NBA team season
NBA professional basketball team season
1986–87 Phoenix Suns season |
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Head coach | John MacLeod (22–34) Dick Van Arsdale (14–12) |
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General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
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Owners | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch[1] |
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Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
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Results |
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Record | 36–46 (.439) |
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Place | Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 9th (Western) |
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Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com |
Local media |
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Television | KNXV-TV |
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Radio | KTAR |
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The 1986–87 Phoenix Suns season was the 18th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and their final season under the original ownership group led by Karl Eller, Donald Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, and Richard L. Bloch.[1] The Suns started their fourteenth season under head coach John MacLeod. At 22–34 (.393) in late February, management decided to replace the longstanding MacLeod with Dick Van Arsdale,[2] a former Suns player from the 1975–76 Finals team (coached by MacLeod), who was working as the team's color commentator for TV and radio at the time, despite having no prior coaching experience.
Phoenix went 14–12 (.538) in those last 26 games under Van Arsdale to finish at 36–46 (.439), and missed the 16-team playoffs by one game. All of the Suns' home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Walter Davis again led the Suns in scoring, averaging 23.6 points for the season. The Suns had another 20-point scorer in Larry Nance, who garnered a career-high 22.5 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds a game. Third-year point guard Jay Humphries averaged 7.7 assists per game to go with 11.3 points per game. For the 32-year-old Davis, it was an All-Star season for him, his 6th in 10 seasons with the Suns, and would be the last time of his career he was honored as an All-Star.
This season was notably infamous for being the key point where the Phoenix Suns organization was hit with a drug scandal that stayed behind the scenes until around the end of this season. On April 17, 1987, one day before the Suns would play their final game of the regular season against the Los Angeles Clippers, Maricopa County law enforcement officials revealed that five present at the time or former Suns players were indicted on drug-related charges, with six more present at the time or former Suns players being linked to the case by that time.[3] Despite the indictments, Jay Humphries and Grant Gondrezick were both allowed to play in the final game of the season while All-Star Walter Davis and rookie William Bedford were not allowed to do so despite their immunity from the case.[4][5] The scandal would also involve a gambling case regarding a February 21, 1987 game between the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks where at a nightclub called Malarkey's, James Edwards and two Bucks players named Jack Sikma and Paul Mokeski (according to Malarkey's manager James Jordan) allegedly claimed that the game between them would not exceed a total of 226 points scored (which was correct since it favored the Bucks 115–107 that night).[6][7] While the scandal would eventually end with no major punishments being involved for any of the players that were named in the case outside of Gondrezick serving three years of probation for tampering with a witness,[8][9] it would lead to a very hectic and uncertain offseason period for the Suns as they entered the upcoming season following this one.
Offseason
NBA draft
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | # | Name | Height | Weight | DOB (Y-M-D) | From | C | 33 | Adams, Alvan | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 1954-07-19 | Oklahoma | F | 12 | Addison, Rafael | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 1964-07-22 | Syracuse | C | 50 | Bedford, William | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 1963-12-14 | Memphis | G | 6 | Davis, Walter | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 1954-09-09 | North Carolina | C | 53 | Edwards, James | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 1955-11-22 | Washington | F | 44 | Gattison, Kenny | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 1964-05-23 | Old Dominion | G | 3 | Gondrezick, Grant | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 1963-01-19 | Pepperdine | G | 14 | Hornacek, Jeff | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 1963-05-03 | Iowa State | G | 24 | Humphries, Jay | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 1962-10-17 | Colorado | F | 22 | Nance, Larry | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 1959-02-12 | Clemson | F | 54 | Pinckney, Ed | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 1963-03-27 | Villanova | G/F | 11 | Sanders, Mike | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 1960-05-07 | UCLA | G/F | 7 | Thompson, Bernard | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 1962-08-30 | Fresno State | C | 30 | Vanos, Nick | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | 1963-04-13 | Santa Clara | | - Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
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Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
1986-87 NBA Records |
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
Boston | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Chicago | 2–4 | 0–6 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 0–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
New York | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
Philadelphia | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
Awards and honors
All-Star
- Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his sixth and final All-Star selection.
- The only other Suns player to receive All-Star votes this season was Larry Nance (314,193).
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
Phoenix Suns statistics Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
Alvan Adams | 68 | 40 | 24.9 | .503 | .000 | .788 | 5.0 | 3.3 | .9 | .5 | 11.1 |
Rafael Addison | 62 | 12 | 11.5 | .441 | .320 | .797 | 1.7 | 0.7 | .4 | .1 | 5.8 |
William Bedford | 50 | 18 | 19.6 | .397 | .000 | .581 | 4.9 | 1.1 | .4 | .7 | 6.7 |
Walter Davis | 79 | 79 | 33.5 | .514 | .259 | .862 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 1.2 | .1 | 23.6 |
James Edwards | 14 | 9 | 21.7 | .518 | . | .771 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .4 | .5 | 12.0 |
Kenny Gattison | 77 | 14 | 14.3 | .476 | .000 | .632 | 3.5 | 0.5 | .3 | .4 | 5.2 |
Grant Gondrezick | 64 | 1 | 13.1 | .450 | .235 | .701 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .4 | .1 | 5.5 |
Jeff Hornacek | 80 | 3 | 19.5 | .454 | .279 | .777 | 2.3 | 4.5 | .9 | .1 | 5.3 |
Jay Humphries | 82 | 82 | 31.5 | .477 | .185 | .769 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 1.4 | .1 | 11.3 |
Larry Nance | 69 | 67 | 37.2 | .551 | .200 | .773 | 8.7 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 22.5 |
Ed Pinckney | 80 | 65 | 28.1 | .584 | .000 | .739 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | .7 | 10.5 |
Mike Sanders | 82 | 4 | 20.2 | .494 | .118 | .781 | 3.3 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | 10.5 |
Bernard Thompson | 24 | 2 | 13.8 | .400 | .000 | .818 | 1.3 | 0.8 | .5 | .2 | 4.6 |
Nick Vanos | 57 | 14 | 11.2 | .411 | .000 | .644 | 3.2 | 0.8 | .3 | .4 | 2.9 |
Transactions
Free agents
Additions
Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
October 1, 1986 | Walter Davis | Re-signed to 3-year contract | Phoenix Suns |
Subtractions
References
- ^ a b https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Phoenix-Suns/23/staff-members/Historical/player
- ^ "Van Arsdale chosen Phoenix head coach". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). combined reports. February 27, 1987. p. 21.
- ^ Keteyian, Armen. "DARK CLOUDS OVER SUN COUNTRY". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "3 SUNS PLAYERS ARE INDICTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION". The New York Times. April 18, 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "Clippers vs Suns, April 18, 1987". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Dave (April 21, 1987). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; THE N.B.A. HOLDS ITS BREATH". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "Bucks vs Suns, February 21, 1987". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ "After an off-season darkened by drugs and death, – 11.23.87 – SI Vault". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Last of the Suns' drug cases won't be pursued". Eugene Register-Guard.
External links
- Standings on Basketball Reference
Phoenix Suns seasons |
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