The 1985-86 Phoenix Suns season was marked by significant challenges and underwhelming performances on the court. The team, coached by John MacLeod, struggled to find consistency, finishing the regular season with a record of 32-50. This performance placed them fifth in the Pacific Division, effectively keeping them out of playoff contention.
During this season, the Suns faced difficulties despite having talented players like Walter Davis, who was a key offensive contributor. However, the team struggled with defensive inconsistencies and lacked depth, which hindered their ability to compete against stronger opponents. Injuries also played a role in the team’s struggles, disrupting team chemistry and performance.
The Suns made several attempts to improve their roster throughout the season. Notably, they acquired Ed Pinckney and multiple draft picks in a trade with the Sacramento Kings, reflecting the team’s desire to rebuild and strengthen their roster for future success. Despite these efforts, the immediate impact was minimal, and the team continued to face challenges.
Overall, the 1985-86 season was a tough period for the Phoenix Suns, highlighting the need for strategic changes and player development. The team’s management aimed to use this season as a learning experience to rebuild and focus on future prospects, looking to return to playoff contention in the coming years.
- Regular Season Record: 32-50
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Walter Davis | 70 | 21.8 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 23.7 | |||||||
| Larry Nance | 73 | 20.2 | 8.5 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| James Edwards | 52 | 16.3 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jay Humphries | 82 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 13.8 | |||||||
| Mike Sanders | 82 | 11.0 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Alvan Adams | 78 | 10.8 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ed Pinckney | 80 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bernard Thompson | 61 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Sedric Toney | 10 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 30.0 | |||||||
| Charles Pittman | 69 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Nick Vanos | 11 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Georgi Glouchkov | 49 | 4.9 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 100.0 | |||||||
| Charles Jones | 43 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Devin Durrant | 4 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Rod Foster | 48 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 28.1 | |||||||
| Rick Robey | 46 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Michael Holton | 4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 128-123 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 142-127 | |
| Oct 31, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 144-107 | |
| Nov 01, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 121-110 | |
| Nov 06, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 114-106 | |
| Nov 08, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 125-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 127-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | L 103-93 | |
| Nov 13, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 108-101 | |
| Nov 15, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-99 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-105 | |
| Nov 19, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 123-119 | |
| Nov 20, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-100 | |
| Nov 22, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 104-96 | |
| Nov 24, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 140-138 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 111-107 | |
| Nov 27, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-93 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 126-110 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 118-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 100-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 111-92 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 123-113 | |
| Dec 12, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-102 | |
| Dec 14, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-92 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-99 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 107-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-98 | |
| Dec 26, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 105-98 | |
| Dec 28, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 133-104 | |
| Jan 06, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-97 | |
| Jan 08, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-97 | |
| Jan 10, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 117-104 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 128-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-98 | |
| Jan 14, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 143-122 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-100 | |
| Jan 18, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-87 | |
| Jan 20, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 22, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-111 | |
| Jan 23, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-112 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 133-114 | |
| Jan 28, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 136-130 | |
| Jan 29, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | L 117-112 | |
| Feb 01, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 112-111 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 127-118 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 120-112 | |
| Feb 12, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-95 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 18, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 120-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 118-110 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-97 | |
| Feb 25, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-99 | |
| Feb 26, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-112 | |
| Feb 28, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-106 | |
| Mar 03, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 139-138 | |
| Mar 05, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 115-100 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 09, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-111 | |
| Mar 10, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-109 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 127-126 | |
| Mar 16, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 130-112 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-109 | |
| Mar 19, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-104 | |
| Mar 21, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 105-103 | |
| Mar 22, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 119-109 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-107 | |
| Mar 28, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 107-96 | |
| Mar 30, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-89 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 128-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-101 | |
| Apr 04, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 112-89 | |
| Apr 05, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 119-100 | |
| Apr 07, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 131-123 | |
| Apr 09, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 114-102 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-113 | |
| Apr 12, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | W 110-92 | |
| Apr 13, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-99 |