| Team: | Phoenix Suns |
| End Year: | 2004 |
| Wins: | 29 |
| Losses: | 53 |
| Division: | Pacific |
| Division Place: | 6 |
| Conf Place: | 13 |
| Coach: | |
| Gm: | Bryan Colangelo |
| Owner: | Jerry Colangelo |
| Arena: | America West Arena |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Bbr Team: | PHO |
| Television: | |
| Radio: | KTAR |
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 36th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] It was also the last season under longtime associate Jerry Colangelo's ownership, as he later sold the franchise to an ownership group led by Robert Sarver starting the following season. After advancing to the playoffs the previous season, the Suns started off to a disappointing start under head coach Frank Johnson. With the team at 8–13, team management elected to turn to assistant coach Mike D'Antoni to take over for Johnson. Under D'Antoni, the Suns would lose 40 of their next 61 games and miss the playoffs, finishing sixth in the Pacific division with a 29–53 regular season record, the first time since the 1987–88 season the Suns recorded 50 losses or more. The Suns played their home games at America West Arena.
Before the halfway mark of the season, the Suns sent starting point guard Stephon Marbury along with Penny Hardaway to the New York Knicks for Antonio McDyess, and a lack of offense was felt the rest of the season. Marbury, a future All-Star, was replaced with rookie SG Leandro Barbosa, who only averaged eight points per game.[2] The oft-injured Tom Gugliotta was released and signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz. The Suns found the injury bug, with reigning Rookie of the Year Amar'e Stoudemire missing nearly 30 games (and the Suns his 20 points and nine rebounds per game). Power forward Shawn Marion did not repeat as an All-Star, despite ending the season averaging 19 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and finishing second in the league in steals per game. Joe Johnson had a breakthrough year in his third season NBA season, leading the league in minutes played and providing the Suns nearly 17 points a game.
By trading Marbury, the Suns were without a point guard to lead an improving young core of Stoudemire, Marion, Johnson and Barbosa, all 25 years of age or younger. By shedding the injury-riddled Hardaway and Gugliotta, as well as Marbury, the Suns ended the season with a need for a club leader and money at their disposal. Following the season, McDyess signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons.
For the season, they added new orange alternate road uniforms with grey side panels to their jerseys and shorts they remained in used until 2013.
See main article: 2003 NBA draft.
| 2003-04 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| L.A. Clippers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | |
| Memphis | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | |
| Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| New York | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | |
| Philadelphia | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | |
| Toronto | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 6.0 | .000 | . | .500 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | ||
| 70 | 46 | 21.4 | .447 | .395 | .770 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.3 | .1 | 7.9 | ||
| 49 | 4 | 11.6 | .411 | .188 | .660 | 2.0 | 0.8 | .2 | .3 | 4.1 | ||
| 34 | 0 | 21.4 | .345 | .308 | .830 | 1.9 | 3.4 | .8 | .1 | 7.l | ||
| 30 | 3 | 10.1 | .313 | .000 | .750 | 1.9 | 0.7 | .5 | .1 | 2.3 | ||
| 34 | 10 | 25.8 | .443 | .400 | .857# | 2.9 | 2.9 | .8 | .2 | 8.7 | ||
| 36 | 7 | 12.2 | .473 | . | .795 | 2.6 | 0.4 | .4 | .4 | 3.9 | ||
| 78 | 13 | 23.4 | .417 | .417^ | .820 | 2.6 | 1.3 | .6 | .1 | 6.0 | ||
| 82 | 77 | 40.6 | .430 | .305 | .750 | 4.7 | 4.4+ | 1.1 | .3 | 16.7 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 6.3 | .333 | . | . | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 0.7 | ||
| 21 | 0 | 10.7 | .489† | .000 | .769 | 2.4 | 0.4 | .1 | .1 | 4.6 | ||
| 34 | 34 | 41.6+ | .432 | .314 | .795 | 3.4 | 8.3+ | 1.9 | .1 | 20.8+ | ||
| 79 | 79 | 40.7+ | .440 | .340 | .851# | 9.3 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.3+ | 19.0+ | ||
| 24 | 14 | 21.1 | .484† | . | .516 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | .5 | 5.8 | ||
| 55 | 53 | 36.8 | .475† | .200 | .713 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.6+ | 20.6+ | ||
| 4 | 0 | 2.5 | .000 | . | . | 0.3 | 0.0 | .0 | .3 | 0.0 | ||
| 66 | 43 | 24.3 | .507† | . | .740 | 5.2 | 0.9 | .6 | .4 | 6.6 | ||
| 61 | 17 | 14.1 | .524† | . | .500 | 4.3 | 0.1 | .4 | .8 | 4.3 | ||
| 16 | 10 | 16.7 | .525† | 1.000^ | .692 | 4.5 | 0.4 | .9 | .4 | 7.3 |
+ - Minimum 70 games played or 2000 minutes, 400 assists, 100 blocks, 1400 points.
† - Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ - Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
| June 26, 2003 | To San Antonio Spurs----2005 first-round draft pick ( David Lee) | To Phoenix Suns----Rights to  Leandro Barbosa |
| September 30, 2003 | To Memphis Grizzlies---- Bo Outlaw
| To Phoenix Suns---- Robert Archibald
|
| November 5, 2003 | To Washington Wizards---- Brevin Knight | To Phoenix Suns---- Jahidi White |
| December 23, 2003 | To Orlando Magic----2004 second-round draft pick ( Antonio Burks) | To Phoenix Suns---- Donnell Harvey |
| December 26, 2003 | To Orlando Magic---- Robert Archibald | To Phoenix Suns----Conditional 2005 second-round draft pick |
| January 5, 2004 | To New York Knicks---- Penny Hardaway
| To Phoenix Suns---- Howard Eisley
Rights to Miloš Vujanić 2004 first-round draft pick ( 2010 first-round draft pick ( Cash considerations |
| February 19, 2004 | To Utah Jazz---- Tom Gugliotta 2004 first-round draft pick ( 2005 second-round draft pick ( 2010 first-round draft pick ( Cash considerations | To Phoenix Suns---- Keon Clark
|
| Date | Player | Contract | Former Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2003 | Scott Williams | Re-signed to 1-year contract for $1.07 million | Phoenix Suns | |
| July 22, 2003 | Jake Voskuhl | Re-signed to 3-year contract for $5.1 million | Phoenix Suns | |
| September 23, 2003 | Trevor Huffman | Undisclosed | Brandt Hagen (Germany) | |
| September 23, 2003 | William Pippen | Undisclosed | ||
| September 26, 2003 | Nick Sheppard | Undisclosed | Gary Steelheads (CBA) | |
| September 26, 2003 | Ray Weathers | Undisclosed | Shanghai Sharks (China) | |
| October 1, 2003 | DerMarr Johnson | Undisclosed | Atlanta Hawks | |
| October 8, 2003 | Dejan Koturović | Undisclosed | Virtus Bologna (Italy) |
| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2003 | Alton Ford | Free agent | Orlando Magic | |
| October 8, 2003 | Trevor Huffman | Waived | Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski (Poland) | |
| October 8, 2003 | William Pippen | Waived | Tokyo Apache (Japan) | |
| October 16, 2003 | DerMarr Johnson | Waived | Long Beach Jam (ABA) | |
| October 23, 2003 | Dejan Koturović | Waived | Tau Cerámica (Spain) | |
| October 23, 2003 | Nick Sheppard | Waived | Beijing Ducks (China) | |
| October 23, 2003 | Ray Weathers | Waived | Dakota Wizards (CBA) | |
| January 6, 2004 | Charlie Ward | Waived | San Antonio Spurs | |
| January 28, 2004 | Scott Williams | Waived | Dallas Mavericks | |
| February 20, 2004 | Ben Handlogten | Waived | Utah Jazz |
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