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1968–69 Phoenix Suns season

Professional basketball season

Field	Value
team	Phoenix Suns
end_year	1969
wins	16
losses	66
division	Western
division_place	7
coach	Johnny "Red" Kerr
gm	Jerry Colangelo
owners	Karl Eller, Don Pitt, Don Diamond, Bhavik Darji, Marvin Meyer, Richard L. Bloch
arena	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
playoffs	Did not qualify
bbr_team	PHO
television	KTAR-TV
radio	KTAR
no_prevseason	1

The 1968–69 Phoenix Suns season was the inaugural season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Red Kerr led the franchise to its first win in their debut game, over the Seattle SuperSonics. The Suns lost more games in their initial season than in any year since, and did not have a winning record against any other team. They played all their home games in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Dick Van Arsdale was the franchise's first All-Star selection when he was selected to play in the 1969 All-Star Game. He was the team's second leading scorer at 21 points per game, behind eventual Hall of Fame member Gail Goodrich, who averaged 23.8, the seventh-highest in the league for the season. Goodrich was selected to replace an injured Jerry West in the All-Star Game.

Offseason

NBA expansion draft

Main article: 1968 NBA expansion draft

Phoenix Suns}}" width="20%"	Player	Phoenix Suns}}" width="15%"	Position
John Barnhill	Guard	United States	San Diego Rockets
Em Bryant	Guard	United States	New York Knicks
Gail Goodrich	Guard	United States	Los Angeles Lakers
Dennis Hamilton	Forward	United States	Los Angeles Lakers
Neil Johnson	Forward	United States	New York Knicks
Dave Lattin	Forward	United States	San Francisco Warriors
Paul Long	Guard	United States	Detroit Pistons
Stan McKenzie	Forward	United States	Baltimore Bullets
McCoy McLemore	Forward	United States	Chicago Bulls
Bill Melchionni	Guard	United States	Philadelphia 76ers
Dave Schellhase	Guard	United States	Chicago Bulls
Dick Snyder	Guard	United States	Atlanta Hawks
Craig Spitzer	Center	United States	Chicago Bulls
Bumper Tormohlen	Center	United States	Atlanta Hawks
Dick Van Arsdale	Forward	United States	New York Knicks
Roland West	Guard	United States	Baltimore Bullets
John Wetzel	Forward	United States	Los Angeles Lakers
George Wilson	Center	United States	Seattle SuperSonics

The Suns participated in the NBA's fourth expansion draft along with the Milwaukee Bucks, the other expansion team that joined the league in 1968. Each of the league's other 12 teams protected seven of their top players, with the remaining unprotected players available in the draft. The two expansion teams selected three players from each team, totaling 18 selections each.

The Suns received the first, fourth and fifth picks, while the Bucks, which had not yet chosen their team name at the time, received the second and third picks. The Suns' first selection was swingman Dick Van Arsdale of the New York Knicks. The Bucks then selected center Wayne Embry of the Boston Celtics, and power forward Fred Hetzel of the San Francisco Warriors. The Suns rounded out the top five by picking point guard Gail Goodrich of the Los Angeles Lakers and shooting guard Dick Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks. "The Original Sun" Dick Van Arsdale would have a historic career with the Suns after being drafted, with him being an All-Star in his first three seasons with the team, as well as be named a member of the All-Defensive Second Team in 1974 and helping the team reach the 1976 NBA Finals before retiring in 1977, having his number become the second in franchise history to be retired into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor in the 1977–78 season, behind Connie Hawkins.

NBA draft

Main article: 1968 NBA draft

Phoenix Suns}}" width="10%"	Round	Phoenix Suns}}" width="10%"	Pick	Phoenix Suns}}" width="20%"	Player
1	8	Gary Gregor	Forward	United States	South Carolina
2	22	Dick Cunningham	Center	United States	Murray State
3	36	Art Beatty	Center	United States	American
4	49	Rich Jones	Forward	United States	Memphis
5	64	Harry Hollines	Guard	United States	Denver
6	77	Rod Knowles	Center	United States	Davidson
7	92	Charles Parks	Forward	United States	Idaho State
8	105	Brian Clare	Center	United States	Denver
9	120	Mervin Jackson	Guard	United States	Utah
10	133	Lee Davis	Center	United States	North Carolina Central
11	147	Ron Boone	Guard	United States	Idaho State
12	160	Bill Davis	Forward	United States	Arizona
13	171	Pat Hobart	Forward	United States	California State

Roster

Johnny "Red" Kerr

Regular season

Standings

Game log

|- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 18 | Seattle | W 116–107 | Gail Goodrich (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,112 | 1–0 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 20 | Baltimore | L 122–134 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,474 | 1–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 22 | @ San Francisco | L 101–109 | Gail Goodrich (29) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4,291 | 1–2 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | October 24 | New York | W 109–92 | Gail Goodrich (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,450 | 2–2 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | October 27 | Atlanta | L 100–123 | Gail Goodrich (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4,603 | 2–3 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 30 | @ Seattle | W 115–108 | Gail Goodrich (32) | Seattle Center Coliseum 2,657 | 3–3 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | October 31 | Chicago | W 112–103 | Gail Goodrich (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3,029 | 4–3

W 2
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
8
November 3
Los Angeles
L 109–127
Dick Van Arsdale (38)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,150
4–4
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
9
November 4
San Francisco
L 108–119
Dick Van Arsdale (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,019
4–5
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
10
November 10
Detroit
W 130–128 (OT)
George Wilson (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,440
5–5
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
11
November 14
Detroit
L 109–111
Gail Goodrich (25)
Tucson, AZ
2,712
5–6
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
12
November 15
@ Seattle
L 124–128 (2OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum
4,368
5–7
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
13
November 17
Boston
L 98–130
Gail Goodrich,
Dave Lattin (13)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,109
5–8
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
14
November 19
@ Philadelphia
L 110–126
Dick Van Arsdale (29)
New York City, NY
16,664
5–9
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
15
November 22
@ Boston
L 106–133
McCoy McLemore (18)
Boston Garden
8,224
5–10
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
16
November 23
@ Milwaukee
L 112–115
McCoy McLemore (28)
Milwaukee Arena
6,090
5–11
L 6
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
17
November 26
Philadelphia
L 119–126
Gail Goodrich (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,209
5–12
L 7
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
18
November 27
@ Detroit
L 111–125
George Wilson (24)
Cobo Arena
11,016
5–13
L 8
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
19
November 29
@ Baltimore
L 106–124
Gail Goodrich,
Dick Van Arsdale (24)
Baltimore Civic Center
6,596
5–14
L 9
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
20
November 30
@ Chicago
L 96–100
Dick Van Arsdale (29)
Chicago Stadium
3,246
5–15
L 10
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
21
December 2
Seattle
L 108–118
Gail Goodrich (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,171
5–16
L 11
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
22
December 3
@ Los Angeles
L 108–122
Gail Goodrich (23)
The Forum
8,277
5–17
L 12
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
23
December 4
San Francisco
W 126–97
Gail Goodrich (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,387
6–17
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
24
December 6
@ San Diego
L 106–117
Dick Van Arsdale (33)
San Diego Sports Arena
5,782
6–18
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
25
December 8
Atlanta
L 99–121
Dick Van Arsdale (17)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,243
6–19
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
26
December 10
@ New York
L 106–111
Gail Goodrich (29)
Madison Square Garden
16,337
6–20
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
27
December 11
@ Philadelphia
L 123–143
Gail Goodrich (19)
The Spectrum
6,780
6–21
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
28
December 13
@ Cincinnati
L 123–130 (OT)
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
Cleveland, OH
2,114
6–22
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
29
December 14
@ Detroit
W 123–118
Gail Goodrich (41)
Cobo Arena
5,024
7–22
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
30
December 15
@ Cincinnati
L 101–119
Stan McKenzie (28)
Omaha, NE
5,886
7–23
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
31
December 17
Philadelphia
L 128–145
Dick Snyder (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1,946
7–24
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
32
December 18
Cincinnati
W 123–114
Gail Goodrich (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,462
8–24
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
33
December 21
@ Baltimore
L 117–131
Gail Goodrich (28)
Baltimore Civic Center
8,529
8–25
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
34
December 22
@ Milwaukee
L 116–127
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
Milwaukee Arena
3,466
8–26
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
35
December 25
Los Angeles
L 99–119
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,355
8–27
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
36
December 26
@ San Francisco
L 118–119
Gail Goodrich (40)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
4,916
8–28
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
37
December 28
San Diego
L 126–136
Gail Goodrich (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,749
8–29
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
38
December 30
@ Seattle
L 118–120
Jim Fox (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum
3,920
8–30
L 6
-
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
39
January 1
Boston
L 87–93
Dick Van Arsdale (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,757
8–31
L 7
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
40
January 3
@ Milwaukee
L 104–121
Dick Snyder (22)
Milwaukee Arena
4,230
8–32
L 8
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
41
January 4
@ Chicago
L 92–103
Jim Fox (27)
Chicago Stadium
3,107
8–33
L 9
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
42
January 5
@ Atlanta
L 96–97
Dick Snyder,
Dick Van Arsdale (22)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
3,235
8–34
L 10
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
43
January 7
Seattle
W 116–112
Gail Goodrich (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,875
9–34
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
44
January 9
New York
L 120–134
Stan McKenzie (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,591
9–35
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
45
January 11
Baltimore
L 107–118
Gary Gregor (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,807
9–36
L 2
- align="center"
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
46
January 16
@ Atlanta
L 107–112
Gary Gregor (26)
Columbia, SC
5,815
9–37
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
47
January 17
@ Atlanta
L 107–112
Gail Goodrich (27)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum
4,565
9–38
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
48
January 19
San Diego
L 118–136
Gail Goodrich (29)
San Diego Sports Arena
2,867
9–39
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
49
January 22
Atlanta
L 107–125
Bob Warlick (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,527
9–40
L 6
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
50
January 24
Chicago
W 117–106
Dick Van Arsdale (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6,275
10–40
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
51
January 25
@ San Diego
L 120–133
Jim Fox,
Gail Goodrich (22)
San Diego Sports Arena
4,128
10–41
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
52
January 26
San Francisco
L 93–117
Neil Johnson (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,452
10–42
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
53
January 29
Milwaukee
W 111–107
Gail Goodrich (33)
Tacoma, WA
3,013
11–42
W 1
-
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
54
February 2
Milwaukee
W 122–121
Gail Goodrich (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,926
12–42
W 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
55
February 4
Philadelphia
W 125–116
Jim Fox,
Dick Van Arsdale (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,317
13–42
W 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
56
February 6
Cincinnati
L 103–124
Gail Goodrich (35)
Tucson, AZ
3,849
13–43
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
57
February 7
@ San Diego
L 119–130
Gail Goodrich (33)
San Diego Sports Arena
6,214
13–44
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
58
February 8
Los Angeles
L 104–122
Gail Goodrich (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,106
13–45
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
59
February 9
@ Los Angeles
L 116–134
Gail Goodrich (29)
The Forum
8,840
13–46
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
60
February 12
@ New York
L 105–112
Gail Goodrich (26)
Madison Square Garden
12,017
13–47
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
61
February 14
@ Detroit
L 123–128
Jim Fox (24)
Cobo Arena
2,853
13–48
L 6
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
62
February 16
@ Cincinnati
W 125–113
Gail Goodrich (25)
Cincinnati Gardens
3,922
14–48
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
63
February 18
@ Boston
L 110–116
Gail Goodrich (29)
Boston Garden
7,022
14–49
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
64
February 20
@ Baltimore
L 121–124
Dick Van Arsdale (44)
Detroit, MI
7,066
14–50
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
65
February 21
Chicago
L 121–133
Gail Goodrich (43)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,939
14–51
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
66
February 22
Boston
L 100–124
Dick Van Arsdale (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8,295
14–52
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
67
February 23
@ Milwaukee
L 103–107
Gail Goodrich (29)
Green Bay, WI
4,347
14–53
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
68
February 25
@ Boston
L 99–112
Dick Van Arsdale (22)
New York City, NY
19,500
14–54
L 6
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
69
February 26
@ Philadelphia
L 97–104
Dick Van Arsdale (22)
The Spectrum
7,781
14–55
L 7
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
70
February 28
@ Los Angeles
L 117–121
Gail Goodrich (43)
The Forum
15,728
14–56
L 8
-
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
71
March 1
@ San Francisco
W 119–118
Gail Goodrich (33)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,580
15–56
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
72
March 4
Cincinnati
L 122–141
Gail Goodrich (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,165
15–57
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
73
March 6
@ Chicago
L 117–125 (OT)
Gail Goodrich (33)
Carbondale, IL
3,125
15–58
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
74
March 7
@ New York
L 87–119
Bob Warlick (18)
Philadelphia, PA
15,244
15–59
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
75
March 9
San Diego
W 146–133
Gail Goodrich (47)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,384
16–59
W 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
76
March 10
Baltimore
L 121–140
Dick Van Arsdale (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,133
16–60
L 1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
77
March 11
@ San Diego
L 106–116
Dick Van Arsdale (26)
San Diego Sports Arena
4,172
16–61
L 2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
78
March 15
San Diego
L 124–141
Gail Goodrich (38)
Tucson, AZ
2,616
16–62
L 3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
79
March 17
Detroit
L 95–119
Stan McKenzie (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,128
16–63
L 4
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
80
March 19
Milwaukee
L 110–117
Dick Van Arsdale (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,033
16–64
L 5
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
81
March 21
New York
L 104–139
Gary Gregor (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,175
16–65
L 6
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
82
March 23
Milwaukee
L 118–128
Dick Van Arsdale (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3,204
16–66
L 7
-

Awards and honors

All-Star

Dick Van Arsdale was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.
Gail Goodrich was selected to replace Jerry West in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.

Season

Gary Gregor was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Player statistics

Legend
GP
FG%
RPG
PPG

Season

Player	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
	7	2.6	.000	.667	0.3	0.4	0.6
*	51	38.8	.470	.734	13.3	2.8	13.8
	81	40.0	.411	.747	5.4	6.4	23.8
	80	27.3	.415	.649	8.9	1.2	11.1
	80	16.5	.481^	.621	5.0	1.7	5.8
*	8	5.0	.286	.333	1.1	0.0	1.1
	68	14.5	.410	.634	4.8	0.7	6.0
	80	19.6	.427	.763+	3.1	1.5	9.3
*	31	22.9	.385	.773+	5.4	1.6	11.8
	81	26.0	.472^	.725	4.0	2.6	12.1
	80	42.4	.442	.705	6.9	4.8	21.0
*	63	15.5	.423	.606	2.4	2.1	8.0
*	41	31.6	.397	.616	12.3	1.9	11.6

– Stats with the Suns.

^ – Minimum 230 field goals.

– Minimum 230 free throws.

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Date	Player	Contract	Former Team
October 18, 1968	Ed Biedenbach	Undisclosed	Los Angeles Lakers
November 8, 1968	Bob Warlick	Undisclosed	Milwaukee Bucks

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason left	New team
October 1, 1968	Paul Long	Waived	Los Angeles Lakers
November 6, 1968	Rod Knowles	Waived	New York Nets (ABA)
November 21, 1968	Ed Biedenbach	Waived	(Retired for coaching)

References

Boatner, Verne. (May 7, 1968). "Suns Stress Youth in Draft Choices". Arizona Republic.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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