The 1984-85 Phoenix Suns season was a challenging one for the franchise. The team, under the guidance of head coach John MacLeod, struggled to maintain consistency, finishing the regular season with a 36-46 record. This placed them fourth in the Pacific Division and out of playoff contention, marking the end of a six-year streak of postseason appearances for the Suns. Despite the overall record, the team showed flashes of potential, particularly in individual performances.
Walter Davis was a standout player for the Suns during this season, leading the team with an average of 20 points per game. Alvan Adams also provided solid contributions, anchoring the team with his versatility and experience. The Suns faced challenges with injuries and a lack of depth that hindered their ability to compete consistently against stronger teams in the league.
Throughout the season, the Suns displayed moments of competitive play, managing to pull off wins against top-tier teams, but they were unable to string together a significant winning streak. This inconsistency ultimately defined their season, as they ended up missing the playoffs by a considerable margin. The 1984-85 season was a period of transition for the Suns, prompting the organization to reassess and make necessary adjustments in the offseason to improve their competitiveness for future campaigns.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Nance | 61 | 19.9 | 8.8 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Walter Davis | 23 | 15.0 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 27.3 | |||||||
| James Edwards | 70 | 14.9 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Alvan Adams | 82 | 14.7 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 17.0 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Lucas | 63 | 13.4 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 19.7 | 11.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Kyle Macy | 65 | 11.0 | 2.8 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 26.7 | 3 | 10.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Mike Sanders | 21 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 17.3 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rod Foster | 79 | 8.8 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 33.1 | 3 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jay Humphries | 80 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 20.0 | 3 | 16.3 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Holton | 74 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 31.1 | 3 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Charles Jones | 78 | 8.4 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Charles Pittman | 68 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 13.3 | 6.3 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Alvin Scott | 77 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 3 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Michael Young | 2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Rick Robey | 4 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced an uphill battle in the first round as they went up against the formidable Los Angeles Lakers. Despite their efforts, the Suns were outmatched by the Lakers' star power and depth, resulting in a swift exit as Los Angeles swept the series 3-0. The Lakers' dominance was a testament to their championship-caliber play, which ultimately led them to win the NBA title that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 142-114 | |
| Apr 20, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 147-130 | |
| Apr 23, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-103 |
Phoenix Suns 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 122-114 | |
| Oct 28, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-87 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-96 | |
| Nov 01, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 139-130 | |
| Nov 03, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-93 | |
| Nov 06, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-99 | |
| Nov 08, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-111 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 114-107 | |
| Nov 13, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-110 | |
| Nov 14, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 98-86 | |
| Nov 16, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-106 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-94 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 130-108 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-97 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-117 | |
| Nov 25, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 114-109 | |
| Nov 27, 1984 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 115-102 | |
| Nov 29, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 100-95 | |
| Dec 01, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-103 | |
| Dec 03, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-96 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-104 | |
| Dec 07, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 121-113 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 120-112 | |
| Dec 13, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 116-86 | |
| Dec 15, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 120-111 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 127-116 | |
| Dec 21, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-105 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-108 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 119-114 | |
| Dec 28, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 125-111 | |
| Dec 30, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-109 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 115-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-98 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 09, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-88 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 98-84 | |
| Jan 12, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 109-94 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 98-95 | |
| Jan 18, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 112-101 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 106-100 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-97 | |
| Jan 23, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 101-100 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-105 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 128-100 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 110-93 | |
| Feb 03, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-109 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 108-103 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 105-97 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 126-114 | |
| Feb 14, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 131-102 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 126-103 | |
| Feb 17, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 115-97 | |
| Feb 18, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 126-122 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 118-111 | |
| Feb 24, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 117-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 28, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 117-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 114-111 | |
| Mar 04, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 107-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 119-117 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-119 | |
| Mar 13, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-106 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-96 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 130-112 | |
| Mar 21, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-104 | |
| Mar 23, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-109 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 119-93 | |
| Mar 28, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 116-110 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 123-114 | |
| Mar 31, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-109 | |
| Apr 04, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 110-103 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-94 | |
| Apr 07, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-110 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-100 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 96-92 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 124-111 |