The 2004–05 Phoenix Suns season was the 37th for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. The Suns finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20 under head coach Mike D'Antoni. The Suns sent three players to the All-Star Game, in Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion. The Suns gained from solid play from guards Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson. Nash finished the season averaging 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season, he ended up winning the MVP award. D'Antoni was awarded Coach of the Year and Bryan Colangelo Executive of the Year.
The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17.
After spending four and a half seasons in Phoenix, Joe Johnson left the team after the season and signed with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Suns drafted Luol Deng with the 7th pick, who was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls for second-round pick Jackson Vroman and a 2005 first-round pick. The Suns received the 16th pick (Kirk Snyder) in a trade with the New York Knicks, but traded the pick to the Utah Jazz. The Suns second-round pick was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2003.
After trading Stephon Marbury (owed $76 million through 2008–09) and Penny Hardaway (owed $30.4 million through 2005–06), the Suns freed enough cap space to sign free agent point guard Steve Nash to a 6-year, $65.6 million deal, with a sixth-year team option, and swingman Quentin Richardson to a 6-year, $43.5 million deal, with a sixth-year player option. The Suns also signed Steven Hunter, Yuta Tabuse and Derrick Dial as free agents. Hunter played the season as a back-up center, Tabuse played 4 games before being waived in December, and Dial was waived before the start of the season.
Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 14 through November 20.Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 21 through November 27.Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 5 through December 11.Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 12 through December 18.Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 19 through December 25.Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played February 6 through February 12.Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Month for November.Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.Mike D'Antoni was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for December.Steve Nash was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third All-Star selection. Nash finished third in the All-Star voting among Western Conference guards with 1,148,275 votes.Amar'e Stoudemire was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection. Stoudemire finished fifth in the All-Star voting among Western Conference forwards with 640,370 votes.Shawn Marion was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection. Marion finished eighth in the All-Star voting among Western Conference forwards with 264,203 votes.Amar'e Stoudemire was the runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest, losing to champion Josh Smith. This was the only All-Star Saturday competition not won by Phoenix.Quentin Richardson won the Three-Point Shootout.Steve Nash won the Skills Challenge competition with a time of 25.8 seconds.Team Phoenix, consisting of Shawn Marion, Diana Taurasi and Dan Majerle, won the Shooting Stars Competition.Steve Nash received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.Mike D'Antoni received the NBA Coach of the Year Award.Bryan Colangelo received the NBA Executive of the Year Award.Steve Nash was named to the All-NBA First Team.Amar'e Stoudemire was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Stoudemire also finished 9th in MVP voting, and 7th in Most Improved Player voting.Shawn Marion was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Marion also finished 14th in MVP voting, 5th in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and 22nd in Most Improved Player voting.Joe Johnson finished 20th in Most Improved Player voting.Steve Nash led the league in assists per game, with an 11.5 average.Quentin Richardson led the league (with Kyle Korver) in three-point field goals with 226.11/01/04: Žarko Čabarkapa: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until December 711/08/04: Yuta Tabuse: Strained quadriceps; placed on injured list until December 1011/10/04: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; did not play11/13/04: Jake Voskuhl: Flu; did not play11/16/04: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; did not play12/03/04: Maciej Lampe: Flu; did not play12/07/04: Jackson Vroman: Strained groin; placed on injured list until December 1812/10/04: Jake Voskuhl: Appendectomy; placed on injured list until January 301/02/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play01/04/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play01/05/05: Leandro Barbosa: Chicken pox; did not play01/10/05: Leandro Barbosa: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until February 401/15/05: Steve Nash: Bruised thigh; did not play01/17/05: Steve Nash: Bruised thigh; did not play01/19/05: Steve Nash: Back spasms; did not play02/14/05: Jim Jackson: Sprained foot; did not play02/23/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play02/26/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play02/27/05: Steve Nash; Strained hamstring; did not play03/05/05: Quentin Richardson; Hyperextended knee; did not play03/11/05: Shawn Marion: Bruised knee; did not play03/18/05: Jake Voskuhl: Sprained ankle; did not play03/20/05: Walter McCarty: Back spasms; did not play03/28/05: Amar'e Stoudemire: Ankle inflammation; did not play03/30/05: Amar'e Stoudemire: Ankle inflammation; did not play04/01/05: Walter McCarty: Personal reasons; did not play04/03/05: Walter McCarty: Personal reasons; did not play04/12/05: Quentin Richardson: Sprained ankle; did not play04/15/05: Quentin Richardson: Sprained ankle; did not play04/20/05: Steve Nash: Did not play05/11/05: Joe Johnson: Fractured orbital bone, mild concussion; placed on injured list until May 28* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
+ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
