1968–69 Phoenix Suns season


The 1968–69 Phoenix Suns season was the inaugural season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Head coach Red Kerr led the franchise to its first win in their debut game, over the Seattle SuperSonics. The Suns lost more games in their initial season than in any year since, and did not have a winning record against any other team. They played all their home games in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Dick Van Arsdale was 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.

Offseason

NBA Expansion Draft

PlayerPositionNationalityFormer team
John BarnhillGuardUnited StatesSan Diego Rockets
Em BryantGuardUnited StatesNew York Knicks
Gail GoodrichGuardUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers
Dennis HamiltonForwardUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers
Neil JohnsonForwardUnited StatesNew York Knicks
Dave LattinForwardUnited StatesSan Francisco Warriors
Paul LongGuardUnited StatesDetroit Pistons
Stan McKenzieForwardUnited StatesBaltimore Bullets
McCoy McLemoreForwardUnited StatesChicago Bulls
Bill MelchionniGuardUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ers
Dave SchellhaseGuardUnited StatesChicago Bulls
Dick SnyderGuardUnited StatesAtlanta Hawks
Craig SpitzerCenterUnited StatesChicago Bulls
Bumper TormohlenCenterUnited StatesAtlanta Hawks
Dick Van ArsdaleForwardUnited StatesNew York Knicks
Roland WestGuardUnited StatesBaltimore Bullets
John WetzelForwardUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers
George WilsonCenterUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonics

The Suns participated in the NBA's fourth expansion draft along with the Milwaukee Bucks, the other expansion team that joined the league in 1968. Each of the league's other 12 teams protected seven of their top players, with the remaining unprotected players available in the draft. The two expansion teams selected three players from each team, totaling 18 selections each.
The Suns received the first, fourth and fifth picks, while the Bucks, which had not yet chosen their team name at the time, 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. "The Original Sun" Dick Van Arsdale would have a historic career with the Suns after being drafted, with him being an All-Star in his first three seasons with the team, as well as be named a member of the All-Defensive Second Team in 1974 and helping the team reach the 1976 NBA Finals before retiring in 1977, having his number become the second in franchise history to be retired into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor in the 1977–78 season, behind Connie Hawkins.

NBA Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
18Gary GregorForwardUnited StatesSouth Carolina
222Dick CunninghamCenterUnited StatesMurray State
336Art BeattyCenterUnited StatesAmerican
449Rich JonesForwardUnited StatesMemphis
564Harry HollinesGuardUnited StatesDenver
677Rod KnowlesCenterUnited StatesDavidson
792Charles ParksForwardUnited StatesIdaho State
8105Brian ClareCenterUnited StatesDenver
9120Mervin JacksonGuardUnited StatesUtah
10133Lee DavisCenterUnited StatesNorth Carolina Central
11147Ron BooneGuardUnited StatesIdaho State
12160Bill DavisForwardUnited StatesArizona
13171Pat HobartForwardUnited StatesCalifornia State

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

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Team-by-team results

Awards and honors

All-Star

Season

^ – Minimum 230 field goals.
+ – Minimum 230 free throws.

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions