2004–05 Phoenix Suns season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 37th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Suns re-acquired All-Star guard Steve Nash from the Dallas Mavericks, and signed free agent Quentin Richardson. During that same period of time, it also became the team's first season under Robert Sarver's ownership tenure, as he controlled major duties with the franchise for 18 seasons after Jerry Colangelo sold the team to him until a year-long suspension during the 2022–23 season for actions he did behind the scenes from as early as this season caused him to eventually sell off the team during that season in 2023. The Suns got off to a fast start winning 31 of their first 35 games, but then lost six straight afterwards. They finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20 under head coach Mike D'Antoni, tying their franchise best 1992–93 season record which would hold until 2021-22, when they won 64 games. Three members of the team, Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion were all selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns also gained solid play from Richardson and Joe Johnson. Nash finished the season averaging 11.5 assists per game, while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season. He ended up winning the MVP award. D'Antoni was awarded Coach of the Year, and Bryan Colangelo Executive of the Year.

2004–05 Phoenix Suns season
Division champions
Head coachMike D'Antoni
General managerBryan Colangelo
Owner(s)Robert Sarver
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record62–20 (.756)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishWestern Conference Finals
(lost to Spurs 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR

In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four straight games, then in the semifinals defeated Nash's former team, the Dallas Mavericks in six games. However, in the Western Conference finals, they would lose to the 2nd-seeded and eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in five games. Following the season, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and Richardson was dealt to the New York Knicks.

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 2004 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 7 Luol Deng Forward  United Kingdom Duke
Head coach Mike D'Antoni

The Suns drafted Luol Deng with the 7th pick, who was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls for second-round pick Jackson Vroman, a conditional first-round pick (which conveyed as the 21st overall pick in 2005), and cash considerations.[2][3] The Suns received the 16th pick (Kirk Snyder) in a trade with the New York Knicks, but traded the pick to the Utah Jazz. The Suns second-round pick was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2003.

Free agency

After trading Stephon Marbury (owed $76 million through 2008–09) and Penny Hardaway (owed $30.4 million through 2005–06), the Suns freed enough cap space to sign free agent point guard Steve Nash to a 6-year, $65.6 million deal, with a sixth-year team option, and swingman Quentin Richardson to a 6-year, $43.5 million deal, with a sixth-year player option.[4] The Suns also signed Steven Hunter, Yuta Tabuse and Derrick Dial as free agents. Hunter played the season as a back-up center, Tabuse played 4 games before being waived in December, and Dial was waived before the start of the season.

Regular season

Before the season, the Suns were widely predicted to finish in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference.[4] Defying expectations, Phoenix won 31 of its first 35 games.[1] The team then lost its next six games, in large part due to a thigh injury suffered by Nash.[5] Despite this minor blip, the Suns finished with a record of 62–20.[1] The 33-win improvement over the 2003–04 campaign constituted the third-best year-to-year jump in NBA history.[4] Nash won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, while three Suns – Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion – were named to an All-NBA Team.[6]

In their first full year under D'Antoni, the Suns channeled his particular basketball philosophy, which emphasized rapid ball movement, pick-and-rolls, and high-volume three-point shooting.[7][8][9] This style of play benefitted from rule changes enacted in 2002, which including new penalties against hand check fouls committed on the perimeter.[4] Over the course of the season, Phoenix led the NBA in a large number of metrics, including points per possession, points per game, three-point shots attempted, and three-point shooting percentage.[6][10] The Suns' fast style of play earned them the moniker "Seven Seconds or Less."[11][12]

Legacy

Writing for the Washington Post in 2017, Tim Bontemps credited D'Antoni and his Suns teams – starting with the 2004–05 squad – with demonstrating the possibility of success for a team built to play small ball, run a high-tempo offense, and shoot a large number of three-pointers. Bontemps argued that the Suns' model inspired teams around the league to adopt many of D'Antoni's offensive principles, leading to dramatic changes in the NBA's style of play.[11] Other writers have made similar arguments in favor of the proposition that the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns revolutionized the modern game of basketball.[4][7]

Multiple commentators have drawn direct parallels between D'Antoni's Phoenix teams and the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors, who also shot a large number of three-pointers and used small ball lineups.[13] The Stephen Curry-led Warriors set the regular season record of 73 wins before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

The team's roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16,[14] NBA 2K17, and NBA 2K18.

Roster
2004–05 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 10 Barbosa, Leandro 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1982-11-28 Brazil
F/C 45 Hunter, Steven 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1981-10-31 DePaul
G/F 21 Jackson, Jim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970-10-14 Ohio State
G/F 2 Johnson, Joe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1981-06-29 Arkansas
F 31 Marion, Shawn (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978-05-07 UNLV
F 0 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974-02-01 Kentucky
PG 13 Nash, Steve (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974-02-07 Santa Clara
F 46 Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971-04-13 Houston
G/F 3 Richardson, Quentin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 223 lb (101 kg) 1980-04-13 DePaul
PF 17 Shirley, Paul 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977-12-23 Iowa State
F/C 32 Stoudemire, Amar'e (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1982-11-16 Cypress Creek HS (FL)
C 43 Voskuhl, Jake 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1977-11-01 Connecticut
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Results

Standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Phoenix Suns 6220.756–31–1031–1012–4
x-Sacramento Kings 5032.6101230–1120–2110–6
Los Angeles Clippers 3745.4512527–1410–316–10
Los Angeles Lakers 3448.4152822–1912–296–10
Golden State Warriors 3448.4152820–2114–276–10
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Phoenix Suns6220.756—
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5923.7203
3 y-Seattle SuperSonics5230.63410
4 x-Dallas Mavericks5824.7074
5 x-Houston Rockets5131.62211
6 x-Sacramento Kings5032.61012
7 x-Denver Nuggets4933.59813
8 x-Memphis Grizzlies4537.54917
9 Minnesota Timberwolves4438.53718
10 Los Angeles Clippers3745.45125
11 Los Angeles Lakers3448.41528
12 Golden State Warriors3448.41528
13 Portland Trail Blazers2755.32935
14 Utah Jazz2656.31736
15 New Orleans Hornets1864.22044

Record vs. opponents
2004-05 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —1–31–30–40–41–10–21–30–21–10–30–21–10–20–41–21–10–31–11–31–31–30–20–20–20–20–21–20–20–4
Boston 3–1—4–02–21–20–20–21–31–11–11–22–01–11–11–23–11–11–32–03–13–01–31–11–10–20–22–03–12–03–1
Charlotte 3–10–4—0–40–40–21–12–10–22–00–30–20–20–21–30–41–10–41–11–33–10–30–20–21–10–20–21–21–10–4
Chicago 4–02–24–0—2–21–11–12–21–10–22–20–21–12–01–32–22–00–41–14–03–02–10–22–01–10–21–13–02–01–2
Cleveland 4–02–14–02–2—1–11–12–22–00–21–31–11–12–00–32–21–11–32–01–33–10–31–12–00–20–20–23–12–01–2
Dallas 1–12–02–01–11–1—2–11–13–12–21–11–22–24–02–02–02–22–04–02–01–11–11–24–03–11–33–12–03–02–0
Denver 2–02–01–11–11–11–2—1–12–21–22–02–12–24–01–12–02–21–14–01–11–11–10–43–11–22–22–22–02–22–0
Detroit 3–13–11–22–22–21–11–1—2–02–02–22–02–00–22–12–21–12–12–03–03–13–11–11–11–11–11–13–11–14–0
Golden State 2–01–12–01–10–21–32–20–2—1–21–10–41–31–30–22–01–20–22–21–11–11–12–22–23–10–32–21–12–11–1
Houston 1–11–10–22–02–02–22–10–22–1—1–13–02–23–11–11–11–22–03–11–12–02–02–24–02–22–23–11–12–21–1
Indiana 3–02–13–02–23–11–10–22–21–11–1—0–21–12–03–12–22–02–21–12–21–30–41–12–00–21–10–22–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 2–00–22–02–01–12–11–20–24–00–32–0—2–21–31–11–11–31–13–11–11–11–10–42–20–40–42–11–12–21–1
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–22–20–23–12–21–12–2—0–30–22–02–11–13–01–11–10–20–42–11–30–41–31–11–30–2
Memphis 2–01–12–00–20–20–40–42–03–11–30–23–13–0—1–12–03–12–03–11–11–12–02–23–10–33–10–32–03–00–2
Miami 4–02–13–13–13–00–21–11–22–01–11–31–12–01–1—4–01–13–02–04–04–02–21–11–12–01–10–23–12–04–0
Milwaukee 2–11–34–02–22–20–20–22–20–21–12–21–10–20–20–4—1–12–11–12–12–10–40–20–20–20–21–12–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–11–11–10–21–12–22–21–12–12–10–23–11–21–31–11–1—2–04–01–11–12–01–34–03–11–21–30–23–11–1
New Jersey 3–03–14–04–03–10–21–11–22–00–22–21–11–10–20–31–20–2—2–03–11–33–10–21–11–10–20–22–22–01–3
New Orleans 1–10–21–11–10–20–40–40–22–21–31–11–30–31–30–21–10–40–2—1–10–21–10–42–11–20–40–30–22–21–1
New York 3–11–33–10–43–10–21–10–31–11–12–21–11–11–10–41–21–11–31–1—1–23–10–21–10–21–10–21–32–02–1
Orlando 3–10–31–30–31–31–11–11–31–10–23–11–11–11–10–41–21–13–12–02–1—2–20–21–11–11–11–12–22–02–2
Philadelphia 3–13–13–01–23–01–11–11–31–10–24–01–12–00–22–24–00–21–31–11–32–2—0–21–10–20–21–13–11–12–1
Phoenix 2–01–12–02–01–12–14–01–12–22–21–14–04–02–21–12–03–12–04–02–02–02–0—3–02–21–22–12–03–11–1
Portland 2–01–12–00–20–20–41–31–12–20–40–22–21–21–31–12–00–41–11–21–11–11–10–3—1–31–21–31–12–20–2
Sacramento 2–02–01–11–12–01–32–11–11–32–22–04–03–13–00–22–01–31–12–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–31–31–12–12–0
San Antonio 2–02–02–02–02–03–12–21–13–02–21–14–04–01–31–12–02–12–04–01–11–12–02–12–13–1—2–21–12–21–1
Seattle 2–00–22–01–12–01–32–21–12–21–32–01–23–13–02–01–13–12–03–02–01–11–11–23–13–12–2—2–03–10–2
Toronto 2–11–32–10–31–30–20–21–31–11–11–21–11–10–21–32–22–02–22–03–12–21–30–21–11–11–10–2—2–01–3
Utah 2–00–21–10–20–20–32–21–11–22–20–22–23–10–30–21–11–30–22–20–20–21–11–32–21–22–21–30–2—0–2
Washington 4–01–34–02–12–10–20–20–41–11–12–21–12–02–00–43–11–13–11–11–22–21–21–12–00–21–12–03–12–0—

Playoffs

Game log
2005 playoff game log
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 Memphis W 114–103 Shawn Marion (26) Shawn Marion (13) Steve Nash (13) America West Arena
18,422		 1–0
2 April 27 Memphis W 108–103 Amar'e Stoudemire (34) Shawn Marion (13) Steve Nash (15) America West Arena
18,422		 2–0
3 April 29 @ Memphis W 110–90 Amar'e Stoudemire (30) Shawn Marion (13) Steve Nash (8) FedExForum
18,119		 3–0
4 May 1 @ Memphis W 123–115 Joe Johnson (25) Shawn Marion (11) Steve Nash (9) FedExForum
17,243		 4–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 9 Dallas W 127–102 Amar'e Stoudemire (40) Amar'e Stoudemire (16) Steve Nash (13) America West Arena
18,422		 1–0
2 May 11 Dallas L 106–108 Amar'e Stoudemire (30) Amar'e Stoudemire (16) Steve Nash (13) America West Arena
18,422		 1–1
3 May 13 @ Dallas W 119–102 Amar'e Stoudemire (37) Amar'e Stoudemire (14) Steve Nash (17) American Airlines Center
20,896		 2–1
4 May 15 @ Dallas L 109–119 Steve Nash (48) Shawn Marion (12) Steve Nash (5) American Airlines Center
20,894		 2–2
5 May 18 Dallas W 114–108 Steve Nash (34) Amar'e Stoudemire (18) Steve Nash (12) America West Arena
18,422		 3–2
6 May 20 @ Dallas W 130–126 (OT) Steve Nash (39) Shawn Marion (16) Steve Nash (12) American Airlines Center
20,915		 4–2
Conference Finals: 1–4 (home: 0–3; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 22 San Antonio L 114–121 Amar'e Stoudemire (41) Marion, Stoudemire (9) Steve Nash (13) America West Arena
18,422		 0–1
2 May 24 San Antonio L 108–111 Amar'e Stoudemire (37) Shawn Marion (12) Steve Nash (15) America West Arena
18,422		 0–2
3 May 28 @ San Antonio L 92–102 Amar'e Stoudemire (34) Amar'e Stoudemire (11) Johnson, Nash (3) SBC Center
18,797		 0–3
4 May 30 @ San Antonio W 111–106 Amar'e Stoudemire (31) Shawn Marion (14) Steve Nash (12) SBC Center
18,797		 1–3
5 June 1 San Antonio L 95–101 Amar'e Stoudemire (42) Amar'e Stoudemire (16) Steve Nash (10) America West Arena
18,422		 1–4
2005 schedule

Awards and honors
Steve Nash
Amar'e Stoudemire
Shawn Marion

Week/Month
  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 14 through November 20.
  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 21 through November 27.
  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 5 through December 11.
  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 12 through December 18.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 19 through December 25.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played February 6 through February 12.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Month for November.
  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.
  • Mike D'Antoni was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for December.

All-Star

Season

Injuries/Missed games

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point 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
Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Leandro Barbosa63617.3.475.367.7972.12.00.50.17.0
Žarko Čabarkapa*303.7.571†.1.000^1.00.0.0.03.0
Steven Hunter76313.8.614†.000.4793.00.20.11.34.6
Jim Jackson*40324.9.435.459.960^3.92.40.30.18.8
Casey Jacobsen*40019.2.414.382.7741.70.90.3.05.3
Joe Johnson828239.5.461.478+.7505.13.51.00.317.1
Maciej Lampe*1607.4.347.667+.6672.00.10.10.12.8
Shawn Marion818138.8.476.334.83311.31.92.01.519.4
Walter McCarty*28012.6.388.385.5002.20.40.40.23.5
Steve Nash757534.3.502.431.887^3.311.51.00.115.5
Bo Outlaw3905.5.353..5561.40.30.20.30.7
Smush Parker*506.8.467.250.0.60.80.4.03.0
Quentin Richardson797835.9.389.358.7396.12.01.20.314.9
Paul Shirley903.3.455..5000.20.3.0.01.3
Amar'e Stoudemire808036.1.559†.188.7338.91.61.01.626.0
Yuta Tabuse404.3.1671.000+1.000^1.00.8.0.01.8
Jake Voskuhl3819.5.458..6842.40.40.10.32.1
Jackson Vroman*1015.7.375..5711.30.70.30.21.6

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
+ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs
Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Leandro Barbosa1209.7.343.400.5001.41.00.2.02.5
Steven Hunter15014.2.558..6002.50.20.11.24.2
Jim Jackson15631.6.488.516.8754.11.50.70.511.0
Joe Johnson9939.4.504.556.6974.33.31.10.418.8
Shawn Marion151542.3.484.419.76911.81.51.41.717.6
Walter McCarty806.9.222.333.0000.80.40.20.20.8
Steve Nash151540.7.520.389.9194.811.30.90.223.9
Bo Outlaw102.0.000..0.01.01.0.00.0
Quentin Richardson151537.6.403.390.6395.11.71.30.211.9
Paul Shirley000.0...0.00.0.0.00.0
Amar'e Stoudemire151540.1.539.000.78110.71.20.72.029.9
Jake Voskuhl000.0...0.00.0.0.00.0

Transactions

Trades
June 22, 2004 To Charlotte Bobcats---- To Phoenix Suns----
June 24, 2004 To Chicago Bulls---- To Phoenix Suns----
January 3, 2005 To Golden State Warriors---- To Phoenix Suns----
January 21, 2005 To New Orleans Hornets---- To Phoenix Suns----
February 8, 2005 To Boston Celtics---- To Phoenix Suns----

Additions
Date Player Signed Former Team
July 14, 2004 Steve Nash Signed 6-year contract for $65.6 million Dallas Mavericks
July 29, 2004 Quentin Richardson Signed 6-year contract $43.5 million Los Angeles Clippers
August 20, 2004 Steven Hunter Signed 1-year contract for $720,046 Orlando Magic
September 7, 2004 Yuta Tabuse Signed multi-year contract Long Beach Jam (ABA)
October 1, 2004 Derrick Dial Undisclosed Orlando Magic
November 8, 2004 Bo Outlaw Signed 1-year contract for $1.1 million Memphis Grizzlies
January 19, 2005 Smush Parker Signed two 10-day contracts Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
January 23, 2005 Paul Shirley Signed 2-year contract Chicago Bulls

Subtractions
Date Player Reason Left New Team
June 22, 2004 Jahidi White Expansion Draft Charlotte Bobcats
July 16, 2004 Antonio McDyess Free agent Detroit Pistons
October 22, 2004 Donnell Harvey Free agent Atlanta Hawks
October 26, 2004 Derrick Dial Waived Anaheim Arsenal (NBA D-League)
October 29, 2004 Howard Eisley Waived Utah Jazz
December 19, 2004 Yuta Tabuse Waived Bakersfield Jam (NBA D-League)
February 8, 2005 Smush Parker Waived Los Angeles Lakers

References
  1. "2004-05 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. "Suns Trade 7th Pick in NBA Draft to Chicago". NBA.com. June 24, 2004. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  3. Leibowitz, Ben (January 8, 2012). "Phoenix Suns: Worst Trades of the Last Decade". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  4. Coro, Paul (June 5, 2015). "Suns' 2005 breakthrough set up by 2004 breakdown, rebuild". Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. Coro, Paul (June 7, 2017). "Phoenix Suns relish 2004-05 surprise as close-knit, close to title". Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  6. "2004-05 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  7. Abrams, Jonathan (June 16, 2014). "Mon Frère Boris". Grantland. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  8. Pollack, David (May 24, 2005). "The Good Suns: How Phoenix saved the NBA". Slate. Archived from the original on October 13, 2005.
  9. Flannery, Paul (October 24, 2015). "Don't forget how Steve Nash changed the NBA". SB Nation. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. Berri, David; Schmidt, Martin; Brook, Stacey (2007). The Wages of Wins: Taking Measure of the Many Myths in Modern Sport (Updated ed.). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. p. 97.
  11. Bontemps, Tim (February 21, 2017). "The 15-year chain reaction that led to the NBA's current offensive explosion". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  12. Beck, Howard (May 14, 2008). "The 24-Second Knicks Introduce Their Seven-Seconds-or-Less Coach". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  13. "The Discovered Importance of the 3-Point Shot". STATS Insights. July 14, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  14. Lelinwalla, Mark (September 11, 2015). "'NBA 2K16': All The Classic Teams Announced". Tech Times. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
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