The 1987-88 Phoenix Suns season marked a pivotal point in the franchise’s history, characterized by a significant turnaround from previous years. The Suns finished the regular season with a 28-54 record, which, while still underwhelming, was an improvement over the dismal 36-46 record of the previous year. This season was notable for the arrival of new head coach John Wetzel, who took over the role after the departure of John MacLeod.
The Suns struggled throughout the season, particularly on the defensive end, where they were among the league’s weakest teams. However, they showcased potential in several close games, indicating a foundation upon which future success could be built. Key player performances included those from Larry Nance, who was the team’s leading scorer, and Walter Davis, contributing significantly on offense. Nance was traded mid-season to the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking a significant roster change aimed at long-term growth.
Despite their struggles, the Suns’ season laid the groundwork for future rebuilding. The management pivoted towards acquiring young talent and draft picks, setting the stage for subsequent successful seasons in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The 1987-88 season, while challenging, was crucial in reshaping the team’s strategy and emphasizing the need for strategic acquisitions and player development.
- Regular Season Record: 28-54
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Nance | 40 | 21.1 | 9.9 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 40.0 | |||||||
| Walter Davis | 68 | 17.9 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 37.5 | |||||||
| Eddie Johnson | 73 | 17.7 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.5 | |||||||
| James Edwards | 43 | 15.7 | 7.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Armen Gilliam | 55 | 14.8 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jay Humphries | 50 | 12.7 | 3.0 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 18.8 | |||||||
| Kevin Johnson | 28 | 12.6 | 4.3 | 8.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Mark West | 29 | 11.8 | 8.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Craig Hodges | 23 | 10.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 54.4 | |||||||
| Jeff Hornacek | 82 | 9.5 | 3.2 | 6.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 29.3 | |||||||
| Tyrone Corbin | 30 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Alvan Adams | 82 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Mike Sanders | 35 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bernard Thompson | 37 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| James Bailey | 65 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bill Martin | 10 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Winston Crite | 29 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ron Moore | 5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jeff Cook | 33 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-104 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-96 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-109 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 130-115 | |
| Nov 13, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 109-92 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-113 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 90-80 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 112-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 109-103 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 120-114 | |
| Dec 05, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 133-115 | |
| Dec 06, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-105 | |
| Dec 11, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-104 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-110 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-114 | |
| Dec 20, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 120-109 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-104 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-102 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 28, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 117-101 | |
| Dec 30, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 120-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-114 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-95 | |
| Jan 07, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 105-91 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-98 | |
| Jan 11, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 127-115 | |
| Jan 13, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 117-106 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-113 | |
| Jan 20, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-115 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-108 | |
| Jan 24, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 128-109 | |
| Jan 27, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 121-102 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 128-119 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 126-120 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-99 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 113-101 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-95 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 107-102 | |
| Feb 13, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 116-114 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-106 | |
| Feb 17, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-103 | |
| Feb 18, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 122-114 | |
| Feb 20, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 128-108 | |
| Feb 22, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 114-107 | |
| Feb 25, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 116-106 | |
| Feb 28, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-97 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-109 | |
| Mar 03, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 135-112 | |
| Mar 04, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 116-108 | |
| Mar 08, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 143-113 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-111 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-88 | |
| Mar 13, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-107 | |
| Mar 15, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-90 | |
| Mar 16, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 118-112 | |
| Mar 19, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 21, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-99 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-96 | |
| Mar 24, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-114 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 30, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-105 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 151-107 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 111-106 | |
| Apr 06, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 119-93 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 112-111 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 95-92 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 123-119 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 123-116 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-114 | |
| Apr 16, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-119 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-107 | |
| Apr 20, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-98 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-112 | |
| Apr 24, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 127-119 |