1971–72 Phoenix Suns season

The 1971–72 Phoenix Suns season was the fourth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With a 49–33 record, the Suns hold the NBA record as the team with the best winning percentage to not make the playoffs. The team broke the record they set the previous year with a 48–34 finish. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Suns in their debut season as members of the Pacific division. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Paul Silas again led the team in rebounds, averaging 11.9 per game, while also leading the Suns in assists with a 4.3 average. Connie Hawkins's 21 points a game led the club, while Dick Van Arsdale was second with his 19.7 average. Silas averaged 17.5 for the season, while both Clem Haskins and Neal Walk averaged 15.7.

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="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * October 14
 * Milwaukee
 * L 97–110
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,174
 * 0–1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * October 16
 * Houston
 * W 128–108
 * Paul Silas (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,572
 * 1–1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * October 22
 * Detroit
 * L 109–116
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,337
 * 1–2
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * October 24
 * Chicago
 * L 104–105
 * Paul Silas (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,970
 * 1–3
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * October 26
 * Cincinnati
 * W 126–99
 * Paul Silas (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,901
 * 2–3
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * October 29
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 137–135 (2OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * The Spectrum 6,128
 * 3–3
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 30
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 94–101
 * Dick Van Arsdale (29)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 6,839
 * 3–4
 * L 1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * November 2
 * @ Chicago
 * L 101–108
 * Clem Haskins (22)
 * Chicago Stadium 5,843
 * 3–5
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 9
 * November 3
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 100–98
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5,417
 * 4–5
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * November 5
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 107–87
 * Clem Haskins (24)
 * Cleveland Arena 3,307
 * 5–5
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * November 6
 * @ Cincinnati
 * L 95–110
 * Clem Haskins (22)
 * Cincinnati Gardens 3,076
 * 5–6
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 9
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 113–118
 * Connie Hawkins (28)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,039
 * 5–7
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 12
 * Boston
 * W 128–119
 * Connie Hawkins (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,470
 * 6–7
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 14
 * November 14
 * Cleveland
 * W 119–105
 * Dick Van Arsdale (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,336
 * 7–7
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 15
 * November 16
 * @ New York
 * L 111–112
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,344
 * 7–8
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 16
 * November 17
 * @ Boston
 * L 121–140
 * Connie Hawkins (35)
 * Boston Garden 9,440
 * 7–9
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 18
 * @ Detroit
 * L 126–128
 * Neal Walk (30)
 * Cobo Arena 3,418
 * 7–10
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * November 20
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 109–115
 * Paul Silas (24)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,702
 * 7–11
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffccc"
 * 19
 * November 23
 * Philadelphia
 * W 128–107
 * Mo Layton (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,678
 * 8–11
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 20
 * November 25
 * Detroit
 * W 122–103
 * Mo Layton (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,846
 * 9–11
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * November 28
 * @ Houston
 * W 116–110
 * Mo Layton (25)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 3,643
 * 10–11
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * November 30
 * @ Portland
 * W 121–111 (OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Memorial Coliseum 7,704
 * 11–11
 * W 4
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * December 1
 * Portland
 * W 139–103
 * Paul Silas (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,040
 * 12–11
 * W 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * December 4
 * @ Golden State
 * W 128–92
 * Clem Haskins (27)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,491
 * 13–11
 * W 6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25
 * December 5
 * Golden State
 * W 120–87
 * Connie Hawkins (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,886
 * 14–11
 * W 7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 9
 * Atlanta
 * W 135–115
 * Connie Hawkins (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,524
 * 15–11
 * W 8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 27
 * December 10
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 117–126 (OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 15–12
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 28
 * December 11
 * Houston
 * L 110–111
 * Hawkins, Silas (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,695
 * 15–13
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29
 * December 14
 * @ New York
 * W 110–100
 * Neal Walk (24)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,253
 * 16–13
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 15
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 127–108
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * Cincinnati Gardens 2,038
 * 17–13
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 31
 * December 17
 * Detroit
 * W 123–102
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,808
 * 18–13
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 32
 * December 18
 * Los Angeles
 * L 106–132
 * Neal Walk (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
 * 18–14
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 33
 * December 19
 * @ Seattle
 * L 127–130 (OT)
 * Paul Silas (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 9,189
 * 18–15
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34
 * December 21
 * Philadelphia
 * W 124–119
 * Paul Silas (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,272
 * 19–15
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 35
 * December 23
 * Chicago
 * L 108–117 (OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,289
 * 19–16
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * December 25
 * Seattle
 * W 116–86
 * Connie Hawkins (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,026
 * 20–16
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * December 29
 * @ Houston
 * W 124–106
 * Clem Haskins, Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 5,389
 * 21–16
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 38
 * December 30
 * Buffalo
 * W 123–102
 * Mel Counts, Paul Silas, Dick Van Arsdale (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,272
 * 22–16
 * W 3
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * January 1
 * Boston
 * W 114–104
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,056
 * 23–16
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 40
 * January 2
 * Atlanta
 * L 111–116
 * Clem Haskins (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,670
 * 23–17
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 4
 * @ Chicago
 * W 112–108
 * Clem Haskins (23)
 * Chicago Stadium 9,009
 * 24–17
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 42
 * January 7
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 123–110
 * Connie Hawkins (32)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 10,247
 * 25–17
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 43
 * January 8
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 119–130
 * Otto Moore (21)
 * The Spectrum 7,833
 * 25–18
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 9
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 103–109
 * Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (22)
 * College Park, MD 7,235
 * 25–19
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 45
 * January 11
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 115–114
 * Neal Walk (42)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,111
 * 26–19
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 46
 * January 14
 * Cleveland
 * W 117–107
 * Neal Walk (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,279
 * 27–19
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 15
 * @ Seattle
 * L 110–118
 * Mel Counts, Paul Silas, Dick Van Arsdale (18)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 12,693
 * 27–20
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 48
 * January 16
 * Baltimore
 * L 104–107
 * Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,385
 * 27–21
 * L 2
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * January 20
 * New York
 * W 130–109
 * Connie Hawkins (40)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,006
 * 28–21
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * January 21
 * @ Seattle
 * W 128–113
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 12,751
 * 29–21
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 22
 * Los Angeles
 * W 116–102
 * Dick Van Arsdale (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
 * 30–21
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * January 25
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 119–129
 * Paul Silas (24)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 30–22
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * January 28
 * Chicago
 * L 102–116
 * Paul Silas (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,245
 * 30–23
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 54
 * January 29
 * @ Golden State
 * L 110–111
 * Paul Silas (28)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,488
 * 30–24
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * January 30
 * Atlanta
 * W 105–103
 * Clem Haskins, Connie Hawkins, Neal Walk (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,839
 * 31–24
 * W 1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * February 1
 * @ Portland
 * W 129–117
 * Dick Van Arsdale (24)
 * Memorial Coliseum 4,961
 * 32–24
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 57
 * February 2
 * Milwaukee
 * L 103–106
 * Connie Hawkins (37)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,365
 * 32–25
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 58
 * February 4
 * Golden State
 * W 113–105
 * Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,486
 * 33–25
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * February 5
 * @ Portland
 * W 118–117 (OT)
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Memorial Coliseum 6,401
 * 34–25
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * February 6
 * Portland
 * W 107–94
 * Paul Silas (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,160
 * 35–25
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 8
 * Philadelphia
 * W 120–108
 * Connie Hawkins (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,532
 * 36–25
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 10
 * Baltimore
 * W 131–98
 * Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,794
 * 37–25
 * W 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 63
 * February 12
 * Cincinnati
 * W 117–95
 * Dick Van Arsdale (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,766
 * 38–25
 * W 6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 16
 * Los Angeles
 * W 110–109
 * Neal Walk (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,534
 * 39–25
 * W 7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * February 18
 * Boston
 * W 126–115
 * Dick Van Arsdale (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,005
 * 40–25
 * W 8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * February 20
 * @ Detroit
 * W 121–107
 * Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * Cobo Arena 4,898
 * 41–25
 * W 9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * February 22
 * @ Boston
 * L 103–114
 * Connie Hawkins (30)
 * Boston Garden 8,106
 * 41–26
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * February 23
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 118–120
 * Paul Silas (26)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,073
 * 41–27
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * February 25
 * @ Chicago
 * L 107–115
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Chicago Stadium 9,720
 * 41–28
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * February 26
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 117–119 (OT)
 * Neal Walk (28)
 * Madison, WI 9,371
 * 41–29
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71
 * February 27
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 127–125
 * Mo Layton (37)
 * Cleveland Arena 6,889
 * 42–29
 * W 1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 72
 * March 1
 * Baltimore
 * L 90–95
 * Paul Silas (16)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,002
 * 42–30
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * March 5
 * Buffalo
 * W 131–103
 * Neal Walk (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,729
 * 43–30
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 74
 * March 7
 * @ Detroit
 * W 129–121
 * Connie Hawkins (28)
 * Cobo Arena 2,014
 * 44–30
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 8
 * @ Cincinnati
 * L 105–122
 * Neal Walk (18)
 * Cincinnati Gardens 2,387
 * 44–31
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * March 11
 * @ New York
 * W 110–106
 * Dick Van Arsdale (25)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,588
 * 45–31
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * March 15
 * Milwaukee
 * W 110–106
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,090
 * 46–31
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * March 17
 * New York
 * W 111–106
 * Charlie Scott (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,571
 * 47–31
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * March 18
 * @ Golden State
 * L 116–134
 * Connie Hawkins (25)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,399
 * 47–32
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * March 21
 * Portland
 * W 160–128
 * Clem Haskins (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,045
 * 48–32
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 81
 * March 24
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 110–112
 * Charlie Scott (21)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 48–33
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 25
 * Seattle
 * W 118–99
 * Charlie Scott (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,189
 * 49–33
 * W 1
 * W 1

All-Star

 * Connie Hawkins was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection.
 * Paul Silas was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

Season

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

Season
* – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.