| Team: | Phoenix Suns |
| End Year: | 1981 |
| Divisionwin: | yes |
| Wins: | 57 |
| Losses: | 25 |
| Division: | Pacific |
| Division Place: | 1 |
| Conf Place: | 1 |
| Coach: | John MacLeod |
| Gm: | Jerry Colangelo |
| Owners: | Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch |
| Arena: | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| Playoffs: | Conference semifinals (lost to Kings 3–4) |
| Bbr Team: | PHO |
| Television: | KNXV |
| Radio: | KTAR |
The 1980–81 Phoenix Suns season was the 13th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. At 57–25, the team had finished with its best regular season record. For the Suns, they had appeared in their first Finals five years ago but never could claim a divisional title as their own. Atop the Western Conference standings for the first time, the Suns had earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The offense was highlighted by a balanced attack, with four starters averaging 15 points or more a game, but none greater than 19. This, despite a trade that meant the departure of four-time All-NBA Paul Westphal, who was swapped for fourth year All-Star guard Dennis Johnson. In the conference semifinals, the Suns would meet the Kansas City Kings, a team they had defeated in the first round one season ago but found more difficult to handle this season. After a 22-point win in game one, the Suns would go on to lose game seven and the series. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Johnson was a tough defender and later earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team. In the All-Star Game, Johnson was joined by teammates Walter Davis and Truck Robinson. It was the first time the Suns sent three players to the All-Star Game.
Johnson and Robinson shared top scoring marks for the Suns with an average of 18.8 points a game, while Robinson also led the team in rebounds per game at 9.6. Davis averaged 18.0 points per game and Alvan Adams chipped in 14.9 for the second consecutive season. Adams, a 6'9" center/forward led the team in assists at 4.6 a game.
See main article: 1980 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 42 | Kimberly Belton | Center | Stanford | ||
| 3 | 59 | John Campbell | Forward | Clemson | ||
| 3 | 65 | Doug True | Forward | California | ||
| 4 | 88 | Leroy Stampley | Guard | Loyola (IL) | ||
| 5 | 111 | Mark Stevens | Forward | Northern Arizona | ||
| 6 | 134 | Coby Leavitt | Center | Utah | ||
| 7 | 157 | Ron Williams | Forward | Western Montana | ||
| 8 | 175 | Jim Conolly | Forward | La Salle | ||
| 9 | 196 | Keith French | Forward | North Park | ||
| 10 | 211 | Randy Carroll | Forward | Kansas |
This was the first year in franchise history that none of the team's draft picks played for the franchise. Not only did no selection play for the Suns, none ever played a game in the NBA.[1]
| 1980–81 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
| Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | |
| Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 | |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 7| Kansas City| W 102–80| Johnson, Davis (16)| Jeff Cook (12)| three players tied (4)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 8| Kansas City| L 83–88| Dennis Johnson (31)| Truck Robinson (8)| Alvan Adams (4)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 10| @ Kansas City| L 92–93| Johnson, Adams (19)| Dennis Johnson (9)| three players tied (4)| Kemper Arena
13,776| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 12| @ Kansas City| L 95–102| Truck Robinson (23)| Truck Robinson (13)| Alvan Adams (4)| Kemper Arena
11,089| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 15| Kansas City| W 101–89| Walter Davis (20)| Truck Robinson (20)| Johnson, Davis (4)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 17| @ Kansas City| W 81–76| Dennis Johnson (17)| Truck Robinson (10)| Alvan Adams (7)| Kemper Arena
15,232| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 19| Kansas City| L 88–95| Dennis Johnson (28)| Johnson, Adams (7)| Dennis Johnson (5)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660| 3–4|-
|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || 75 || 69 || 27.4 || .526 || . || .768 || 7.3 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 4.6 || 1.4 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .9 || 14.9|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || 79 || 77 || 27.7 || .464 || .000 || .645 || 5.9 || 2.5 || 1.0 || .7 || 8.5|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || 78 || 77 || 28.0 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .539 || .412 || .836 || 2.6 || 3.9 || 1.2 || .2 || 18.0|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || 81 || 10 || 21.6 || .427 || .083 || .693 || 2.8 || 2.5 || 1.6 || .3 || 8.4|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || 79 || 77 || 33.1 || .436 || .216 || .820 || 4.6 || 3.7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 1.7 || .8 || 18.8|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || 81 || 13 || 20.8 || .506 || .000 || .758 || 5.4 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .8 || 7.0|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 82 || 0 || 13.0 || .527 || .000 || .692 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .4 || .2 || 4.1|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 82 || 0 || 17.9 || .511 || .235 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .899 || 1.6 || 2.0 || .9 || .1 || 8.1|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || 44 || 0 || 5.3 || .348 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .500 || .459 || 1.3 || 0.3 || .2 || .0 || 2.6|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 82 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 82 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 37.7 || .505 || . || .629 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 9.6 || 2.5 || .8 || .5 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 18.8|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 82 || 5 || 17.4 || .497 || .167 || .764 || 3.3 || 1.4 || .7 || .9 || 5.4|}
|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 31.1 || .450 || . || .714 || 5.9 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 3.7 || .6 || .1 || 10.6|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 29.4 || .463 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 1.000 || .737 || 6.7 || 1.6 || .1 || .0 || 9.3|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 28.4 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .481† || .000 || .588 || 2.7 || 3.1 || 1.0 || .1 || 16.0|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 0 || 16.7 || .424 || . || .643 || 2.7 || 0.9 || .9 || .3 || 5.3|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 38.1 || .473 || .200 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | .762^ || 4.7 || 2.9 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 1.3 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 1.3 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 19.6|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 0 || 16.1 || .400 || .000 || .643 || 5.0 || 1.9 || .9 || .4 || 4.1|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 0 || 14.4 || .520† || . || .500 || 2.3 || 0.6 || .3 || .3 || 3.9|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 0 || 14.6 || .528† || .500 || 1.000^ || 1.9 || 1.6 || .7 || .0 || 7.0|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || 2 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || . || . || 0.0 || 0.0 || .5 || .0 || 0.0|- align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 33.3 || .351 || . || .588 || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 10.7 || 1.9 || .7 || .3 || 10.6|- align="center" bgcolor=""| || style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" | 7 || 0 || 17.1 || .467 || . || .667 || 2.7 || 1.0 || .6 || .9 || 5.4|}
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.
| June 3, 1980 | To Seattle SuperSonics---- Paul Westphal | To Phoenix Suns---- Dennis Johnson | |
| June 9, 1980 | To Dallas Mavericks----1981 second-round draft pick ( Elston Turner) Future considerations | To Phoenix Suns---- Wiley Peck | |
| November 25, 1980 | To Indiana Pacers---- Don Buse | To Phoenix Suns----1981 second-round draft pick ( Al Leslie)
| |
| February 3, 1981 | To San Diego Clippers----(Sent picks to Phoenix as compensation for free agent Garfield Heard) | To Phoenix Suns----1981 third-round draft pick ( Sam Clancy) 1983 third-round draft pick ( |
| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 1980 | Mike Bratz | Expansion Draft | Dallas Mavericks | |
| September 9, 1980 | Bayard Forrest | Retired | ||
| October 8, 1980 | Wiley Peck | Waived | ||
| October 14, 1980 | Garfield Heard | Free agent | San Diego Clippers |