1983–84 Phoenix Suns season

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1983–84 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachJohn MacLeod
General managerJerry Colangelo
OwnersKarl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Marvin Meyer, Richard Bloch
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record41–41 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Lakers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
RadioKTAR
< 1982–83 1984–85 >

The 1983–84 Phoenix Suns season was the 16th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The Suns were in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, extending a then-franchise record. The Suns eliminated their first round opponent, Portland, three games to two before defeating the Utah Jazz and NBA leading scorer, Adrian Dantley, four games to two. In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The team was led by head coach John MacLeod, in his 11th year with the Suns, and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Walter Davis led the Suns in scoring with 20 points per game. Larry Nance, who finished the season fourth in the NBA in blocks per game for the second straight year, was second in team scoring at 17.7. Davis returned to the All-Star Game, the only Sun from the season to be selected to do so. Maurice Lucas again averaged a double-double again for the Suns with 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Although Nance did not earn his first All-Star selection until the next season, he did participate in the NBA's first Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Weekend. While Julius Erving ("Dr. J") provided a memorable dunk from the foul line, it was Nance who was crowned the league's first Slam Dunk champion.[1]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1983 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 28 Rod Foster Guard  United States UCLA
2 45 Paul Williams Guard  United States Arizona State
3 51 Dereck Whittenburg Guard  United States North Carolina State
4 89 Sam Mosley Forward  United States Nevada
5 113 Rick Lamb Forward  United States Illinois State
6 135 Edward Bona Forward  United States Fordham
7 159 Fred Brown Guard  United States Virginia Commonwealth
8 181 Mike Mulquin Forward  United States Villanova
9 204 Joe Dykstra Guard  United States Western Illinois
10 224 Bo Overton Guard  United States Oklahoma

Roster[]

1983–84 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
C 33 Adams, Alvan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1954-07-19 Oklahoma
G/F 6 Davis, Walter 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1954-09-09 North Carolina
C 53 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955-11-22 Washington
PG 10 Foster, Rod 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1960-10-10 UCLA
F/C 20 Lucas, Maurice 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952-02-18 Marquette
PG 4 Macy, Kyle 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1957-04-09 Kentucky
F 22 Nance, Larry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959-02-12 Clemson
F 32 Pittman, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958-03-23 Maryland
C 8 Robey, Rick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956-01-30 Kentucky
SF 7 Sanders, Mike 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1960-05-07 UCLA
SF 14 Scott, Alvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1955-09-14 Oral Roberts
SG 44 Westphal, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1950-11-30 Southern California
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 54 28 .659 – 28–13 26–15 18–12
x-Portland Trail Blazers 48 34 .585 6 33–8 15–26 17–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics 42 40 .512 12 32–9 10–31 14–16
x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 13 31–10 10–31 16–14
Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 17 27–14 10–31 13–17
San Diego Clippers 30 52 .366 24 25–16 5–36 12–18
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 54 28 .659 –
2 y-Utah Jazz 45 37 .549 9
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 48 34 .585 6
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 43 39 .524 11
5 x-Seattle SuperSonics 42 40 .512 12
6 x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 13
7 x-Denver Nuggets 38 44 .463 16
8 x-Kansas City Kings 38 44 .463 16
9 San Antonio Spurs 37 45 .451 17
10 Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 17
11 San Diego Clippers 30 52 .366 24
12 Houston Rockets 29 53 .354 25



Record vs. opponents[]

1983–84 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 0–5 4–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 0–2 3–3 3–3 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Boston 5–0 — 5–0 6–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 5–1 4–2 3–3 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–5 — 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–4 2–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Cleveland 3–3 0–6 4–2 — 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–3 1–5 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–1
Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 4–2 0–2 4–1 4–2 2–0 3–3 3–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–2 4–1 1–4 4–2 0–2
Denver 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–4 — 1–1 2–3 4–2 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–4 3–3 3–2 2–3 3–3 0–2
Detroit 4–2 2–4 5–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 3–2 1–1 — 2–3 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–5 2–4 3–2 3–3 4–2 1–4 2–0
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 1–1 3–2 — 1–1 2–4 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 2–4 2–3 3–2 1–5 0–2
Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 0–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Kansas City 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3 2–4 1–1 1–4 4–2 2–0 — 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–3 5–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 2–0
Los Angeles 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 4–1 1–1 3–3 4–1 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 5–1 2–3 4–2 3–3 4–1 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 1–5 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 — 4–2 4–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
New Jersey 3–3 2–4 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 — 3–3 3–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
New York 1–4 3–3 4–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 2–0 1–4 3–3 — 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2
Philadelphia 1–5 4–2 3–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 3–3 4–2 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–4 5–0 4–2 2–4 1–4 2–0
Portland 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 4–1 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 — 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–4 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–5 3–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–5 1–4 — 4–1 2–3 4–2 1–1
San Diego 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 0–2 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–3 2–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 — 3–3 2–3 1–1
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 1–1 2–4 2–3 1–1 4–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 3–2 3–3 — 1–4 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 3–3 1–1 4–1 5–1 1–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–1 4–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 — 1–1
Washington 2–4 2–4 4–2 1–4 2–0 2–0 3–3 0–2 2–0 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 2–4 2–4 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 —

Playoffs[]

Game log[]

1984 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18 @ Portland W 113–106 James Edwards (23) Larry Nance (9) Walter Davis (13) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–0
2 April 20 @ Portland L 116–122 Walter Davis (25) Davis, Lucas (5) Alvan Adams (5) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–1
3 April 22 Portland W 106–103 Walter Davis (27) Lucas, Nance (10) Walter Davis (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,531 		2–1
4 April 24 Portland L 110–113 Walter Davis (29) Maurice Lucas (10) Davis, Macy (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		2–2
5 April 26 @ Portland W 117–105 Walter Davis (29) Maurice Lucas (12) Walter Davis (10) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		3–2
Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 29 @ Utah L 95–105 Walter Davis (21) James Edwards (8) Walter Davis (7) Salt Palace
12,403 		0–1
2 May 2 @ Utah W 102–97 Walter Davis (28) Maurice Lucas (15) Kyle Macy (7) Salt Palace
12,689 		1–1
3 May 4 Utah W 106–94 Walter Davis (30) Maurice Lucas (14) Kyle Macy (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		2–1
4 May 6 Utah W 111–110 (OT) Walter Davis (32) Alvan Adams (15) Maurice Lucas (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		3–1
5 May 8 @ Utah L 106–118 Maurice Lucas (19) Maurice Lucas (12) Macy, Westphal (6) Salt Palace
12,560 		3–2
6 May 10 Utah W 102–82 Walter Davis (21) Larry Nance (9) Davis, Macy (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		4–2
Conference Finals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 12 @ Los Angeles L 94–110 Walter Davis (24) Larry Nance (15) Kyle Macy (10) The Forum
12,825 		0–1
2 May 15 @ Los Angeles L 102–118 Larry Nance (29) Larry Nance (9) Walter Davis (8) The Forum
16,578 		0–2
3 May 18 Los Angeles W 135–127 (OT) Walter Davis (34) Maurice Lucas (17) Kyle Macy (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		1–2
4 May 20 Los Angeles L 115–126 Larry Nance (27) Maurice Lucas (10) Walter Davis (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		1–3
5 May 23 @ Los Angeles W 126–121 Walter Davis (27) Larry Nance (13) Kyle Macy (12) The Forum
16,848 		2–3
6 May 25 Los Angeles L 97–99 Walter Davis (26) Maurice Lucas (13) Kyle Macy (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		2–4
1984 schedule

Awards and honors[]

All-Star[]

  • Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. It was his fifth All-Star selection.
  • Larry Nance competed in the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Nance became the league's first Dunk champion, defeating Julius Erving in the final round.
  • The other Suns player receiving All-Star votes was Maurice Lucas (302,258).

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
Alvan Adams 70 13 20.7 .462 .000 .825 4.6 3.1 1.0 .4 9.6
Walter Davis 78 70 32.6 .512 .230 .863 2.6 5.5 1.4 .2 20.0
James Edwards 72 67 26.3 .536 .000 .720 4.8 2.6 .3 .4 14.7
Rod Foster 80 34 17.8 .448 .262 .787 1.5 2.2 .7 .1 8.3
Johnny High 29 9 17.7 .346 .000 .345 2.3 1.8 1.4 .4 1.6
Maurice Lucas 75 69 30.8 .497 .000 .765 9.7 2.7 .7 .5 15.9
Kyle Macy 82 45 29.3 .501 .329 .833 2.3 4.3 1.5 .1 10.1
Larry Nance 82 82 35.4 .576† .000 .707 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 17.7
Charles Pittman 69 8 14.3 .603† .000 .683 3.1 1.0 .2 .3 4.7
Rick Robey 61 4 14.0 .545 1.000 .693 3.2 1.1 .3 .2 5.6
Mike Sanders 50 0 11.7 .478 . .690 2.1 0.9 .5 .2 4.5
Alvin Scott 65 5 11.3 .444 .500 .778 1.5 0.7 .3 .3 2.6
Paul Westphal 59 2 14.7 .460 .269 .824 0.7 2.5 .7 .1 7.0
Rory White* 22 2 14.0 .479 . .571 2.8 0.6 .6 .1 7.4

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.

Playoffs[]

Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Alvan Adams 17 0 18.4 .421 . .679 5.1 2.5 1.0 .6 8.4
Walter Davis 17 17 36.6 .535 .273 .897 2.7 6.4 1.7 .2 24.9
James Edwards 17 17 27.2 .492 . .706 5.4 1.6 .2 .6 13.8
Rod Foster 16 0 8.0 .256 .000 1.000^ 0.8 1.1 .3 .1 1.8
Maurice Lucas 17 16 33.5 .511 . .808 9.9 3.6 .7 .5 17.4
Kyle Macy 17 15 36.5 .490 .455† .750 3.2 5.8 1.3 .1 10.4
Larry Nance 17 17 37.2 .590 . .671 8.7 2.4 .9 2.0 16.9
Charles Pittman 17 1 14.9 .549 .000 .621 3.8 0.7 .3 .3 4.4
Rick Robey 10 0 4.3 .438 .000 .500 1.0 0.2 .2 .0 1.8
Mike Sanders 15 0 10.1 .478 . .941^ 1.3 0.5 .4 .3 4.0
Alvin Scott 16 0 6.9 .385 1.000† .667 1.5 0.4 .1 .1 1.6
Paul Westphal 17 2 13.1 .375 .222 .875 0.5 2.2 .7 .0 5.3

† – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions[]

Trades[]

June 27, 1983 To Boston Celtics---- To Phoenix Suns----
October 17, 1983 To Detroit Pistons---- To Phoenix Suns----

Free agents[]

Additions[]

Date Player Contract Old Team
June 16, 1983 Kevin Magee Undisclosed Pallacanestro Varese (Italy)
September 14, 1983 Paul Westphal Signed 2-year contract New York Knicks
December 10, 1983 Mike Sanders Signed 3-year contract San Antonio Spurs
January 11, 1984 Johnny High Signed two 10-day contracts Phoenix Suns

Subtractions[]

Date Player Reason Left New Team
September 12, 1983 Joel Kramer Free agent Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
October 18, 1983 Kevin Magee Waived Zaragoza (Spain)
December 10, 1983 Johnny High Waived Phoenix Suns
December 20, 1983 Rory White Waived Wyoming Wildcatters (CBA)
January 31, 1984 Johnny High Waived

References[]

  1. ^ Goldstein, Alan (February 22, 1993). "At 34, Larry Nance is the oldest of the..." The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
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