The 1977-78 NBA season was a significant period for the Phoenix Suns, marking their 10th season in the league. Under the guidance of head coach John MacLeod, the Suns showcased a competitive performance throughout the season. The team finished with a 49-33 record, which positioned them second in the Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference.
The Suns were known for their balanced roster, with standout performances from players like Paul Westphal and Walter Davis. Westphal averaged 25.2 points per game, earning him a selection to the All-NBA First Team, while Davis, nicknamed “The Greyhound,” won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award with an impressive debut season performance. Alvan Adams also played a crucial role, contributing significantly to the team’s success with his versatility.
Phoenix’s offensive strategy was characterized by a fast-paced style that leveraged their athleticism. This approach helped them secure a playoff spot for the third consecutive year. In the postseason, the Suns faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, winning the series 2-0. However, their playoff run was halted in the Western Conference Semifinals by the Seattle SuperSonics, who defeated them in a hard-fought seven-game series.
Overall, the 1977-78 season was a testament to the Suns’ growth as a competitive force in the NBA. Despite falling short of the Western Conference Finals, the foundation set during this season would be pivotal for their future successes.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-2
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1977-78 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Westphal | 80 | 25.2 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 26.0 | 3.0 | 9.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Davis | 81 | 24.2 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 25.0 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alvan Adams | 70 | 15.5 | 8.1 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 2 | 16.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Ron Lee | 82 | 12.2 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Buse | 82 | 8.4 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gar Heard | 80 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Alvin Scott | 81 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Curtis Perry | 45 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mike Bratz | 80 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bayard Forrest | 64 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Griffin | 36 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Awtrey | 81 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Phoenix Suns in the 1978 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1978 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks in a hard-fought first-round series. The Suns emerged victorious, winning the best-of-three series 2-0, showcasing a balanced team effort led by standout performances from Paul Westphal and Walter Davis. This victory advanced the Suns to the Western Conference Semifinals, highlighting their resilience and depth as a team.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-103 | |
| Apr 14, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-90 |
Phoenix Suns 1977-78 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1977-78 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 100-83 | |
| Oct 23, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-101 | |
| Oct 25, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-86 | |
| Oct 28, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 114-107 | |
| Oct 29, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 125-112 | |
| Oct 31, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 145-143 | |
| Nov 03, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 110-89 | |
| Nov 04, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 113-96 | |
| Nov 05, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-94 | |
| Nov 10, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 127-111 | |
| Nov 13, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-107 | |
| Nov 18, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 103-101 | |
| Nov 20, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 134-112 | |
| Nov 22, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-107 | |
| Nov 24, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 97-82 | |
| Nov 25, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 118-110 | |
| Nov 27, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 115-97 | |
| Nov 29, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-96 | |
| Dec 02, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-103 | |
| Dec 04, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 96-89 | |
| Dec 06, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 07, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 10, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 110-93 | |
| Dec 14, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 113-103 | |
| Dec 16, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 126-113 | |
| Dec 17, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | W 101-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 134-129 | |
| Dec 20, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-99 | |
| Dec 21, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-119 | |
| Dec 23, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 129-110 | |
| Dec 26, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 127-108 | |
| Dec 27, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 131-105 | |
| Dec 29, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 110-104 | |
| Dec 30, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 03, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-103 | |
| Jan 04, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-83 | |
| Jan 05, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | W 121-111 | |
| Jan 07, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 107-97 | |
| Jan 11, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 142-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-100 | |
| Jan 15, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-104 | |
| Jan 19, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 134-114 | |
| Jan 20, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 119-104 | |
| Jan 22, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-101 | |
| Jan 25, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-96 | |
| Jan 27, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 131-100 | |
| Jan 31, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 112-102 | |
| Feb 01, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-120 | |
| Feb 03, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-105 | |
| Feb 09, 1978 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 125-98 | |
| Feb 12, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 121-109 | |
| Feb 14, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-100 | |
| Feb 16, 1978 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 98-95 | |
| Feb 17, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 111-92 | |
| Feb 18, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-101 | |
| Feb 21, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 114-111 | |
| Feb 22, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 107-95 | |
| Feb 24, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 121-120 | |
| Feb 25, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-115 | |
| Feb 28, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 126-115 | |
| Mar 01, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-102 | |
| Mar 03, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 132-126 | |
| Mar 05, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-92 | |
| Mar 07, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 126-112 | |
| Mar 09, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 112-103 | |
| Mar 11, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-114 | |
| Mar 12, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-112 | |
| Mar 14, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-106 | |
| Mar 15, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-98 | |
| Mar 17, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-108 | |
| Mar 19, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 123-112 | |
| Mar 21, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 119-115 | |
| Mar 23, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 120-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 112-106 | |
| Mar 29, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-94 | |
| Mar 31, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 136-112 | |
| Apr 02, 1978 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 105-99 | |
| Apr 04, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 125-119 | |
| Apr 06, 1978 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 111-105 | |
| Apr 07, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-83 | |
| Apr 08, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-109 |