The 1975-76 Phoenix Suns season marked a significant turning point for the franchise, as they reached the NBA Finals for the first time in their history. Under the leadership of head coach John MacLeod, the Suns finished the regular season with a 42-40 record, securing the third seed in the Western Conference.
Key players for the Suns included Paul Westphal, Alvan Adams, and Gar Heard. Westphal, acquired in an offseason trade, quickly became the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.5 points per game. Rookie center Alvan Adams made an immediate impact, earning Rookie of the Year honors and averaging 19.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
In the playoffs, the Suns defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round and then overcame the Golden State Warriors in a thrilling seven-game series in the Western Conference Finals. This set up a showdown with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, where the Suns were considered underdogs.
The Finals featured one of the most memorable games in NBA history: Game 5, a triple-overtime thriller won by the Celtics. Despite their efforts, the Suns fell to Boston in six games, losing the series 4-2. Nevertheless, the 1975-76 season is remembered as a milestone for the Suns, establishing them as a competitive force in the league and igniting a passion for basketball within the Phoenix community.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Western Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 2-4
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1975-76 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Westphal | 82 | 20.5 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 19 | 21.1 | 2.5 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Alvan Adams | 80 | 19.0 | 9.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 19 | 17.9 | 10.1 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Curtis Perry | 71 | 13.3 | 9.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 19 | 12.7 | 7.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 58 | 12.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 19 | 8.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Gar Heard | 36 | 12.4 | 9.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 19 | 13.9 | 10.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| John Shumate | 43 | 11.3 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Keith Erickson | 74 | 10.1 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 19 | 11.3 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Ricky Sobers | 78 | 9.2 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 19 | 13.0 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Nate Hawthorne | 79 | 6.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 15 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Awtrey | 74 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 19 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Pat Riley | 60 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Saunders | 17 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mike Bantom | 8 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Phil Lumpkin | 34 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Wetzel | 37 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Phoenix Suns in the 1976 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns made a remarkable run in the second round by defeating the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, in a tense seven-game series. The Suns, led by standout performances from Paul Westphal and Alvan Adams, showcased their resilience and strategic prowess to overcome the Warriors, ultimately paving the way for their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. This victory marked a significant milestone in the Suns' franchise history, highlighting their emergence as a formidable team in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-99 | |
| Apr 15, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-111 | |
| Apr 18, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-91 | |
| Apr 20, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-114 | |
| Apr 25, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-108 | |
| Apr 27, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-112 |
1976 Conference Championship vs. Golden State Warriors
In the 1976 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns made a surprising run to the Conference Finals, ultimately defeating the reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors, in seven games. This victory propelled the Suns into their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, where they faced the Boston Celtics in a memorable series featuring the iconic triple-overtime Game 5. The Suns' tenacity and teamwork during this playoff run helped establish them as a formidable team in the league's history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-103 | |
| May 05, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-101 | |
| May 07, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 99-91 | |
| May 09, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 133-129 | |
| May 12, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-95 | |
| May 14, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 105-104 | |
| May 16, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 94-86 |
1976 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-87 | |
| May 27, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-90 | |
| May 30, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-98 | |
| Jun 02, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-107 | |
| Jun 04, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-126 | |
| Jun 06, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 87-80 |
Phoenix Suns 1975-76 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1975-76 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1975 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 89-88 | |
| Oct 26, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-99 | |
| Nov 01, 1975 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 04, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 96-80 | |
| Nov 07, 1975 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-99 | |
| Nov 08, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 110-105 | |
| Nov 11, 1975 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-81 | |
| Nov 13, 1975 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-103 | |
| Nov 14, 1975 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-107 | |
| Nov 19, 1975 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 96-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1975 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 107-92 | |
| Nov 26, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 107-106 | |
| Nov 28, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-101 | |
| Nov 29, 1975 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1975 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1975 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 92-87 | |
| Dec 07, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-97 | |
| Dec 09, 1975 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 104-89 | |
| Dec 10, 1975 | @ Houston Rockets | W 105-91 | |
| Dec 11, 1975 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-106 | |
| Dec 13, 1975 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-108 | |
| Dec 14, 1975 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-96 | |
| Dec 17, 1975 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-111 | |
| Dec 19, 1975 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 128-124 | |
| Dec 21, 1975 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 120-107 | |
| Dec 25, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 122-111 | |
| Dec 26, 1975 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-106 | |
| Dec 28, 1975 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 88-85 | |
| Dec 30, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-88 | |
| Jan 01, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-103 | |
| Jan 03, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 100-89 | |
| Jan 04, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 98-86 | |
| Jan 07, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 114-110 | |
| Jan 08, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 129-113 | |
| Jan 09, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-110 | |
| Jan 11, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | L 99-98 | |
| Jan 15, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 126-119 | |
| Jan 17, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-85 | |
| Jan 18, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-118 | |
| Jan 20, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 112-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-100 | |
| Jan 23, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 124-115 | |
| Jan 24, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 100-84 | |
| Jan 28, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-118 | |
| Jan 29, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-96 | |
| Jan 31, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 06, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-111 | |
| Feb 08, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-94 | |
| Feb 13, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 14, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 112-93 | |
| Feb 17, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 114-111 | |
| Feb 18, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 105-94 | |
| Feb 20, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 103-102 | |
| Feb 21, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | W 110-108 | |
| Feb 24, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 120-117 | |
| Feb 26, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-97 | |
| Feb 28, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 92-89 | |
| Feb 29, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 109-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-92 | |
| Mar 05, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-97 | |
| Mar 06, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-84 | |
| Mar 10, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-108 | |
| Mar 11, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 13, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-77 | |
| Mar 14, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-106 | |
| Mar 16, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 120-87 | |
| Mar 18, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 20, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-93 | |
| Mar 23, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-98 | |
| Mar 27, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 117-100 | |
| Mar 28, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-97 | |
| Mar 30, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-97 | |
| Mar 31, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-102 | |
| Apr 02, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-103 | |
| Apr 03, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-97 | |
| Apr 04, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-89 | |
| Apr 06, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-106 | |
| Apr 08, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-98 | |
| Apr 10, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-95 |