2002-03
Yes, it's true The Sporting News actually picked the Suns
to finish 28th out of 29 NBA teams in 2002-03. Take a look
back with Suns.com at why that didn't happen and how Phoenix
got back on track and back into the playoff picture.
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2001-02
The Suns underwent a number of changes, including major trades
and a coaching change, in a disappointing season that saw
Phoenix miss the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
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2000-01
Off-the-court incidents made the 2000-01 season a forgettable
one, although the Suns did make a late-season rally to reach
the NBA Playoffs for the 13th straight season.
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1999-2000
The 1999-2000 campaign saw a midseason coaching change, a
rash of injuries, a life-threatening seizure, a surprising
unretirement and an exciting playoff run.
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1998-99
Led by Jason Kidd, the NBA's top assist (10.9 apg) and triple-double
(7) man, the Suns finished tied for third in the Pacific Division
during the 1998-99 season.
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1997-98
In their 30th anniversary season, the Suns returned to the
upper echelon of the Western Conference, posting the 12th
50+ win season in their history. Although their playoff run
ended a bit too soon, Coach Danny Ainge brought the excitement
back to the Valley of the Sun.
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1996-97
The 1996-97 season was a rollercoaster ride for the Suns with
many highs and lows followed by a fantastic finish.
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1995-96
A season of turmoil ended better than it started as the Suns
finished at .500 and made their eighth straight postseason
appearance.
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1994-95
The Suns battled through a season of injuries to capture the
Pacific Division title with a 59-23 record.
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1993-94
After advancing to the NBA Finals the year before, the Suns
appeared poised to make another run at a championship.
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1992-93
It was a season so rich with history that a Phoenix journalist
wrote an entire 328-page book on it.
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1991-92
The Suns posted their fourth-straight season with 50 or more
wins and carried their success into the playoffs.
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1990-91
After back-to-back trips to the Conference Finals, the Suns
began the next season ... in Tokyo!
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1989-90
The Suns continued their success of the season prior and advanced
to the Conference Finals by defeating their arch-rivals, the
L.A. Lakers.
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1988-89
After three years of missing the playoffs, the Suns made one
of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history and advanced to
the Conference Finals.
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1987-88
The Phoenix transaction wire was tested often in 1987-88.
And the first big move was made by none other than Jerry Colangelo
himself.
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1986-87
Over the first 13 seasons of John MacLeod's coaching career
with the Suns, he enjoyed unrivaled security. His 14th season
would be different.
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1985-86
For the Suns, the summer of 1985 was their introduction to
a hated, but very necessary ritual - rebuilding.
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1984-85
The optimism of the new season was fleeting as the Suns' leading
scorer, Walter Davis, tore three knee ligaments during a preseason
game.
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1983-84
The Suns have made a lot of big trades through the years,
most of which have brought improvement and success. But not
every trade can be a good one.
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1982-83
A Phoenix summer is generally considered "quiet time" for
Suns fans. During the summer of 1982-83, however, there was
plenty of noise.
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1981-82
The Suns hopes for a second straight division championship
were dashed before the season even started.
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1980-81
Despite several changes to the Suns roster and questions surrounding
the moves, the Suns captured their first-ever division championship.
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1979-80
Despite setting a franchise record for victories, Phoenix
was disappointed in the playoffs. But the season was still
significant as the Suns received a singing telegram and a
new mascot.
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1978-79
The 1978-79 season was packed full of emotion for the Phoenix
Suns. Excitement, tension and frustration all played a part
in a rollicking roller coaster ride of a campaign.
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1977-78
The 1977-78 Suns were the kind of club General Manager Jerry
Colangelo and Head Coach John MacLeod had been building for
four years - young, athletic, and able to sustain success
over a long period.
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1976-77
After advancing to the NBA Finals the year before, the clock
struck midnight on the Sunderella Suns in the season that
should've been.
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1975-76
Do you believe in fairy tales? If you were a fan of the Phoenix
Suns during the mid '70s, you do.
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1974-75
The second season of the John MacLeod era saw more steps taken
towards a team that would put defense and rebounding as its
top priorities.
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1973-74
After failing to reach the playoffs the previous season with
a roster full of veterans, the Phoenix Suns decided it was
time to start fresh and do it with youth, both on the court
and on the bench.
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1972-73
A season that began with high expectations ended instead as
the bridge to a major rebuilding of the franchise. A reconstruction
that would eventually lead to long-term success.
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1971-72
The Suns improved their record for the fourth straight season
yet, once again, were forced to watch the playoffs from their
living room televisions.
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1970-71
New coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Suns to their best record
yet. But with the realignment of teams among conferences and
divisions, Phoenix was kept from making their second-straight
trip to the postseason.
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1969-70
With the arrivals of Connie Hawkins, Paul Silas and Neal Walk,
the Suns' landed in the playoffs in only their second season
of existence, and managed to give the mighty Lakers all they
could handle.
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1968-69
The Phoenix Suns started out their inaugural season with a
bang but, like most expansion franchises, their first season
wasn't quite as bright as their name or logo.
