# 1979–80 Phoenix Suns season

The 1979–80 Phoenix Suns season was the 12th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and at 55–27, the team's best regular season record since the franchise's inception. The Suns defeated Western Conference foe Kansas City in the opening round of the playoffs, marking the first time the Suns had won a playoff series in back-to-back seasons. In the Western Conference semifinals, the Suns would lose to the Pacific-winning Los Angeles Lakers, who later went on to win the season's championship. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod, his seventh season with the team, and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Paul Westphal led the Suns in scoring with a 21.9 point-per-game average and earned All-NBA First Team honors, while Walter Davis was second in team scoring with a 21.5 average. Both Westphal and Davis would return as selections to the All-Star Game. Truck Robinson and Alvan Adams provided an inside presence, averaging 17 and 15 points per game to go with nine and eight rebounds each. Robinson would play in just three of the eight Suns' playoff games, however.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 22 | Kyle Macy | Guard | United States | Kentucky |
| 2 | 24 | Johnny High | Guard | United States | Nevada |
| 3 | 64 | Al Green | Guard | United States | Louisiana State |
| 4 | 86 | Malcolm Cesare | Forward | United States | Florida |
| 5 | 107 | Mark Eaton | Center | United States | Cypress JC |
| 6 | 127 | Dale Shackelford | Forward | United States | Syracuse |
| 7 | 147 | Ollie Matson | Forward | United States | Pepperdine |
| 8 | 165 | Charles Jones | Center | United States | Albany State |
| 9 | 183 | Hosea Champine | Guard | United States | Robert Morris |
| 10 | 201 | Korky Nelson | Center | United States | Santa Clara |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 37–4 | 23–18 | 19–11 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 | 33–8 | 23–18 | 18–12 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 | 37–5 | 18–22 | 19–11 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 | 26–15 | 12–29 | 13–17 |
| San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 | 24–17 | 11–30 | 13–17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 8–22 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 |
| 8 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 10 | Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |

### Record vs. opponents

1979–80 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Game log

1979–80 game log Total: 55–27 (home: 36–5; road: 19–22) :
October: 7–4 (home: 4–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
1
October 12
Golden State
W 97–89
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,785
1–0
W 1
2
October 14
Chicago
W 112–102
Walter Davis (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,039
2–0
W 2
3
October 16
Seattle
W 102–86
Alvan Adams (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,253
3–0
W 3
4
October 19
@ Milwaukee
L 94–95
Paul Westphal (29)
MECCA Arena 10,938
3–1
L 1
5
October 20
@ Chicago
L 104–116
Alvan Adams (32)
Chicago Stadium 12,117
3–2
L 2
6
October 21
@ Kansas City
L 85–122
Truck Robinson (21)
Kemper Arena 6,648
3–3
L 3
7
October 23
Milwaukee
L 108–114
Truck Robinson (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,538
3–4
L 4
8
October 24
@ Golden State
W 110–108 (OT)
Paul Westphal (37)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,296
4–4
W 1
9
October 26
@ Seattle
W 92–86
Walter Davis (22)
Kingdome 18,514
5–4
W 2
10
October 28
@ Portland
W 89–88
Paul Westphal (25)
Memorial Coliseum 12,66
6–4
W 3
11
October 30
San Antonio
W 142–109
Truck Robinson (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,489
7–4
W 4 :
November: 9–5 (home: 6–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
12
November 2
@ Los Angeles
L 110–112
Alvan Adams (29)
The Forum 14,344
7–5
L 1
13
November 6
@ Utah
W 120–107
Paul Westphal (31)
Salt Palace 6,197
8–5
W 1
14
November 7
San Diego
L 102–114
Alvan Adams (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,097
8–6
L 1
15
November 9
Cleveland
W 110–106
Truck Robinson (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,911
9–6
W 1
16
November 11
Denver
W 116–91
Truck Robinson (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,118
10–6
W 2
17
November 14
Indiana
W 104–100
Walter Davis (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,762
11–6
W 3
18
November 16
Portland
W 98–97
Walter Davis (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,464
12–6
W 4
19
November 18
Golden State
L 95–99
Walter Davis
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,409
12–7
L 1
20
November 20
@ San Diego
L 110–117
Walter Davis (23)
San Diego Sports Arena 6,992
12–8
L 2
21
November 21
Kansas City
W 128–120
Walter Davis (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,704
13–8
W 1
22
November 23
Los Angeles
W 126–112
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
14–8
W 2
23
November 24
@ Denver
W 115–101
Walter Davis (40)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,664
15–8
W 3
24
November 25
@ Portland
W 87–86
Walter Davis (22)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
16–8
W 4
25
November 28
@ Seattle
L 116–127
Paul Westphal (30)
Kingdome 28,248
16–9
L 1 :
December: 10–5 (home: 6–0; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
26
December 1
Chicago
W 99–86
Truck Robinson, Paul Westphal (17)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
17–9
W 1
27
December 4
@ New York
L 114–118
Paul Westphal (35)
Madison Square Garden 11,042
17–10
L 1
28
December 5
@ New Jersey
L 100–115
Walter Davis (28)
Rutgers Athletic Center 5,162
17–11
L 2
29
December 7
@ Boston
L 92–100
Walter Davis (27)
Boston Garden 15,320
17–12
L 3
30
December 8
@ Philadelphia
L 96–117
Truck Robinson (19)
The Spectrum 12,051
17–13
L 4
31
December 11
@ Washington
W 123–99
Paul Westphal (27)
Capital Centre 8,216
18–13
W 1
32
December 13
Houston
W 121–113
Walter Davis (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,841
19–13
W 2
33
December 15
Detroit
W 126–105
Walter Davis (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,844
20–13
W 3
34
December 19
Utah
W 117–99
Paul Westphal (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,501
21–13
W 4
35
December 21
@ Chicago
W 127–117
Truck Robinson (27)
Chicago Stadium 5,706
22–13
W 5
36
December 22
@ Kansas City
W 115–111
Paul Westphal (30)
Kemper Arena 8,868
23–13
W 6
37
December 23
@ Milwaukee
W 106–103
Paul Westphal (26)
MECCA Arena 10,938
24–13
W 7
38
December 26
Portland
W 119–99
Truck Robinson (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
25–13
W 8
39
December 28
Kansas City
W 118–112
Paul Westphal (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
26–13
W 9
40
December 30
@ Los Angeles
L 105–113
Paul Westphal (29)
The Forum 15,544
26–14
L 1 :
January: 9–5 (home: 7–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
41
January 2
@ San Antonio
L 109–118
Truck Robinson (29)
HemisFair Arena 8,276
26–15
L 2
42
January 5
@ Houston
L 110–111
Paul Westphal (26)
The Summit 9,122
26–16
L 3
43
January 9
Golden State
W 113–100
Walter Davis (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,706
27–16
W 1
44
January 12
@ Golden State
L 96–107
Walter Davis (19)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,547
27–17
L 1
45
January 13
Utah
W 106–103
Paul Westphal (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,725
28–17
W 1
46
January 15
@ Denver
W 107–99
Paul Westphal (19)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,057
29–17
W 2
47
January 16
@ Utah
W 115–108
Truck Robinson (27)
Salt Palace 6,588
30–17
W 3
48
January 17
Atlanta
W 101–99
Paul Westphal (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
31–17
W 4
49
January 19
San Diego
W 137–123
Paul Westphal (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
32–17
W 5
50
January 23
New York
L 109–119
Paul Westphal (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,504
32–18
L 1
51
January 25
Milwaukee
W 110–96
Truck Robinson (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
33–18
W 1
52
January 27
Philadelphia
W 125–118
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
34–18
W 2
53
January 29
@ San Diego
L 121–133
Truck Robinson (31)
San Diego Sports Arena 11,428
34–19
L 1
54
January 30
Denver
W 122–114
Paul Westphal (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,069
35–19
W 1 :
February: 8–5 (home: 4–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
55
February 6
Kansas City
W 97–95
Walter Davis (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,310
36–19
W 2
56
February 8
@ Chicago
W 113–109
Mike Bratz (20)
Chicago Stadium 10,403
37–19
W 3
57
February 10
@ Milwaukee
L 107–109
Walter Davis (27)
MECCA Arena 10,938
37–20
L 1
58
February 13
Boston
W 135–134
Paul Westphal (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
38–20
W 1
59
February 15
Washington
W 116–104
Truck Robinson (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
39–20
W 2
60
February 17
New Jersey
W 128–98
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,466
40–20
W 3
61
February 19
@ Cleveland
L 109–128
Walter Davis (32)
Coliseum at Richfield 5,739
40–21
L 1
62
February 21
@ Detroit
W 125–116
Paul Westphal (49)
Pontiac Silverdome 5,317
41–21
W 1
63
February 22
@ Atlanta
L 104–111
Alvan Adams (19)
Omni Coliseum 13,150
41–22
L 1
64
February 24
@ Indiana
W 113–105
Walter Davis (29)
Market Square Arena 9,174
42–22
W 1
65
February 26
@ Denver
L 112–121
Truck Robinson (25)
McNichols Sports Arena 11,149
42–23
L 1
66
February 27
Milwaukee
L 110–119 (OT)
Walter Davis (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,683
42–24
L 2
67
February 28
@ Utah
W 111–101
Paul Westphal (30)
Salt Palace 6,903
43–24
W 1 :
March: 12–3 (home: 9–0; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
68
March 2
Los Angeles
W 125–115
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
44–24
W 2
69
March 5
Seattle
W 127–111
Walter Davis (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
45–24
W 3
70
March 7
Utah
W 110–94
Walter Davis, Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,245
46–24
W 4
71
March 9
Chicago
W 113–103 (OT)
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,210
47–24
W 5
72
March 12
@ Golden State
W 122–113
Paul Westphal (31)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,936
48–24
W 6
73
March 15
@ San Diego
L 109–120
Truck Robinson (29)
San Diego Sports Arena 10,635
48–25
L 1
74
March 16
@ Los Angeles
L 106–128
Truck Robinson (26)
The Forum 16,587
48–26
L 2
75
March 18
@ Kansas City
W 112–109
Walter Davis (25)
Kemper Arena 11,448
49–26
W 1
76
March 19
Los Angeles
W 112–108
Paul Westphal (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
50–26
W 2
77
March 21
@ Portland
W 111–100
Truck Robinson (23)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
51–26
W 3
78
March 23
Denver
W 118–102
Walter Davis (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,705
52–26
W 4
79
March 25
@ Seattle
L 95–104
Walter Davis (21)
Kingdome 34,152
52–27
L 1
80
March 26
Seattle
W 109–99
Walter Davis (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
53–27
W 1
81
March 28
Portland
W 114–100
Walter Davis (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,224
54–27
W 2
82
March 30
San Diego
W 122–104
Walter Davis (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,807
55–27
W 3 :
1979 schedule :

## Playoffs
### Game log

1980 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 2
Kansas City
W 96–93
Paul Westphal (23)
Truck Robinson (14)
Walter Davis (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–0
2
April 4
@ Kansas City
L 96–106
Alvan Adams (22)
Alvan Adams (12)
Alvan Adams (7)
Kemper Arena 9,637
1–1
3
April 6
Kansas City
W 114–99
Walter Davis (22)
Alvan Adams (20)
Adams, Davis (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,306
2–1 :
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 8
@ Los Angeles
L 110–119
Mike Bratz (25)
Rich Kelley (10)
Don Buse (9)
The Forum 15,892
0–1
2
April 9
@ Los Angeles
L 128–131 (OT)
Paul Westphal (37)
Gar Heard (9)
Alvan Adams (12)
The Forum 14,286
0–2
3
April 11
Los Angeles
L 105–108
Walter Davis (28)
Gar Heard (11)
Davis, Buse (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
0–3
4
April 13
Los Angeles
W 127–101
Paul Westphal (25)
Gar Heard (9)
Buse, Adams (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–3
5
April 15
@ Los Angeles
L 101–126
Walter Davis (24)
Adams, Cook (6)
Rich Kelley (7)
The Forum 17,505
1–4 :
1980 schedule :

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Paul Westphal was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished fourth in voting among Western Conference guards with 127,409 votes.
* Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection. Davis finished fourth in voting among Western Conference forwards with 100,546 votes.

### Season

* Paul Westphal was named to the All-NBA First Team.
* Don Buse was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

## Player statistics
### Season

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 75 | 63 | 28.9 | .531 | .000 | .797 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .7+ | 14.9 |
| Mike Bratz | 82 | 1 | 19.4 | .392 | .244 | .870 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .1 | 8.5 |
| Don Buse | 81 | 81 | 30.9 | .443 | .241 | .664 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .1 | 7.7 |
| Jeff Cook | 66 | 14 | 13.7 | .469 | .000 | .806 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .4 | .3 | 5.5 |
| Walter Davis | 75 | 73 | 30.8 | .563 | .000 | .819 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .3 | 21.5 |
| Garfield Heard | 82 | 5 | 17.1 | .417 | .000 | .744 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | .6 | 5.0 |
| Johnny High | 82 | 0 | 13.7 | .446 | .143 | .674 | 2.1 | 1.5 | .9 | .2 | 5.0 |
| Rich Kelley* | 23 | 0 | 16.2 | .506 | . | .783 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .7+ | 5.8 |
| Joel Kramer | 54 | 6 | 13.2 | .469 | .000 | .800 | 2.8 | 1.4 | .5 | .1 | 3.5 |
| Truck Robinson | 82 | 82 | 33.0 | .512 | . | .667 | 9.4 | 1.7 | .7 | .7 | 17.3 |
| Alvin Scott | 79 | 3 | 16.5 | .422 | .333† | .779 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .6 | .7 | 4.4 |
| Paul Westphal | 82 | 82 | 32.5 | .525 | .280† | .862 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 1.5 | .4 | 21.9 |
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 25 three-pointers made. + – Minimum 50 games played.

### Playoffs

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 8 | 8 | 31.4 | .566† | . | .895^ | 9.6 | 5.8 | .9 | 1.3 | 16.1 |
| Mike Bratz | 8 | 0 | 21.1 | .512 | .391 | .900^ | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.1 | .0 | 13.0 |
| Don Buse | 8 | 8 | 29.5 | .438 | .385 | .636 | 2.6 | 5.5 | .8 | .0 | 8.5 |
| Jeff Cook | 7 | 0 | 14.0 | .667† | . | .846 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 7.7 |
| Walter Davis | 8 | 8 | 30.6 | .504 | .000 | .737 | 2.9 | 4.4 | .5 | .1 | 20.8 |
| Garfield Heard | 8 | 6 | 27.9 | .393 | . | .733 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 6.9 |
| Johnny High | 8 | 0 | 15.0 | .387 | .000 | .500 | 3.1 | 2.5 | .8 | .3 | 4.0 |
| Rich Kelley | 8 | 0 | 18.3 | .432 | .000 | .900^ | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .9 | 5.9 |
| Truck Robinson | 3 | 2 | 21.3 | .375 | . | .714 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .7 | 5.7 |
| Alvin Scott | 8 | 0 | 17.5 | .515 | .000 | .500 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .5 | .6 | 4.8 |
| Paul Westphal | 8 | 8 | 31.6 | .486 | .083 | .875 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 1.4 | .4 | 20.9 |
† – Minimum 20 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 22, 1979 | To Washington Bullets Rights to Steve Malovic | To Phoenix Suns 1979 first-round draft pick ( Kyle Macy) 1980 third-round draft pick ( John Campbell) |
| August 20, 1979 | To Detroit Pistons 1981 fourth-round draft pick ( Don Koonce) | To Phoenix Suns Andre Wakefield |
| February 15, 1980 | To New Jersey Nets 1982 first-round draft pick ( Brook Steppe) 1983 second-round draft pick ( Pace Mannion) Cash considerations | To Phoenix Suns Rich Kelley |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
| May 22, 1979 | Jeff Cook | Undisclosed | Washington Lumberjacks (WBA) |
| September 13, 1979 | Greg Griffin | Undisclosed | Phoenix Suns |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| September 4, 1979 | Ted McClain | Waived | |
| October 1, 1979 | Al Green | Waived | |
| October 1, 1979 | Charles Jones | Waived | Maine Lumberjacks (CBA) |
| October 1, 1979 | Greg Griffin | Waived | |
| October 12, 1979 | Andre Wakefield | Waived | Utah Jazz |