1970–71 Phoenix Suns season

The 1970–71 Phoenix Suns season was the third season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons lead the Suns, in the NBA's first season which separated the teams into both conferences and divisions as the league continued to gain more teams. It was the first season the Suns would be without the services of All-Star guard Gail Goodrich. With a 48–34 record (fourth best in the league), the Suns set the NBA record for the team with the best winning percentage not to make the playoffs. The team would break their own record the next year with a 49–33 finish. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Suns were led in scoring by Dick Van Arsdale with 21.9 points per game. Connie Hawkins finished the season averaging 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. Paul Silas led the Suns with 12.5 rebounds per game, the highest-ever average in Suns history, while Neal Walk garnered 8.2 rebounds to go with his 12.9 points a game.

Goodrich, a native of Los Angeles and who played college ball at UCLA, was traded before the season back to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had played before being acquired in the expansion draft of 1968. In exchange, the Suns obtained the 29-year-old 7-footer Mel Counts, who was coming off a career-high 12.6 average in points. Goodrich would go on to play nine more seasons in the NBA, six of those with the Lakers. During those six years, he would average 22.3 points per game, appear in four All-Star Games and be named to an All-NBA First Team. Meanwhile, Counts averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds in his first of two seasons with the Suns.

Roster
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%; width: 100%;" ! colspan="2" style="background-color: #423189; color: #FF8800; text-align: center;" | Phoenix Suns roster ! Players !! Coaches {| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;" ! Pos. !! # !! Name !! Height !! Weight !! DOB (Y-M-D) !! From
 * - style="background-color: #FF8800; color: #423189;  text-align: center;"
 * valign="top" |
 * valign="top" |

Game log
!!Streak !!Streak !!Streak !!Streak !!Streak !!Streak
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * October 15
 * San Diego
 * W 119–100
 * Dick Van Arsdale (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,523
 * 1–0
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 17
 * Detroit
 * L 107–110
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,646
 * 1–1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * October 20
 * @ San Diego
 * L 114–115
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 7,246
 * 1–2
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * October 21
 * @ Seattle
 * L 106–110
 * Greg Howard (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 6,923
 * 1–3
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * October 23
 * Cleveland
 * W 108–104
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,822
 * 2–3
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * October 25
 * San Diego
 * W 117–98
 * Clem Haskins (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,697
 * 3–3
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 28
 * Chicago
 * L 105–118
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,343
 * 3–4
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * October 30
 * @ Boston
 * L 112–127
 * Paul Silas (23)
 * Boston Garden 5,392
 * 3–5
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9
 * October 31
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 103–106
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 4,527
 * 3–6
 * L 3
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * November 2
 * Buffalo
 * W 110–102
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,000
 * 4–6
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 4
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 133–115
 * Clem Haskins, Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * Cincinnati Gardens 2,091
 * 5–6
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 6
 * @ Chicago
 * W 105–102
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Chicago Stadium 8,107
 * 6–6
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 7
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 107–100
 * Connie Hawkins (21)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,116
 * 7–6
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 8
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 105–125
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,746
 * 7–7
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * November 11
 * Portland
 * W 114–100
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,020
 * 8–7
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * November 13
 * Cincinnati
 * W 115–109
 * Clem Haskins, Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,802
 * 9–7
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 17
 * November 15
 * Detroit
 * W 108–104
 * Clem Haskins (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,344
 * 10–7
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * November 17
 * @ New York
 * L 100–103
 * Clem Haskins, Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,275
 * 10–8
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * November 19
 * @ Detroit
 * L 110–112
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Cobo Arena 3,594
 * 10–9
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * November 20
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 110–121
 * Connie Hawkins (23)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 4,572
 * 10–10
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * November 21
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 125–119
 * Dick Van Arsdale (30)
 * The Spectrum 6,519
 * 11–10
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * November 22
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 114–99
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Cleveland Arena 2,405
 * 12–10
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 23
 * November 24
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 106–112
 * Clem Haskins (25)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 7,209
 * 12–11
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * November 26
 * Seattle
 * W 126–115
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,192
 * 13–11
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25
 * November 27
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 116–105
 * Paul Silas (27)
 * The Forum 13,089
 * 14–11
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * November 28
 * San Diego
 * L 116–117
 * Connie Hawkins (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,470
 * 14–12
 * L 1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 27
 * December 2
 * Atlanta
 * W 126–112
 * Connie Hawkins (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,907
 * 15–12
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 4
 * @ Portland
 * W 126–121
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Memorial Coliseum 3,927
 * 16–12
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29
 * December 5
 * @ San Francisco
 * W 105–100
 * Connie Hawkins (24)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,481
 * 17–12
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 6
 * San Diego
 * W 108–102
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,935
 * 18–12
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * December 8
 * Los Angeles
 * L 112–121
 * Connie Hawkins (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,702
 * 18–13
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 32
 * December 11
 * @ San Diego
 * L 104–110
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 8,365
 * 18–14
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * December 12
 * Milwaukee
 * W 113–111
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,002
 * 19–14
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * December 15
 * San Francisco
 * L 123–129
 * Clem Haskins (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,901
 * 19–15
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35
 * December 17
 * Detroit
 * W 117–114 (OT)
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,548
 * 20–15
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 36
 * December 19
 * @ Seattle
 * L 131–135
 * Dick Van Arsdale (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 6,443
 * 20–16
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 37
 * December 20
 * New York
 * L 118–133
 * Dick Van Arsdale (20)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,445
 * 20–17
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 38
 * December 22
 * Philadelphia
 * L 129–133 (OT)
 * Connie Hawkins (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,248
 * 20–18
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * December 25
 * Atlanta
 * W 127–115
 * Dick Van Arsdale (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,186
 * 21–18
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * December 26
 * Portland
 * W 115–103
 * Neal Walk (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,102
 * 22–18
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 41
 * December 27
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 110–128
 * Neal Walk (20)
 * The Forum 15,163
 * 22–19
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 42
 * December 30
 * Los Angeles
 * W 132–114
 * Clem Haskins (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,164
 * 23–19
 * W 1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * January 2
 * @ San Francisco
 * W 122–116 (OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * Cow Palace 3,812
 * 24–19
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * January 3
 * San Francisco
 * W 102–81
 * Clem Haskins (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,196
 * 25–19
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * January 8
 * @ Boston
 * L 114–122
 * Dick Van Arsdale (24)
 * Boston Garden 7,124
 * 25–20
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46
 * January 9
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 112–123
 * Clem Haskins (22)
 * The Spectrum 7,826
 * 25–21
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 47
 * January 10
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 116–105
 * Paul Silas (23)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,447
 * 26–21
 * W 1
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * January 14
 * New York
 * W 107–88
 * Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,051
 * 27–21
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * January 16
 * Baltimore
 * W 117–100
 * Clem Haskins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,002
 * 28–21
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * January 18
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 118–99
 * Clem Haskins (29)
 * Omaha, Nebraska 3,149
 * 29–21
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * January 20
 * Cincinnati
 * L 114–126
 * Clem Haskins (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,586
 * 29–22
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * January 22
 * Philadelphia
 * L 116–117
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,059
 * 29–23
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 53
 * January 24
 * Chicago
 * W 113–112
 * Mel Counts, Paul Silas (18)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,923
 * 30–23
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * January 26
 * Buffalo
 * W 114–82
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,486
 * 31–23
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * January 28
 * Los Angeles
 * W 118–112
 * Mel Counts (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,036
 * 32–23
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * January 29
 * @ Portland
 * W 131–122
 * Dick Van Arsdale (36)
 * Memorial Coliseum 5,877
 * 33–23
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * January 30
 * Seattle
 * W 134–116
 * Dick Van Arsdale (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,412
 * 34–23
 * W 5
 * W 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * February 4
 * San Francisco
 * L 105–117
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,711
 * 34–24
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * February 6
 * Cleveland
 * W 119–91
 * Neal Walk, John Wetzel (22)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,812
 * 35–24
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 60
 * February 8
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 94–118
 * Connie Hawkins (23)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,746
 * 35–25
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 9
 * @ Baltimore
 * W 120–115
 * Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 4,054
 * 36–25
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 12
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 114–105
 * Dick Van Arsdale (24)
 * Cleveland Arena 4,297
 * 37–25
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 13
 * @ New York
 * L 97–114
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,500
 * 37–26
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 14
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 108–97
 * Dick Van Arsdale (29)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 4,376
 * 38–26
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * February 16
 * @ Boston
 * W 119–116
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Boston Garden 6,091
 * 39–26
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * February 17
 * Cincinnati
 * W 133–117
 * Clem Haskins (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,006
 * 40–26
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * February 19
 * Boston
 * W 116–112
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,256
 * 41–26
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * February 21
 * Milwaukee
 * L 97–125
 * Dick Van Arsdale (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,371
 * 41–27
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * February 26
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 108–94
 * Connie Hawkins (30)
 * The Spectrum 8,586
 * 42–27
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70
 * February 27
 * @ Detroit
 * W 124–117
 * Dick Van Arsdale (42)
 * Cobo Arena 8,878
 * 43–27
 * W 2
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71
 * March 3
 * Chicago
 * W 115–90
 * Clem Haskins (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,371
 * 44–27
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 72
 * March 7
 * Baltimore
 * L 108–117
 * Connie Hawkins (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,370
 * 44–28
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * March 9
 * @ Detroit
 * W 114–108
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * Cobo Arena 4,269
 * 45–28
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 10
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 98–139
 * Dick Van Arsdale (19)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,266
 * 45–29
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 12
 * @ Chicago
 * L 92–116
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Chicago Stadium 14,703
 * 45–30
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 13
 * @ Chicago
 * L 99–111
 * Connie Hawkins (22)
 * Chicago Stadium 17,505
 * 45–31
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * March 14
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 125–113
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Madison, WI 9,035
 * 46–31
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 78
 * March 16
 * Milwaukee
 * L 111–119
 * Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,640
 * 46–32
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * March 18
 * New York
 * L 123–131 (OT)
 * Connie Hawkins (35)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,454
 * 46–33
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * March 19
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 111–106
 * Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * The Forum 17,254
 * 47–33
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * March 20
 * Seattle
 * W 114–107
 * Paul Silas (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,134
 * 48–33
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 82
 * March 21
 * @ San Diego
 * L 114–132
 * Clem Haskins (25)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 5,840
 * 48–34
 * L 1
 * L 1

All-Star

 * Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.
 * Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.

Season

 * Paul Silas was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

Season
^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.