The 1983–84 Phoenix Suns season was the 16th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . The Suns were in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, extending a then-franchise record. The Suns eliminated their first round opponent, Portland , three games to two before defeating the Utah Jazz and NBA leading scorer, Adrian Dantley , four games to two. In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The team was led by head coach John MacLeod , in his 11th year with the Suns, and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum .
Walter Davis led the Suns in scoring with 20 points per game. Larry Nance , who finished the season fourth in the NBA in blocks per game for the second straight year, was second in team scoring at 17.7. Davis returned to the All-Star Game , the only Sun from the season to be selected to do so. Maurice Lucas again averaged a double-double again for the Suns with 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Although Nance did not earn his first All-Star selection until the next season , he did participate in the NBA's first Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Weekend. While Julius Erving ("Dr. J") provided a memorable dunk from the foul line, it was Nance who was crowned the league's first Slam Dunk champion.[ 1]
1983–84 Phoenix Suns roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
33
Adams, Alvan
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1954-07-19
Oklahoma
G/F
6
Davis, Walter
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1954-09-09
North Carolina
C
53
Edwards, James
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1955-11-22
Washington
PG
10
Foster, Rod
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
1960-10-10
UCLA
F/C
20
Lucas, Maurice
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1952-02-18
Marquette
PG
4
Macy, Kyle
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1957-04-09
Kentucky
F
22
Nance, Larry
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1959-02-12
Clemson
F
32
Pittman, Charles
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1958-03-23
Maryland
C
8
Robey, Rick
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1956-01-30
Kentucky
SF
7
Sanders, Mike
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1960-05-07
UCLA
SF
14
Scott, Alvin
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1955-09-14
Oral Roberts
SG
44
Westphal, Paul
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1950-11-30
USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Record vs. opponents
edit
1983–84 NBA records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
KCK
LAL
MIL
NJN
NYK
PHI
PHO
POR
SAS
SDC
SEA
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
—
0–5
4–2
3–3
1–1
0–2
2–4
1–1
1–1
4–2
0–2
0–2
3–3
3–3
4–1
5–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–2
Boston
5–0
—
5–0
6–0
2–0
2–0
4–2
2–0
1–1
5–1
2–0
0–2
5–1
4–2
3–3
2–4
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–2
Chicago
2–4
0–5
—
2–4
1–1
0–2
1–5
2–0
0–2
3–3
1–1
0–2
2–4
2–4
2–4
2–3
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
Cleveland
3–3
0–6
4–2
—
1–1
0–2
1–5
1–1
1–1
2–4
0–2
0–2
1–5
2–3
1–5
2–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–1
Dallas
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
—
4–2
0–2
4–1
4–2
2–0
3–3
3–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–2
2–3
4–2
4–1
1–4
4–2
0–2
Denver
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–4
—
1–1
2–3
4–2
0–2
4–2
1–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–3
1–4
3–3
3–2
2–3
3–3
0–2
Detroit
4–2
2–4
5–1
5–1
2–0
1–1
—
1–1
1–1
4–2
1–1
1–1
3–2
1–4
4–2
3–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–3
Golden State
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–4
3–2
1–1
—
2–3
2–0
4–1
3–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–5
2–4
3–2
3–3
4–2
1–4
2–0
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–4
2–4
1–1
3–2
—
1–1
2–4
1–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–3
1–4
2–4
2–3
3–2
1–5
0–2
Indiana
2–4
1–5
3–3
4–2
0–2
2–0
2–4
0–2
1–1
—
0–2
1–1
1–5
1–5
2–4
0–5
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–4
Kansas City
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
3–3
2–4
1–1
1–4
4–2
2–0
—
0–5
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–3
2–3
5–1
3–2
1–4
3–3
2–0
Los Angeles
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–3
4–1
1–1
3–3
4–1
1–1
5–0
—
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–3
5–1
2–3
4–2
3–3
4–1
1–1
Milwaukee
3–3
1–5
4–2
5–1
2–0
1–1
2–3
2–0
1–1
5–1
2–0
0–2
—
4–2
4–1
2–4
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
5–1
New Jersey
3–3
2–4
4–2
3–2
1–1
1–1
4–1
1–1
2–0
5–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
—
3–3
3–3
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–2
New York
1–4
3–3
4–1
5–1
2–0
1–1
2–4
1–1
2–0
4–2
2–0
2–0
1–4
3–3
—
2–4
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–2
Philadelphia
1–5
4–2
3–2
4–2
1–1
1–1
3–3
1–1
2–0
5–0
2–0
1–1
4–2
3–3
4–2
—
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–2
Phoenix
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–3
3–2
0–2
5–1
3–2
1–1
3–2
3–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
—
2–4
5–0
4–2
2–4
1–4
2–0
Portland
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–2
4–1
1–1
4–2
4–1
1–1
3–2
1–5
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–2
—
4–1
4–2
4–2
1–4
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–4
3–3
1–1
2–3
4–2
2–0
1–5
3–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–5
1–4
—
4–1
2–3
4–2
1–1
San Diego
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–4
2–3
0–2
3–3
3–2
1–1
2–3
2–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–4
2–4
1–4
—
3–3
2–3
1–1
Seattle
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
4–1
3–2
1–1
2–4
2–3
1–1
4–1
3–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–2
2–4
3–2
3–3
—
1–4
1–1
Utah
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–4
3–3
1–1
4–1
5–1
1–1
3–3
1–4
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–1
4–1
2–4
3–2
4–1
—
1–1
Washington
2–4
2–4
4–2
1–4
2–0
2–0
3–3
0–2
2–0
4–1
0–2
1–1
1–5
2–4
2–4
2–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
—
1983–84 game log Total: 41–41 (Home: 31–10; Road: 10–31)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 29, 1983
@ Dallas
L 103–120
Reunion Arena
0–1
November: 5–11 (home: 4–4; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
2
November 1, 1983
Seattle
L 93–103
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
0–2
3
November 3, 1983
San Antonio
W 142–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1–2
4
November 6, 1983
@ Portland
L 96–122
Memorial Coliseum
1–3
5
November 8, 1983
@ Seattle
L 116–123
Kingdome
1–4
6
November 10, 1983
@ Golden State
W 104–99
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2–4
7
November 11, 1983
@ Los Angeles
L 105–119
The Forum
2–5
8
November 13, 1983
Golden State
W 113–98
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3–5
9
November 16, 1983
Cleveland
W 115–104
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4–5
10
November 18, 1983
Milwaukee
L 94–109
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4–6
11
November 19, 1983
@ Dallas
L 107–116
Reunion Arena
4–7
12
November 22, 1983
@ Houston
L 96–118
The Summit
4–8
13
November 23, 1983
New Jersey
L 108–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4–9
14
November 25, 1983
Chicago
W 120–94
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5–9
15
November 26, 1983
@ Denver
L 104–107
McNichols Sports Arena
5–10
16
November 29, 1983
@ Utah (at Las Vegas, Nevada )
L 110–114
Thomas & Mack Center
5–11
17
November 30, 1983
Kansas City
L 118–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5–12
December: 10–4 (home: 7–2; road: 3–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
18
December 2, 1983
Utah
L 113–116
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5–13
19
December 4, 1983
@ San Antonio
W 122–106
HemisFair Arena
6–13
20
December 6, 1983
@ Atlanta
L 88–95
The Omni
6–14
21
December 8, 1983
New York
W 120–97
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7–14
22
December 10, 1983
San Diego
W 109–93
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
8–14
23
December 13, 1983
@ Houston
L 110–129
The Summit
8–15
24
December 15, 1983
Los Angeles
W 114–104
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9–15
25
December 17, 1983
Kansas City
W 119–99
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10–15
26
December 20, 1983
@ Golden State
W 109–105
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
11–15
27
December 21, 1983
Portland
L 112–116
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11–16
28
December 23, 1983
@ San Diego
W 121–115
San Diego Sports Arena
12–16
29
December 26, 1983
Denver
W 140–133 (OT)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13–16
30
December 28, 1983
Golden State
W 128–105
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14–16
31
December 30, 1983
Houston
W 121–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
15–16
January: 4–8 (home: 4–0; road: 0–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
32
January 3, 1984
@ Chicago
L 97–102
Chicago Stadium
15–17
33
January 4, 1984
@ Detroit
L 114–128
Pontiac Silverdome
15–18
34
January 6, 1984
@ Indiana
L 88–104
Market Square Arena
15–19
35
January 7, 1984
@ Kansas City
L 98–100
Kemper Arena
15–20
36
January 10, 1984
@ Utah
L 98–107
Salt Palace Acord Arena
15–21
37
January 11, 1984
San Diego
W 129–104
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
16–21
38
January 13, 1984
@ Seattle
L 99–103
Kingdome
16–22
39
January 15, 1984
Washington
W 110–101
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
17–22
40
January 19, 1984
Los Angeles
W 138–123
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
18–22
41
January 21, 1984
Seattle
W 131–102
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
19–22
42
January 24, 1984
@ Los Angeles
L 110–116
The Forum
19–23
43
January 26, 1984
@ San Diego
L 101–119
San Diego Sports Arena
19–24
All-Star Break
February: 8–9 (home: 5–2; road: 3–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
44
February 1, 1984
Portland
W 109–106
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
20–24
45
February 2, 1984
@ Utah
L 95–116
Salt Palace Acord Arena
20–25
46
February 4, 1984
@ Golden State
L 104–107
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
20–26
47
February 5, 1984
@ Portland
L 82–97
Memorial Coliseum
20–27
48
February 7, 1984
San Antonio
W 138–131
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
21–27
49
February 9, 1984
Atlanta
W 118–105
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
22–27
50
February 11, 1984
Dallas
W 108–89
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
23–27
51
February 14, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 83–92
MECCA Arena
23–28
52
February 15, 1984
@ Cleveland
L 90–104
Richfield Coliseum
23–29
53
February 17, 1984
@ Dallas
L 123–129
Reunion Arena
23–30
54
February 18, 1984
@ Houston
W 126–102
The Summit
24–30
55
February 21, 1984
@ San Antonio
W 114–111 (OT)
HemisFair Arena
25–30
56
February 23, 1984
@ Kansas City
W 107–95
Kemper Arena
26–30
57
February 24, 1984
Denver
L 100–117
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
26–31
58
February 26, 1984
Boston
L 109–116
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
26–32
59
February 28, 1984
Utah
W 113–100
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
27–32
60
February 29, 1984
@ San Diego
L 95–102
San Diego Sports Arena
27–33
March: 8–8 (home: 7–2; road: 1–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
61
March 1, 1984
Philadelphia
W 112–100
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
28–33
62
March 3, 1984
San Antonio
W 120–106
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
29–33
63
March 7, 1984
Houston
W 123–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
30–33
64
March 9, 1984
Indiana
W 130–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
31–33
65
March 11, 1984
@ Boston
L 109–117
Boston Garden
31–34
66
March 13, 1984
@ New York
L 96–117
Madison Square Garden
31–35
67
March 14, 1984
@ New Jersey
L 102–108
Brendan Byrne Arena
31–36
68
March 16, 1984
@ Washington
W 110–109 (OT)
Capital Centre
32–36
69
March 17, 1984
@ Philadelphia
L 112–131
The Spectrum
32–37
70
March 20, 1984
Denver
W 146–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
33–37
71
March 21, 1984
@ Seattle
L 102–104
Kingdome
33–38
72
March 23, 1984
@ Portland
L 98–124
Memorial Coliseum
33–39
73
March 24, 1984
Detroit
L 109–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
33–40
74
March 27, 1984
San Diego
W 116–109
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
34–40
75
March 29, 1984
Golden State
W 124–119 (OT)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
35–40
76
March 31, 1984
Los Angeles
L 97–119
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
35–41
April: 6–0 (home: 4–0; road: 2–0)
1983–84 schedule
1984 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 1–1; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 18, 1984
@ Portland
W 113–106
Edwards (23)
Nance (9)
Davis (13)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–0
2
April 20, 1984
@ Portland
L 116–122
Davis (25)
Davis ,Lucas (5)
Adams (5)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–1
3
April 22, 1984
Portland
W 106–103
Davis (27)
Lucas ,Nance (10)
Davis (10)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,531
2–1
4
April 24, 1984
Portland
L 110–113
Davis (29)
Lucas (10)
Davis ,Macy (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
2–2
5
April 26, 1984
@ Portland
W 117–105
Davis (29)
Lucas (12)
Davis (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
3–2
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 29, 1984
@ Utah
L 95–105
Davis (21)
Edwards (8)
Davis (7)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,403
0–1
2
May 2, 1984
@ Utah
W 102–97
Davis (28)
Lucas (15)
Macy (7)
Salt Palace Acord 12,689
1–1
3
May 4, 1984
Utah
W 106–94
Davis (30)
Lucas (14)
Macy (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
2–1
4
May 6, 1984
Utah
W 111–110 (OT)
Davis (32)
Adams (15)
Lucas (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
3–1
5
May 8, 1984
@ Utah
L 106–118
Lucas (19)
Lucas (12)
Macy ,Westphal (6)
Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,560
3–2
6
May 10, 1984
Utah
W 102–82
Davis (21)
Nance (9)
Davis ,Macy (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
4–2
Western Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
May 12, 1984
@ Los Angeles
L 94–110
Davis (24)
Nance (15)
Macy (10)
The Forum 12,825
0–1
2
May 15, 1984
@ Los Angeles
L 102–118
Nance (29)
Nance (9)
Davis (8)
The Forum 16,578
0–2
3
May 18, 1984
Los Angeles
W 135–127 (OT)
Davis (34)
Lucas (17)
Macy (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
1–2
4
May 20, 1984
Los Angeles
L 115–126
Nance (27)
Lucas (10)
Davis (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
1–3
5
May 23, 1984
@ Los Angeles
W 126–121
Davis (27)
Nance (13)
Macy (12)
The Forum 16,848
2–3
6
May 25, 1984
Los Angeles
L 97–99
Davis (26)
Lucas (13)
Macy (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
2–4
1984 schedule
* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
† – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.