The 1970–71 Phoenix Suns season was the third season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons lead the Suns, in the NBA's first season which separated the teams into both conferences and divisions as the league continued to gain more teams. It was the first season the Suns would be without the services of All-Star guard Gail Goodrich. With a 48–34 record (fourth best in the league), the Suns set the NBA record for the team with the best winning percentage not to make the playoffs. The team would break their own record the next year with a 49–33 finish. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Suns were led in scoring by Dick Van Arsdale with 21.9 points per game. Connie Hawkins finished the season averaging 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. Paul Silas led the Suns with 12.5 rebounds per game, the highest-ever average in Suns history, while Neal Walk garnered 8.2 rebounds to go with his 12.9 points a game.
Goodrich, a native of Los Angeles and who played college ball at UCLA, was traded before the season back to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had played before being acquired in the expansion draft of 1968. In exchange, the Suns obtained the 29-year-old 7-footer Mel Counts, who was coming off a career-high 12.6 average in points. Goodrich would go on to play nine more seasons in the NBA, six of those with the Lakers. During those six years, he would average 22.3 points per game, appear in four All-Star Games and be named to an All-NBA First Team. Meanwhile, Counts averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds in his first of two seasons with the Suns.
Offseason
NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 10 Greg Howard Forward New Mexico 2 27 Fred Taylor Guard Texas-Pan Am 3 29 Joe DePre Guard St. John's 3 44 Greg McDivitt Forward Ohio 3 48 Vann Williford Forward North Carolina State 4 61 Bob Lienhard Center Georgia 5 78 John Canine Guard Ohio 6 95 Joe Thomas Forward Marquette 7 112 Heyward Dotson Guard Columbia 8 129 Steve Patterson Center UCLA 9 146 Carl Ashley Forward Wyoming 10 163 Gerhardus Schreur Forward Arizona State 11 178 Jim Walls Guard Clark 12 190 Ric Cobb Center Marquette 13 200 Fred Carpenter Forward Hawaii 14 210 Chad Calabria Guard Iowa 15 219 Walt Williams Forward Miami (Ohio)
Roster
Regular season
Standings
Game log
!!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 15 | San Diego | W 119–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,523 | 1–0 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 17 | Detroit | L 107–110 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,646 | 1–1 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 20 | @ San Diego | L 114–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | San Diego Sports Arena7,246 | 1–2 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 21 | @ Seattle | L 106–110 | Greg Howard (26) | Seattle Center Coliseum6,923 | 1–3 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | October 23 | Cleveland | W 108–104 | Connie Hawkins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,822 | 2–3 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | October 25 | San Diego | W 117–98 | Clem Haskins (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,697 | 3–3 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | October 28 | Chicago | L 105–118 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,343 | 3–4 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 30 | @ Boston | L 112–127 | Paul Silas (23) | Boston Garden5,392 | 3–5 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | October 31 | @ Baltimore | L 103–106 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Baltimore Civic Center4,527 | 3–6 | L 3 |- !!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 2 | Buffalo | W 110–102 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,000 | 4–6 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 4 | @ Cincinnati | W 133–115 | Clem Haskins,Connie Hawkins,Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Cincinnati Gardens2,091 | 5–6 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 6 | @ Chicago | W 105–102 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Chicago Stadium8,107 | 6–6 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 7 | @ Atlanta | W 107–100 | Connie Hawkins (21) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum5,116 | 7–6 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 8 | @ Milwaukee | L 105–125 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 7–7 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | November 11 | Portland | W 114–100 | Dick Van Arsdale (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,020 | 8–7 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 13 | Cincinnati | W 115–109 | Clem Haskins,Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,802 | 9–7 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 15 | Detroit | W 108–104 | Clem Haskins (28) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,344 | 10–7 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 17 | @ New York | L 100–103 | Clem Haskins,Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Madison Square Garden18,275 | 10–8 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | November 19 | @ Detroit | L 110–112 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Cobo Arena3,594 | 10–9 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | November 20 | @ Baltimore | L 110–121 | Connie Hawkins (23) | Baltimore Civic Center4,572 | 10–10 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 21 | @ Philadelphia | W 125–119 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | The Spectrum6,519 | 11–10 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | November 22 | @ Cleveland | W 114–99 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Cleveland Arena2,405 | 12–10 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | November 24 | @ Buffalo | L 106–112 | Clem Haskins (25) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium7,209 | 12–11 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | November 26 | Seattle | W 126–115 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,192 | 13–11 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | November 27 | @ Los Angeles | W 116–105 | Paul Silas (27) | The Forum13,089 | 14–11 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | November 28 | San Diego | L 116–117 | Connie Hawkins (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,470 | 14–12 | L 1 !!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 2 | Atlanta | W 126–112 | Connie Hawkins (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,907 | 15–12 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 4 | @ Portland | W 126–121 | Connie Hawkins (29) | Memorial Coliseum3,927 | 16–12 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 5 | @ San Francisco | W 105–100 | Connie Hawkins (24) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,481 | 17–12 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 6 | San Diego | W 108–102 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,935 | 18–12 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | December 8 | Los Angeles | L 112–121 | Connie Hawkins (24) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,702 | 18–13 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | December 11 | @ San Diego | L 104–110 | Connie Hawkins (26) | San Diego Sports Arena8,365 | 18–14 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | December 12 | Milwaukee | W 113–111 | Dick Van Arsdale (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum11,002 | 19–14 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | December 15 | San Francisco | L 123–129 | Clem Haskins (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,901 | 19–15 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | December 17 | Detroit | W 117–114 (OT) | Connie Hawkins (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,548 | 20–15 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | December 19 | @ Seattle | L 131–135 | Dick Van Arsdale (35) | Seattle Center Coliseum6,443 | 20–16 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | December 20 | New York | L 118–133 | Dick Van Arsdale (20) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,445 | 20–17 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | December 22 | Philadelphia | L 129–133 (OT) | Connie Hawkins (33) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,248 | 20–18 | L 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | December 25 | Atlanta | W 127–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,186 | 21–18 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | December 26 | Portland | W 115–103 | Neal Walk (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,102 | 22–18 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | December 27 | @ Los Angeles | L 110–128 | Neal Walk (20) | The Forum15,163 | 22–19 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | December 30 | Los Angeles | W 132–114 | Clem Haskins (31) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,164 | 23–19 | W 1 |- !!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | January 2 | @ San Francisco | W 122–116 (OT) | Dick Van Arsdale (31) | Cow Palace3,812 | 24–19 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 3 | San Francisco | W 102–81 | Clem Haskins (32) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,196 | 25–19 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 8 | @ Boston | L 114–122 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Boston Garden7,124 | 25–20 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | January 9 | @ Philadelphia | L 112–123 | Clem Haskins (22) | The Spectrum7,826 | 25–21 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | January 10 | @ Atlanta | W 116–105 | Paul Silas (23) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum4,447 | 26–21 | W 1 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 14 | New York | W 107–88 | Dick Van Arsdale (25) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,051 | 27–21 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | January 16 | Baltimore | W 117–100 | Clem Haskins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,002 | 28–21 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | January 18 | @ Cincinnati | W 118–99 | Clem Haskins (29) | Omaha, Nebraska3,149 | 29–21 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | January 20 | Cincinnati | L 114–126 | Clem Haskins (27) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,586 | 29–22 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | January 22 | Philadelphia | L 116–117 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,059 | 29–23 | L 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | January 24 | Chicago | W 113–112 | Mel Counts,Paul Silas (18) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,923 | 30–23 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | January 26 | Buffalo | W 114–82 | Dick Van Arsdale (23) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,486 | 31–23 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | January 28 | Los Angeles | W 118–112 | Mel Counts (29) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,036 | 32–23 | W 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | January 29 | @ Portland | W 131–122 | Dick Van Arsdale (36) | Memorial Coliseum5,877 | 33–23 | W 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | January 30 | Seattle | W 134–116 | Dick Van Arsdale (30) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,412 | 34–23 | W 5 |- !!Streak |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 4 | San Francisco | L 105–117 | Connie Hawkins (26) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum6,711 | 34–24 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | February 6 | Cleveland | W 119–91 | Neal Walk,John Wetzel (22) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,812 | 35–24 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 8 | @ Milwaukee | L 94–118 | Connie Hawkins (23) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 35–25 | L 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 9 | @ Baltimore | W 120–115 | Dick Van Arsdale (27) | Baltimore Civic Center4,054 | 36–25 | W 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 12 | @ Cleveland | W 114–105 | Dick Van Arsdale (24) | Cleveland Arena4,297 | 37–25 | W 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | February 13 | @ New York | L 97–114 | Connie Hawkins (25) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 37–26 | L 1