1976–77 Phoenix Suns season
Professional basketball season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1976–77 Phoenix Suns season was the ninth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . With injuries limiting the team to only six games with a full roster, the Suns plummeted to the bottom of the Pacific division standings, missing the playoffs after appearing in the Finals just one season prior.[ 1] The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
Offseason
NBA draft
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (Y-M-D)
From
F/C
33
Adams, Alvan
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1954-07-19
Oklahoma
C
21
Awtrey, Dennis
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1948-02-22
Santa Clara
G/F
14
Erickson, Keith
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1944-04-19
UCLA
G
7
Feher, Butch
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1954-05-19
Vanderbilt
F
24
Heard, Garfield
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1948-05-03
Oklahoma
G
30
Lee, Ron
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1952-11-02
Oregon
F
18
Perry, Curtis
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1948-09-13
Missouri State
C
54
Schlueter, Dale
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1945-11-12
Colorado State
G
40
Sobers, Ricky
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
198 lb (90 kg)
1953-01-15
UNLV
F
32
Terrell, Ira
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1954-06-19
SMU
G/F
5
Van Arsdale, Dick
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1943-02-22
Indiana
G/F
4
Van Arsdale, Tom
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
1943-02-22
Indiana
G
44
Westphal, Paul
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1950-11-30
USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA records
Team
ATL
BOS
BUF
CHI
CLE
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
KCK
LAL
MIL
NOJ
NYK
NYN
PHI
PHO
POR
SAS
SEA
WAS
Atlanta
—
0–4
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
4–0
1–2
1–3
Boston
4–0
—
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
Buffalo
0–4
1–3
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
1–3
1–3
0–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–4
Chicago
2–2
2–2
3–1
—
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–2
Cleveland
2–2
3–1
2–2
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
Denver
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
3–0
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–2
4–0
2–2
Detroit
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
—
3–1
2–2
2–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
Golden State
4–0
3–1
3–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
2–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
Houston
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
0–3
2–2
1–2
—
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
Indiana
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
Kansas City
2–1
1–3
3–0
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
Los Angeles
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
—
3–1
3–0
1–3
4–0
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–3
—
1–2
1–3
3–1
1–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
New Orleans
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
0–3
2–1
—
3–1
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
N.Y. Knicks
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–2
2–2
N.Y. Nets
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
—
1–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
Phoenix
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–1
—
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–3
Portland
1–3
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
—
2–2
3–1
1–2
San Antonio
0–4
0–4
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–1
2–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
Seattle
2–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
—
3–1
Washington
3–1
4–0
4–0
2–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–1
2–2
1–3
—
Game log
1976–77 game log Total: 34–48 (home: 26–15; road: 8–33)
October: 1–4 (home: 0–0; road: 1–4)
November: 5–5 (home: 5–2; road: 0–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
Streak
6
November 5
@ Seattle
L 84–88
Ricky Sobers (18)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,902
1–5
L 2
7
November 11
Indiana
W 108–98
Ricky Sobers ,Paul Westphal (18)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,152
2–5
W 1
8
November 13
Cleveland
L 90–103
Ricky Sobers (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,671
2–6
L 1
9
November 17
Milwaukee
W 103–95
Dick Van Arsdale (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,017
3–6
W 1
10
November 18
@ Golden State
L 111–131
Ricky Sobers (19)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,965
3–7
L 1
11
November 19
N.Y. Nets
L 88–90
Paul Westphal (17)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,506
3–8
L 2
12
November 21
Chicago
W 101–96
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,589
4–8
W 1
13
November 25
Washington
W 104–98
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,614
5–8
W 2
14
November 27
Seattle
W 119–107
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,553
6–8
W 3
15
November 30
@ Indiana
L 97–103
Paul Westphal (27)
Market Square Arena 8,581
6–9
L 1
December: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
Streak
16
December 1
@ N.Y. Nets
W 106–96
Paul Westphal (23)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,103
7–9
W 1
17
December 3
Portland
L 99–113
Ricky Sobers (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,339
7–10
L 1
18
December 5
San Antonio
W 103–98 (OT)
Paul Westphal (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,235
8–10
W 1
19
December 8
Houston
W 116–95
Paul Westphal (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,117
9–10
W 2
20
December 10
@ Boston
W 107–103
Ricky Sobers (25)
Boston Garden 12,878
10–10
W 3
21
December 11
@ N.Y. Knicks
L 96–112
Alvan Adams (17)
Madison Square Garden 15,263
10–11
L 1
22
December 12
@ Atlanta
W 106–91
Paul Westphal (28)
Omni Coliseum 2,507
11–11
W 1
23
December 14
@ Buffalo
L 99–108
Ricky Sobers (23)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 7,132
11–12
L 1
24
December 15
@ Philadelphia
L 87–87
Alvan Adams (27)
The Spectrum 11,363
11–13
L 2
25
December 17
@ Los Angeles
L 105–118
Ricky Sobers ,Paul Westphal (25)
The Forum 9,816
11–14
L 3
26
December 18
Kansas City
L 90–89
Ricky Sobers (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,482
11–15
L 4
27
December 23
Buffalo
W 107–92
Ricky Sobers (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,834
12–15
W 1
28
December 25
Los Angeles
W 113–96
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
13–15
W 2
29
December 28
@ Denver
L 102–110
Paul Westphal (27)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,595
13–16
L 1
30
December 29
Boston
W 97–87
Paul Westphal (30)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
14–16
W 1
January: 8–9 (home: 7–1; road: 1–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
Streak
31
January 2
@ Kansas City
L 88–89
Paul Westphal (20)
Omaha Civic Auditorium 4,226
14–17
L 1
32
January 4
@ Milwaukee
L 111–139
Curtis Perry ,Ira Terrell (20)
MECCA Arena 8,871
14–18
L 2
33
January 5
@ Detroit
L 115–118
Alvan Adams (24)
Cobo Arena 6,249
14–19
L 3
34
January 7
@ Washington
L 89–99
Paul Westphal (15)
Capital Centre 6,072
14–20
L 4
35
January 8
@ N.Y. Knicks
L 95–102
Paul Westphal (31)
Madison Square Garden 18,589
14–21
L 5
36
January 10
@ Atlanta
W 93–92
Paul Westphal (20)
Omni Coliseum 2,408
15–21
W 1
37
January 11
@ Chicago
L 90–93
Paul Westphal (31)
Chicago Stadium 6,446
15–22
L 1
38
January 13
Detroit
W 131–101
Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
16–22
W 1
39
January 15
Cleveland
W 94–79
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
17–22
W 2
40
January 19
N.Y. Knicks
W 97–90
Paul Westphal (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,035
18–22
W 3
41
January 20
@ Golden State
L 103–107
Paul Westphal (25)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,886
18–23
L 1
42
January 21
Indiana
W 125–96
Alvan Adams (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,957
19–23
W 1
43
January 23
Seattle
W 98–88
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
20–23
W 2
44
January 25
San Antonio
L 108–116
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,814
20–24
L 1
45
January 27
Philadelphia
W 111–94
Ron Lee (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
21–24
W 1
46
January 29
New Orleans
W 118–102
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,274
22–24
W 2
47
January 30
@ Portland
L 91–97
Paul Westphal (24)
Memorial Coliseum 12,311
22–25
L 1
February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
Streak
48
February 2
Milwaukee
W 130–113
Paul Westphal (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,364
23–25
W 1
49
February 4
Golden State
L 106–109
Alvan Adams (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,849
23–26
L 1
50
February 6
Denver
W 115–104
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,826
24–26
W 1
51
February 8
Atlanta
W 117–104
Alvan Adams (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,495
25–26
W 2
52
February 10
Washington
L 103–109
Paul Westphal (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,352
25–27
L 1
53
February 15
@ Kansas City
L 96–102
Paul Westphal (30)
Kemper Arena 7,313
25–28
L 2
54
February 16
@ Indiana
L 93–111
Ira Terrell (15)
Market Square Arena 9,553
25–29
L 3
55
February 18
@ Philadelphia
W 102–96
Paul Westphal (22)
The Spectrum 16,660
26–29
W 1
56
February 19
@ Cleveland
L 88–92
Paul Westphal (23)
Coliseum at Richfield 17,882
26–30
L 1
57
February 20
@ Detroit
L 107–109
Ricky Sobers (25)
Cobo Arena 7,233
26–31
L 2
58
February 22
@ Buffalo
L 114–115
Alvan Adams (47)
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 6,143
26–32
L 3
59
February 24
Houston
L 106–109
Paul Westphal (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,835
26–33
L 4
60
February 26
Boston
L 104–108
Paul Westphal (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,353
26–34
L 5
March: 4–12 (home: 2–5; road: 2–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
Streak
61
March 2
Chicago
L 104–108 (OT)
Paul Westphal (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,823
26–35
L 6
62
March 4
Golden State
L 87–101
Alvan Adams (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,750
26–36
L 7
63
March 6
@ Washington
L 110–118
Ricky Sobers (32)
Capital Centre 14,189
26–37
L 8
64
March 8
@ San Antonio
L 115–122
Ricky Sobers ,Paul Westphal (24)
HemisFair Arena 10,011
26–38
L 9
65
March 9
@ Houston
L 100–105
Alvan Adams (26)
The Summit 6,421
26–39
L 10
66
March 11
@ N.Y. Nets
L 73–82
Paul Westphal (16)
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,730
26–40
L 11
67
March 13
@ Boston
L 107–124
Alvan Adams (29)
Boston Garden 14,859
26–41
L 12
68
March 16
N.Y. Knicks
W 124–91
Paul Westphal (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,177
27–41
W 1
69
March 18
New Orleans
L 100–104
Paul Westphal (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,285
27–42
L 1
70
March 20
Portland
W 126–106
Alvan Adams (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,174
28–42
W 1
71
March 24
Buffalo
L 102–107
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,410
28–43
L 1
72
March 25
@ Los Angeles
L 93–118
Ira Terrell (22)
The Forum 13,507
28–44
L 2
73
March 26
Los Angeles
L 102–109
Alvan Adams (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,150
28–45
L 3
74
March 27
@ Seattle
W 121–100
Ron Lee (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,096
29–45
W 1
75
March 29
@ Milwaukee
W 122–110
Paul Westphal (34)
MECCA Arena 8,945
30–45
W 2
76
March 30
@ New Orleans
L 100–112
Alvan Adams (19)
Louisiana Superdome 6,237
30–46
L 1
April: 4–2 (home: 4–1; road: 0–1)
1976–77 schedule
Awards and honors
All-Star
Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game . It was his first All-Star selection. Westphal finished first in voting among Western Conference guards with 163,173 votes.
Season
Player statistics
Season
+ – Minimum 50 games played.
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Additions
Subtractions
References
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s