# 1982–83 Phoenix Suns season

The 1982–83 Phoenix Suns season was the 15th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The Suns were in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, extending a then-franchise record. The Suns were eliminated in the first round two games to one by the Denver Nuggets, a team they had beaten by the same margin a year earlier. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Walter Davis led the Suns in scoring with 19 points per game. Second-year player Larry Nance, who finished the season fourth in the NBA in blocks per game, was second in team scoring at 16.7, while fellow big man Maurice Lucas averaged a double-double with 16.5 points and 10.4 rebounds a contest. Lucas, a 30-year-old veteran who had played for four NBA teams and one ABA team before reaching the Suns, returned to his first All-Star Game after two seasons when he suited up with Phoenix. Point guard Dennis Johnson earned another spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 15 | David Thirdkill | Forward | United States | Bradley |
| 2 | 39 | Kevin Magee | Forward | United States | UC Irvine |
| 3 | 61 | Charles Pittman | Forward | United States | Maryland |
| 4 | 86 | Rory White | Forward | United States | South Alabama |
| 5 | 108 | Marvin McCrary | Guard | United States | Missouri |
| 6 | 130 | Jake Bethany | Center | United States | Hardin–Simmons |
| 7 | 155 | Phil Ward | Guard | United States | North Carolina Charlotte |
| 8 | 177 | Rick Elrod | Guard | United States | Georgetown (KY) |
| 9 | 199 | Ken Lyles | Forward | United States | Washington |
| 10 | 221 | Dale Wilkinson | Center | United States | Idaho State |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 33–8 | 25–16 | 21–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 | 32–9 | 21–20 | 21–9 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 | 29–12 | 19–22 | 14–16 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 12 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 16–14 |
| Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 11–19 |
| San Diego Clippers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 33 | 18–23 | 7–34 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 |
| 5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Denver Nuggets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 7 | Kansas City Kings | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 8 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 20 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 |
| 9 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 |
| 11 | San Diego Clippers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 33 |
| 12 | Houston Rockets | 14 | 68 | .171 | 44 |

### Record vs. opponents

1982–83 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 | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | — | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Playoffs
### Game log

1983 playoff game log :
First Round: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 19
Denver
W 121–108
Dennis Johnson (28)
Dennis Johnson (12)
Dennis Johnson (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,901
1–0
2
April 21
@ Denver
L 99–113
Walter Davis (31)
James Edwards (9)
Dennis Johnson (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 15,903
1–1
3
April 24
Denver
L 112–117 (OT)
Walter Davis (29)
Larry Nance (12)
Alvan Adams (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
1–2 :
1983 schedule :

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Maurice Lucas was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Lucas finished first in voting among Western Conference forwards with 431,288 votes. It was his fifth All-Star selection.
* The other Suns player receiving All-Star votes was Dennis Johnson (306,470).

### Season

* Dennis Johnson was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
* Maurice Lucas finished 14th in MVP voting.

## Player statistics
### Season

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 80 | 75 | 30.6 | .486 | .333 | .829 | 6.9 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .9 | 14.2 |
| Jeff Cook* | 45 | 2 | 12.2 | .430 | .000 | .759 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .3 | .3 | 3.6 |
| Walter Davis | 80 | 79 | 31.1 | .516 | .304 | .818 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 1.5 | .2 | 19.0 |
| James Edwards* | 16 | 1 | 17.8 | .487 | . | .660 | 3.7 | 1.7 | .3 | .3 | 8.8 |
| Johnny High | 82 | 2 | 14.1 | .461 | .200 | .463 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .4 | 3.2 |
| Dennis Johnson | 77 | 74 | 33.1 | .462 | .161 | .791 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 1.3 | .5 | 14.2 |
| Joel Kramer | 54 | 4 | 8.5 | .423 | .000 | .875^ | 1.6 | 0.7 | .3 | .1 | 1.9 |
| Maurice Lucas | 77 | 71 | 33.6 | .474 | .333 | .781 | 10.4 | 2.8 | .7 | .6 | 16.5 |
| Kyle Macy | 82 | 9 | 22.4 | .517 | .303 | .872^ | 2.0 | 3.4 | .8 | .1 | 9.9 |
| Larry Nance | 82 | 82 | 35.5 | .550 | .333 | .672 | 8.7 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 16.7 |
| Charles Pittman | 28 | 0 | 6.1 | .475 | .000 | .676 | 1.1 | 0.3 | .1 | .3 | 2.3 |
| Alvin Scott | 81 | 9 | 14.1 | .479 | .000 | .736 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .6 | .4 | 4.1 |
| David Thirdkill | 49 | 2 | 10.6 | .435 | .143 | .577 | 1.5 | 0.7 | .4 | .1 | 4.0 |
| Rory White | 65 | 0 | 9.6 | .543 | .000 | .642 | 1.6 | 0.5 | .2 | .0 | 5.0 |
* – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

### Playoffs

Phoenix Suns statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 3 | 3 | 28.0 | .469 | . | .714 | 6.0 | 4.7 | .7 | 1.7 | 11.7 |
| Walter Davis | 3 | 3 | 37.7 | .435 | .500 | .810 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 26.0 |
| James Edwards | 3 | 0 | 18.0 | .423 | . | 1.000 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .3 | .3 | 9.3 |
| Johnny High | 3 | 0 | 15.0 | .455 | .000 | .000 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .3 | 3.3 |
| Dennis Johnson | 3 | 3 | 36.0 | .458 | .000 | .833 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 1.7 | .7 | 18.0 |
| Joel Kramer | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Lucas | 2 | 2 | 28.5 | .571 | . | .500 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .0 | 13.0 |
| Kyle Macy | 3 | 0 | 24.0 | .429 | .000 | .714 | 2.7 | 3.0 | .3 | .0 | 11.7 |
| Larry Nance | 3 | 3 | 34.3 | .400 | . | .800 | 8.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 12.0 |
| Charles Pittman | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | . | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 0.0 |
| Alvin Scott | 3 | 1 | 20.7 | .462 | . | 1.000 | 4.0 | 1.7 | .7 | 1.7 | 4.7 |
| Rory White | 3 | 0 | 13.3 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 3.3 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 5.3 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 21, 1982 | To Denver Nuggets Rich Kelley | To Phoenix Suns 1982 first-round draft pick ( David Thirdkill) |
| July 7, 1982 | To New York Knicks Truck Robinson | To Phoenix Suns Maurice Lucas |
| February 7, 1983---- | To Cleveland Cavaliers Jeff Cook 1983 first-round draft pick ( Roy Hinson) 1983 third-round draft pick ( Derrick Hord) Cash considerations | To Phoenix Suns James Edwards 1983 first-round draft pick ( Greg Kite) |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
| May 17, 1982 | Art Housey | Undisclosed | |
| July 7, 1982 | Johnny High | Undisclosed | Phoenix Suns |
| February 7, 1983 | Charles Pittman | Undisclosed | Phoenix Suns |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| July 1, 1982 | Dudley Bradley | Waived | Chicago Bulls |
| October 21, 1982 | Art Housey | Waived | |
| October 28, 1982 | Charles Pittman | Waived | Phoenix Suns |
| December 21, 1982 | Craig Dykema | Waived | |