General manager Bryan Colangelo Arena America West Arena | Owner(s) Jerry Colangelo Record 53–29 (.646) | |
Head coach Danny Ainge,
Scott Skiles Place Division: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western) | ||
The 1999–00 Phoenix Suns season was the 32nd season for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns. During the offseason, the Suns acquired All-Star guard Anfernee Hardaway from the Orlando Magic, while signing free agent Rodney Rogers and re-signing former Suns center Oliver Miller. Scott Skiles would come on as head coach, replacing Danny Ainge. The Suns would finish third in the Pacific division at 53–29 and extend the franchise's record for playoff appearances before losing in the Western Conference semifinals.
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Clifford Robinson led the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game. Hardaway, Jason Kidd, Rodney Rogers, Tom Gugliotta and Shawn Marion rounded out a list of six Suns players averaging double-digits points. Kidd led the NBA in assists per game and was tied for fifth in steals while being selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. Rogers finished the regular season fourth in three-point field goal percentage and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Kidd would earn All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors. Late in the season, former All-Star point guard Kevin Johnson came out of his retirement and played in six games. He would then retire for the second time after the playoffs.
The Suns finished with the same regular season record, but did not have home court advantage going into their first round match-up with the San Antonio Spurs. Still, the Suns would advance to their first conference semifinals appearance since the 1994–95 season en route to taking the series three games to one. The Suns lost in the conference semifinals to new league MVP Shaquille O'Neal and the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers four games to one. Following the season, Rex Chapman retired, Miller was released and Luc Longley was traded to the New York Knicks.
NBA Draft
The Suns received the ninth pick from a trade with the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. With the pick they selected combo forward Shawn Marion from UNLV. Marion averaged 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.9 blocks per game in one year with the Runnin' Rebels. On July 30, the Suns signed him to a 4-year rookie contract for $5.9 million. Though missing two months with a knee injury, Marion averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his first season, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Marion would play over eight seasons with the Suns, becoming an All-Star four times and being named to the All-NBA Third Team twice, before being traded to the Miami Heat in 2008.
The Suns traded their first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in 1999. With the pick the Bulls selected future All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest (later Metta World Peace). They also traded their second-round pick to the Houston Rockets in 1996. With the pick the Rockets selected Tyrone Washington.
West First Round
(4) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Phoenix Suns Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 3-2)
Week/Month
All-Star
Season
Season
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 125 free throws made.
Playoffs
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.