# 2004–05 Phoenix Suns season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 37th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. 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. Also during that same period of time, the Suns would honor former head coach and broadcaster Cotton Fitzsimmons, who died on July 25, 2004, by wearing a white patch on their jerseys for the entire season, including their playoff run. 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.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games, and, in the semifinals, defeated Nash's former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in six games. In the Western Conference finals, however, the Suns lost 4–1 to the 2-seed, and eventual NBA champion, San Antonio Spurs. The Suns' 62–20 record was the best in the league and tied the franchise record for wins. The 33-win improvement over the 2003–04 campaign constituted the third-best year-to-year jump in NBA history. The 2004-05 Phoenix Suns were the youngest team to earn the 1-seed since seeding began in 1984 (and held the record until the 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder displaced them). Following the season, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and Richardson was dealt to the New York Knicks.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 7 | Luol Deng | Forward | United Kingdom | Duke |
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. 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. 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. Defying expectations, Phoenix won 31 of its first 35 games. The team then lost its next six games, in large part due to a thigh injury suffered by Nash. Despite this minor blip, the Suns finished with a record of 62–20. Nash won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, while three Suns – Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion – were named to an All-NBA Team.
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. This style of play benefitted from rule changes enacted in 2002, which including new penalties against hand check fouls committed on the perimeter. 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. The Suns' fast style of play earned them the moniker "Seven Seconds or Less."

## 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. Other writers have made similar arguments in favor of the proposition that the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns revolutionized the modern game of basketball.
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. 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, NBA 2K17, and NBA 2K18.

## Results
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Phoenix Suns | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 31–10 | 31–10 | 12–4 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 | 30–11 | 20–21 | 10–6 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 6–10 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 6–10 |
| Golden State Warriors | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 | 20–21 | 14–27 | 6–10 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Phoenix Suns | 62 | 20 | .756 | — |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 59 | 23 | .720 | 3 |
| 3 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 6 | x-Sacramento Kings | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 7 | x-Denver Nuggets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 13 |
| 8 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 9 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 |
| 13 | Portland Trail Blazers | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 14 | Utah Jazz | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
| 15 | New Orleans Hornets | 18 | 64 | .220 | 44 |

### 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 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Cleveland | 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 |
| Miami | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| New York | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Toronto | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Playoffs
### Game log

2005 playoff game log :
First Round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
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 AttendanceSeries
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 AttendanceSeries
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
### 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

* Steve Nash was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third All-Star selection. Nash finished third in the All-Star voting among Western Conference guards with 1,148,275 votes.
* Amar'e Stoudemire was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection. Stoudemire finished fifth in the All-Star voting among Western Conference forwards with 640,370 votes.
* Shawn Marion was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection. Marion finished eighth in the All-Star voting among Western Conference forwards with 264,203 votes.
* Amar'e Stoudemire was the runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest, losing to champion Josh Smith. This was the only All-Star Saturday competition not won by Phoenix.
* Quentin Richardson won the Three-Point Shootout.
* Steve Nash won the Skills Challenge competition with a time of 25.8 seconds.
* Team Phoenix, consisting of Shawn Marion, Diana Taurasi and Dan Majerle, won the Shooting Stars Competition.

### Season

* Steve Nash received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
* Mike D'Antoni received the NBA Coach of the Year Award.
* Bryan Colangelo received the NBA Executive of the Year Award.
* Steve Nash was named to the All-NBA First Team.
* Amar'e Stoudemire was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Stoudemire also finished 9th in MVP voting, and 7th in Most Improved Player voting.
* Shawn Marion was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Marion also finished 14th in MVP voting, 5th in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and 22nd in Most Improved Player voting.
* Joe Johnson finished 20th in Most Improved Player voting.
* Steve Nash led the league in assists per game, with an 11.5 average.
* Quentin Richardson led the league (with Kyle Korver) in three-point field goals with 226.

## Injuries/Missed games

* 11/01/04: Žarko Čabarkapa: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until December 7
* 11/08/04: Yuta Tabuse: Strained quadriceps; placed on injured list until December 10
* 11/10/04: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; did not play
* 11/13/04: Jake Voskuhl: Flu; did not play
* 11/16/04: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; did not play
* 12/03/04: Maciej Lampe: Flu; did not play
* 12/07/04: Jackson Vroman: Strained groin; placed on injured list until December 18
* 12/10/04: Jake Voskuhl: Appendectomy; placed on injured list until January 3
* 01/02/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play
* 01/04/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play
* 01/05/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play
* 01/10/05: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until February 4
* 01/15/05: Steve Nash: Bruised thigh; did not play
* 01/17/05: Steve Nash: Bruised thigh; did not play
* 01/19/05: Steve Nash: Back spasms; did not play
* 02/14/05: Jim Jackson: Sprained foot; did not play
* 02/23/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play
* 02/26/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play
* 02/27/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play
* 03/05/05: Quentin Richardson; Hyperextended knee; did not play
* 03/11/05: Shawn Marion: Bruised knee; did not play
* 03/18/05: Jake Voskuhl: Sprained ankle; did not play
* 03/20/05: Walter McCarty: Back spasms; did not play
* 03/28/05: Amar'e Stoudemire: Ankle inflammation; did not play
* 03/30/05: Amar'e Stoudemire: Ankle inflammation; did not play
* 04/01/05: Walter McCarty: Personal reasons; did not play
* 04/03/05: Walter McCarty: Personal reasons; did not play
* 04/12/05: Quentin Richardson: Sprained ankle; did not play
* 04/15/05: Quentin Richardson: Sprained ankle; did not play
* 04/20/05: Steve Nash: Did not play
* 05/11/05: Joe Johnson: Fractured orbital bone, mild concussion; placed on injured list until May 28

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Leandro Barbosa | 63 | 6 | 17.3 | .475 | .367 | .797 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 7.0 |
| Žarko Čabarkapa* | 3 | 0 | 3.7 | .571† | . | 1.000^ | 1.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Steven Hunter | 76 | 3 | 13.8 | .614† | .000 | .479 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 4.6 |
| Jim Jackson* | 40 | 3 | 24.9 | .435 | .459 | .960^ | 3.9 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 8.8 |
| Casey Jacobsen* | 40 | 0 | 19.2 | .414 | .382 | .774 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .0 | 5.3 |
| Joe Johnson | 82 | 82 | 39.5 | .461 | .478+ | .750 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| Maciej Lampe* | 16 | 0 | 7.4 | .347 | .667+ | .667 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| Shawn Marion | 81 | 81 | 38.8 | .476 | .334 | .833 | 11.3 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 19.4 |
| Walter McCarty* | 28 | 0 | 12.6 | .388 | .385 | .500 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.5 |
| Steve Nash | 75 | 75 | 34.3 | .502 | .431 | .887^ | 3.3 | 11.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 15.5 |
| Bo Outlaw | 39 | 0 | 5.5 | .353 | . | .556 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Smush Parker* | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | .467 | .250 | . | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Quentin Richardson | 79 | 78 | 35.9 | .389 | .358 | .739 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 14.9 |
| Paul Shirley | 9 | 0 | 3.3 | .455 | . | .500 | 0.2 | 0.3 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 |
| Amar'e Stoudemire | 80 | 80 | 36.1 | .559† | .188 | .733 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 26.0 |
| Yuta Tabuse | 4 | 0 | 4.3 | .167 | 1.000+ | 1.000^ | 1.0 | 0.8 | .0 | .0 | 1.8 |
| Jake Voskuhl | 38 | 1 | 9.5 | .458 | . | .684 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.1 |
| Jackson Vroman* | 10 | 1 | 5.7 | .375 | . | .571 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 300 field goals made. + – Minimum 55 three-pointers made. ^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Leandro Barbosa | 12 | 0 | 9.7 | .343 | .400 | .500 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Steven Hunter | 15 | 0 | 14.2 | .558 | . | .600 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.2 |
| Jim Jackson | 15 | 6 | 31.6 | .488 | .516 | .875 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 11.0 |
| Joe Johnson | 9 | 9 | 39.4 | .504 | .556 | .697 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 18.8 |
| Shawn Marion | 15 | 15 | 42.3 | .484 | .419 | .769 | 11.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 17.6 |
| Walter McCarty | 8 | 0 | 6.9 | .222 | .333 | .000 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| Steve Nash | 15 | 15 | 40.7 | .520 | .389 | .919 | 4.8 | 11.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 23.9 |
| Bo Outlaw | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | . | . | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 0.0 |
| Quentin Richardson | 15 | 15 | 37.6 | .403 | .390 | .639 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| Paul Shirley | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | . | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 0.0 |
| Amar'e Stoudemire | 15 | 15 | 40.1 | .539 | .000 | .781 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 29.9 |
| Jake Voskuhl | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | . | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 0.0 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 22, 2004 | To Charlotte Bobcats 2005 first-round draft pick ( Sean May) | To Phoenix Suns Charlotte agrees to draft Jahidi White in 2004 NBA Expansion Draft |
| June 24, 2004 | To Chicago Bulls / Luol Deng | To Phoenix Suns Jackson Vroman 2005 first-round draft pick ( Nate Robinson) |
| January 3, 2005 | To Golden State Warriors Žarko Čabarkapa | To Phoenix Suns 2007 second-round draft pick ( Aaron Gray) 2009 second-round draft pick ( DeJuan Blair) |
| January 21, 2005 | To New Orleans Hornets Casey Jacobsen Maciej Lampe Jackson Vroman | To Phoenix Suns Jim Jackson 2005 second-round draft pick ( Marcin Gortat) |
| February 8, 2005 | To Boston Celtics 2007 second-round draft pick ( Aaron Gray) | To Phoenix Suns Walter McCarty |

### Free agents
#### 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 |