# 1971–72 Phoenix Suns season

The 1971–72 Phoenix Suns season was the fourth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With a 49–33 record, the Suns hold the NBA record as the team with the best winning percentage to not make the playoffs. The team broke the record they set the previous year with a 48–34 finish. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Suns in their debut season as members of the Pacific division. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Paul Silas again led the team in rebounds, averaging 11.9 per game, while also leading the Suns in assists with a 4.3 average. Connie Hawkins's 21 points a game led the club, while Dick Van Arsdale was second with his 19.7 average. Silas averaged 17.5 for the season, while both Clem Haskins and Neal Walk averaged 15.7.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 14 | John Roche | Guard | United States | South Carolina |
| 3 | 48 | Dennis "Mo" Layton | Guard | United States | USC |
| 4 | 65 | Walt Szczerbiak | Forward | United States | George Washington |
| 5 | 82 | Ken Gardner | Forward | United States | Utah |
| 5 | 84 | Bob Kissane | Center | United States | Holy Cross |
| 6 | 99 | William Graham | Forward | United States | Kentucky State |
| 7 | 116 | Ralph Brateris | Forward | United States | Trenton State |
| 8 | 133 | Vernell Ellzy | Forward | United States | Florida State |
| 9 | 149 | Mike Johnson | Guard | United States | Kansas State |
| 10 | 165 | Tom Newell | Guard | United States | Hawaii |
| 11 | 179 | Paul Leitz | Forward | United States | Western Carolina |
| 12 | 192 | Floyd Mason | Forward | United States | Alcorn A&M |
| 13 | 204 | Ron Dorsey | Guard | United States | Tennessee State |
| 14 | 213 | Ken Booker | Guard | United States | UCLA |
| 15 | 222 | Curtis Carter | Forward | United States | Bishop |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 63 | 19 | .768 | – | 31–5 | 27–12 | 5–2 | 13–5 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 | 29–12 | 26–12 | 2–1 | 12–6 |
| Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 | 30–11 | 19–20 | 0–2 | 7–11 |
| Detroit Pistons | 26 | 56 | .317 | 37 | 16–25 | 9–30 | 1–1 | 4–14 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 69 | 13 | .841 |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 63 | 19 | .768 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 57 | 25 | .695 |
| 4 | x-Golden State Warriors | 51 | 31 | .622 |
| 5 | Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 |
| 6 | Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 |
| 7 | Houston Rockets | 34 | 48 | .415 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 26 | 56 | .317 |
| 9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 18 | 64 | .220 |

### Record vs. opponents

1971–72 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 |
| Boston | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 |
| Buffalo | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Golden State | 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 |
| Houston | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 |
| Los Angeles | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 |
| New York | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 |
| Portland | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 |
| Seattle | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — |

### Game log

1971–72 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 30–11; road: 19–22) :
October: 3–4 (home: 2–3; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
1
October 14
Milwaukee
L 97–110
Connie Hawkins (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,174
0–1
L 1
2
October 16
Houston
W 128–108
Paul Silas (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,572
1–1
W 1
3
October 22
Detroit
L 109–116
Connie Hawkins (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,337
1–2
L 1
4
October 24
Chicago
L 104–105
Paul Silas (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,970
1–3
L 2
5
October 26
Cincinnati
W 126–99
Paul Silas (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,901
2–3
W 1
6
October 29
@ Philadelphia
W 137–135 (2OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (28)
The Spectrum 6,128
3–3
W 2
7
October 30
@ Baltimore
L 94–101
Dick Van Arsdale (29)
Baltimore Civic Center 6,839
3–4
L 1 :
November: 8–7 (home: 4–0; road: 4–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
8
November 2
@ Chicago
L 101–108
Clem Haskins (22)
Chicago Stadium 5,843
3–5
L 2
9
November 3
@ Buffalo
W 100–98
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5,417
4–5
W 1
10
November 5
@ Cleveland
W 107–87
Clem Haskins (24)
Cleveland Arena 3,307
5–5
W 2
11
November 6
@ Cincinnati
L 95–110
Clem Haskins (22)
Cincinnati Gardens 3,076
5–6
L 1
12
November 9
@ Milwaukee
L 113–118
Connie Hawkins (28)
Milwaukee Arena 10,039
5–7
L 2
13
November 12
Boston
W 128–119
Connie Hawkins (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,470
6–7
W 1
14
November 14
Cleveland
W 119–105
Dick Van Arsdale (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,336
7–7
W 2
15
November 16
@ New York
L 111–112
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Madison Square Garden 18,344
7–8
L 1
16
November 17
@ Boston
L 121–140
Connie Hawkins (35)
Boston Garden 9,440
7–9
L 2
17
November 18
@ Detroit
L 126–128
Neal Walk (30)
Cobo Arena 3,418
7–10
L 3
18
November 20
@ Atlanta
L 109–115
Paul Silas (24)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,702
7–11
L 4
19
November 23
Philadelphia
W 128–107
Mo Layton (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,678
8–11
W 1
20
November 25
Detroit
W 122–103
Mo Layton (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,846
9–11
W 2
21
November 28
@ Houston
W 116–110
Mo Layton (25)
Hofheinz Pavilion 3,643
10–11
W 3
22
November 30
@ Portland
W 121–111 (OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (23)
Memorial Coliseum 7,704
11–11
W 4 :
December: 11–5 (home: 7–3; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
23
December 1
Portland
W 139–103
Paul Silas (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,040
12–11
W 5
24
December 4
@ Golden State
W 128–92
Clem Haskins (27)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,491
13–11
W 6
25
December 5
Golden State
W 120–87
Connie Hawkins (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,886
14–11
W 7
26
December 9
Atlanta
W 135–115
Connie Hawkins (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,524
15–11
W 8
27
December 10
@ Los Angeles
L 117–126 (OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
The Forum 17,505
15–12
L 1
28
December 11
Houston
L 110–111
Hawkins, Silas (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,695
15–13
L 2
29
December 14
@ New York
W 110–100
Neal Walk (24)
Madison Square Garden 19,253
16–13
W 1
30
December 15
@ Cincinnati
W 127–108
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
Cincinnati Gardens 2,038
17–13
W 2
31
December 17
Detroit
W 123–102
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,808
18–13
W 3
32
December 18
Los Angeles
L 106–132
Neal Walk (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
18–14
L 1
33
December 19
@ Seattle
L 127–130 (OT)
Paul Silas (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,189
18–15
L 2
34
December 21
Philadelphia
W 124–119
Paul Silas (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,272
19–15
W 1
35
December 23
Chicago
L 108–117 (OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,289
19–16
L 1
36
December 25
Seattle
W 116–86
Connie Hawkins (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,026
20–16
W 1
37
December 29
@ Houston
W 124–106
Clem Haskins, Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Hofheinz Pavilion 5,389
21–16
W 2
38
December 30
Buffalo
W 123–102
Mel Counts, Paul Silas, Dick Van Arsdale (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,272
22–16
W 3 :
January: 9–8 (home: 5–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
39
January 1
Boston
W 114–104
Connie Hawkins (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,056
23–16
W 4
40
January 2
Atlanta
L 111–116
Clem Haskins (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,670
23–17
L 1
41
January 4
@ Chicago
W 112–108
Clem Haskins (23)
Chicago Stadium 9,009
24–17
W 1
42
January 7
@ Buffalo
W 123–110
Connie Hawkins (32)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 10,247
25–17
W 2
43
January 8
@ Philadelphia
L 119–130
Otto Moore (21)
The Spectrum 7,833
25–18
L 1
44
January 9
@ Baltimore
L 103–109
Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (22)
College Park, MD 7,235
25–19
L 2
45
January 11
@ Milwaukee
W 115–114
Neal Walk (42)
Milwaukee Arena 10,111
26–19
W 1
46
January 14
Cleveland
W 117–107
Neal Walk (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,279
27–19
W 2
47
January 15
@ Seattle
L 110–118
Mel Counts, Paul Silas, Dick Van Arsdale (18)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,693
27–20
L 1
48
January 16
Baltimore
L 104–107
Dick Van Arsdale (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,385
27–21
L 2
All-Star Break
49
January 20
New York
W 130–109
Connie Hawkins (40)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,006
28–21
W 1
50
January 21
@ Seattle
W 128–113
Connie Hawkins (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,751
29–21
W 2
51
January 22
Los Angeles
W 116–102
Dick Van Arsdale (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
30–21
W 3
52
January 25
@ Los Angeles
L 119–129
Paul Silas (24)
The Forum 17,505
30–22
L 1
53
January 28
Chicago
L 102–116
Paul Silas (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,245
30–23
L 2
54
January 29
@ Golden State
L 110–111
Paul Silas (28)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,488
30–24
L 3
55
January 30
Atlanta
W 105–103
Clem Haskins, Connie Hawkins, Neal Walk (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,839
31–24
W 1 :
February: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
56
February 1
@ Portland
W 129–117
Dick Van Arsdale (24)
Memorial Coliseum 4,961
32–24
W 2
57
February 2
Milwaukee
L 103–106
Connie Hawkins (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,365
32–25
L 1
58
February 4
Golden State
W 113–105
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,486
33–25
W 1
59
February 5
@ Portland
W 118–117 (OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (28)
Memorial Coliseum 6,401
34–25
W 2
60
February 6
Portland
W 107–94
Paul Silas (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,160
35–25
W 3
61
February 8
Philadelphia
W 120–108
Connie Hawkins (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,532
36–25
W 4
62
February 10
Baltimore
W 131–98
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,794
37–25
W 5
63
February 12
Cincinnati
W 117–95
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,766
38–25
W 6
64
February 16
Los Angeles
W 110–109
Neal Walk (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
39–25
W 7
65
February 18
Boston
W 126–115
Dick Van Arsdale (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,005
40–25
W 8
66
February 20
@ Detroit
W 121–107
Dick Van Arsdale (25)
Cobo Arena 4,898
41–25
W 9
67
February 22
@ Boston
L 103–114
Connie Hawkins (30)
Boston Garden 8,106
41–26
L 1
68
February 23
@ Atlanta
L 118–120
Paul Silas (26)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,073
41–27
L 2
69
February 25
@ Chicago
L 107–115
Connie Hawkins (25)
Chicago Stadium 9,720
41–28
L 3
70
February 26
@ Milwaukee
L 117–119 (OT)
Neal Walk (28)
Madison, WI 9,371
41–29
L 4
71
February 27
@ Cleveland
W 127–125
Mo Layton (37)
Cleveland Arena 6,889
42–29
W 1 :
March: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
72
March 1
Baltimore
L 90–95
Paul Silas (16)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,002
42–30
L 1
73
March 5
Buffalo
W 131–103
Neal Walk (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,729
43–30
W 1
74
March 7
@ Detroit
W 129–121
Connie Hawkins (28)
Cobo Arena 2,014
44–30
W 2
75
March 8
@ Cincinnati
L 105–122
Neal Walk (18)
Cincinnati Gardens 2,387
44–31
L 1
76
March 11
@ New York
W 110–106
Dick Van Arsdale (25)
Madison Square Garden 19,588
45–31
W 1
77
March 15
Milwaukee
W 110–106
Connie Hawkins (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,090
46–31
W 2
78
March 17
New York
W 111–106
Charlie Scott (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,571
47–31
W 3
79
March 18
@ Golden State
L 116–134
Connie Hawkins (25)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,399
47–32
L 1
80
March 21
Portland
W 160–128
Clem Haskins (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,045
48–32
W 1
81
March 24
@ Los Angeles
L 110–112
Charlie Scott (21)
The Forum 17,505
48–33
L 1
82
March 25
Seattle
W 118–99
Charlie Scott (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,189
49–33
W 1 :
1971–72 schedule :

### Team-by-team results

| Opponent | Home | Road | Total | All-time record | Suns leading scorer | Opp. leading scorer |
| Atlanta Hawks | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 10–12 (.455%) | Connie Hawkins (21.2) | Lou Hudson (26.8) |
| Baltimore Bullets | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 6–16 (.273%) | Dick Van Arsdale (23.6) | Archie Clark (24.6) |
| Boston Celtics | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 10–12 (.455%) | Connie Hawkins (28.2) | John Havlicek (27.2) |
| Buffalo Braves | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 7–1 (.875%) | Connie Hawkins (20.3) | Walt Hazzard (19.3) |
| Chicago Bulls | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–5 | 8–17 (.320%) | Paul Silas (19.8) | Bob Love (26.7) |
| Cincinnati Royals | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 12–10 (.545%) | Dick Van Arsdale (23.6) | Tom Van Arsdale (23.4) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 8–0 (1.000%) | Dick Van Arsdale (21.0) | John Johnson (17.3) |
| Detroit Pistons | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 13–11 (.542%) | Connie Hawkins (20.3) | Bob Lanier (25.7) |
| Golden State Warriors | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 11–11 (.500%) | Clem Haskins (18.6) | Nate Thurmond (23.6) |
| Houston Rockets | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 13–12 (.520%) | Dick Van Arsdale (19.8) | Elvin Hayes (24.0) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 10–15 (.400%) | Dick Van Arsdale (21.2) | Gail Goodrich (28.3) |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 6–20 (.231%) | Connie Hawkins (28.2) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37.8) |
| New York Knicks | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 6–16 (.273%) | Connie Hawkins (24.6) | Walt Frazier (23.4) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 9–13 (.409%) | Connie Hawkins (22.0) | Bob Rule (21.7) |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 10–0 (1.000%) | Connie Hawkins (22.2) | Sidney Wicks (25.8) |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 13–10 (.565%) | Connie Hawkins (23.4) | Spencer Haywood (29.8) |

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Connie Hawkins was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.
* Paul Silas was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

### Season

* Paul Silas was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Mel Counts | 76 | 11.9 | .427 | .721 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 5.2 |
| Lamar Green | 67 | 14.8 | .446 | .733 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
| Art Harris | 21 | 6.9 | .329 | .429 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| Clem Haskins | 79 | 31.1 | .483 | .853^ | 3.4 | 3.7 | 15.7 |
| Connie Hawkins | 76 | 36.8 | .459 | .807 | 8.3 | 3.9 | 21.0 |
| Mo Layton | 80 | 23.1 | .424 | .739 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 9.1 |
| Otto Moore | 81 | 20.0 | .436 | .603 | 6.7 | 1.1 | 7.6 |
| Charlie Scott* | 6 | 29.5 | .425 | .810 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 18.8 |
| Paul Silas | 80 | 38.5 | .470 | .773 | 11.9 | 4.3 | 17.5 |
| Fred Taylor* | 13 | 5.3 | .222 | .308 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 82 | 37.8 | .463 | .845^ | 4.1 | 3.6 | 19.7 |
| Neal Walk | 81 | 26.4 | .479 | .744 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 15.7 |
| Jeff Webb* | 27 | 4.8 | .477 | .500 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| John Wetzel | 51 | 8.2 | .378 | .800 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.7 |
* – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.

## Transactions
### Trades

| April 2, 1971 | To Detroit Pistons 1972 first-round draft pick ( Bob Nash) | To Phoenix Suns Otto Moore |
| August 13, 1971 | To Cleveland Cavaliers Greg Howard | To Phoenix Suns 1972 third-round draft pick ( Scott English) Future third-round draft pick |
| December 27, 1971 | To Cincinnati Royals Fred Taylor | To Phoenix Suns 1973 third-round draft pick ( Joe Reaves) |
| March 14, 1971 | To Boston Celtics Future considerations Cash considerations ( Paul Silas was sent to Boston in September to complete trade) | To Phoenix Suns Rights to Charlie Scott |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
| January 4, 1972 | Jeff Webb | Undisclosed | Milwaukee Bucks |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| September 21, 1971 | Joe Thomas | Waived | n/a |