The 1992-93 Phoenix Suns season marked a significant period in the franchise’s history, highlighted by their remarkable performance and deep playoff run. Under the leadership of head coach Paul Westphal, the Suns finished the regular season with an impressive 62-20 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. This success was largely attributed to the acquisition of Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers, who made an immediate impact and went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award that season.
The Suns boasted a talented roster that included Kevin Johnson, who was pivotal at the point guard position, and Dan Majerle, known for his sharpshooting and defensive prowess. The team played its home games at the newly opened America West Arena, where they displayed a high-octane offense that quickly became a hallmark of their success.
In the playoffs, Phoenix advanced past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, overcame the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals, and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Finals. This playoff run secured the Suns’ spot in the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. However, despite a valiant effort, they fell to the Chicago Bulls in six games, with Michael Jordan leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship. Nonetheless, the 1992-93 season remains one of the most memorable in Suns’ history, establishing them as formidable contenders in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 62-20
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Western Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 2-4
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1992-93 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Charles Barkley | 76 | 25.6 | 12.2 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 30.5 | 24 | 26.6 | 13.6 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 22.2 |
| Dan Majerle | 82 | 16.9 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 38.1 | 24 | 15.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 39.4 |
| Kevin Johnson | 49 | 16.1 | 2.1 | 7.8 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 12.5 | 23 | 17.8 | 2.7 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Richard Dumas | 48 | 15.8 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 33.3 | 23 | 10.9 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 74 | 12.8 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 16 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Tom Chambers | 73 | 12.2 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 39.3 | 24 | 7.3 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 40.0 |
| Danny Ainge | 80 | 11.8 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 40.3 | 24 | 8.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 41.3 |
| Negele Knight | 52 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Oliver Miller | 56 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 24 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Mark West | 82 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 24 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Jerrod Mustaf | 32 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Frank Johnson | 77 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.3 | 22 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.4 |
| Alex Stivrins | 10 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tim Kempton | 30 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kurt Rambis | 5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced a tough challenge against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being the top seed, the Suns found themselves in a surprising 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series. However, they showcased resilience and championship potential by winning three consecutive games, with Charles Barkley's dominant performances leading them to a dramatic series victory.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-103 | |
| May 02, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 86-81 | |
| May 04, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-102 | |
| May 06, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-86 | |
| May 09, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-104 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the second round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling series that went to six games. Led by the MVP-caliber performances of Charles Barkley, the Suns leveraged their high-octane offense and depth to outlast the Spurs, securing a 4-2 series victory. This series win propelled them into the Western Conference Finals, underscoring their status as a formidable contender that season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 98-89 | |
| May 13, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 109-103 | |
| May 15, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-96 | |
| May 16, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-103 | |
| May 18, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 109-97 | |
| May 20, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 102-100 |
1993 Conference Championship vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns, led by league MVP Charles Barkley, reached the Western Conference Finals with a gritty and dynamic style of play. They faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics, ultimately triumphing in a thrilling seven-game series. Barkley's leadership and the Suns' depth were pivotal in securing their spot in the NBA Finals, marking a significant moment in the franchise's history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-91 | |
| May 26, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-99 | |
| May 28, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-97 | |
| May 30, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-101 | |
| Jun 01, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-114 | |
| Jun 03, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-102 | |
| Jun 05, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-110 |
1993 NBA Finals vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1993 NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns, led by MVP Charles Barkley, faced off against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in a thrilling six-game series. Despite Barkley’s stellar performances and a strong supporting cast, including Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle, the Suns fell short, losing 4-2 as Jordan's relentless scoring and clutch performances proved decisive. Game 6 was particularly heartbreaking for the Suns, as John Paxson's last-minute three-pointer sealed the Bulls' third consecutive championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 09, 1993 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 100-92 | |
| Jun 11, 1993 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-108 | |
| Jun 13, 1993 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 129-121 | |
| Jun 16, 1993 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-105 | |
| Jun 18, 1993 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-98 | |
| Jun 20, 1993 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 99-98 |
Phoenix Suns 1992-93 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1992-93 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 07, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1992 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-89 | |
| Nov 12, 1992 | @ Utah Jazz | W 102-91 | |
| Nov 14, 1992 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 108-101 | |
| Nov 16, 1992 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-108 | |
| Nov 18, 1992 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 127-111 | |
| Nov 21, 1992 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 111-107 | |
| Nov 22, 1992 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 128-111 | |
| Nov 25, 1992 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-117 | |
| Nov 27, 1992 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 121-107 | |
| Nov 28, 1992 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 134-131 | |
| Dec 01, 1992 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 109-90 | |
| Dec 04, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-93 | |
| Dec 06, 1992 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-112 | |
| Dec 08, 1992 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 09, 1992 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 110-101 | |
| Dec 11, 1992 | @ Orlando Magic | W 108-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1992 | @ Miami Heat | W 122-118 | |
| Dec 15, 1992 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 18, 1992 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-100 | |
| Dec 22, 1992 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 23, 1992 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 111-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1992 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-110 | |
| Dec 27, 1992 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 129-88 | |
| Dec 30, 1992 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 133-110 | |
| Jan 03, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-113 | |
| Jan 05, 1993 | @ Houston Rockets | W 106-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1993 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 111-107 | |
| Jan 12, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-113 | |
| Jan 14, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 114-104 | |
| Jan 15, 1993 | vs. Miami Heat | W 107-99 | |
| Jan 18, 1993 | @ New York Knicks | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 20, 1993 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 123-119 | |
| Jan 22, 1993 | @ Washington Bullets | W 122-115 | |
| Jan 23, 1993 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 110-91 | |
| Jan 25, 1993 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 121-119 | |
| Jan 27, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 117-116 | |
| Jan 29, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 125-110 | |
| Jan 30, 1993 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 126-105 | |
| Feb 02, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 112-108 | |
| Feb 03, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 122-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 132-104 | |
| Feb 07, 1993 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 10, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-100 | |
| Feb 11, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 122-100 | |
| Feb 13, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-94 | |
| Feb 16, 1993 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-97 | |
| Feb 18, 1993 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 131-119 | |
| Feb 23, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-103 | |
| Feb 25, 1993 | @ Houston Rockets | L 131-104 | |
| Feb 26, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 28, 1993 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-94 | |
| Mar 02, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-97 | |
| Mar 03, 1993 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-115 | |
| Mar 05, 1993 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 130-122 | |
| Mar 06, 1993 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 109-102 | |
| Mar 09, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 128-108 | |
| Mar 10, 1993 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-100 | |
| Mar 12, 1993 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 116-98 | |
| Mar 13, 1993 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 124-93 | |
| Mar 17, 1993 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-111 | |
| Mar 19, 1993 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 127-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1993 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 109-108 | |
| Mar 23, 1993 | vs. New York Knicks | W 121-92 | |
| Mar 24, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-105 | |
| Mar 26, 1993 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-103 | |
| Mar 28, 1993 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-100 | |
| Mar 30, 1993 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 113-109 | |
| Apr 02, 1993 | @ Boston Celtics | W 118-114 | |
| Apr 04, 1993 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 110-100 | |
| Apr 06, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 115-114 | |
| Apr 08, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 123-114 | |
| Apr 09, 1993 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 98-97 | |
| Apr 11, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 112-99 | |
| Apr 12, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 111-104 | |
| Apr 14, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 98-84 | |
| Apr 16, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-102 | |
| Apr 17, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | L 110-101 | |
| Apr 19, 1993 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 111-97 | |
| Apr 22, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-114 | |
| Apr 24, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 99-97 | |
| Apr 25, 1993 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 120-118 |