1969–70 Phoenix Suns season

The 1969–70 Phoenix Suns season was the second season of the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the first season, however, for eventual Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, who was a star in the ABA before switching to the NBA to join the Suns. Head coach Johnny "Red" Kerr was replaced by general manager Jerry Colangelo after the Suns started 15–23. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

1969–70 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach	Johnny "Red" Kerr (fired) Jerry Colangelo (interim)
General manager	Jerry Colangelo
Owners	Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Marvin Meyer, Richard Bloch
Arena	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record	39–43 (.476)
Place	Division: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish	Division Semifinals (Lost to Lakers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Radio	KTAR
< 1968–69 1970–71 >

Hawkins led the Suns in scoring with 24.6 points per game, which was also sixth in the league. He teamed with Dick Van Arsdale's 21.3 points to create the highest-scoring season for a Suns duo until the 1977–78 Suns season, when Paul Westphal and Walter Davis combined for 49.4 points.

After a 16–66 finish in 1968–69, Hawkins and the Suns made a 23-game improvement to 39–43, making their first playoff appearance in only their second season. Facing off against Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division Semifinals, the Suns took an improbable 3–1 lead, before falling to the Lakers in seven games. The Suns wouldn't return to the playoffs again until their cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 1976.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1969 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	2	Neal Walk	Center	United States	Florida
2	24	Gene Williams	Forward	United States	Kansas State
3	30	Floyd Kerr	Guard	United States	Colorado State
3	33	Lamar Green	Forward	United States	Morehead State
3	39	Lloyd Kerr	Guard	United States	Colorado State
4	41	Dennis Stewart	Forward	United States	Michigan
5	58	Rich Jones	Forward	United States	Memphis
6	72	Dan Sadlier	Forward	United States	Dayton
7	86	Bill Sweek	Guard	United States	UCLA
8	100	Bob Edwards	Center	United States	Arizona State
9	14	Steve Jennings	Guard	United States	USC
10	128	Rich Abrahamson	Guard	United States	Oregon
11	142	Fred Lind	Forward	United States	Duke
12	156	Bob Miller	Forward	United States	Toledo
13	169	Andy White	Guard	United States	UTEP
14	180	Marv Schmidt	Guard	United States	Western New Mexico
15	189	Bob Beamon	Guard	United States	UTEP
16	195	Wayne Huckel	Guard	United States	Davidson
17	201	Howie Dickenman	Center	United States	Central Connecticut
18	207	Al Nuness	Guard	United States	Minnesota
19	212	Solomon Davis	Forward	United States	Kentucky State
20	216	Jim Plump	Forward	United States	Northern Arizona

Prior to the inception of the NBA Draft Lottery, the first pick in the draft was decided by a coin flip between the teams with the worst record in the league's two divisions. The NBA's two expansion teams from 1968, the Suns (16–66) and the Milwaukee Bucks (27–55), finished last in the Western Division and Eastern Division, respectively. Prior to the flip, Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo chose "heads", losing the first pick to the Bucks when the coin landed "tails".^[1] According to Jerry Colangelo, the coin flip originally landed on heads from what he heard on the phone, but then-commissioner J. Walter Kennedy flip the coin onto his hand to showcase tails instead.^[2] The Bucks would select prized UCLA center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) with the first pick. Alcindor, in three years at UCLA, led the Bruins to three national championships and an 88–2 record. Considered by many to be the greatest college basketball player of all-time,^[3][4][5] Abdul-Jabbar would lead the Bucks to a championship in just his second season, and would eventually win six Most Valuable Player awards, six NBA Championships, and retire as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

The Suns would use the second pick to select center Neal Walk from Florida. Walk averaged 25.2 points and 18.4 rebounds per game in his final two seasons with the Gators.^[6] Walk would play five seasons with the Suns before being traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974. While overshadowed by Abdul-Jabbar, Walk was productive for the Suns, averaging a double-double in two consecutive seasons (20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in 1972–73 and 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in 1973–74).^[7] The only other draft pick who played for the franchise was Lamar Green, who, like Walk, would play five seasons with the Suns before being drafted by the Jazz in the 1974 Expansion Draft. "Leapin' Lamar" was known for his vertical leap and rebounding ability,^[8] averaging a career high 9.3 rebounds per game in 1972–73 while playing 25.6 minutes a game.^[9] In the fifteenth round, the Suns selected Bob Beamon, a famous track and field athlete who broke Jesse Owens' 25-year world record in the long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics.^[10]

Free agency

Despite losing the number one draft pick to the Bucks, the Suns would win another significant coin flip. The Suns bested the Seattle SuperSonics for the rights to ABA star Connie Hawkins. In his freshman year with Iowa, Hawkins was implicated, without evidence, in a point shaving scandal, which led to his expulsion from the university. While eligible, Hawkins went undrafted in the 1964, 1965 and 1966 NBA drafts, before being officially barred from the league.^[11] Hawkins would star in the upstart American Basketball League (ABL), winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the ABL's inaugural 1961–62 season.^[12] Hawkins would then spend four years with the Harlem Globetrotters, before joining the Pittsburgh Pipers of the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. Hawkins led the league in scoring, while leading the Pipers to the first ABA championship, and receiving the ABA's first Most Valuable Player Award in 1968.^[13] In 1966, Hawkins' attorneys filed a $6 million anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA. In 1969, a Time Magazine article absolved Hawkins from involvement in the point shaving scandal, leading the NBA to pay a $1.3 million settlement and allow Hawkins into the league.^[14] "The Hawk" would become the Suns first official star, making the All-NBA First Team in 1970, and appearing in four consecutive All-Star Games. On November 19, 1976, Hawkins became the first player in Suns franchise history to have his number retired.^[15] On September 11, 1969, the Suns waived swingman Bob Warlick. Warlick would sign as a free agent with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA.^[16] On October 1, 1969, Dave "Big Daddy D" Lattin was waived. Lattin would later sign with the Pittsburgh Condors of the ABA.^[17]

Trades

On May 8, 1969, the Suns traded Gary Gregor to the Atlanta Hawks for Paul Silas. Gregor, the Suns first draft pick, was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1969 after averaging 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.^[18] Silas would join Connie Hawkins and Jim Fox to form a formidable starting frontcourt that would combine to average over 50 points and 29 rebounds a game. As a Sun, Silas would become an All-Star, and be selected to two All-Defensive teams.^[19] The Suns also traded the rights to expansion draft picks Bill Melchionni and Bumper Tormohlen for a 1970 second-round draft pick (Joe DePre) and a 1970 third-round draft pick (Vann Williford). Neither pick would play for the franchise.^[20]

Roster

Phoenix Suns roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB (Y-M-D) From F 44   Chambers, Jerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1943-07-18 Utah C 31   Fox, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1943-04-07 South Carolina G 25   Goodrich, Gail 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1943-04-23 UCLA F 16   Green, Lamar 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947-03-22 Morehead State G 23   Harris, Art 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947-01-13 Stanford F 42   Hawkins, Connie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa F 11   Johnson, Neil 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-04-17 Creighton G/F 40   McKenzie, Stan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-10-06 NYU F 29   Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943-07-12 Creighton G/F 5   Van Arsdale, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1943-02-22 Indiana C 41   Walk, Neal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-07-29 Florida	Head coach   Jerry Colangelo (Illinois) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured

Regular season

Standings

Western Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB
x-Atlanta Hawks	48	34	.585	–
x-Los Angeles Lakers	46	36	.561	2
x-Chicago Bulls	39	43	.476	9
x-Phoenix Suns	39	43	.476	9
Seattle SuperSonics	36	46	.439	12
San Francisco Warriors	30	52	.366	18
San Diego Rockets	27	55	.329	21

Record vs. opponents

1969–70 NBA records
Team	ATL	BAL	BOS	CHI	CIN	DET	LAL	MIL	NYK	PHI	PHO	SDR	SFW	SEA
Atlanta	—	2–4	6–0	5–2	3–3	3–3	4–3	3–3	4–2	3–3	2–4	4–2	5–2	4–2
Baltimore	4–2	—	5–2	5–1	4–3	5–2	4–2	3–3	1–5	3–4	3–3	6–0	2–4	5–1
Boston	0–6	2–5	—	3–3	3–3	4–3	2–4	1–6	4–3	2–4	2–4	4–2	5–1	2–4
Chicago	2–5	1–5	3–3	—	3–3	3–3	4–2	4–2	0–6	3–3	5–2	3–4	4–2	4–3
Cincinnati	3–3	3–4	3–3	3–3	—	4–2	2–4	2–5	2–5	4–3	3–3	4–2	2–4	1–5
Detroit	3–3	2–5	3–4	3–3	2–4	—	3–3	1–6	1–6	1–5	3–3	3–3	3–3	3–3
Los Angeles	3–4	2–4	4–2	2–4	4–2	3–3	—	3–3	2–4	4–2	3–4	5–2	5–2	6–0
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	6–1	2–4	5–2	6–1	3–3	—	2–4	5–2	6–0	6–0	4–2	5–1
New York	2–4	5–1	3–4	6–0	5–2	6–1	4–2	4–2	—	5–2	6–0	5–1	5–1	4–2
Philadelphia	3–3	4–3	4–2	3–3	3–4	5–1	2–4	2–5	2–5	—	4–2	4–2	6–0	0–6
Phoenix	4–2	3–3	4–2	2–5	3–3	3–3	4–3	0–6	0–6	2–4	—	7–0	3–3	4–3
San Diego	2–4	0–6	2–4	4–3	2–4	3–3	2–5	0–6	1–5	2–4	0–7	—	5–2	4–2
San Francisco	2–5	4–2	1–5	2–4	4–2	3–3	2–5	2–4	1–5	0–6	3–3	2–5	—	3–4
Seattle	2–4	1–5	4–2	3–4	5–1	3–3	0–6	1–5	2–4	6–0	3–4	2–4	4–3	—

Game log

1969–70 game log Total: 39–43 (Home: 25–16; Road: 14–27)
October: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 16 San Diego W 116–114 Jim Fox (29) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,053 1–0 2 October 18 @ Atlanta L 116–121 Gail Goodrich (28) Paul Silas (23) Connie Hawkins (7) Alexander Memorial Coliseum 3,742 1–1 3 October 21 @ New York L 116–140 Connie Hawkins (27) Jim Fox (12) Gail Goodrich (8) Madison Square Garden 15,116 1–2 4 October 22 @ Philadelphia L 119–122 Gail Goodrich (24) Connie Hawkins (16) Gail Goodrich (19) The Spectrum 7,215 1–3 5 October 24 Chicago L 115–116 (OT) Jim Fox (28) Jim Fox (14) Connie Hawkins (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,576 1–4 6 October 25 @ San Diego W 115–107 Gail Goodrich (31) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (13) San Diego Sports Arena 5,269 2–4 7 October 26 Milwaukee L 99–119 Jim Fox (22) Connie Hawkins (14) Dick Van Arsdale (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,149 2–5 8 October 30 Cincinnati W 106–104 Gail Goodrich (27) Neal Walk (13) Gail Goodrich (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,699 3–5
November: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 4 New York L 99–116 Connie Hawkins (39) Paul Silas (9) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (4) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,552 3–6 10 November 7 @ Los Angeles W 122–120 Gail Goodrich (37) Paul Silas (14) Dick Van Arsdale (7) The Forum 10,557 4–6 11 November 9 Detroit W 140–129 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,500 5–6 12 November 13 Philadelphia L 110–124 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Jim Fox (14) Gail Goodrich (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,440 5–7 13 November 14 @ Los Angeles L 112–127 Jim Fox (39) Jim Fox (23) Connie Hawkins (7) The Forum 8,902 5–8 14 November 15 Los Angeles W 114–111 Gail Goodrich (31) Connie Hawkins (18) Gail Goodrich (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,318 6–8 15 November 16 Atlanta W 139–118 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (8) University Arena 5,094 7–8 16 November 18 @ Boston L 119–120 (OT) Dick Van Arsdale (32) Connie Hawkins (17) Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (6) Baltimore Civic Center 6,028 7–9 17 November 19 @ Baltimore L 118–133 Gail Goodrich (29) Lamar Green (16) Dick Van Arsdale (11) The Spectrum 9,287 7–10 18 November 21 @ Baltimore L 116–126 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Connie Hawkins (18) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (5) Baltimore Civic Center 5,215 7–11 19 November 22 @ New York L 114–128 Dick Van Arsdale (24) Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich (12) Madison Square Garden 19,401 7–12 20 November 23 @ Cincinnati L 123–137 Jerry Chambers (31) Connie Hawkins (9) Gail Goodrich (9) Cincinnati Gardens 2,866 7–13 21 November 25 Baltimore L 124–134 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Connie Hawkins (16) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,776 7–14 22 November 29 @ Seattle L 129–130 Jim Fox (31) Jim Fox (13) Dick Van Arsdale (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 9,418 7–15 23 November 30 Seattle W 116–108 Connie Hawkins (26) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,621 8–15
December: 7–8 (home: 5–4; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 24 December 2 Chicago W 121–110 Dick Van Arsdale (38) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (9) Salt Palace 3,220 9–15 25 December 4 Los Angeles W 119–109 Connie Hawkins (28) Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,165 10–15 26 December 5 Chicago W 114–113 Gail Goodrich (28) Neal Walk (16) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,021 11–15 27 December 7 Detroit L 113–118 Gail Goodrich (29) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,335 11–16 28 December 9 @ Chicago L 102–109 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Paul Silas (14) Gail Goodrich (8) Chicago Stadium 10,833 11–17 29 December 10 @ Baltimore W 137–107 Jim Fox (24) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (7) Baltimore Civic Center 2,842 12–17 30 December 12 @ Seattle W 130–116 Connie Hawkins (37) Lamar Green (7) Gail Goodrich (11) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,146 13–17 31 December 13 Cincinnati W 126–110 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Jim Fox (12) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,786 14–17 32 December 14 Cincinnati L 130–137 (2OT) Connie Hawkins (37) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (18) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,075 14–18 33 December 16 Philadelphia L 119–141 Jerry Chambers (23) Jim Fox, Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich, Art Harris (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,268 14–19 34 December 20 @ Detroit L 113–114 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Paul Silas (12) Paul Silas (6) Cobo Arena 5,021 14–20 35 December 21 @ Milwaukee L 111–118 Connie Hawkins (28) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (12) Milwaukee Arena 10,201 14–21 36 December 25 Boston W 127–116 Jim Fox (31) Paul Silas (18) Gail Goodrich (14) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,137 15–21 37 December 28 New York L 116–135 Connie Hawkins (31) Paul Silas (12) Gail Goodrich (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,286 15–22 38 December 30 @ Seattle L 121–134 Connie Hawkins (37) Lamar Green (13) Gail Goodrich (5) Seattle Center Coliseum 5,201 15–23
January: 9–10 (home: 6–4; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 39 January 2 San Diego W 121–120 Connie Hawkins (24) Connie Hawkins (13) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,875 16–23 40 January 3 Detroit W 114–109 Jim Fox (29) Paul Silas (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,551 17–23 41 January 4 @ Los Angeles L 112–120 Jim Fox (27) Jim Fox (14) Connie Hawkins (6) The Forum 11,055 17–24 42 January 6 @ Cincinnati L 124–128 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Gail Goodrich (10) Gail Goodrich (10) Cincinnati Gardens 3,426 17–25 43 January 8 @ Chicago L 123–152 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (8) Gail Goodrich (10) Chicago Stadium 5,086 17–26 44 January 9 @ Milwaukee L 116–120 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Jim Fox (9) Gail Goodrich, Art Harris, Connie Hawkins (5) Milwaukee Arena 7,237 17–27 45 January 10 @ Philadelphia W 119–117 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Jim Fox (15) Gail Goodrich (11) Baltimore Civic Center 7,423 18–27 46 January 11 @ Cincinnati W 125–118 Connie Hawkins (39) Paul Silas (14) Art Harris (4) Omaha Civic Auditorium 6,129 19–27 47 January 12 New York L 114–130 Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (26) Connie Hawkins, Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (6) Salt Palace 12,384 19–28 48 January 15 Baltimore W 124–115 Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (29) Lamar Green (12) Gail Goodrich (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,636 20–28 49 January 17 Seattle L 131–134 Connie Hawkins (35) Connie Hawkins (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,094 20–29 50 January 18 Baltimore W 134–133 Dick Van Arsdale (30) Connie Hawkins (11) Connie Hawkins (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,009 21–29 All-Star Break 51 January 22 Seattle W 129–120 Art Harris (23) Lamar Green (12) Gail Goodrich, Art Harris (9) Pan American Center 2,805 22–29 52 January 23 San Francisco L 132–138 Connie Hawkins (28) Connie Hawkins (11) Gail Goodrich (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,024 22–30 53 January 24 @ San Francisco W 109–99 Connie Hawkins (25) Jim Fox (15) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,466 23–30 54 January 25 @ Los Angeles L 106–118 Gail Goodrich (22) Connie Hawkins (10) Connie Hawkins (10) The Forum 11,483 23–31 55 January 29 Atlanta W 111–102 Dick Van Arsdale (31) Jim Fox (10) Dick Van Arsdale (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,658 24–31 56 January 30 @ San Francisco L 116–125 Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (28) Connie Hawkins (11) Art Harris, Stan McKenzie (basketball) (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 6,308 24–32 57 January 31 Milwaukee L 106–107 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (20) Connie Hawkins (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,814 24–33
February: 9–7 (home: 4–2; road: 5–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 58 February 1 @ San Diego W 105–103 Connie Hawkins (24) Jim Fox, Connie Hawkins (12) Gail Goodrich (7) San Diego Sports Arena 4,582 25–33 59 February 3 Philadelphia W 131–123 Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (28) Connie Hawkins (13) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,543 26–33 60 February 6 San Francisco W 122–117 Paul Silas (23) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,599 27–33 61 February 7 Los Angeles W 121–117 (OT) Connie Hawkins (37) Paul Silas (13) Art Harris, Connie Hawkins (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,459 28–33 62 February 10 @ Boston W 122–117 Connie Hawkins (35) Paul Silas (21) Gail Goodrich (8) Boston Garden 4,761 29–33 63 February 11 @ Milwaukee L 120–127 Connie Hawkins (32) Paul Silas (11) Connie Hawkins (6) Milwaukee Arena 10,746 29–34 64 February 12 @ Chicago L 121–122 Connie Hawkins (37) Connie Hawkins, Paul Silas (10) Gail Goodrich (9) Chicago Stadium 11,190 29–35 65 February 13 @ Detroit L 120–132 Dick Van Arsdale (27) Connie Hawkins, Paul Silas (10) Dick Van Arsdale (6) Cobo Arena 3,029 29–36 66 February 15 @ Philadelphia L 125–159 Dick Van Arsdale (21) Paul Silas (15) Art Harris (4) The Spectrum 8,163 29–37 67 February 17 @ Seattle W 129–118 Gail Goodrich (44) Paul Silas (13) Gail Goodrich (10) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,220 30–37 68 February 18 Boston L 113–116 Dick Van Arsdale (26) Connie Hawkins (14) Gail Goodrich (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,818 30–38 69 February 20 San Diego W 126–117 Gail Goodrich (31) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,136 31–38 70 February 22 Milwaukee L 124–144 Connie Hawkins (25) Connie Hawkins (14) Gail Goodrich, Dick Van Arsdale (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,541 31–39 71 February 24 @ New York L 105–121 Connie Hawkins (26) Connie Hawkins (21) Art Harris (8) Madison Square Garden 19,011 31–40 72 February 26 @ Detroit W 131–123 Connie Hawkins (33) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich (7) Cobo Arena 2,552 32–40 73 February 27 @ Boston W 134–125 Dick Van Arsdale (37) Connie Hawkins (10) Connie Hawkins, Paul Silas (6) Boston Garden 8,933 33–40
March: 6–3 (home: 4–1; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 March 1 @ Atlanta W 109–98 Connie Hawkins (30) Connie Hawkins (17) Gail Goodrich (6) Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,735 34–40 75 March 3 Boston L 111–123 Dick Van Arsdale (25) Paul Silas (15) Gail Goodrich, Dick Van Arsdale (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,699 34–41 76 March 6 @ San Francisco L 97–107 Connie Hawkins (27) Connie Hawkins (15) Paul Silas (4) Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Arena 4,316 34–42 77 March 8 Atlanta W 130–119 Gail Goodrich (24) Paul Silas (17) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,526 35–42 78 March 15 @ Atlanta L 111–126 Connie Hawkins (30) Paul Silas (19) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (5) Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,066 35–43 79 March 17 San Francisco L 133–121 Gail Goodrich (36) Paul Silas (17) Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,486 36–43 80 March 19 Boston W 127–123 Gail Goodrich (32) Connie Hawkins (14) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,570 37–43 81 March 20 San Diego W 127–104 Connie Hawkins (29) Paul Silas (12) Connie Hawkins (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,026 38–43 82 March 22 @ San Diego W 130–129 Connie Hawkins (44) Connie Hawkins (20) Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins (8) San Diego Sports Arena 4,558 39–43
1969–70 season schedule

Team-by-team results

Opponent	Home	Road	Total	All-time record	Suns leading scorer	Opp. leading scorer
Atlanta Hawks	3–0	1–2	4–2	4–8 (.333%)	Connie Hawkins (25.8)	Joe Caldwell (24.0)
Baltimore Bullets	2–1	1–2	3–3	3–9 (.250%)	Dick Van Arsdale (22.7)	Earl Monroe (20.2)
Boston Celtics	2–1	2–1	4–2	4–8 (.333%)	Dick Van Arsdale (25.5)	John Havlicek (24.8)
Chicago Bulls	2–2	0–3	2–5	4–9 (.308%)	Dick Van Arsdale (25.4)	Bob Love (27.1)
Cincinnati Royals	2–1	1–2	3–3	5–7 (.417%)	Connie Hawkins (26.5)	Oscar Robertson (24.7)
Detroit Pistons	2–1	1–2	3–3	5–7 (.417%)	Dick Van Arsdale (23.0)	Dave Bing (22.2)
Los Angeles Lakers	3–0	1–3	4–3	4–9 (.308%)	Connie Hawkins (22.4)	Elgin Baylor (29.0)
Milwaukee Bucks	0–3	0–3	0–6	2–12 (.143%)	Connie Hawkins (26.5)	Lew Alcindor (25.8)
New York Knicks	0–3	0–3	0–6	1–11 (.083%)	Connie Hawkins (28.0)	Willis Reed (27.3)
Philadelphia 76ers	1–2	1–2	2–4	3–9 (.250%)	Dick Van Arsdale (21.5)	Billy Cunningham (25.8)
San Diego Rockets	4–0	3–0	7–0	8–7 (.533%)	Connie Hawkins (25.7)	Elvin Hayes (28.7)
San Francisco Warriors	2–1	1–2	3–3	5–7 (.417%)	Connie Hawkins (24.5)	Jerry Lucas (19.5)
Seattle SuperSonics	2–1	2–2	4–3	7–6 (.538%)	Connie Hawkins (29.9)	Bob Rule (24.3)

Playoffs

Game log

Main article: 1970 NBA playoffs

1970 playoff game log
Division Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 25 @ Los Angeles L 112–128 Paul Silas (26) Paul Silas (18) Connie Hawkins (6) The Forum 15,046 0–1 2 March 29 @ Los Angeles W 114–101 Connie Hawkins (34) Connie Hawkins (20) Hawkins, Van Arsdale (7) The Forum 17,501 1–1 3 April 2 Los Angeles W 112–98 Gail Goodrich (29) Paul Silas (16) Connie Hawkins (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,324 2–1 4 April 4 Los Angeles W 112–102 Gail Goodrich (34) Paul Silas (16) Gail Goodrich (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,356 3–1 5 April 5 @ Los Angeles L 121–138 Connie Hawkins (28) Connie Hawkins (19) three players tied (5) The Forum 17,475 3–2 6 April 7 Los Angeles L 93–104 Connie Hawkins (24) Paul Silas (21) Goodrich, Van Arsdale (4) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,386 3–3 7 April 9 @ Los Angeles L 94–129 Connie Hawkins (25) Connie Hawkins (15) Hawkins, Silas (4) The Forum 17,519 3–4
1970 schedule

Awards and honors

All-Star

• Connie Hawkins was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Hawkins led all Western Conference forwards in voting. It was his first All-Star selection in the NBA.
• Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection.

Season

• Connie Hawkins was named to the All-NBA First Team. Hawkins also finished fifth in MVP voting.

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started
MPG	Minutes per game	FG%	Field-goal percentage
FT%	Free-throw percentage	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
Jerry Chambers	79	14.4	.430	.728	2.8	0.7	8.3
Jim Fox	81	25.2	.524	.770	7.0	1.1	12.9
Gail Goodrich	81	39.9	.454	.808^	4.2	7.5	20.0
Lamar Green	58	12.1	.432	.586	4.8	0.3	4.2
Art Harris*	76	18.1	.395	.656	1.9	2.8	7.8
Connie Hawkins	81	40.9	.490	.779	10.4	4.8	24.6
Neil Johnson	28	4.9	.333	.667	1.7	0.4	1.7
Stan McKenzie (basketball)	58	9.1	.393	.795	1.6	0.9	3.8
Paul Silas	78	36.4	.464	.607	11.7	2.7	12.8
Dick Snyder*	6	24.5	.489	.875^	2.5	1.5	8.5
Dick Van Arsdale	77	38.5	.508	.798	3.4	4.4	21.3
Neal Walk	82	17.0	.470	.640	5.5	1.0	8.2

* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 70 games played.

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
Jerry Chambers	7	0	10.4	.378	.625	2.4	1.0	4.7
Jim Fox	6	6	29.0	.362	.708	10.7	1.3	11.2
Gail Goodrich	7	7	37.9	.475	.857	4.6	5.4	20.3
Lamar Green	6	0	11.5	.286	.400	3.8	0.8	3.0
Art Harris	7	0	12.7	.357	.000	1.9	1.7	4.3
Connie Hawkins	7	7	46.9	.413	.818	13.9	5.9	25.4
Neil Johnson	2	0	3.5	.333	.	2.0	0.0	1.0
Stan McKenzie (basketball)	7	0	10.1	.276	.800	1.3	0.4	2.9
Paul Silas	7	7	40.9	.422	.656	15.9	4.3	16.1
Dick Van Arsdale	7	7	36.4	.430	.879	2.6	4.1	16.4
Neal Walk	5	1	12.6	.395	.750	7.0	0.4	8.0

Transactions

Trades

May 8, 1969	To Atlanta Hawks----   Gary Gregor	To Phoenix Suns----   Paul Silas
September 13, 1969	To Philadelphia 76ers----   Bill Melchionni	To Phoenix Suns---- 1970 second-round draft pick (  Joe DePre)
September 20, 1969	To Atlanta Hawks----   Bumper Tormohlen	To Phoenix Suns---- 1970 third-round draft pick (  Vann Williford)
October 26, 1969	To Seattle SuperSonics----   Dick Snyder	To Phoenix Suns----   Art Harris

Free agents

Additions

Date	Player	Contract	Former Team
June 20, 1969	Connie Hawkins	Undisclosed	Minnesota Pipers (ABA)

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason Left	New Team
September 11, 1969	Bob Warlick	Waived	Los Angeles Stars (ABA)
October 1, 1969	Dave Lattin	Waived	Pittsburgh Condors (ABA)

References

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2. Phoenix Suns Since '68: The Coin Flip (Television production). 2018-07-19.
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4. "100 Best Players in College Basketball History". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
5. "25 Greatest Players In College Basketball". ESPN.go.com. 8 March 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
6. "Neal Walk". TheDraftReview.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
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8. "Green leaping into spotlight". Rome News-Tribune. January 7, 1973. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
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