1972–73 Phoenix Suns season

The 1972–73 Phoenix Suns season was the fifth for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, as well as the first season with Al McCoy taking on broadcasting duties for the team. The season began under head coach Butch Van Breda Kolff for the first seven games, before Jerry Colangelo finished coaching duties for the team. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Charlie Scott had played in six games for the Suns one season ago, after a late-season switch to the NBA from the ABA, and his first full season with the Suns was arguably his best. Scott was named to his first NBA All-Star Team, joining teammate Connie Hawkins, who was selected to his fourth and final All-Star Game of his NBA career. In addition to Scott leading the Suns with his 6.1 assist per game average, his 2,048-season-point total was fifth in the league (and the only 2,000+-point season of his career). His average of 25.3 points per contest was sixth-best in the NBA. Center Neal Walk averaged career-bests in both points and rebounds, averaging 20.2 and 12.5 on the season. Walk's rebounding average was just shy of Paul Silas's franchise record of 12.5. Dick Van Arsdale averaged 18.4 points on the season, while Connie Hawkins contributed 16.1 per contest.

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 13
 * Milwaukee
 * L 105–117
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,408
 * 0–1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * October 14
 * @ Portland
 * W 124–120
 * Charlie Scott (38)
 * Memorial Coliseum 6,804
 * 1–1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * October 15
 * Baltimore
 * W 107–98
 * Neal Walk (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,372
 * 2–1
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * October 21
 * Seattle
 * W 129–117
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,315
 * 3–1
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * October 24
 * Chicago
 * L 106–107
 * Charlie Scott (42)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,039
 * 3–2
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * October 27
 * @ Seattle
 * L 115–120
 * Charlie Scott (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 8,201
 * 3–3
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 29
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 123–133
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * The Forum 16,148
 * 3–4
 * L 3
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * November 3
 * @ Chicago
 * L 100–115
 * Neal Walk (19)
 * Chicago Stadium 11,089
 * 3–5
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 9
 * November 4
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 105–104
 * Charlie Scott, Neal Walk (20)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,746
 * 4–5
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * November 5
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 107–106
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Cleveland Arena 3,624
 * 5–5
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 8
 * Cleveland
 * W 107–99
 * Charlie Scott (34)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,264
 * 6–5
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 10
 * Houston
 * W 115–109
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,613
 * 7–5
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 12
 * Philadelphia
 * W 119–108
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,235
 * 8–5
 * W 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 14
 * @ New York
 * L 97–103
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,720
 * 8–6
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 15
 * November 15
 * @ Boston
 * L 94–113
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Boston Garden 8,979
 * 8–7
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 16
 * November 17
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 106–117
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 5,429
 * 8–8
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 18
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 122–126
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Omni Coliseum 7,047
 * 8–9
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * November 21
 * @ Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 96–101
 * Charlie Scott (23)
 * Municipal Auditorium 5,067
 * 8–10
 * L 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 19
 * November 23
 * Detroit
 * W 128–122
 * Charlie Scott (42)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,576
 * 9–10
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * November 25
 * Los Angeles
 * L 109–116
 * Neal Walk (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,482
 * 9–11
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 26
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 107–112
 * Neal Walk (25)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 9–12
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 22
 * November 28
 * @ Golden State
 * L 102–110
 * Charlie Scott (24)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,043
 * 9–13
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * November 29
 * Atlanta
 * W 109–98
 * Connie Hawkins, Charlie Scott (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,241
 * 10–13
 * W 1
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * December 1
 * Golden State
 * W 115–106
 * Connie Hawkins (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,067
 * 11–13
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 3
 * Milwaukee
 * L 101–119
 * Connie Hawkins (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,531
 * 11–14
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * December 5
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 97–108
 * Dick Van Arsdale (29)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 3,573
 * 11–15
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 27
 * December 6
 * @ Detroit
 * L 105–114
 * Charlie Scott (28)
 * Cobo Arena 2,864
 * 11–16
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 7
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 117–102
 * Neal Walk (27)
 * Pittsburgh, PA 3,878
 * 12–16
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29
 * December 9
 * Portland
 * W 116–97
 * Neal Walk (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,801
 * 13–16
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 30
 * December 10
 * @ Seattle
 * L 102–110
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 10,628
 * 13–17
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * December 13
 * Boston
 * L 100–105
 * Connie Hawkins (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,596
 * 13–18
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * December 17
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * W 112–102
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,537
 * 14–18
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * December 19
 * New York
 * W 117–84
 * Clem Haskins (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,197
 * 15–18
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34
 * December 22
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 118–110
 * Neal Walk (33)
 * The Forum 16,733
 * 16–18
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35
 * December 25
 * Chicago
 * W 115–108
 * Dick Van Arsdale (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,420
 * 17–18
 * W 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 36
 * December 26
 * @ Houston
 * L 110–113
 * Charlie Scott (32)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 3,577
 * 17–19
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * December 29
 * Portland
 * W 106–99
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,310
 * 18–19
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 38
 * December 30
 * @ Portland
 * W 107–104
 * Charlie Scott (38)
 * Memorial Coliseum 8,349
 * 19–19
 * W 2
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 39
 * January 2
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 88–111
 * Connie Hawkins (19)
 * Cleveland Arena 2,850
 * 19–20
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 40
 * January 3
 * @ Detroit
 * L 105–119
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Cobo Arena 3,626
 * 19–21
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 5
 * @ Chicago
 * W 126–115
 * Dick Van Arsdale (37)
 * Chicago Stadium 9,091
 * 20–21
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 42
 * January 6
 * @ Kansas City-Omaha
 * W 118–112
 * Charlie Scott (28)
 * Omaha Civic Auditorium 5,183
 * 21–21
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * January 10
 * Detroit
 * W 123–121
 * Charlie Scott (37)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,099
 * 22–21
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 12
 * Golden State
 * L 107–108
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,103
 * 22–22
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 45
 * January 13
 * @ Golden State
 * W 116–110
 * Neal Walk (28)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8,484
 * 23–22
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46
 * January 14
 * Baltimore
 * L 94–95
 * Charlie Scott (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,186
 * 23–23
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 16
 * New York
 * L 101–102
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,252
 * 23–24
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 48
 * January 18
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 96–119
 * Dick Van Arsdale (18)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,117
 * 23–25
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * January 20
 * Los Angeles
 * L 104–124
 * Neal Walk (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,608
 * 23–26
 * L 4
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * January 25
 * Seattle
 * W 112–109
 * Charlie Scott (34)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,701
 * 24–26
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 26
 * @ Portland
 * W 120–116
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Memorial Coliseum 10,057
 * 25–26
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * January 27
 * Portland
 * L 109–117
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,215
 * 25–27
 * L 1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 1
 * Los Angeles
 * L 106–120
 * Neal Walk (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,705
 * 25–28
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * February 3
 * Houston
 * W 132–123
 * Charlie Scott, Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,282
 * 26–28
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 55
 * February 6
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 111–126
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Milwaukee Arena 9,285
 * 26–29
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 7
 * @ Detroit
 * L 107–113
 * Charlie Scott, Dick Van Arsdale (21)
 * Cobo Arena 4,491
 * 26–30
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * February 8
 * Seattle
 * W 125–112
 * Charlie Scott (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,084
 * 27–30
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 58
 * February 10
 * Philadelphia
 * W 126–121
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,176
 * 28–30
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * February 14
 * Buffalo
 * W 124–107
 * Neal Walk (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,871
 * 29–30
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 60
 * February 16
 * Atlanta
 * L 104–111
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,155
 * 29–31
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 61
 * February 17
 * @ Houston
 * L 111–127
 * Charlie Scott (41)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 3,119
 * 29–32
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 62
 * February 18
 * Portland
 * L 118–119
 * Neal Walk (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,260
 * 29–33
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 20
 * @ Boston
 * L 97–107
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * Boston Garden 9,954
 * 29–34
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 21
 * @ Baltimore
 * W 107–98
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 5,525
 * 30–34
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * February 23
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 125–106
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5,830
 * 31–34
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 66
 * February 24
 * @ Chicago
 * L 100–122
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Chicago Stadium 12,753
 * 31–35
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * February 25
 * @ Kansas City-Omaha
 * W 111–109
 * Charlie Scott (24)
 * Municipal Auditorium 10,007
 * 32–35
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * February 28
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 107–109
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,230
 * 32–36
 * L 1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * March 4
 * Chicago
 * L 117–118 (OT)
 * Neal Walk (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,085
 * 32–37
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70
 * March 6
 * Cleveland
 * W 110–102
 * Neal Walk (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,236
 * 33–37
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 71
 * March 8
 * Boston
 * L 134–141 (OT)
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,052
 * 33–38
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 72
 * March 10
 * Detroit
 * L 110–117
 * Clem Haskins, Charlie Scott (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,510
 * 33–39
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 73
 * March 12
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 95–126
 * Neal Walk (22)
 * Milwaukee Arena 10,746
 * 33–40
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 13
 * @ New York
 * L 111–115
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,674
 * 33–41
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75
 * March 14
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 120–114
 * Charlie Scott (32)
 * The Spectrum 5,641
 * 34–41
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 16
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 127–135
 * Charlie Scott (31)
 * Omni Coliseum 6,512
 * 34–42
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 77
 * March 18
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 113–131
 * Charlie Scott (35)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 34–43
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * March 21
 * Buffalo
 * W 134–124 (OT)
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,603
 * 35–43
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 79
 * March 23
 * Golden State
 * W 125–124
 * Charlie Scott (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,197
 * 36–43
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * March 25
 * Milwaukee
 * L 112–114
 * Neal Walk (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,386
 * 36–44
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * March 26
 * @ Golden State
 * W 120–114
 * Connie Hawkins (29)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,677
 * 37–44
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 28
 * @ Seattle
 * W 127–125
 * Neal Walk (27)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 11,246
 * 38–44
 * W 2
 * W 2

All-Star

 * Charlie Scott was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.
 * Connie Hawkins was selected to replace Rick Barry in the All-Star Game. It was his fourth consecutive All-Star selection.