Professional basketball season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1968–69 Phoenix Suns season was the inaugural season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Head coach Red Kerr led the franchise to its first win in their debut game, over the Seattle SuperSonics . The Suns lost more games in their initial season than in any year since, and did not have a winning record against any other team. They played all their home games in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
Dick Van Arsdale was the franchise's first All-Star selection when he was selected to play in the 1969 All-Star Game . He was the team's second leading scorer at 21 points per game, behind eventual Hall of Fame member Gail Goodrich , who averaged 23.8, the seventh-highest in the league for the season. Goodrich was selected to replace an injured Jerry West in the All-Star Game.
Offseason [ edit ] NBA Expansion Draft [ edit ] The Suns participated in the NBA's fourth expansion draft along with the Milwaukee Bucks , the other expansion team that joined the league in 1968. Each of the league's other 12 teams protected seven of their top players, with the remaining unprotected players available in the draft. The two expansion teams selected three players from each team, totaling 18 selections each.
The Suns received the first, fourth and fifth picks, while the Bucks, which had not yet chosen their team name at the time, received the second and third picks. The Suns' first selection was swingman Dick Van Arsdale of the New York Knicks . The Bucks then selected center Wayne Embry of the Boston Celtics , and power forward Fred Hetzel of the San Francisco Warriors . The Suns rounded out the top five by picking point guard Gail Goodrich of the Los Angeles Lakers and shooting guard Dick Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks .[1] "The Original Sun" Dick Van Arsdale would have a historic career with the Suns after being drafted, with him being an All-Star in his first three seasons with the team, as well as be named a member of the All-Defensive Second Team in 1974 and helping the team reach the 1976 NBA Finals before retiring in 1977, having his number become the second in franchise history to be retired into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor in the 1977–78 season, behind Connie Hawkins .
NBA draft [ edit ] 1968–69 Phoenix Suns roster Players Coaches Head coach Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: January 20, 1969
Regular season [ edit ] Standings [ edit ] Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1968–69 NBA records Team ATL BAL BOS CHI CIN DET LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO SDR SFW SEA Atlanta — 2–4 3–3 6–1 4–2 6–0 3–4 4–2 2–4 1–5 6–0 3–4 4–3 4–2 Baltimore 4–2 — 5–2 6–0 4–3 7–0 3–3 5–1 3–4 2–4 6–0 5–1 3–3 4–2 Boston 3–3 2–5 — 4–2 5–2 5–1 2–4 5–1 1–6 5–2 6–0 4–2 3–3 3–3 Chicago 1–6 0–6 2–4 — 1–5 3–3 3–4 5–1 2–4 1–5 4–2 3–3 4–3 4–3 Cincinnati 2–4 3–4 2–5 5–1 — 3–4 2–4 5–1 4–2 3–4 4–2 2–4 3–3 3–3 Detroit 0–6 0–7 1–5 3–3 4–3 — 3–3 2–4 3–4 3–4 4–2 3–3 2–4 4–2 Los Angeles 4–3 3–3 4–2 4–3 4–2 3–3 — 5–1 5–1 1–5 6–0 7–0 4–3 5–1 Milwaukee 2–4 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 4–2 1–5 — 0–6 0–6 6–2 4–2 3–3 3–5 New York 4–2 4–3 6–1 4–2 2–4 4–3 1–5 6–0 — 4–3 5–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 Philadelphia 5–1 4–2 2–5 5–1 4–3 4–3 5–1 6–0 3–4 — 5–1 4–2 2–4 6–0 Phoenix 0–6 0–6 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–4 0–6 2–6 1–5 1–5 — 1–7 2–4 3–3 San Diego 4–3 1–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 3–3 0–7 2–4 3–3 2–4 7–1 — 3–3 3–3 San Francisco 3–4 3–3 3–3 3–4 3–3 4–2 3–4 3–3 1–5 4–2 4–2 3–3 — 4–3 Seattle 2–4 2–4 3–3 3–4 3–3 2–4 1–5 5–3 0–6 0–6 3–3 3–3 3–4 —
Game log [ edit ] 1968–69 game log Total: 16–66 (home: 12–29; road: 4–37) October: 4–3 (home: 3–2; road: 1–1)
November: 1–12 (home: 1–5; road: 0–7)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 8 November 3 Los Angeles L 109–127 Dick Van Arsdale (38) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,150 4–4 L 1 9 November 4 San Francisco L 108–119 Dick Van Arsdale (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,019 4–5 L 2 10 November 10 Detroit W 130–128 (OT) George Wilson (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,440 5–5 W 1 11 November 14 Detroit L 109–111 Gail Goodrich (25) Tucson , AZ 2,712 5–6 L 1 12 November 15 @ Seattle L 124–128 (2OT) Dick Van Arsdale (34) Seattle Center Coliseum 4,368 5–7 L 2 13 November 17 Boston L 98–130 Gail Goodrich ,Dave Lattin (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,109 5–8 L 3 14 November 19 @ Philadelphia L 110–126 Dick Van Arsdale (29) New York City, NY 16,664 5–9 L 4 15 November 22 @ Boston L 106–133 McCoy McLemore (18) Boston Garden 8,224 5–10 L 5 16 November 23 @ Milwaukee L 112–115 McCoy McLemore (28) Milwaukee Arena 6,090 5–11 L 6 17 November 26 Philadelphia L 119–126 Gail Goodrich (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,209 5–12 L 7 18 November 27 @ Detroit L 111–125 George Wilson (24) Cobo Arena 11,016 5–13 L 8 19 November 29 @ Baltimore L 106–124 Gail Goodrich ,Dick Van Arsdale (24) Baltimore Civic Center 6,596 5–14 L 9 20 November 30 @ Chicago L 96–100 Dick Van Arsdale (29) Chicago Stadium 3,246 5–15 L 10
December: 3–15 (home: 2–5; road: 1–10)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 21 December 2 Seattle L 108–118 Gail Goodrich (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,171 5–16 L 11 22 December 3 @ Los Angeles L 108–122 Gail Goodrich (23) The Forum 8,277 5–17 L 12 23 December 4 San Francisco W 126–97 Gail Goodrich (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,387 6–17 W 1 24 December 6 @ San Diego L 106–117 Dick Van Arsdale (33) San Diego Sports Arena 5,782 6–18 L 1 25 December 8 Atlanta L 99–121 Dick Van Arsdale (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,243 6–19 L 2 26 December 10 @ New York L 106–111 Gail Goodrich (29) Madison Square Garden 16,337 6–20 L 3 27 December 11 @ Philadelphia L 123–143 Gail Goodrich (19) The Spectrum 6,780 6–21 L 4 28 December 13 @ Cincinnati L 123–130 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (31) Cleveland , OH 2,114 6–22 L 5 29 December 14 @ Detroit W 123–118 Gail Goodrich (41) Cobo Arena 5,024 7–22 W 1 30 December 15 @ Cincinnati L 101–119 Stan McKenzie (28) Omaha , NE 5,886 7–23 L 1 31 December 17 Philadelphia L 128–145 Dick Snyder (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1,946 7–24 L 2 32 December 18 Cincinnati W 123–114 Gail Goodrich (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,462 8–24 W 1 33 December 21 @ Baltimore L 117–131 Gail Goodrich (28) Baltimore Civic Center 8,529 8–25 L 1 34 December 22 @ Milwaukee L 116–127 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Milwaukee Arena 3,466 8–26 L 2 35 December 25 Los Angeles L 99–119 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,355 8–27 L 3 36 December 26 @ San Francisco L 118–119 Gail Goodrich (40) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4,916 8–28 L 4 37 December 28 San Diego L 126–136 Gail Goodrich (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,749 8–29 L 5 38 December 30 @ Seattle L 118–120 Jim Fox (24) Seattle Center Coliseum 3,920 8–30 L 6
January: 3–12 (home: 3–6; road: 0–6)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 39 January 1 Boston L 87–93 Dick Van Arsdale (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,757 8–31 L 7 40 January 3 @ Milwaukee L 104–121 Dick Snyder (22) Milwaukee Arena 4,230 8–32 L 8 41 January 4 @ Chicago L 92–103 Jim Fox (27) Chicago Stadium 3,107 8–33 L 9 42 January 5 @ Atlanta L 96–97 Dick Snyder ,Dick Van Arsdale (22) Alexander Memorial Coliseum 3,235 8–34 L 10 43 January 7 Seattle W 116–112 Gail Goodrich (35) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,875 9–34 W 1 44 January 9 New York L 120–134 Stan McKenzie (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,591 9–35 L 1 45 January 11 Baltimore L 107–118 Gary Gregor (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,807 9–36 L 2 All-Star Break 46 January 16 @ Atlanta L 107–112 Gary Gregor (26) Columbia , SC 5,815 9–37 L 3 47 January 17 @ Atlanta L 107–112 Gail Goodrich (27) Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,565 9–38 L 4 48 January 19 San Diego L 118–136 Gail Goodrich (29) San Diego Sports Arena 2,867 9–39 L 5 49 January 22 Atlanta L 107–125 Bob Warlick (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,527 9–40 L 6 50 January 24 Chicago W 117–106 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,275 10–40 W 1 51 January 25 @ San Diego L 120–133 Jim Fox ,Gail Goodrich (22) San Diego Sports Arena 4,128 10–41 L 1 52 January 26 San Francisco L 93–117 Neil Johnson (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,452 10–42 L 2 53 January 29 Milwaukee W 111–107 Gail Goodrich (33) Tacoma , WA 3,013 11–42 W 1
February: 3–14 (home: 2–4; road: 1–10)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 54 February 2 Milwaukee W 122–121 Gail Goodrich (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,926 12–42 W 2 55 February 4 Philadelphia W 125–116 Jim Fox ,Dick Van Arsdale (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,317 13–42 W 3 56 February 6 Cincinnati L 103–124 Gail Goodrich (35) Tucson , AZ 3,849 13–43 L 1 57 February 7 @ San Diego L 119–130 Gail Goodrich (33) San Diego Sports Arena 6,214 13–44 L 2 58 February 8 Los Angeles L 104–122 Gail Goodrich (29) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,106 13–45 L 3 59 February 9 @ Los Angeles L 116–134 Gail Goodrich (29) The Forum 8,840 13–46 L 4 60 February 12 @ New York L 105–112 Gail Goodrich (26) Madison Square Garden 12,017 13–47 L 5 61 February 14 @ Detroit L 123–128 Jim Fox (24) Cobo Arena 2,853 13–48 L 6 62 February 16 @ Cincinnati W 125–113 Gail Goodrich (25) Cincinnati Gardens 3,922 14–48 W 1 63 February 18 @ Boston L 110–116 Gail Goodrich (29) Boston Garden 7,022 14–49 L 1 64 February 20 @ Baltimore L 121–124 Dick Van Arsdale (44) Detroit , MI 7,066 14–50 L 2 65 February 21 Chicago L 121–133 Gail Goodrich (43) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,939 14–51 L 3 66 February 22 Boston L 100–124 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,295 14–52 L 4 67 February 23 @ Milwaukee L 103–107 Gail Goodrich (29) Green Bay , WI 4,347 14–53 L 5 68 February 25 @ Boston L 99–112 Dick Van Arsdale (22) New York City, NY 19,500 14–54 L 6 69 February 26 @ Philadelphia L 97–104 Dick Van Arsdale (22) The Spectrum 7,781 14–55 L 7 70 February 28 @ Los Angeles L 117–121 Gail Goodrich (43) The Forum 15,728 14–56 L 8
March: 2–10 (home: 1–7; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Attendance Record Streak 71 March 1 @ San Francisco W 119–118 Gail Goodrich (33) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,580 15–56 W 1 72 March 4 Cincinnati L 122–141 Gail Goodrich (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,165 15–57 L 1 73 March 6 @ Chicago L 117–125 (OT) Gail Goodrich (33) Carbondale , IL 3,125 15–58 L 2 74 March 7 @ New York L 87–119 Bob Warlick (18) Philadelphia , PA 15,244 15–59 L 3 75 March 9 San Diego W 146–133 Gail Goodrich (47) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2,384 16–59 W 1 76 March 10 Baltimore L 121–140 Dick Van Arsdale (37) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,133 16–60 L 1 77 March 11 @ San Diego L 106–116 Dick Van Arsdale (26) San Diego Sports Arena 4,172 16–61 L 2 78 March 15 San Diego L 124–141 Gail Goodrich (38) Tucson , AZ 2,616 16–62 L 3 79 March 17 Detroit L 95–119 Stan McKenzie (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,128 16–63 L 4 80 March 19 Milwaukee L 110–117 Dick Van Arsdale (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,033 16–64 L 5 81 March 21 New York L 104–139 Gary Gregor (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,175 16–65 L 6 82 March 23 Milwaukee L 118–128 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,204 16–66 L 7
1968–69 schedule
Team-by-team results [ edit ] Awards and honors [ edit ] All-Star [ edit ] Player statistics [ edit ] * – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 230 field goals. + – Minimum 230 free throws.
Transactions [ edit ] Free agents [ edit ] Additions [ edit ] Subtractions [ edit ] References [ edit ] ^ Boatner, Verne (May 7, 1968), "Suns Stress Youth in Draft Choices", Arizona Republic
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