Head coach Johnny "Red" Kerr Owner(s) Richard Bloch | General manager Jerry Colangelo Record 16–66 (.195) | |
Arena Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Place Division: 7th (Western) | ||
The 1968–69 Phoenix Suns season was the inaugural season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. In the season Suns' debut, head coach Red Kerr led the franchise to its first win in a victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. No other season for the Suns contained as many losses as the franchise's first season, and it would not be long before the team provided the city of Phoenix with its first opportunity to host a home playoff game. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
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Dick Van Arsdale would become the franchise's first All-Star selection when he was selected to play in the 1969 All-Star Game. He was the team's second leading scorer at 21 points per game, behind eventual Hall of Fame member Gail Goodrich, who averaged 23.8, the seventh-highest in the league for the season. Goodrich was selected to replace an injured Jerry West in the All-Star Game.
NBA Expansion Draft
Along with the other expansion team that joined the league in 1968, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns participated in the league's fourth expansion draft. Each of the league's 12 existing teams protected seven of their top players, with the remaining unprotected players available in the draft. The two expansion teams would select three players from each team, totaling 18 selections each.
The Suns received the first, fourth and fifth picks, while the (as yet unnamed) Bucks received the second and third picks. The Suns' first selection was swingman Dick Van Arsdale of the New York Knicks. The Bucks then selected center Wayne Embry of the Boston Celtics, and power forward Fred Hetzel of the San Francisco Warriors. The Suns rounded out the top five by picking point guard Gail Goodrich of the Los Angeles Lakers and shooting guard Dick Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks.
All-Star
Season
Season
* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 230 field goals.
+ – Minimum 230 free throws.