angeles Lakers
October 15, 1976 Nate Hawthorne Waived — (Retired)
October 15, 1976 Phil Lumpkin Waived — (Retired)

References
  1. "SUNS: 1976–77". nba.com/history. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
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