# 1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

The 1973–74 Phoenix Suns season was the sixth for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. It was the first of 14 seasons head coach John MacLeod spent with Phoenix. The season would also be the last for former All-Star forward/center Connie Hawkins, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after appearing in nine games for the Suns. Charlie Scott would repeat as an All-Star, but who missed 30 games due to injury despite his NBA career-high 25.4 points a game. The team went on to finish the season 30–52, a career-worst for MacLeod and the franchise's poorest record since their inaugural season.
Dick Van Arsdale averaged 17.8 points on the season, while Neal Walk averaged 16.8 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per contest. Keith Erickson, obtained by the Suns along with a future second round pick in the Hawkins trade, enjoyed a career-high 14.6 points a game in his ninth year in the NBA and first with Phoenix.
Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Mike Bantom, a rookie out of Saint Joseph's, was named to the All-Rookie Team.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 8 | Mike Bantom | Forward | United States | Saint Joseph's |
| 2 | 33 | Gary Melchionni | Guard | United States | Duke |
| 3 | 42 | Joe Reaves | Forward | United States | Bethel (Tennessee) |
| 3 | 43 | Steve Mitchell | Center | United States | Kansas State |
| 4 | 60 | Ron Robinson | Forward | United States | Memphis State |
| 5 | 77 | Clinton Harris | Forward | United States | Iowa State |
| 6 | 94 | Gene Doyle | Center | United States | Holy Cross |
| 7 | 111 | Jerry Bisbano | Guard | United States | Southwestern Louisiana |
| 8 | 128 | Jim Owens | Forward | United States | Arizona State |
| 9 | 144 | Sandy Smith | Guard | United States | Winston-Salem |
| 10 | 158 | Claude White | Guard | United States | Elmhurst |
| 11 | 170 | Lynn Greer | Guard | United States | Virginia State |
| 12 | 179 | Lyman Williamson | Forward | United States | Samford |
| 13 | 186 | Kalevi Sarkalahti | Forward | Finland | Brigham Young |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | – | 30–11 | 17–24 | – | 14–12 |
| Golden State Warriors | 44 | 38 | .537 | 3 | 23–18 | 20–20 | 1–0 | 15–11 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 11 | 22–19 | 14–27 | – | 12–14 |
| Phoenix Suns | 30 | 52 | .366 | 17 | 24–17 | 6–34 | 0–1 | 11–15 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 27 | 55 | .329 | 20 | 22–19 | 5–34 | 0–2 | 13–13 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Milwaukee Bucks | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | x-Chicago Bulls | 54 | 28 | .659 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
| 4 | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 12 |
| 5 | Golden State Warriors | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 |
| 6 | Seattle SuperSonics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23 |
| 7 | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 33 | 49 | .402 | 26 |
| 8 | Phoenix Suns | 30 | 52 | .366 | 29 |
| 9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 27 | 55 | .329 | 32 |

### Record vs. opponents

1973–74 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CAP | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 5–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 7–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Buffalo | 4–2 | 2–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Capital | 4–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–3 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 |
| Cleveland | 3–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | — | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–5 | — | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 |
| Houston | 2–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City-Omaha | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 |
| Los Angeles | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–3 |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2–4 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 5–1 | 2–5 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–4 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Phoenix | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–3 | 4–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 |
| Seattle | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — |

### Game log

1973–74 game log Total: 30–52 (home: 24–17; road: 6–35) :
October: 2–8 (home: 2–3; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
1
October 10
Seattle
W 115–111
Charlie Scott (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,738
1–0
W 1
2
October 12
Milwaukee
L 84–107
Lamar Green (14)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,033
1–1
L 1
3
October 14
Golden State
L 95–120
Charlie Scott (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,030
1–2
L 2
4
October 20
Atlanta
W 118–108
Dick Van Arsdale (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,009
2–2
W 1
5
October 21
@ Seattle
L 112–116
Charlie Scott (25)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,964
2–3
L 1
6
October 23
@ Golden State
L 109–121
Charlie Scott, Dick Van Arsdale (23)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,007
2–4
L 2
7
October 24
Detroit
L 99–115
Mike Bantom (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,307
2–5
L 3
8
October 26
@ Kansas City-Omaha
L 93–98
Charlie Scott (26)
Municipal Auditorium 4,917
2–6
L 4
9
October 27
@ Milwaukee
L 95–104
Milwaukee Arena 9,975
2–7
L 5
10
October 30
@ Atlanta
L 101–122
Joe Reaves (21)
Omni Coliseum 9,070
2–8
L 6 :
November: 5–8 (home: 3–1; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
11
November 2
@ Detroit
L 107–114
Charlie Scott (30)
Cobo Arena 5,317
2–9
L 7
12
November 4
@ Capital
L 99–102
Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (19)
Capital Centre 5,316
2–10
L 8
13
November 7
@ Philadelphia
L 115–122
Charlie Scott (31)
The Spectrum 4,366
2–11
L 9
14
November 9
@ Boston
L 107–122
Charlie Scott (24)
Boston Garden 9,953
2–12
L 10
15
November 13
Chicago
W 116–108
Charlie Scott (38)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,045
3–12
W 1
16
November 15
Philadelphia
W 116–94
Charlie Scott (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,142
4–12
W 2
17
November 17
Los Angeles
L 110–130
Charlie Scott (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,498
4–13
L 1
18
November 20
@ Buffalo
L 100–127
Dick Van Arsdale (23)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 6,088
4–14
L 2
19
November 21
@ Detroit
L 104–107
Charlie Scott, Neal Walk (32)
Cobo Arena 3,534
4–15
L 3
20
November 23
@ Chicago
W 99–94
Charlie Scott (30)
Chicago Stadium 8,742
5–15
W 1
21
November 27
@ Houston
L 111–125
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Hofheinz Pavilion 2,756
5–16
L 1
22
November 29
Kansas City-Omaha
W 119–99
Mike Bantom (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,386
6–16
W 1
23
November 30
@ Portland
W 107–99
Clem Haskins (36)
Memorial Coliseum 10,720
7–16
W 2 :
December: 8–8 (home: 6–4; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
24
December 1
Detroit
L 109–121
Dick Van Arsdale (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,496
7–17
L 1
25
December 4
@ Los Angeles
L 103–120
Charlie Scott (23)
The Forum 11,746
7–18
L 2
26
December 5
Golden State
W 103–97
Charlie Scott (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,553
8–18
W 1
27
December 7
Capital
W 114–92
Charlie Scott (40)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,089
9–18
W 2
28
December 9
@ Cleveland
W 117–106
Charlie Scott (31)
Cleveland Arena 3,042
10–18
W 3
29
December 11
@ New York
L 97–105
Dick Van Arsdale (23)
Madison Square Garden 18,366
10–19
L 1
30
December 13
Portland
L 108–119
Charlie Scott (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,494
10–20
L 2
31
December 15
Boston
W 121–120
Charlie Scott (41)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,362
11–20
W 1
32
December 16
@ Seattle
W 113–109
Charlie Scott (38)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,778
12–20
W 2
33
December 18
@ Portland
L 117–133
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Memorial Coliseum 5,982
12–21
L 1
34
December 19
Philadelphia
L 98–101
Charlie Scott (44)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,246
12–22
L 2
35
December 22
Milwaukee
W 121–112
Charlie Scott (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,013
13–22
W 1
36
December 25
Los Angeles
W 135–100
Charlie Scott (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,253
14–22
W 2
37
December 27
Seattle
W 111–100
Charlie Scott (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,755
15–22
W 3
38
December 28
@ Los Angeles
L 107–119
Charlie Scott (29)
The Forum 13,685
15–23
L 1
39
December 29
Buffalo
L 108–120
Charlie Scott (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,116
15–24
L 2 :
January: 6–7 (home: 5–3; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
40
January 2
@ Atlanta
W 116–113
Dick Van Arsdale (28)
Omni Coliseum 9,232
16–24
W 1
41
January 4
@ Kansas City-Omaha
L 97–122
Charlie Scott (28)
Municipal Auditorium 4,837
16–25
L 1
42
January 5
@ Milwaukee
L 109–118
Dick Van Arsdale (22)
Milwaukee Arena 9,812
16–26
L 2
43
January 6
@ Chicago
L 116–120 (OT)
Charlie Scott (30)
Chicago Stadium 6,013
16–27
L 3
44
January 9
Houston
W 105–101
Charlie Scott (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,924
17–27
W 1
45
January 11
Kansas City-Omaha
L 100–117
Charlie Scott (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,747
17–28
L 1
46
January 13
Seattle
L 112–123
Neal Walk (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,769
17–29
L 2
All-Star Break
47
January 17
@ Golden State
L 120–127
Charlie Scott (31)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,011
17–30
L 3
48
January 19
New York
W 112–89
Charlie Scott (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,468
18–30
W 1
49
January 23
Cleveland
W 110–103
Charlie Scott (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,017
19–30
W 2
50
January 25
Milwaukee
L 108–112
Charlie Scott (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,660
19–31
L 1
51
January 27
Capital
W 127–107
Keith Erickson (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,277
20–31
W 1
52
January 31
Portland
W 112–100
Charlie Scott (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,252
21–31
W 2 :
February: 4–12 (home: 4–3; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
53
February 1
@ Los Angeles
L 110–121
Gary Melchionni, Dick Van Arsdale (20)
The Forum 13,478
21–32
L 1
54
February 2
Los Angeles
W 119–112
Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,068
22–32
W 1
55
February 5
@ New York
L 90–106
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Madison Square Garden 18,884
22–33
L 1
56
February 6
@ Capital
L 101–109
Clem Haskins (23)
Capital Centre 6,738
22–34
L 2
57
February 8
Detroit
L 94–99
Dick Van Arsdale (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,511
22–35
L 3
58
February 10
Golden State
L 105–121
Bob Christian (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,121
22–36
L 4
59
February 12
@ Portland
L 104–113
Keith Erickson (24)
Memorial Coliseum 4,189
22–37
L 5
60
February 14
Houston
W 107–99
Dick Van Arsdale (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,661
23–37
W 1
61
February 16
Atlanta
W 124–123 (OT)
Neal Walk (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,518
24–37
W 2
62
February 17
Portland
W 112–100
Mike Bantom (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,575
25–37
W 3
63
February 19
@ Chicago
L 96–130
Dick Van Arsdale (20)
Chicago Stadium 7,451
25–38
L 1
64
February 22
@ Kansas-City Omaha
L 104–119
Keith Erickson (23)
Municipal Auditorium 8,322
25–39
L 2
65
February 23
@ Detroit
L 107–119
Dick Van Arsdale (18)
Cobo Arena 7,926
25–40
L 3
66
February 24
@ Cleveland
L 97–101
Keith Erickson, Neal Walk (22)
Cleveland Arena 3,288
25–41
L 4
67
February 26
@ Golden State
L 100–120
Clem Haskins (31)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,234
25–42
L 5
68
February 27
Chicago
L 95–107
Keith Erickson (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,105
25–43
L 6 :
March: 5–9 (home: 4–3; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
69
March 1
@ Houston
L 111–117
Keith Erickson (23)
Hofheinz Pavilion 2,547
25–44
L 7
70
March 3
Kansas City-Omaha
W 113–100
Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,780
26–44
W 1
71
March 5
Chicago
L 91–111
Neal Walk (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,156
26–45
L 1
72
March 7
Boston
L 97–99
Gary Melchionni (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,242
26–46
L 2
73
March 9
Cleveland
W 109–100
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,153
27–46
W 1
74
March 11
@ Milwaukee
L 92–105
Neal Walk (20)
Milwaukee Arena 9,027
27–47
L 1
75
March 12
@ Buffalo
L 94–124
Keith Erickson (20)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 14,244
27–48
L 2
76
March 13
@ Boston
L 97–104
Corky Calhoun, Keith Erickson, Dick Van Arsdale (15)
Boston Garden 6,751
27–49
L 3
77
March 15
@ Philadelphia
L 101–108
Keith Erickson (24)
Hershey, PA 4,473
27–50
L 4
78
March 17
@ Seattle
W 133–108
Keith Erickson (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,007
28–50
W 1
79
March 20
New York
L 104–106 (OT)
Keith Erickson, Neal Walk (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,054
28–51
L 1
80
March 22
Buffalo
W 126–119
Mike Bantom, Clem Haskins, Gary Melchionni (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,687
29–51
W 1
81
March 24
Golden State
W 134–121
Keith Erickson (40)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,011
30–51
W 2
82
March 27
@ Seattle
L 123–127
Clem Haskins (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,528
30–52
L 1 :
1973–74 schedule :

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Charlie Scott was selected to replace Jerry West in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.

### Season

* Dick Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
* Mike Bantom was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mike Bantom | 76 | 37 | 26.1 | .399 | .662 | 6.8 | 2.1 | .7 | .6 | 10.1 |
| Corky Calhoun | 77 | 54 | 28.7 | .461 | .760 | 5.3 | 1.8 | .9 | .4 | 8.2 |
| Bill Chamberlain | 28 | 1 | 13.1 | .438 | .696 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .7 | .4 | 5.5 |
| Bob Christian | 81 | 1 | 15.4 | .486 | .702 | 4.2 | 1.2 | .2 | .4 | 4.8 |
| Keith Erickson* | 66 | 48 | 30.8 | .477 | .801 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 1.0 | .3 | 14.6 |
| Lamar Green | 72 | 20 | 15.3 | .407 | .559 | 4.9 | 0.6 | .4 | .5 | 4.1 |
| Clem Haskins | 81 | 20 | 22.5 | .460 | .842 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .2 | 11.1 |
| Connie Hawkins* | 8 | 7 | 27.9 | .486 | .667 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .4 | 11.3 |
| Gary Melchionni | 69 | 15 | 18.1 | .460 | .860^ | 2.1 | 2.1 | .6 | .1 | 7.2 |
| Jim Owens | 17 | 0 | 5.9 | .538† | .786 | 0.5 | 0.9 | .3 | .0 | 3.1 |
| Joe Reaves* | 7 | 0 | 5.4 | .545† | .364 | 1.1 | 0.1 | .0 | .3 | 2.3 |
| Charlie Scott | 52 | 51 | 38.5+ | .459 | .781 | 4.3 | 5.2+ | 1.9+ | .4 | 25.4+ |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 78 | 76 | 36.3+ | .500† | .853^ | 2.8 | 4.2+ | 1.2+ | .2 | 17.8+ |
| Neal Walk | 82 | 80 | 31.1 | .460 | .791 | 10.2 | 4.0 | .9 | .7 | 16.8 |
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 560 field goal attempts. ^ – Minimum 160 free throw attempts. + – Minimum 70 games played.

## Transactions
### Trades

| October 8, 1973 | To Atlanta Hawks 1976 second-round draft pick ( Bob Carrington) 1977 third-round draft pick ( Eddie Johnson) | To Phoenix Suns Bob Christian |
| October 9, 1973 | To Capital Bullets Walt Wesley | To Phoenix Suns 1974 third-round draft pick ( Earl Williams) 1975 third-round draft pick ( Bayard Forrest) |
| October 30, 1973 | To Los Angeles Lakers Connie Hawkins | To Phoenix Suns Keith Erickson 1974 second-round draft pick ( Fred Saunders) |
| January 24, 1974 | To Golden State Warriors 1975 third-round draft pick ( Otis Johnson) | To Phoenix Suns Bill Chamberlain |

### Free agents
#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| September 14, 1973 | Paul Stovall | Waived | San Diego Conquistadors (ABA) |
| September 18, 1973 | Scott English | Waived | Virginia Squires (ABA) |
| September 19, 1973 | Mo Layton | Waived | Portland Trail Blazers |
| November 27, 1973 | Joe Reaves | Waived | Memphis Tams (ABA) |