2000–01 Phoenix Suns season explained

Team:	Phoenix Suns
End Year:	2001
Wins:	51
Losses:	31
Division:	Pacific
Division Place:	3
Conf Place:	6
Coach:	Scott Skiles
Gm:	Bryan Colangelo
Owner:	Jerry Colangelo
Arena:	America West Arena
Playoffs:	First round (lost to Kings 1–3)
Bbr Team:	PHO
Television:	KUTP Fox Sports Net Arizona Cox 9
Radio:	KTAR

The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd season for the Phoenix Suns, members of the Pacific Division in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents Mario Elie,^{[2] [3] [4]} and Tony Delk,^[5] and acquired Chris Dudley from the New York Knicks.^[6] The Suns were coached by Scott Skiles, who enjoyed his first full season as head coach as the Suns posted a 7-game winning streak after losing their season opener, and held a 28–20 record at the All-Star break.^[7] The team posted another 7-game winning streak between March and April, as they finished the regular season with a 51–31 record.^[8] For a franchise-record 13th season in a row, the Suns earned a trip to the playoffs,^[9] but would later lose in the Western Conference First Round. America West Arena was the home court venue for the Suns.

The Suns were led by point guard Jason Kidd, who averaged 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Kidd again led the league in assists per game, while earning another All-NBA First Team selection and NBA All-Defensive First Team (after being selected to the Second Team the year previous). He was also the team's lone representative in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game.^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14]} In addition, second-year star Shawn Marion showed improvement as he averaged a double-double, with 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Kidd and Clifford Robinson were the other starters to provide the majority of the team's scoring, with Robinson averaging 16.4 points per game. Sixth men reserves Delk and Rodney Rogers both brought offensive firepower from the bench, averaging 12.3 and 12.2 points per game respectively.^[15] Penny Hardaway was the team's highest-paid player, but only played in just four games due to a knee injury, averaging 9.8 points and 1.5 steals per game.^{[16] [17]}

For the fourth season in a row, the Suns finished third in the Pacific Division. The team earned a Western Conference First Round match-up with the 3rd-seeded Sacramento Kings. Phoenix would take Game 1, a 86–83 road win in Sacramento,^{[18] [19]} but would then lose the next three games in a row, losing the series three games to one.^{[20] [21] [22] [23]}

Following the season, Kidd was traded to the New Jersey Nets,^{[24] [25] [26] [27] [28]} while Robinson was dealt to the Detroit Pistons,^{[29] [30] [31] [32]} Dudley re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, and Elie retired.

For the season, the Suns redesigned their primary logo,^[33] and changed their uniforms adding side panels to their jerseys and shorts,^{[34] [35]} and grey to their color scheme. The logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2013.

Offseason

NBA draft

See main article: 2000 NBA draft.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

2000-01 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–1	—	0–4	2–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	4–0	4–0	—	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	1–2	2–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
Chicago	2–2	1–2	1–3	—	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	2–1
Cleveland	2–2	1–2	2–2	3–1	—	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0
Denver	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1
Detroit	4–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	4–0	1–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–2
Golden State	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	—	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	3–1	—	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Indiana	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	—	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0
Miami	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	—	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–3	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–1	—	0–2	4–0	1–2	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	—	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
New York	2–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–1	2–0	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	3–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	4–0
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	—	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0
Toronto	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0
Utah	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–3	0–2	—	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	—

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 22| @ Sacramento| W 86–83| Shawn Marion (21)| Jake Tsakalidis (11)| Jason Kidd (14)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 25| @ Sacramento| L 90–116| Tony Delk (14)| Tom Gugliotta (8)| Jason Kidd (9)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 29| Sacramento| L 96–104| Jason Kidd (19)| Shawn Marion (10)| Jason Kidd (16)| America West Arena
19,023| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 2| Sacramento| L 82–89| Clifford Robinson (24)| Jake Tsakalidis (12)| Jason Kidd (14)| America West Arena
18,836| 1–3|-

Awards and honors

All-Star

• Jason Kidd was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his fourth All-Star selection. Kidd finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 1,062,837 votes.

Season

• Jason Kidd was named to the All-NBA First Team. Kidd also finished eighth in MVP voting.^[36]
• Jason Kidd was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Kidd also finished 11th in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[36]
• Jason Kidd led the league in assists per game, with a 9.8 average, and total assists with 753.
• Shawn Marion finished 11th in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and fourth in Most Improved Player voting.^[36]
• Rodney Rogers finished sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[36] Rogers won the award the previous year in 2000.
• Tony Delk finished tenth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[36]

Player statistics

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	30	6	12.9	.489†	.	.533	2.8	0.3	.4	.2	1.8
	36	0	14.6	.528†	.000	.893^	1.4	1.8	.6	.1	4.9
	82	11	27.9	.415	.321	.787	3.2	2.0	.9	.2	12.3
	53	33	11.6	.397	.	.389	3.5	0.3	.3	.5	1.4
	68	67	22.1	.423	.360	.797	2.3	1.9	.9	.2	4.4
	10	0	6.2	.467	.	.250	2.2	0.4	.2	.1	1.6
	57	2	20.3	.392	.250	.792	4.5	1.0	.8	.4	6.4
	4	4	28.0	.417	.250	.636	4.5	3.8	1.5	.3	9.8
	77	76	39.8	.411	.297	.814^	6.4	9.8	2.2	.3	16.9
	79	79	36.2	.480†	.256	.810	10.7	2.0	1.7	1.4	17.3
	33	0	9.3	.490†	.000	.750	1.5	0.5	.4	.1	3.4
	43	6	10.7	.465	.250	.727	1.0	1.7	.4	.0	3.2
	82	82	33.5	.422	.361	.709	4.1	2.9	1.1	1.0	16.4
	82	3	26.6	.430	.296	.761	4.4	2.2	1.2	.6	12.2
	54	2	10.8	.478	.	.689	1.9	0.2	.3	.4	3.1
	57	39	16.6	.470	.	.593	4.2	0.3	.2	1.0	4.5

• – Stats with the Suns.
  

† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	3	0	8.7	.571	.	.	0.7	1.7	.0	.0	2.7
	4	0	28.5	.419	.400	.636	4.0	1.0	.8	.0	11.8
	3	0	8.7	.500	.	.	2.3	0.0	.3	.3	0.7
	4	4	25.8	.452	.154	.750	3.3	1.8	.8	.3	9.0
	4	0	21.5	.308	.	.778	3.8	0.8	2.0	.3	5.8
	4	4	41.5	.319	.235	.750	6.0	13.3	2.0	.0	14.3
	4	4	34.8	.371	1.000	.857	8.3	0.8	1.5	1.5	14.8
	2	0	8.5	.600	.000	1.000	2.0	2.0	1.0	.0	6.5
	4	4	28.5	.420	.250	.636	4.0	1.0	1.5	.5	15.0
	4	0	20.5	.300	.200	.643	3.5	0.5	.5	.8	8.8
	1	0	12.0	.500	.	.	5.0	0.0	.0	2.0	2.0
	4	4	18.8	.375	.	.	7.0	0.0	.0	1.8	3.0

Transactions

Trades

September 20, 2000	To New York Knicks---- Lazaro Borrell Travis Knight Luc Longley Vernon Maxwell Glen Rice Vladimir Stepania 2001 first-round draft pick ( Jamaal Tinsley) 2001 second-round draft pick ( Eric Chenowith) 2001 second-round draft pick ( Michael Wright 2002 first-round draft pick ( Kareem Rush)	To Los Angeles Lakers---- Emanual Davis Greg Foster Horace Grant Chuck Person
	To Seattle SuperSonics---- Patrick Ewing	To Phoenix Suns---- Chris Dudley 2001 first-round draft pick ( Jason Collins) Cash considerations
January 26, 2001	To Golden State Warriors---- Corie Blount Rubén Garcés Paul McPherson	To Phoenix Suns---- Vinny Del Negro

Free agents

Additions

Date	Player	Contract	Former Team
August 1, 2000	Tony Delk	Signed to 6-year contract for $19 million	Sacramento Kings
August 2, 2000	Daniel Santiago	Signed to 1-year contract for $317,000	Pallacanestro Varese (Italy)
August 3, 2000	Corie Blount	Re-signed to 2-year contract for $3.2 million	Phoenix Suns
August 3, 2000	Justin Love	Undisclosed
August 3, 2000	Rubén Garcés	Signed to 1-year contract for $317,000	La Crosse Bobcats (CBA)
August 22, 2000	Paul McPherson	Signed to 1-year contract for $317,000
September 15, 2000	Mario Elie	Signed to 1-year contract for $1 million	San Antonio Spurs
September 29, 2000	Carlos Daniel	Undisclosed	Yakima Sun Kings (CBA)
September 29, 2000	DeJuan Wheat	Undisclosed	Idaho Stampede (CBA)
September 29, 2000	Lelan McDougal	Undisclosed	Billings RimRockers (IBA)
September 29, 2000	Tim Kempton	Undisclosed	Toronto Raptors
October 1, 2000	J. R. Koch	Undisclosed	Athlon Ieper (Belgium)
October 1, 2000	Reed Rawlings	Undisclosed
December 8, 2000	Elliot Perry	Undisclosed	Orlando Magic
January 17, 2001	Elliot Perry	Signed two 10-day contracts	Phoenix Suns
February 6, 2001	Elliot Perry	Signed for rest of season	Phoenix Suns

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason Left	New Team
June 30, 2000	Toby Bailey	Free agent	Los Angeles Stars (ABA)
August 8, 2000	Kevin Johnson	Retired
August 31, 2000	Randy Livingston	Waived	Golden State Warriors
September 13, 2000	Don MacLean	Free agent	Miami Heat
October 6, 2000	J. R. Koch	Waived	Las Vegas Silver Bandits (IBL)
October 6, 2000	Lelan McDougal	Waived	San Diego Wildfire (ABA)
October 16, 2000	Carlos Daniel	Waived	Sioux Falls Skyforce (IBL)
October 16, 2000	Reed Rawlings	Waived	Detroit Dogs (ABA)
October 25, 2000	DeJuan Wheat	Waived	Panteras de Miranda (Venezuela)
October 25, 2000	Justin Love	Waived	Kansas City Knights (ABA)
October 25, 2000	Tim Kempton	Waived
November 20, 2000	Rex Chapman	Retired
January 5, 2001	Elliot Perry	Waived	Phoenix Suns

Player Transactions Citation:^[37]

External links

• Standings on Basketball Reference

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2000-01 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference.com.
2. News: Mario Elie Signs with Suns . United Press International . September 15, 2000 . July 27, 2021.
3. News: Associated Press . PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Barkley Agrees to Portland Deal . The New York Times . September 16, 2000 . October 19, 2022.
4. News: Transactions . Hartford Courant . September 16, 2000 . May 17, 2023.
5. News: Sports Update . United Press International . August 1, 2000 . October 19, 2022.
6. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel . The New York Times . October 30, 2000 . July 16, 2022.
7. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 2001 . Basketball-Reference . September 12, 2022.
8. Web site: 2000–01 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
9. News: Phoenix Suns . Basketball-Reference . June 3, 2022.
10. News: Lewis . Brian . Spree-Deemed; Latrell Granted All-Star Reprisal by NBA Commish . New York Post . February 1, 2001 . November 7, 2024.
11. News: Ticker . West Expected to Flex Muscle in NBA All-Star Game Sunday . ESPN . February 10, 2001 . November 7, 2024.
12. News: NBA.com Staff . 2001 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 14, 2023.
13. Web site: 2001 All-Star Weekend - at Washington: February 9-11 . Eskimo North . May 14, 2023.
14. Web site: 2001 NBA All-Star Game: East 111, West 110 . Basketball-Reference . November 28, 2021.
15. Web site: 2000–01 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
16. News: Associated Press . Hardaway Wants to Mend Relationship with Daughter . ESPN . January 8, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
17. News: Smith . Sam . Hardaway's Career Takes a Painful Detour . Chicago Tribune . February 6, 2001 . August 1, 2017.
18. News: Associated Press . N.B.A. ROUNDUP; Suns Hush Sacramento as Marion Scores 21 . The New York Times . April 23, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
19. News: Associated Press . Suns Surprise Kings . Los Angeles Times . April 23, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
20. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Kings Earn Trip to Second Round . The New York Times . May 4, 2001 . July 23, 2021.
21. News: Adande . J.A. . Lakers Next After Kings Eclipse Suns . Los Angeles Times . May 3, 2001 . June 3, 2022.
22. News: Sacramento 89, Phoenix 82 . United Press International . May 3, 2001 . November 26, 2022.
23. Web site: 2001 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. Kings . Basketball-Reference . May 14, 2023.
24. News: Associated Press . Both Kidd and Marbury to Get Fresh Starts . ESPN . June 29, 2001 . October 24, 2024.
25. News: Robbins . Liz . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets' Shake-Up Ships Marbury for Suns' Kidd . The New York Times . June 29, 2001 . April 4, 2017.
26. News: Heisler . Mark . Kidd, Marbury Latest Big Deal . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 2001 . May 28, 2022.
27. News: Suns Trade Star Guard Kidd, Get Nets' Marbury in Return . The Washington Post . June 29, 2001 . July 2, 2022.
28. News: Suns Agree to Trade Kidd to Nets for Marbury . Tampa Bay Times . June 29, 2001 . November 30, 2022.
29. News: Associated Press . Pistons Add Robinson in Deal with Suns . ESPN . June 29, 2001 . October 24, 2024.
30. News: Suns Send Robinson to Pistons . United Press International . June 29, 2001 . November 30, 2022.
31. News: PLUS: BASKETBALL; Suns' Robinson Is Dealt to Pistons . The New York Times . June 30, 2001 . July 24, 2021.
32. News: Associated Press . Suns Deal Robinson to Pistons . Los Angeles Times . June 30, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
33. News: Phoenix Suns Logo . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . November 24, 2021.
34. News: Phoenix Suns Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . November 24, 2021.
35. News: Phoenix Suns Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . November 24, 2021.
36. News: 2000–01 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 11, 2022.
37. Web site: 2000–01 Phoenix Suns Transactions. Basketball-Reference. July 2, 2021.