1995–96 Phoenix Suns season

The 1995–96 Phoenix Suns season was the 28th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.

Season summary

Off-season The Suns had the 21st overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Michael Finley from the University of Wisconsin. During the off-season, the team acquired Hot Rod Williams from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and signed free agent Tony Smith.

Regular season With the addition of Finley and Williams, the Suns got off to a 13–13 start to the regular season, but then lost eight of their next nine games, falling below .500 in winning percentage with a 14–21 record as of January 19, 1996. Head coach Paul Westphal was fired after a 14–19 start to the season, and was replaced with former Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, who came in to coach in his third stint with the team. Under Fitzsimmons, the Suns won 9 of their 13 games in February, and held a 22–24 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Smith to the Miami Heat in exchange for rookie point guard Terrence Rencher. The Suns played above .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 41–41 record, earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference; the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.

Charles Barkley averaged 23.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Kevin Johnson averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, but only played 56 games due to hamstring and groin injuries, and Finley provided the team with 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, sixth man Danny Manning averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played just 33 games due to a torn ACL, and sprained ankle, while second-year guard Wesley Person contributed 12.7 points per game, and led the Suns with 117 three-point field goals, and Wayman Tisdale contributed 10.7 points per game off the bench. Meanwhile, Elliott Perry provided with 8.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, A.C. Green contributed 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Hot Rod Williams averaged 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Barkley was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his tenth consecutive All-Star selection. Meanwhile, Finley was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Western Conference Rookie team, and also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Barkley also finished tied in twelfth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Finley finished tied in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting.

The Suns finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 779,943 at the America West Arena during the regular season. The Suns were also one of the nine teams to defeat the 72–10 Chicago Bulls during the regular season, defeating them by a score of 106–96 at the America West Arena on February 6, 1996.

NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1996 NBA playoffs, the Suns faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by All-Star center David Robinson, All-Star forward Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson. However, despite playing all 82 games, Finley suffered an ankle injury on the final day of the regular season, and did not play in any of the Suns' playoff games. Without Finley, the Suns lost the first two games to the Spurs on the road at the Alamodome, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 94–93 at the America West Arena. However, the Suns lost Game 4 to the Spurs at home, 116–98, thus losing the series in four games.

Aftermath Following the season, Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets after four seasons with the Suns, while Perry was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Rencher was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 21 Michael Finley Guard/Forward Wisconsin 1 27 Mario Bennett Forward Arizona State 2 56 Chris Carr Guard Southern Illinois

The Suns received the 21st pick from a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1994. With the pick they would select future All-Star swingman Michael Finley from Wisconsin. Finley averaged 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in four years with the Badgers. On October 4, the Suns signed Finley to a three-year rookie contract for $2.17 million. In his rookie season, Finley would average 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Finley was traded to the Dallas Mavericks midway through his sophomore season for All-Star point guard Jason Kidd.

The Suns used their first-round pick to select small forward Mario Bennett from Arizona State. Bennett averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in three years with the Sun Devils. On October 4, the Suns signed Bennett to a three-year rookie contract for $1.66 million. Bennett underwent knee surgery before the season and remained on the injured reserve until March 1. Bennett would appear in just 19 regular season games, starting in 14 due to injuries, and two playoff games before being waived prior to the 1996–97 season.

The Suns used their second-round pick to select shooting guard Chris Carr from Southern Illinois. Carr averaged 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in three years with the Salukis. On October 2, the Suns signed Carr to a one-year rookie contract for $200,000. Carr appeared in 60 regular season games, starting in ten, and three playoff games. Carr would sign as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves after the season.

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Playoffs

Game log

Awards and honors

Week/Month Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Week for games played April 1 through April 7. Charles Barkley was named Player of the Month for February.

All-Star Charles Barkley was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his tenth consecutive All-Star selection. Barkley finished first in voting among Western Conference players with 1,268,195 votes. Other Suns players receiving All-Star votes were: A.C. Green (269,175). Michael Finley was selected to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest. Finley finished second, losing to champion Brent Barry in the final round. Michael Finley was selected to compete for the Western Conference in the Rookie Challenge.

Season Charles Barkley was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Barkley also finished 12th in MVP voting. Michael Finley was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Finley also finished tied in fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.

Injuries/Missed Games 10/31/95: Mario Bennett: Knee chondromalacia; placed on injured reserve until March 1 10/31/95: John Coker: Foot stress fracture; placed on injured reserve until March 8 10/31/95: Danny Manning: Torn ACL; placed on injured list until February 1 11/10/95: Kevin Johnson: Strained knee tendon; out until November 18 11/27/95: Wayman Tisdale: Sore shoulder; did not play 12/02/95: Kevin Johnson: Sore hamstring; did not play 12/08/95: Charles Barkley: Flu; did not play 12/08/95: Elliot Perry: Bruised lower back; did not play 12/16/95: Kevin Johnson: Strained groin; out until January 21 12/16/95: Stefano Rusconi: Flu; did not play 12/19/95: Hot Rod Williams: Sprained knee; out until December 27 01/04/96: Stefano Rusconi: Injured achilles tendon; out until waived on January 31 01/09/96: Charles Barkley: Sore toe; out until January 21 01/09/96: Hot Rod Williams: Leg nerve irritation; out until January 28 02/08/96: Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring, strained groin; out until February 19 02/13/96: Wayman Tisdale: Injured eye; did not play 03/01/96: Terrence Rencher: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until April 22 03/07/96: Wayman Tisdale: Bruised shoulder; did not play 03/08/96: Wayman Tisdale: Strained shoulder; placed on injured list until March 29 03/13/96: Danny Manning: Sprained ankle; out until March 21 03/29/96: John Coker: Sore foot, placed on injured list until April 22 04/02/96: Mario Bennett: Flu; out until April 10 04/07/96: Danny Manning: Knee tendinitis; out until April 16 04/10/96: Hot Rod Williams: Injured hand, wrist, foot; out until April 19 04/14/96: Joe Kleine: Fainting spell; out until April 26 04/16/96: Charles Barkley: Strained calf; out until April 26 04/21/96: Kevin Johnson: Strained calf; did not play 04/26/96: Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play 04/28/96: Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play 05/01/96: Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play 05/03/96: Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play

Player statistics

Season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG 71 71 37.1 .500 .280 .777 11.6 3.7 1.6 .8 23.2 19 14 12.1 .453 .000 .643 2.6 0.3 .6 .6 4.5 60 10 9.8 .415 .262 .817 1.7 0.7 .2 .1 4.0 5 0 2.2 .800† . . 0.4 0.2 .0 .2 1.6 82 72 39.2 .476 .328 .749 4.6 3.5 1.0 .4 15.0 82 36 25.8 .484 .269 .709 6.8 0.9 .5 .3 7.5 56 55 35.8 .507† .368 .859# 3.9 9.2 1.5 .2 18.7 56 9 11.8 .420 .286 .800 2.4 0.8 .2 .1 2.9 33 4 24.7 .459 .214 .752 4.3 2.0 1.2 .7 13.4 81 26 20.6 .475 .407^ .778 1.7 4.4 1.1 .1 8.6 82 47 31.8 .445 .374^ .771 3.9 1.7 .7 .3 12.7 * 2 0 4.0 1.000† . .333 1.0 0.0 .0 .5 1.5 7 0 4.3 .333 . .400 0.9 0.4 .0 .3 1.1 * 34 2 15.5 .405 .325 .649 1.6 2.5 .6 .1 5.6 63 6 18.3 .495 . .765 3.4 0.9 .2 .6 10.7 62 58 26.6 .453 .000 .731 6.0 1.0 .7 1.5 7.3 * 4 0 8.5 .167 . 1.000# 1.3 0.5 .3 .0 1.0

* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 300 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 82 three-pointers made. # – Minimum 125 free-throws made.

Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG 4 4 41.0 .443 .250 .787 13.5 3.8 1.0 1.0 25.5 2 0 4.0 .500 . . 1.5 0.0 .0 .0 2.0 3 0 12.0 .643 .667 .800 2.3 1.3 .7 .3 8.0 4 4 21.8 .353 .000 .875 4.5 0.5 .3 .0 4.8 4 4 37.8 .474 .250 .824 4.3 10.8 .5 .5 17.3 2 0 4.0 .000 . . 0.5 0.0 .5 .0 0.0 4 0 22.5 .458 .000 .625 2.8 1.3 1.0 .3 12.3 4 0 12.8 .500 . .000 0.5 3.0 .5 .0 3.5 4 4 45.8 .393 .310 .800 5.8 0.8 .8 .3 14.3 4 0 16.8 .333 . .500 1.0 0.5 .3 .3 5.3 4 4 28.8 .438 . .667 6.5 0.3 .0 1.8 9.0 Player statistics citation:

Transactions

Trades October 7, 1995 To Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Majerle Antonio Lang 1997 first-round draft pick ( Brevin Knight) To Phoenix Suns John "Hot Rod" Williams February 22, 1996 To Miami Heat Tony Smith To Phoenix Suns Terrence Rencher

Free agents

Additions Date Player Contract Former Team Signed multi-year contract Benetton Treviso Signed 6-year contract for $12 million Phoenix Suns Undisclosed Boise State Broncos Undisclosed Undisclosed Undisclosed Signed 2-year contract for $6.65 million Phoenix Suns Signed 6-year contract for $40 million Phoenix Suns Signed 1-year contract for $500,000 Los Angeles Lakers Signed 10-day contract Golden State Warriors

Subtractions Date Player Reason left New team Expansion draft Vancouver Grizzlies Retired (Retired) Waived Waived Waived 10-day contract expired Dallas Mavericks Waived Benetton Treviso

Player transactions citation:

References

Standings on Basketball Reference

1995–96 Phoenix Suns season

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