NBA team season
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 [ ]
NBA Draft [ ]
Roster [ ]
Phoenix Suns roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (Y-M-D)
From
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
Pennsylvania
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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season [ ]
Standings [ ]
Record vs. opponents [ ]
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 [ ]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 [ ]
All-Star [ ]
Season [ ]
Player statistics [ ]
Season [ ]
* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 560 field goal attempts.
^ – Minimum 160 free throw attempts.
+ – Minimum 70 games played.
Transactions [ ]
Trades [ ]
Free agents [ ]
Subtractions [ ]
References [ ]
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s