# 1980–81 Phoenix Suns season

The 1980–81 Phoenix Suns season was the 13th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. At 57–25, the team had finished with its best regular season record. For the Suns, they had appeared in their first Finals five years ago but never could claim a divisional title as their own. Atop the Western Conference standings for the first time, the Suns had earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The offense was highlighted by a balanced attack, with four starters averaging 15 points or more a game, but none greater than 19. This, despite a trade that meant the departure of four-time All-NBA Paul Westphal, who was swapped for fourth year All-Star guard Dennis Johnson. In the conference semifinals, the Suns would meet the Kansas City Kings, a team they had defeated in the first round one season ago but found more difficult to handle this season. After a 22-point win in game one, the Suns would go on to lose game seven and the series. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Johnson was a tough defender and later earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team. In the All-Star Game, Johnson was joined by teammates Walter Davis and Truck Robinson. It was the first time the Suns sent three players to the All-Star Game.
Johnson and Robinson shared top scoring marks for the Suns with an average of 18.8 points a game, while Robinson also led the team in rebounds per game at 9.6. Davis averaged 18.0 points per game and Alvan Adams chipped in 14.9 for the second consecutive season. Adams, a 6'9" center/forward led the team in assists at 4.6 a game.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 42 | Kimberly Belton | Center | United States | Stanford |
| 3 | 59 | John Campbell | Forward | United States | Clemson |
| 3 | 65 | Doug True | Forward | United States | California |
| 4 | 88 | Leroy Stampley | Guard | United States | Loyola (IL) |
| 5 | 111 | Mark Stevens | Forward | United States | Northern Arizona |
| 6 | 134 | Coby Leavitt | Center | United States | Utah |
| 7 | 157 | Ron Williams | Forward | United States | Western Montana |
| 8 | 175 | Jim Conolly | Forward | United States | La Salle |
| 9 | 196 | Keith French | Forward | United States | North Park |
| 10 | 211 | Randy Carroll | Forward | United States | Kansas |
This was the first year in franchise history that none of the team's draft picks played for the franchise. Not only did no selection play for the Suns, none ever played a game in the NBA.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 22–8 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3.0 | 30–11 | 24–17 | 19–11 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12.0 | 30–11 | 15–26 | 18–12 |
| Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18.0 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 10–20 |
| San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21.0 | 22–19 | 14–27 | 14–16 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23.0 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 |
| 9 | San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |

### Record vs. opponents

1980–81 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 | — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Playoffs
### Game log

1981 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 7
Kansas City
W 102–80
Johnson, Davis (16)
Jeff Cook (12)
three players tied (4)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–0
2
April 8
Kansas City
L 83–88
Dennis Johnson (31)
Truck Robinson (8)
Alvan Adams (4)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–1
3
April 10
@ Kansas City
L 92–93
Johnson, Adams (19)
Dennis Johnson (9)
three players tied (4)
Kemper Arena 13,776
1–2
4
April 12
@ Kansas City
L 95–102
Truck Robinson (23)
Truck Robinson (13)
Alvan Adams (4)
Kemper Arena 11,089
1–3
5
April 15
Kansas City
W 101–89
Walter Davis (20)
Truck Robinson (20)
Johnson, Davis (4)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
2–3
6
April 17
@ Kansas City
W 81–76
Dennis Johnson (17)
Truck Robinson (10)
Alvan Adams (7)
Kemper Arena 15,232
3–3
7
April 19
Kansas City
L 88–95
Dennis Johnson (28)
Johnson, Adams (7)
Dennis Johnson (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
3–4 :
1981 schedule :

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Walter Davis was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection. Davis finished second in voting among Western Conference forwards with 172,479 votes.
* Dennis Johnson was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection. Johnson finished fifth in voting among Western Conference guards with 123,287 votes.
* Truck Robinson was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection.
* John MacLeod coached the Western Conference All-Star team in a 120–123 loss to the East.

### Season

* Dennis Johnson was named to the All-NBA First Team. Johnson also finished eighth in MVP voting.
* Dennis Johnson was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
* Alvan Adams had the league's best defensive rating, allowing 96.2 points per 100 possessions.
* Truck Robinson finished 19th in MVP voting.
* Walter Davis finished 24th in MVP voting.

## Player statistics
### Season

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 75 | 69 | 27.4 | .526 | . | .768 | 7.3 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .9 | 14.9 |
| Jeff Cook | 79 | 77 | 27.7 | .464 | .000 | .645 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .7 | 8.5 |
| Walter Davis | 78 | 77 | 28.0 | .539 | .412 | .836 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 1.2 | .2 | 18.0 |
| Johnny High | 81 | 10 | 21.6 | .427 | .083 | .693 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | .3 | 8.4 |
| Dennis Johnson | 79 | 77 | 33.1 | .436 | .216 | .820 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 1.7 | .8 | 18.8 |
| Rich Kelley | 81 | 13 | 20.8 | .506 | .000 | .758 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .8 | 7.0 |
| Joel Kramer | 82 | 0 | 13.0 | .527 | .000 | .692 | 2.8 | 1.1 | .4 | .2 | 4.1 |
| Kyle Macy | 82 | 0 | 17.9 | .511 | .235 | .899 | 1.6 | 2.0 | .9 | .1 | 8.1 |
| Mike Niles | 44 | 0 | 5.3 | .348 | .500 | .459 | 1.3 | 0.3 | .2 | .0 | 2.6 |
| Truck Robinson | 82 | 82 | 37.7 | .505 | . | .629 | 9.6 | 2.5 | .8 | .5 | 18.8 |
| Alvin Scott | 82 | 5 | 17.4 | .497 | .167 | .764 | 3.3 | 1.4 | .7 | .9 | 5.4 |

### Playoffs

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 7 | 7 | 31.1 | .450 | . | .714 | 5.9 | 3.7 | .6 | .1 | 10.6 |
| Jeff Cook | 7 | 7 | 29.4 | .463 | 1.000 | .737 | 6.7 | 1.6 | .1 | .0 | 9.3 |
| Walter Davis | 7 | 7 | 28.4 | .481† | .000 | .588 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 1.0 | .1 | 16.0 |
| Johnny High | 7 | 0 | 16.7 | .424 | . | .643 | 2.7 | 0.9 | .9 | .3 | 5.3 |
| Dennis Johnson | 7 | 7 | 38.1 | .473 | .200 | .762^ | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 19.6 |
| Rich Kelley | 7 | 0 | 16.1 | .400 | .000 | .643 | 5.0 | 1.9 | .9 | .4 | 4.1 |
| Joel Kramer | 7 | 0 | 14.4 | .520† | . | .500 | 2.3 | 0.6 | .3 | .3 | 3.9 |
| Kyle Macy | 7 | 0 | 14.6 | .528† | .500 | 1.000^ | 1.9 | 1.6 | .7 | .0 | 7.0 |
| Mike Niles | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .5 | .0 | 0.0 |
| Truck Robinson | 7 | 7 | 33.3 | .351 | . | .588 | 10.7 | 1.9 | .7 | .3 | 10.6 |
| Alvin Scott | 7 | 0 | 17.1 | .467 | . | .667 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .6 | .9 | 5.4 |
† – Minimum 20 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 3, 1980 | To Seattle SuperSonics Paul Westphal | To Phoenix Suns Dennis Johnson |
| June 9, 1980 | To Dallas Mavericks 1981 second-round draft pick ( Elston Turner) Future considerations | To Phoenix Suns Wiley Peck |
| November 25, 1980 | To Indiana Pacers Don Buse | To Phoenix Suns 1981 second-round draft pick ( Al Leslie) 1982 second-round draft pick ( Jose Slaughter) |
| February 3, 1981 | To San Diego Clippers (Sent picks to Phoenix as compensation for free agent Garfield Heard) | To Phoenix Suns 1981 third-round draft pick ( Sam Clancy) 1983 third-round draft pick ( Derek Whittenburg) |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
| June 25, 1980 | Mike Niles | Undisclosed | |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| May 28, 1980 | Mike Bratz | Expansion Draft | Dallas Mavericks |
| September 9, 1980 | Bayard Forrest | Retired | |
| October 8, 1980 | Wiley Peck | Waived | |
| October 14, 1980 | Garfield Heard | Free agent | San Diego Clippers |