1996–97 Phoenix Suns season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 29th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Suns traded Charles Barkley and acquired Sam Cassell and Robert Horry from the Houston Rockets, as well as signing free agent Rex Chapman. However, the team struggled losing their first 13 games of the season.[2] After an 0–8 start, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons was replaced by former Suns guard Danny Ainge, who led the team to a 40–34 finish, along the way there were many in-season moves such as trading Cassell, second-year star Michael Finley and A. C. Green, to the Dallas Mavericks for future-superstar Jason Kidd, Loren Meyer and Tony Dumas,[3] and sending Horry along with Joe Kleine, to the Los Angeles Lakers for former Suns forward Cedric Ceballos and Rumeal Robinson.

1996–97 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach
General managerBryan Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to SuperSonics 2–3)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKUTP
Fox Sports Arizona
Cox Sports
RadioKTAR

It was a season that would not be matched in terms of moves until both the 2014–15 and the 2015–16 seasons came and went. Still, the Suns finished fourth in the Pacific Division with a 40–42 record. This team would also be the first and only NBA team to start out the season with a 10+ losing streak, yet make it to the playoffs by the end of the season. Not only that, but they would also be the first team to record a 10+ game winning streak after recording a 10+ game losing streak earlier in the season. As the #7 seed in the Western Conference, the Suns faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the playoffs, losing 2–3 in a closely contested series. Following the season, Wesley Person was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Wayman Tisdale retired.

Offseason

NBA Draft
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 15 Steve Nash Guard  Canada Santa Clara
2 39 Russ Millard Forward  United States Iowa
2 43 Ben Davis Forward  United States Arizona

The Suns used their first-round pick to select point guard Steve Nash from Santa Clara. Nash averaged 14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in four years with the Broncos. On July 24, the Suns signed Nash to a three-year rookie contract for $3.2 million. He would spend his first two seasons with the Suns playing a limited role behind All-Star guards Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. Nash would later return to the franchise as a free agent in 2004, winning consecutive MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 and ultimately making it to the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor on October 30, 2015.

The Suns received the 39th pick from a trade with the Detroit Pistons in 1994. With the pick they would select power forward Russ Millard from Iowa. Millard averaged 10.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in four years with the Hawkeyes. Millard would sign with Italian club Pallacanestro Varese before the season and would never play in the NBA.

The Suns used their second-round pick to select power forward Ben Davis from Arizona. Davis averaged 12.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in two years with the Wildcats. On September 25, the Suns signed Davis to a one-year rookie contract for $220,000. Davis spent much of the year on the injured reserve with a finger injury. He would appear in 20 games, average 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 4.9 minutes a game. Davis would sign as a free agent with the New York Knicks after the season. He would later return to the Suns shortly in the 1999–2000 season, appearing in just five games before being waived.

Roster
Roster listing
1996–97 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
C 45 Brown, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1963–07–19 George Washington
PF 2 Bryant, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall
SF 1 Ceballos, Cedric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969–08–02 Cal State Fullerton
SG 3 Chapman, Rex 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1967–10–05 Kentucky
PF 43 Davis, Ben  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–12–26 Arizona
SG 27 Dumas, Tony  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1972–08–25 UKMC
PG 7 Johnson, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–03–04 California
PG 32 Kidd, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1973–03–23 California
C 17 Llamas, Horacio 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1973–07–17 Grand Canyon
PF 15 Manning, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas
C 40 Meyer, Loren 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1972–12–30 Iowa State
PG 13 Nash, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974–02–07 Santa Clara
SG 11 Person, Wesley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–03–28 Auburn
PF 23 Tisdale, Wayman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964–06–09 Oklahoma
C 18 Williams, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–08–09 Tulane
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 5, 1997

Regular season

Standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 5725.695–31–1026–1516–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers 5626.683131–1025–1618–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4933.598829–1220–2115–9
x-Phoenix Suns 4042.4881725–1615–2613–11
x-Los Angeles Clippers 3646.4392121–2015–2610–14
Sacramento Kings 3448.4152322–1912–298–16
Golden State Warriors 3052.3662718–2312–294–20
1996–97 NBA West standings
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150

Record vs. opponents
1996-97 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3—0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0—0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0—3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3—2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2—3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3—0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0—2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2—0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0—1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1—2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2—2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2—1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1—4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4—0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0—2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2—2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2—3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3—2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2—1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1—1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1—2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2—3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3—0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0—2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2—1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1—4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Playoffs

The Suns came into the playoffs as the seventh seed, facing the 1996 Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. In game one, Rex Chapman set a playoff record with 9 three-pointers, finishing the game with 42 points and leading the Suns to a 106–101 upset in Seattle. The Sonics responded with a 44-point blowout in game two, evening the series 1–1. The Suns recovered at home in game three. After an early 15-point deficit, Wesley Person led the team to a comeback 110–103 victory with 29 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns had a chance to close the series at home in game four. Behind by eleven points in the final two minutes of regulation, the Suns cut to lead to two before fouling Detlef Schrempf with 5.4 seconds remaining. Schrempf would miss the second of two free throws, giving the Sonics a 107–104 lead. Rex Chapman would respond with a famous turnaround three-pointer to send the game into overtime. The Sonics would outscore the Suns 15–8 in extra time to gain a 122–115 victory. The Suns would head back to Seattle tied 2–2 for a deciding fifth game. The Suns turned to small ball, starting four guards (Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman and Wesley Person) along with center Hot Rod Williams. The Sonics would dominate the first half, leading by 22 at the break. A third quarter rally would bring the lead to eight, and a Wesley Person three-pointer to open the fourth quarter brought the lead to just five. But the Sonics would go on a 19–7 run in the final six minutes to claim a 116–92 victory.

Game log
1997 playoff game log
First Round: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
1997 playoff schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month
  • Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Week for games played March 24 through March 30.
  • Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Month for April.

All-Star

Season

Injuries/Missed games
  • 10/31/96: Kevin Johnson: Abdominal hernia; placed on injured reserve until November 24
  • 10/31/96: Mark Bryant: Torn knee cartilage; placed on injured reserve until December 6
  • 10/31/96: Hot Rod Williams: Toe surgery; placed on injured list until November 26
  • 11/14/96: Sam Cassell: Flu; did not play
  • 11/23/96: Wayman Tisdale: Shoulder tendinitis; placed on injured list until December 30
  • 11/26/96: Ben Davis: Finger ligament damage; placed on injured reserve until January 12
  • 11/26/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 11/27/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 11/29/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 12/06/96: Darrin Hancock: Bilateral knee bruises; placed on injured reserve until waived on December 10
  • 12/21/96: Joe Kleine: Back spasms; did not play
  • 12/28/96: Kevin Johnson: Flu; did not play
  • 12/30/96: Tony Dumas: Injured finger; did not play
  • 12/30/96: Jason Kidd: Collarbone hairline fracture; placed on injured list until December 14
  • 01/06/97: Robert Horry: Two-game team suspension (threw towel at coach Danny Ainge); out until traded on January 10
  • 01/10/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
  • 01/12/97: Tony Dumas: Bruised knee; placed on injured list until April 20
  • 01/13/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
  • 01/13/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
  • 01/14/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
  • 01/14/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
  • 01/18/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
  • 01/29/97: Rex Chapman: Fractured finger; placed on injured reserve until March 2
  • 02/11/97: Hot Rod Williams: Flu; did not play
  • 02/26/97: Danny Manning: Sore leg; did not play
  • 03/02/97: Ben Davis: Injured finger; placed on injured reserve until March 13
  • 03/09/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
  • 03/11/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
  • 03/13/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
  • 03/13/97: Loren Meyer: Strained lower back; placed on injured list until March 25
  • 03/17/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; placed on injured reserve until April 20
  • 03/22/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
  • 03/26/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
  • 03/28/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
  • 03/28/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 03/30/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 04/02/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 04/05/97: Ben Davis: Injured finger; placed on injured reserve until April 20
  • 04/15/97: Wesley Person: Flu; did not play
  • 04/18/97: Wesley Person: Flu; did not play
  • 04/19/97: Danny Manning: Injured foot; did not play

Player statistics
Legend
  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
Dexter Boney806.0.316.167.7500.80.0.3.12.4
Chucky Brown*1008.3.500..7271.60.4.0.023.4
Mike Brown6113.8.417..6004.20.8.2.32.7
Mark Bryant411824.8.553†..7045.21.1.5.19.3
Sam Cassell*22924.5.415.306.855#2.34.51.0.314.8
Cedric Ceballos*423227.3.464.259.7376.61.2.7.415.3
Rex Chapman653328.2.443.350.8322.82.8.8.113.8
Ben Davis2004.9.385..4501.40.0.2.11.5
Tony Dumas*618.5.316.250.5000.30.5.0.22.3
Michael Finley*271829.5.475.255.8124.42.5.7.113.0
A. C. Green*271920.3.477.000.6465.10.6.7.05.7
Robert Horry*321522.5.421.308.6403.71.7.9.86.9
Kevin Johnson707038.0.496.441^.852#3.69.31.5+.220.1
Jason Kidd*332335.5.423.400.6884.89.02.4+.411.6
Joe Kleine*231015.9.4001.000^.7223.50.5.4.33.4
Horacio Llamas2025.1.536..5000.90.2.5.31.7
Danny Manning771727.7.536†.194.7216.12.21.11.013.5
Loren Meyer*351712.8.446.600^.7122.7.3.1.35.4
Steve Nash65210.5.423.418.8241.02.1.3.03.3
Wesley Person804229.1.453.413.7983.71.51.1.213.5
Rumeal Robinson*1207.3.471.300.2500.60.7.1.03.0
Wayman Tisdale531514.7.426..6252.30.4.2.46.5
John "Hot Rod" Williams686631.4.490.000.6728.31.51.01.38.0

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 82 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 125 free throws made.
+ – Minimum 50 games played.

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mike Brown406.8.400..8751.00.3.0.02.8
Mark Bryant409.0.400.1.000#1.00.0.0.02.8
Cedric Ceballos5021.4.333.2501.000#5.20.6.8.66.6
Rex Chapman5538.2.494.458.6803.22.6.4.024.2
Kevin Johnson5541.6.295.136.8794.46.02.6.016.8
Jason Kidd5541.4.396.364.5266.09.82.2.412.0
Danny Manning5023.2.578.000.933#6.01.4.81.413.2
Loren Meyer304.7.000.000.2.00.3.0.70.0
Steve Nash403.8.222.250.0.30.3.2.21.3
Wesley Person5132.6.472.424.7786.61.2.8.615.6
Wayman Tisdale449.0.400..1.80.0.0.03.0
John "Hot Rod" Williams5521.0.533..4004.60.6.41.64.0

# – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions

Trades
April 19, 1996
 To Houston Rockets
Charles Barkley
1999 second-round draft pick ( Tyrone Washington)
 To Phoenix Suns
Sam Cassell
Robert Horry
Mark Bryant
Chucky Brown
September 25, 1996
 To Milwaukee Bucks
Elliot Perry
 To Phoenix Suns
Marty Conlon
1999 first-round draft pick ( James Posey)
December 4, 1996
 To Milwaukee Bucks
Chucky Brown
 To Phoenix Suns
Darrin Hancock
Conditional 1997 second-round draft pick
December 26, 1996
 To Dallas Mavericks
Sam Cassell
Michael Finley
A. C. Green
1998 second-round draft pick ( Greg Buckner)
 To Phoenix Suns
Jason Kidd
Loren Meyer
Tony Dumas
January 10, 1997
 To Los Angeles Lakers
Robert Horry
Joe Kleine
 To Phoenix Suns
Cedric Ceballos
Rumeal Robinson

Free agents
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