1973–74 Phoenix Suns season

The 1973–74 Phoenix Suns season was the sixth for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. It was the first of 14 seasons head coach John MacLeod spent with Phoenix. The season would also be the last for former All-Star forward/center Connie Hawkins, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after appearing in nine games for the Suns. Charlie Scott would repeat as an All-Star, but who missed 30 games due to injury despite his NBA career-high 25.4 points a game. The team went on to finish the season 30–52, a career-worst for MacLeod and the franchise's poorest record since their inaugural season.

Dick Van Arsdale averaged 17.8 points on the season, while Neal Walk averaged 16.8 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per contest. Keith Erickson, obtained by the Suns along with a future second round pick in the Hawkins trade, enjoyed a career-high 14.6 points a game in his ninth year in the NBA and first with Phoenix.

Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Mike Bantom, a rookie out of Saint Joseph's, was named to the All-Rookie Team.

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 10
 * Seattle
 * W 115–111
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,738
 * 1–0
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 12
 * Milwaukee
 * L 84–107
 * Lamar Green (14)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,033
 * 1–1
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * October 14
 * Golden State
 * L 95–120
 * Charlie Scott (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,030
 * 1–2
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * October 20
 * Atlanta
 * W 118–108
 * Dick Van Arsdale (37)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,009
 * 2–2
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * October 21
 * @ Seattle
 * L 112–116
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 11,964
 * 2–3
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * October 23
 * @ Golden State
 * L 109–121
 * Charlie Scott, Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,007
 * 2–4
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 24
 * Detroit
 * L 99–115
 * Mike Bantom (22)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,307
 * 2–5
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * October 26
 * @ Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 93–98
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Municipal Auditorium 4,917
 * 2–6
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9
 * October 27
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 95–104
 * Milwaukee Arena 9,975
 * 2–7
 * L 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 10
 * October 30
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 101–122
 * Joe Reaves (21)
 * Omni Coliseum 9,070
 * 2–8
 * L 6
 * 2–8
 * L 6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * November 2
 * @ Detroit
 * L 107–114
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Cobo Arena 5,317
 * 2–9
 * L 7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 4
 * @ Capital
 * L 99–102
 * Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (19)
 * Capital Centre 5,316
 * 2–10
 * L 8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 13
 * November 7
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 115–122
 * Charlie Scott (31)
 * The Spectrum 4,366
 * 2–11
 * L 9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 9
 * @ Boston
 * L 107–122
 * Charlie Scott (24)
 * Boston Garden 9,953
 * 2–12
 * L 10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * November 13
 * Chicago
 * W 116–108
 * Charlie Scott (38)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,045
 * 3–12
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * November 15
 * Philadelphia
 * W 116–94
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,142
 * 4–12
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 17
 * Los Angeles
 * L 110–130
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,498
 * 4–13
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * November 20
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 100–127
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 6,088
 * 4–14
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * November 21
 * @ Detroit
 * L 104–107
 * Charlie Scott, Neal Walk (32)
 * Cobo Arena 3,534
 * 4–15
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 20
 * November 23
 * @ Chicago
 * W 99–94
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Chicago Stadium 8,742
 * 5–15
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 27
 * @ Houston
 * L 111–125
 * Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 2,756
 * 5–16
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * November 29
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * W 119–99
 * Mike Bantom (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,386
 * 6–16
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * November 30
 * @ Portland
 * W 107–99
 * Clem Haskins (36)
 * Memorial Coliseum 10,720
 * 7–16
 * W 2
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 24
 * December 1
 * Detroit
 * L 109–121
 * Dick Van Arsdale (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,496
 * 7–17
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 4
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 103–120
 * Charlie Scott (23)
 * The Forum 11,746
 * 7–18
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 5
 * Golden State
 * W 103–97
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,553
 * 8–18
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 27
 * December 7
 * Capital
 * W 114–92
 * Charlie Scott (40)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,089
 * 9–18
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 9
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 117–106
 * Charlie Scott (31)
 * Cleveland Arena 3,042
 * 10–18
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 29
 * December 11
 * @ New York
 * L 97–105
 * Dick Van Arsdale (23)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,366
 * 10–19
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 30
 * December 13
 * Portland
 * L 108–119
 * Charlie Scott (32)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,494
 * 10–20
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 31
 * December 15
 * Boston
 * W 121–120
 * Charlie Scott (41)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,362
 * 11–20
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * December 16
 * @ Seattle
 * W 113–109
 * Charlie Scott (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 9,778
 * 12–20
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 33
 * December 18
 * @ Portland
 * L 117–133
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Memorial Coliseum 5,982
 * 12–21
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * December 19
 * Philadelphia
 * L 98–101
 * Charlie Scott (44)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,246
 * 12–22
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35
 * December 22
 * Milwaukee
 * W 121–112
 * Charlie Scott (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,013
 * 13–22
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * December 25
 * Los Angeles
 * W 135–100
 * Charlie Scott (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,253
 * 14–22
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * December 27
 * Seattle
 * W 111–100
 * Charlie Scott (33)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,755
 * 15–22
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 38
 * December 28
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 107–119
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * The Forum 13,685
 * 15–23
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 39
 * December 29
 * Buffalo
 * L 108–120
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,116
 * 15–24
 * L 2
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * January 2
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 116–113
 * Dick Van Arsdale (28)
 * Omni Coliseum 9,232
 * 16–24
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 41
 * January 4
 * @ Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 97–122
 * Charlie Scott (28)
 * Municipal Auditorium 4,837
 * 16–25
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 5
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 109–118
 * Dick Van Arsdale (22)
 * Milwaukee Arena 9,812
 * 16–26
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 43
 * January 6
 * @ Chicago
 * L 116–120 (OT)
 * Charlie Scott (30)
 * Chicago Stadium 6,013
 * 16–27
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * January 9
 * Houston
 * W 105–101
 * Charlie Scott (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,924
 * 17–27
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * January 11
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * L 100–117
 * Charlie Scott (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,747
 * 17–28
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46
 * January 13
 * Seattle
 * L 112–123
 * Neal Walk (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,769
 * 17–29
 * L 2
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 17
 * @ Golden State
 * L 120–127
 * Charlie Scott (31)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,011
 * 17–30
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * January 19
 * New York
 * W 112–89
 * Charlie Scott (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,468
 * 18–30
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * January 23
 * Cleveland
 * W 110–103
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,017
 * 19–30
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * January 25
 * Milwaukee
 * L 108–112
 * Charlie Scott (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,660
 * 19–31
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 27
 * Capital
 * W 127–107
 * Keith Erickson (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,277
 * 20–31
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52
 * January 31
 * Portland
 * W 112–100
 * Charlie Scott (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,252
 * 21–31
 * W 2
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 1
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 110–121
 * Gary Melchionni, Dick Van Arsdale (20)
 * The Forum 13,478
 * 21–32
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * February 2
 * Los Angeles
 * W 119–112
 * Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (25)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,068
 * 22–32
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 55
 * February 5
 * @ New York
 * L 90–106
 * Dick Van Arsdale (27)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,884
 * 22–33
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 6
 * @ Capital
 * L 101–109
 * Clem Haskins (23)
 * Capital Centre 6,738
 * 22–34
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 57
 * February 8
 * Detroit
 * L 94–99
 * Dick Van Arsdale (18)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,511
 * 22–35
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * February 10
 * Golden State
 * L 105–121
 * Bob Christian (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,121
 * 22–36
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 59
 * February 12
 * @ Portland
 * L 104–113
 * Keith Erickson (24)
 * Memorial Coliseum 4,189
 * 22–37
 * L 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * February 14
 * Houston
 * W 107–99
 * Dick Van Arsdale (24)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,661
 * 23–37
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 16
 * Atlanta
 * W 124–123 (OT)
 * Neal Walk (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,518
 * 24–37
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 17
 * Portland
 * W 112–100
 * Mike Bantom (22)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,575
 * 25–37
 * W 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 19
 * @ Chicago
 * L 96–130
 * Dick Van Arsdale (20)
 * Chicago Stadium 7,451
 * 25–38
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 64
 * February 22
 * @ Kansas-City Omaha
 * L 104–119
 * Keith Erickson (23)
 * Municipal Auditorium 8,322
 * 25–39
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 65
 * February 23
 * @ Detroit
 * L 107–119
 * Dick Van Arsdale (18)
 * Cobo Arena 7,926
 * 25–40
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 66
 * February 24
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 97–101
 * Keith Erickson, Neal Walk (22)
 * Cleveland Arena 3,288
 * 25–41
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * February 26
 * @ Golden State
 * L 100–120
 * Clem Haskins (31)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,234
 * 25–42
 * L 5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * February 27
 * Chicago
 * L 95–107
 * Keith Erickson (34)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,105
 * 25–43
 * L 6
 * L 6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * March 1
 * @ Houston
 * L 111–117
 * Keith Erickson (23)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion 2,547
 * 25–44
 * L 7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70
 * March 3
 * Kansas City-Omaha
 * W 113–100
 * Dick Van Arsdale, Neal Walk (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,780
 * 26–44
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 71
 * March 5
 * Chicago
 * L 91–111
 * Neal Walk (21)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,156
 * 26–45
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 72
 * March 7
 * Boston
 * L 97–99
 * Gary Melchionni (23)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,242
 * 26–46
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * March 9
 * Cleveland
 * W 109–100
 * Dick Van Arsdale (26)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,153
 * 27–46
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 11
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 92–105
 * Neal Walk (20)
 * Milwaukee Arena 9,027
 * 27–47
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 12
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 94–124
 * Keith Erickson (20)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 14,244
 * 27–48
 * L 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 13
 * @ Boston
 * L 97–104
 * Corky Calhoun, Keith Erickson, Dick Van Arsdale (15)
 * Boston Garden 6,751
 * 27–49
 * L 3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 77
 * March 15
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 101–108
 * Keith Erickson (24)
 * Hershey, PA 4,473
 * 27–50
 * L 4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * March 17
 * @ Seattle
 * W 133–108
 * Keith Erickson (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 13,007
 * 28–50
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * March 20
 * New York
 * L 104–106 (OT)
 * Keith Erickson, Neal Walk (18)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,054
 * 28–51
 * L 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * March 22
 * Buffalo
 * W 126–119
 * Mike Bantom, Clem Haskins, Gary Melchionni (22)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,687
 * 29–51
 * W 1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * March 24
 * Golden State
 * W 134–121
 * Keith Erickson (40)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,011
 * 30–51
 * W 2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 82
 * March 27
 * @ Seattle
 * L 123–127
 * Clem Haskins (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 12,528
 * 30–52
 * L 1
 * L 1

All-Star

 * Charlie Scott was selected to replace Jerry West in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.

Season

 * Dick Van Arsdale was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
 * Mike Bantom was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Season
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 560 field goal attempts. ^ – Minimum 160 free throw attempts. + – Minimum 70 games played.