The 1995-96 Phoenix Suns navigated a season filled with challenges and changes. The team, under head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, finished with a record of 41-41, placing them fourth in the Pacific Division. This record was enough to secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference, marking their eighth consecutive playoff appearance.
The season was notable for the major midseason trade that sent All-Star guard Dan Majerle to the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with Antonio Lang, in exchange for John “Hot Rod” Williams. This move aimed to bolster the Suns’ frontcourt but led to mixed results. Charles Barkley, in his fourth season with the team, continued to be a pivotal figure, averaging 23.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, showcasing his enduring impact on the court.
Kevin Johnson also played a significant role, contributing 18.7 points and 9.2 assists per game, solidifying his reputation as one of the premier point guards in the league. Despite these strong individual performances, the Suns struggled with consistency throughout the season, which was reflected in their .500 record.
In the playoffs, the Suns faced the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Spurs, led by MVP David Robinson, proved too formidable, sweeping the Suns in three games. The early exit highlighted the areas needing improvement and set the stage for off-season evaluations and adjustments as the team looked to return to its winning ways in the following season.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats for 1995-96 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Charles Barkley | 71 | 23.2 | 11.6 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 28.0 | 4 | 25.5 | 13.5 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 25.0 |
| Kevin Johnson | 56 | 18.7 | 3.9 | 9.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 36.8 | 4 | 17.3 | 4.3 | 10.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 25.0 |
| Michael Finley | 82 | 15.0 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 32.8 | |||||||
| Danny Manning | 33 | 13.4 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 21.4 | 4 | 12.3 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Wesley Person | 82 | 12.7 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 37.4 | 4 | 14.3 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 31.0 |
| Wayman Tisdale | 63 | 10.7 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Elliot Perry | 81 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 40.7 | 4 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 26.9 | 4 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Williams | 62 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 9.0 | 6.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Tony Smith | 34 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 32.5 | |||||||
| Mario Bennett | 19 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Carr | 60 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 26.2 | 3 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 66.7 |
| Joe Kleine | 56 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Coker | 5 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Terrence Rencher | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Stefano Rusconi | 7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| David Wood | 4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Phoenix Suns faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite a strong performance from Charles Barkley, who averaged 25.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, the Suns were eliminated, losing the series 3-1. The Spurs' balanced attack and home-court advantage proved too much for the Suns to overcome.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 120-98 | |
| Apr 28, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-105 | |
| May 01, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 94-93 | |
| May 03, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 116-98 |
Phoenix Suns 1995-96 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1995-96 season for the Phoenix Suns.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1995 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 112-106 | |
| Nov 05, 1995 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 106-104 | |
| Nov 07, 1995 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-94 | |
| Nov 08, 1995 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-109 | |
| Nov 10, 1995 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 112-108 | |
| Nov 12, 1995 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-109 | |
| Nov 15, 1995 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 137-127 | |
| Nov 17, 1995 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-96 | |
| Nov 18, 1995 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-102 | |
| Nov 22, 1995 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-112 | |
| Nov 25, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-113 | |
| Nov 27, 1995 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 114-105 | |
| Nov 29, 1995 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 01, 1995 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 111-105 | |
| Dec 02, 1995 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-93 | |
| Dec 05, 1995 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 112-108 | |
| Dec 08, 1995 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 103-98 | |
| Dec 09, 1995 | vs. Miami Heat | L 94-92 | |
| Dec 12, 1995 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 115-100 | |
| Dec 16, 1995 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 111-108 | |
| Dec 19, 1995 | @ Houston Rockets | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 20, 1995 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 22, 1995 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 101-80 | |
| Dec 25, 1995 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 105-100 | |
| Dec 27, 1995 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-90 | |
| Dec 29, 1995 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 30, 1995 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-112 | |
| Jan 04, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-93 | |
| Jan 05, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 94-88 | |
| Jan 09, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 105-100 | |
| Jan 11, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 140-130 | |
| Jan 14, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 89-74 | |
| Jan 17, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 113-95 | |
| Jan 19, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-84 | |
| Jan 21, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-97 | |
| Jan 23, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-102 | |
| Jan 24, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 101-91 | |
| Jan 26, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-97 | |
| Jan 28, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 93-82 | |
| Jan 30, 1996 | @ Miami Heat | W 114-99 | |
| Jan 31, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 120-84 | |
| Feb 02, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-85 | |
| Feb 04, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | W 123-115 | |
| Feb 06, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-96 | |
| Feb 08, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 13, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 15, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 96-84 | |
| Feb 16, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-99 | |
| Feb 19, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 98-94 | |
| Feb 21, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-107 | |
| Feb 23, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 110-105 | |
| Feb 25, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 110-87 | |
| Feb 28, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 117-93 | |
| Mar 01, 1996 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 102-97 | |
| Mar 03, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-114 | |
| Mar 05, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-95 | |
| Mar 07, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 103-92 | |
| Mar 08, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-97 | |
| Mar 10, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 122-106 | |
| Mar 12, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-88 | |
| Mar 13, 1996 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 15, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-102 | |
| Mar 17, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 103-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 104-96 | |
| Mar 23, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 98-89 | |
| Mar 24, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-98 | |
| Mar 29, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-85 | |
| Mar 31, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 97-83 | |
| Apr 02, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 111-104 | |
| Apr 04, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-100 | |
| Apr 05, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-121 | |
| Apr 07, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 112-92 | |
| Apr 09, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-91 | |
| Apr 10, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-79 | |
| Apr 14, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-114 | |
| Apr 16, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 111-100 | |
| Apr 17, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 103-102 | |
| Apr 19, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 123-103 | |
| Apr 21, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 118-110 |