Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

The Suns used their first-round pick to select point guard Steve Nash from Santa Clara. Nash averaged 14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in four years with the Broncos. On July 24, the Suns signed Nash to a three-year rookie contract for $3.2 million. He would spend his first two seasons with the Suns playing a limited role behind All-Star guards Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. Nash would later return to the franchise as a free agent in 2004, winning consecutive MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 and ultimately making it to the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor on October 30, 2015.

The Suns received the 39th pick from a trade with the Detroit Pistons in 1994. With the pick they would select power forward Russ Millard from Iowa. Millard averaged 10.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in four years with the Hawkeyes. Millard would sign with Italian club Pallacanestro Varese before the season and would never play in the NBA.

The Suns used their second-round pick to select power forward Ben Davis from Arizona. Davis averaged 12.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in two years with the Wildcats. On September 25, the Suns signed Davis to a one-year rookie contract for $220,000. Davis spent much of the year on the injured reserve with a finger injury. He would appear in 20 games, average 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 4.9 minutes a game. Davis would sign as a free agent with the New York Knicks after the season. He would later return to the Suns shortly in the 1999–2000 season, appearing in just five games before being waived.

Roster

• Danny Ainge
• Frank Johnson
• Donn Nelson
• Paul Silas
• Joe Proski
• Aaron Nelson

Regular season

Standings

Playoffs

The Suns came into the playoffs as the seventh seed, facing the 1996 Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. In game one, Rex Chapman set a playoff record with 9 three-pointers, finishing the game with 42 points and leading the Suns to a 106–101 upset in Seattle. The Sonics responded with a 44-point blowout in game two, evening the series 1–1.

The Suns recovered at home in game three. After an early 15-point deficit, Wesley Person led the team to a comeback 110–103 victory with 29 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns had a chance to close the series at home in game four. Behind by eleven points in the final two minutes of regulation, the Suns cut to lead to two before fouling Detlef Schrempf with 5.4 seconds remaining. Schrempf would miss the second of two free throws, giving the Sonics a 107–104 lead. Rex Chapman would respond with a famous turnaround three-pointer to send the game into overtime. The Sonics would outscore the Suns 15–8 in extra time to gain a 122–115 victory.

The Suns would head back to Seattle tied 2–2 for a deciding fifth game. The Suns turned to small ball, starting four guards (Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman and Wesley Person) along with center Hot Rod Williams. The Sonics would dominate the first half, leading by 22 at the break. A third quarter rally would bring the lead to eight, and a Wesley Person three-pointer to open the fourth quarter brought the lead to just five. But the Sonics would go on a 19–7 run in the final six minutes to claim a 116–92 victory.

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 25 | @ Seattle | W 106–101 | Rex Chapman (42) | Kevin Johnson (7) | Jason Kidd (10) | KeyArena 17,072 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 27 | @ Seattle | L 78–122 | Rex Chapman (18) | Wesley Person (10) | Jason Kidd (8) | KeyArena 17,072 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 29 | Seattle | W 110–103 | Wesley Person (29) | Wesley Person (10) | Jason Kidd (10) | America West Arena 19,023 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 1 | Seattle | L 115–122 (OT) | Johnson, Kidd (23) | Danny Manning (10) | Jason Kidd (14) | America West Arena 19,023 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 3 | @ Seattle | L 92–116 | Wesley Person (26) | Kidd, Person (8) | Jason Kidd (7) | KeyArena 17,072

Awards and honors

Week/Month

• Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Week for games played March 24 through March 30.
• Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Month for April.

All-Star

• This was only the third season in franchise history that the Suns were not represented in the All-Star Game, after the 1986 and 1988 seasons.
• Steve Nash was selected to compete for the Western Conference in the Rookie Challenge.

Season

• Kevin Johnson finished 17th in MVP voting.
• Danny Manning finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Injuries/Missed games

• 10/31/96: Kevin Johnson: Abdominal hernia; placed on injured reserve until November 24
• 10/31/96: Mark Bryant: Torn knee cartilage; placed on injured reserve until December 6
• 10/31/96: Hot Rod Williams: Toe surgery; placed on injured list until November 26
• 11/14/96: Sam Cassell: Flu; did not play
• 11/23/96: Wayman Tisdale: Shoulder tendinitis; placed on injured list until December 30
• 11/26/96: Ben Davis: Finger ligament damage; placed on injured reserve until January 12
• 11/26/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
• 11/27/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
• 11/29/96: Sam Cassell: Personal reasons; did not play
• 12/06/96: Darrin Hancock: Bilateral knee bruises; placed on injured reserve until waived on December 10
• 12/21/96: Joe Kleine: Back spasms; did not play
• 12/28/96: Kevin Johnson: Flu; did not play
• 12/30/96: Tony Dumas: Injured finger; did not play
• 12/30/96: Jason Kidd: Collarbone hairline fracture; placed on injured list until December 14
• 01/06/97: Robert Horry: Two-game team suspension (threw towel at coach Danny Ainge); out until traded on January 10
• 01/10/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 01/12/97: Tony Dumas: Bruised knee; placed on injured list until April 20
• 01/13/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
• 01/13/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 01/14/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
• 01/14/97: Rex Chapman: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 01/18/97: Mark Bryant: Abdominal strain; did not play
• 01/29/97: Rex Chapman: Fractured finger; placed on injured reserve until March 2
• 02/11/97: Hot Rod Williams: Flu; did not play
• 02/26/97: Danny Manning: Sore leg; did not play
• 03/02/97: Ben Davis: Injured finger; placed on injured reserve until March 13
• 03/09/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
• 03/11/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
• 03/13/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; did not play
• 03/13/97: Loren Meyer: Strained lower back; placed on injured list until March 25
• 03/17/97: Mark Bryant: Bruised foot; placed on injured reserve until April 20
• 03/22/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
• 03/26/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
• 03/28/97: Cedric Ceballos: Bruised knee; did not play
• 03/28/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
• 03/30/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
• 04/02/97: Wayman Tisdale: Personal reasons; did not play
• 04/05/97: Ben Davis: Injured finger; placed on injured reserve until April 20
• 04/15/97: Wesley Person: Flu; did not play
• 04/18/97: Wesley Person: Flu; did not play
• 04/19/97: Danny Manning: Injured foot; did not play

Player statistics

Season

• – Stats with the Suns.

† – Minimum 300 field goals made.

^ – Minimum 82 three-pointers made.

– Minimum 125 free throws made.

• – Minimum 50 games played.

Playoffs

– Minimum 10 free throws made.

Player statistics citation:

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:

References

• Suns on Basketball Reference

References

1. "1996-97 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats".
2. Heisler, Mark. (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times.
3. Bembry, Jerry. (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second". The Baltimore Sun.
4. "1996 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
5. (August 19, 1996). "Barkley Confirms His Trade to Rockets". The New York Times.
6. (August 19, 1996). "Suns Unload Barkley, Get Four Players from Rockets". Los Angeles Times.
7. (August 19, 1996). "Barkley Traded to the Rockets". The Washington Post.
8. (October 12, 1996). "Raptors Sign Benjamin for Backup Role". Los Angeles Times.
9. (October 12, 1996). "New York Knicks". Orlando Sentinel.
10. Winderman, Ira. (November 25, 1996). "Chapman Burned Up Over Treatment from Riley, Heat". Sun Sentinel.
11. (September 28, 1996). "Suns' Johnson Undergoes Hernia Surgery". Los Angeles Times.
12. (September 28, 1996). "Suns' K.J. to Miss 6 to 8 Weeks". Deseret News.
13. Diamos, Jason. (November 28, 1996). "Leave It to the Nets: 0-13 Suns Now 1-13". The New York Times.
14. (November 15, 1996). "Fitzsimmons Opts to Step Aside; Ainge Will Take Over 0-8 Suns". The New York Times.
15. (November 15, 1996). "Fitzsimmons Quits as Suns Remain Winless". Los Angeles Times.
16. (November 15, 1996). "Ainge Takes Over 0-8 Phoenix Club". Las Vegas Sun.
17. (December 27, 1996). "Kidd Traded to Suns jn a Six-Player Deal". The New York Times.
18. (December 27, 1996). "Kidd Is Traded to Suns for Cassell, Finley, Green". Los Angeles Times.
19. (December 27, 1996). "Kidd Sent to Suns in 6-Player Deal". The Washington Post.
20. Brown, Clifton. (January 11, 1997). "Suns Send Unhappy Horry to Lakers". The New York Times.
21. (January 11, 1997). "Ceballos Returned to Sender". Los Angeles Times.
22. (January 11, 1997). "Suns Send Horry to Lakers in 4-Player Deal". The Washington Post.
23. (December 5, 1996). "Heat 101, Mavericks 79". Tampa Bay Times.
24. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference.
25. "1996–97 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
26. (January 19, 1997). "Ceballos Triggers Comeback as Suns Defeat Knicks Again". Los Angeles Times.
27. "1996–97 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
28. Fry, Darrell. (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times.
29. "1997 NBA Rising Stars: East 96, West 91". Basketball-Reference.
30. "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
31. Friend, Tom. (April 30, 1997). "Sonics Fall in Familiar 2-1 Hole". The New York Times.
32. (April 30, 1997). "Suns Beat SuperSonics, Again". Los Angeles Times.
33. Reisner, Mel. (April 30, 1997). "Person Rises, Leads Suns Past Sonics". The Washington Post.
34. Friend, Tom. (May 4, 1997). "Sonics Beat Suns, Dousing Lights on Johnson's Career". The New York Times.
35. Moore, Jim. (May 4, 1997). "Sonics 116, Suns 92". The Washington Post.
36. "1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference.
37. "1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
38. Berger, Ken. (October 1, 1997). "Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix". Associated Press.
39. (October 2, 1997). "PLUS: IN THE NEWS -- PRO BASKETBALL; McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal". The New York Times.
40. (October 2, 1997). "Suns Make Trade for McDyess". Los Angeles Times.
41. "1996–97 Regular Season Award Winners".
42. "1996–97 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference.