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 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.
1980–81 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Division champions | |
Head coach | John MacLeod |
General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
Owners | Richard Bloch |
Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 57–25 (.695) |
Place | Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western) |
Playoff finish | Lost in Semifinals to Kansas City (3–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Radio | KTAR |
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 | ![]() |
Stanford |
3 | 59 | John Campbell | Forward | ![]() |
Clemson |
3 | 65 | Doug True | Forward | ![]() |
California |
4 | 88 | Leroy Stampley | Guard | ![]() |
Loyola (IL) |
5 | 111 | Mark Stevens | Forward | ![]() |
Northern Arizona |
6 | 134 | Coby Leavitt | Center | ![]() |
Utah |
7 | 157 | Ron Williams | Forward | ![]() |
Western Montana |
8 | 175 | Jim Conolly | Forward | ![]() |
La Salle |
9 | 196 | Keith French | Forward | ![]() |
North Park |
10 | 211 | Randy Carroll | Forward | ![]() |
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.[1]
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Standings
Pacific Division | 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 Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | 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
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | 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---- | To Phoenix Suns---- |
June 9, 1980 |
To Dallas Mavericks----
|
To Phoenix Suns---- |
November 25, 1980 |
To Indiana Pacers---- | To Phoenix Suns----
|
February 3, 1981 |
To San Diego Clippers----
(Sent picks to Phoenix as compensation for free agent Garfield Heard) |
To Phoenix Suns----
|
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 |
References
- "Phoenix Suns Draft Picks". basketball-reference.com.