The 1996-97 Phoenix Suns season was marked by significant changes and competitive play. The Suns, under head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, started the season with a 0-8 record, leading to Fitzsimmons stepping down and Danny Ainge taking over as head coach. Ainge, a former Suns player, managed to steer the team back into playoff contention with a more focused and energetic approach.
Key player transactions during the season included acquiring Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade involving Michael Finley, A.C. Green, and Sam Cassell. Kidd’s arrival bolstered the Suns’ backcourt and added a new dimension to their game, focusing on fast-paced offensive play and improved ball distribution. The Suns finished the regular season with a 40-42 record, securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, the Suns faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, Phoenix was eliminated in a hard-fought five-game series, losing 3-2. The series highlighted the Suns’ resilience and potential with Kidd at the helm, though it also underscored areas for improvement, particularly in their defensive strategies.
Overall, the 1996-97 season was a transitional period for the Suns, setting the foundation for future successes with key player acquisitions and leadership changes. The team’s performance under Ainge and the addition of Kidd were notable highlights, providing hope for the franchise’s direction in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 40-42
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kevin Johnson | 70 | 20.1 | 3.6 | 9.3 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 44.1 | 5 | 16.8 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 13.6 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 42 | 15.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 25.9 | 5 | 6.6 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 25.0 |
| Sam Cassell | 22 | 14.8 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 30.6 | |||||||
| Rex Chapman | 65 | 13.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 35.0 | 5 | 24.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 45.8 |
| Danny Manning | 77 | 13.5 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 19.4 | 5 | 13.2 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Wesley Person | 80 | 13.5 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 41.3 | 5 | 15.6 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 42.4 |
| Michael Finley | 27 | 13.0 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 25.5 | |||||||
| Jason Kidd | 33 | 11.6 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 40.0 | 5 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 36.4 |
| Mark Bryant | 41 | 9.3 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 68 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Robert Horry | 32 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 30.8 | |||||||
| Wayman Tisdale | 53 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 27 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Loren Meyer | 35 | 5.4 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 60.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Chucky Brown | 10 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Joe Kleine | 23 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 100.0 | |||||||
| Steve Nash | 65 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 41.8 | 4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| Rumeal Robinson | 12 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 30.0 | |||||||
| Mike Brown | 6 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dexter Boney | 8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 16.7 | |||||||
| Tony Dumas | 6 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Horacio Llamas | 20 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ben Davis | 20 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the first round of the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics, who were the second seed in the Western Conference. Despite a valiant effort, the Suns were unable to overcome the formidable Sonics, losing the series 3-2. The series was tightly contested, with the Suns pushing the Sonics to a decisive Game 5, showcasing their resilience against a strong opponent.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-101 | |
| Apr 27, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-78 | |
| Apr 29, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-103 | |
| May 01, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-115 | |
| May 03, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-92 |
Phoenix Suns 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-82 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 110-95 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-98 | |
| Nov 09, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-95 | |
| Nov 11, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 97-79 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-89 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 92-89 | |
| Nov 17, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-88 | |
| Nov 20, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 113-99 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-105 | |
| Nov 24, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 87-84 | |
| Nov 26, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 117-108 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 99-77 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-92 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-87 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 101-95 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 106-93 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 93-76 | |
| Dec 12, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | W 95-87 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-105 | |
| Dec 15, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 103-84 | |
| Dec 16, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 122-121 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-107 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-88 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 112-109 | |
| Dec 25, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-87 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 100-88 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 103-94 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-104 | |
| Jan 05, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-102 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-103 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-113 | |
| Jan 10, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-90 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-98 | |
| Jan 14, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 110-101 | |
| Jan 16, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 95-91 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-98 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 89-86 | |
| Jan 22, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-99 | |
| Jan 24, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 125-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 112-105 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-101 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 110-86 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 106-97 | |
| Feb 05, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 99-81 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-108 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 131-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-93 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 107-96 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 95-94 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 123-115 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 94-88 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 88-86 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-104 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 109-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-87 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 121-85 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 105-101 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-96 | |
| Mar 15, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-76 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 116-95 | |
| Mar 18, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 121-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 113-106 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-112 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-107 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-115 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-106 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 122-113 | |
| Apr 05, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-90 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-107 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 101-99 | |
| Apr 11, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-98 | |
| Apr 13, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 105-97 | |
| Apr 15, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 127-122 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 106-95 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | L 121-107 |