Suns Timeline
Just a few key dates throughout 36 years of Phoenix Suns basketball.
1968 | 1969 |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 |
1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 |
1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009
Jan. 22
Phoenix is officially awarded one of two expansion franchises
awarded by the NBA. The $2 million franchise fee is paid by a group
led by Richard Bloch, Donald Pitt, Donald Diamond and Karl
Eller.
March 1
Jerry Colangelo is hired as General Manager. Colangelo comes to
Phoenix after spending two years as an administrator with the
Chicago Bulls.
April 25
Johnny "Red" Kerr is hired as the Suns' first Head Coach. Kerr and
Colangelo worked together in Chicago.
May 6
The Suns' first players are provided through the NBA Expansion
Draft. New York's Dick Van Arsdale is the first player
selected.
June 4
South Carolina forward Gary Gregor is the first player taken by
the Suns in the College Draft.
Oct. 4
The Suns play their first preseason game, a home win over the San
Diego Rockets.
Oct. 18
The Suns' official debut, a 116-107 win over Seattle in the
season-opener, played before 7,112 at Veterans' Memorial
Coliseum.
March 18
The Suns lose the coin flip for the first pick in the NBA College
Draft, which would have brought them UCLA center Lew Alcindor, who
later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
May 8
Gregor is traded to Atlanta for forward Paul Silas.
June 20
The Suns sign forward Connie "Hawk" Hawkins. Phoenix obtained the rights
to the legendary star through another coin flip.
Jan. 2
Johnny Kerr is releived of his duties as head coach and Jerry Colangelo takes over
as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
March 20
A 127-104 win over the San Diego Rockets clinches the Suns'
first-ever playoff berth.
March 29
The Suns notch first playoff win, a 114-101 trimuph over the Lakers in
Los Angeles. The win evened the first-round playoff series at 1-1.
The Lakers eventually took the series in seven games.
June 5
Kansas State University Head Coach Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons is
named coach of the Suns.
March 21
Despite finishing with a franchise-best 48-34 record, the Suns
fail to clinch a playoff berth.
March 14
The Suns sign guard Charlie Scott from the Virginia Squires of the
rival American Basketball Association. Phoenix obtained the NBA
rights to Scott from the Boston Celtics in a trade for future
consideratons, which eventually became forward Silas at season's
end.
April
Cotton Fitzsimmons resigns as head coach of the Suns to take a similar
position with the Atlanta Hawks.
June 28
Butch van Breda Kolff named head coach of the Suns.
Oct. 13
Al McCoy calls his first game as "Voice of the Suns".
Oct. 30
Butch van Breda Kolff is relieved of his coaching duties, seven games
into the season. For the second time in club history, Jerry Colangelo
takes over on an interim basis.
March 30
Oklahoma University head coach John MacLeod is named coach of the
Suns.
Oct. 30
Connie Hawkins is traded to the Lakers for Keith Erickson and a
second-round draft pick.
Sept. 16
Center Neal Walk is traded to the New Orleans Jazz for center
Dennis Awtrey, forward Curtis Perry, guard Nate Hawthorne and a
1976 first-round draft pick that is used to select guard Ricky
Sobers.
Jan. 14
Suns host the 25th Annual NBA All-Star Game at the Veterans
Memorial Coliseum. 12,855 watched as the East beat the West
108-102.
May 9
The Suns use the fourth overall pick in the college draft to
select Oklahoma center Alvan Adams.
May 23
Scott is traded to Boston for guard Paul Westphal and two
second-round draft picks.
Feb. 1
Suns trade forward John Shumate to Buffalo for forward Garfield
Heard.
April 27
Suns earn their first-ever playoff series win, eliminating Seattle in six
games in Western Conference Semifinals.
May 16
Suns stun basketball world by upsetting defending champion Golden
State in seven games to win the Western Conference
Championship.
June 4
Suns and Celtics play "Greatest Game Ever Played," by going
three overtimes in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Boston.
Alvan Adams becomes the Suns' first NBA Rookie of the Year. Jerry Colangelo is named NBA Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
Aug. 25
Suns obtain Tom Van Arsdale in trade with Buffalo, joining his
twin brother Dick on Suns roster.
Aug. 26
John Wetzel retires. He is first player to retire as a member of the Suns.
Nov. 19
Connie Hawkins’ Suns jersey No. 42 is retired.
May 12
Dick Van Arsdale, the Original Sun, retires.
June 10
Suns select North Carolina guard Walter Davis with the fifth
overall pick of the NBA Draft.
Nov. 13
Dick Van Arsdale’s Suns jersey No. 33 is retired.
April 10
Suns finish 1977-78 season with franchise record-tying 49 wins,
and qualify for NBA playoffs.
Jan. 12
Suns obtain forward Len "Truck" Robinson from New Orleans Jazz for
Ron Lee, Marty Byrnes and two first-round draft picks.
April 6
Suns establish franchise record by winning 50 games in a season,
defeating the San Diego Clippers, 118-117.
May 17
Suns lose Game 7 of Conference Finals to Seattle.
June 3
Paul Westphal is traded to Seattle for guard Dennis Johnson.
Feb. 1
John MacLeod coaches West team at the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland.
Three Suns are on the team as well (Walter Davis, Truck Robinson and Dennis Johnson).
March 29
Suns complete best season to-date, winning 57 games and Pacific
Division Championship.
June 9
Suns select Clemson forward Larry Nance with 20th overall pick in
the NBA Draft.
July 7
Suns acquire Knicks forward Maurice Lucas in a trade with New York for Truck Robinson.
June 27
Suns acquire forward Rick Robey in a trade with Boston for Dennis Johnson.
Sept. 14
Paul Westphal rejoins Suns as a free agent.
Jan. 29
Larry Nance wins the first-ever NBA Slam Dunk Chapionship at the
All-Star Weekend in Denver.
May 6
Walter Davis' buzzer-beating jumper gives Suns 111-110 overtime win over
Utah in Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals. Suns would go on to
win the series in six games.
May 25
Suns complete improbable run in the playoffs, losing in six games
in the Conference Finals to the Lakers.
June 18
Suns draft Georgi Glouchcov from the Bulgarian National Team in
seventh round of the NBA Draft. Glouchcov becomes the first Eastern Bloc player to play in the NBA, appearing in 49 games in the '85-86 season.
Suns select Iowa State guard Jeff Hornacek in the second round of the NBA Draft.
1987Feb. 26
John MacLeod is released from his duties as head coach. Dick Van
Arsdale is named interim head coach.
April 27
John Wetzel is named head coach.
May 13
Cotton Fitzsimmons returns to Suns as Director of Player Personnel.
June 19
Suns acquired a first-round pick from Detroit for center William Bedford and traded forward Ed Pinckney and a second-round draft pick for sharpshooter Eddie Johnson.
Oct. 14
A group of local investors led by Jerry Colangelo purchases Suns for
$44.5 million.
Feb. 25
A series of trades change the face of the Suns. The key deal is one that has Phoenix acquireing guard Kevin Johnson, center Mark West, forward Tyrone Corbin and Cleveland's first and second round picks in the 1988 NBA Draft for Nance, Mike Sanders and a first-round draft pick The first round pick was used to select Central Michigan's Dan Majerle.
April 29
Alvan Adams retires after playing his entire 13-year career with the
Suns.
May 2
John Wetzel is relieved of his duties as coach.
May 10
Cotton Fitzsimmons is named head coach and Westphal is hired as an
assistant.
July 5
Suns become first team in NBA history to sign an unrestricted free
agent, inking Seattle forward Tom Chambers.
Nov. 9
Alvan Adams’ Suns jersey No. 33 is retired.
April 15
Paul Westphal’s Suns jersey No. 44 is retired.
April 22
Suns complete the third-biggest turnaround in NBA history, going
from 28 wins the previous season, to a 55-27 mark and the team's
first playoff berth in four years.
May 28
Suns complete turnaround season, losing in four games to the
Lakers in the Conference Finals.
Dec. 13
Suns acquire forward Kurt Rambis and two second-round draft picks from Charlotte for forward Armon Gilliam.
May 6
Kevin Johnson's jumper as time expires gives the Suns a 104-102
win in the decisive fifth game of the Western Conference
first-round playoff series with Utah.
May 15
Suns advance to Western Conference finals after defeating the
Lakers in five games. It is the first playoff series win for the
Suns over the Lakers in seven tries.
Aug. 1
Ground is broken on future site of America West Arena in downtown Phoenix.
Nov. 2
Suns and Utah Jazz become first NBA teams to play regular season
games outside the United States, opening the season by splitting two games
in Tokyo.
Dec. 7
Forward Eddie Johnson is traded to Seattle for forward Xavier McDaniel.
Jan. 17
Suns record their 1,000th victory, a 134-94 win over the
Sacramento Kings.
Feb. 8
Suns forward Cedric Ceballos wins
Slam-Dunk Championship at All-Star Weekend with a blind-folded jam,
he named "Hocus Pocus."
April 23
Suns announce Paul Westphal will become head coach the following
season, with Cotton Fitzsimmons becoming Senior Executive Vice
President.
May 11
Suns play final game in Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a 153-151
double overtime loss to Portland in Game 4 of the Conference
Semis.
June 5
America West Arena officially opens to the public.
June 17
Suns acquire All-Star forward Charles Barkley in a trade with Philadelphia for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang.
July 3
Free agent guard Danny Ainge signs with Suns.
Dec. 30
Suns win 14th-consecutive game, defeating Houston, 133-110.
April 25
Suns celebrate Silver Anniversary season with a franchise-record
62 wins and the Pacific Division Championship.
May 9
Down 0-2 against the L.A. Lakers in the first round, the Suns become the first team in history to come back and win 3-2.
June 1
Charles Barkley is named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in Suns history to win the honor.
June 5
Suns advance to NBA Finals by defeating Seattle, 123-110 in Game 7
of the Western Conference Finals.
June 13
Suns play second triple-overtime game in NBA Finals history,
defeating the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the series, 129-121.
Sept. 28
Free agent forward A.C. Green signs with Suns.
April 3
Walter Davis’ Suns jersey No. 6 is retired.
Sept. 8
Free agent forward Danny Manning signs with Suns.
Sept. 16
Free agent forward/center Wayman Tisdale signs with Suns.
Feb. 10-12
Suns host 45th NBA All-Star Game and All-Star Weekend at America West Arena.
April 21
Suns clinch Pacific Division Championship by defeating Dallas,
110-99.
Oct. 7
Suns acquire center John "Hot Rod" Williams from Cleveland in exchange for Dan Majerle, Antonio Lang and a first-round draft pick.
Jan. 16
Paul Westphal released as head coach. Cotton Fitzsimmons is named coach.
May 30
Danny Ainge is named assistant coach.
Aug. 19
Suns acquire Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, Chucky Brown and Sam Cassell in a trade with Houston for Charles Barkley.
Oct. 13
Guard Rex Chapman signs with the Suns for the league minimum salary.
Nov. 14
Danny Ainge is promoted to head coach as Coitton Fitzsimmons returns to his
prior position of Senior Executive Vice President.
Dec. 26
Suns acquire Jason Kidd, Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer in a trade with Dallas for Sam Cassell, A.C. Green and Michael Finley.
Jan. 10
Suns acquire Cedric Ceballos and Rumeal Robinson for Robert Horry and Joe Kleine.
April 8
Suns become first team in NBA history to have double-digit winning
and losing streaks in same season. After opening the season with
13-consecutive losses, Suns win their 10th consecutive game,
defeating Minnesota. With the win, the Suns also clinch their ninth
consecutive playoff berth.
Aug. 25
Suns sign free agent forward Clifford Robinson,
formerly of Portland.
Sept. 2
Suns sign free agent sharpshooter George McCloud.
Oct. 1
Suns acquire forward Antonio
McDyess in a three-way trade with Denver and Cleveland.
Feb. 18
Suns trade Cedric Ceballos to Dallas for forward Dennis Scott.
June 24
Suns acquire forward Pat
Garrity, Martin Muursepp, Bubba wells and a first-round pick in the 1999 NBA Draft in a draft-day trade with Dallas for Steve Nash. Suns will select forward Shawn Marion with the draft pick.
Jan. 22
Suns acquire Luc
Longley from Chicago for forwards Mark Bryant\, Bubba Wells and Martin Muursepp.
Jan. 24
Suns sign forward Tom Gugliotta, formerly
of Minnesota.
April 18
Tom Chambers enters the Suns Ring of Honor.
June 30
Suns select UNLV forward Shawn Marion with the ninth overall pick of the NBA Draft.
Aug. 3
Suns sign free agent forward Rodney Rogers.
Aug. 5
Suns acquire guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway in a trade with Orlando for forwards Pat Garrity, Danny Manning and two first-round draft picks.
Dec. 13
Danny Ainge stepped down as head coach and Scott Skiles named as replacement.
March 25
Free agent guard Kevin Johnson comes out of retirement to sign with the Suns.
May 2
Suns advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with an 89-78 win over the defending champion Spurs to claim a 3-1 series win.
June 28
Suns select 7-2 center Iakovos “Jake” Tsakalidis of Greece with the 25th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft.
July 18
Joe Proski, the only head athletic trainer in Suns history, steps down.
Aug. 2
Free agent guard Tony Delk signs with the Suns.
Aug. 8
Kevin Johnson announces his retirement from basketball and joins NBA Showtime broadcast team on NBC.
Sept. 20
Suns acquired center Chris Dudley and a first-round pick from New York, plus cash, in a four-team trade with Seattle and the Lakers that included 12 players and five draft picks – the largest trade in NBA history.
Oct. 2
An arbitrator in London rules that Jake Tsakalidis is not under contract with former Greek Club and he signs contract with the Suns.
Nov. 20
Rex Chapman announced his retirement.
Jan. 26
Suns acquire guard Vinny Del Negro in a trade with Golden State for forwards Corie Blount, Ruben Garces and guard Paul McPherson.
March 7
Kevin Johnson enters the Suns Ring of Honor.
April 1
Original and long-time trainer Joe Proski enters the Suns Ring of Honor.
April 7
Suns victory at Cleveland clinches a spot in the playoffs for the 13th-straight season, the fourth-longest active streak in the NBA.
June 28
Suns and Nets announced that they agreed in principle to a trade involving point guards Jason Kidd and Stephon Marbury and the deal would not be consummated until July 18 due to salary and contract restrictions.
June 29
Suns and Pistons announced that they agreed in principle to a trade involving forward Cliff Robinson for forwards John Wallace and Jud Buechler and the deal would not be consummated until July 18 due to salary and contract restrictions.
July 19
Suns sign free agent guard/forward Dan Majerle.
Oct. 29
Suns swap centers with the Chicago Bulls, receiving Jake Voskuhl and sending Soumaila Samake and a second-round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft to Chicago.
Nov. 16
Suns acquire forward Bo Outlaw and a first round pick from the Orlando Magic and send swingman Jud Buechler to the Magic and guard Vinny Del Negro to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade.
Feb. 17
Suns and Scott Skiles mutually agreed to part ways, and assistant coach Frank Johnson is promoted to head coach.
Feb. 20
Suns acquire rookie swingman Joe Johnson, guard Milt Palacio, guard Randy Brown and a first round draft pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for guard Tony Delk and forward Rodney Rogers.
April 17
Dan Majerle retires after 14 seasons, including eight in Phoenix.
April 18
Suns sign Frank Johnson to a multi-year contract to be the club’s head coach.
June 26
Suns select Cypress Creek (Fla.) High School forward Amaré Stoudemire with the ninth overall pick and Stanford guard Casey Jacobsen with the 22nd pick of the NBA Draft.
Aug. 8
Suns sign Shawn Marion to a six-year contract extension, starting with 2003-04. Marion would donate $1 million to charity.
Dec. 30
Rookie forward Amaré Stoudemire explodes for 38 points in only his 31st game as a pro at Minnesota. the point total was the most in NBA history by a player making the jump from high school to the NBA in his rookie season and was two short of the Suns' rookie record of 40 by Walter Davis on Jan. 5, 1978.
Jan. 2
After guiding the Suns to an 11-5 record in Dec. Suns Head Coach Frank Johnson is named the Western Conference Coach of the Month.
Jan. 10
Amaré Stoudemire grabs a suns rookie record 21 rebounds in a 96-90 victory over Memphis at America West Arena, eclipsing the previous team mark of 19 by Alvan Adams on Feb. 17, 1976.
Feb. 8
Amaré Stoudemire participates in the 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge and finishes third in the slam dunk contest.
Feb. 9
Suns forward Shawn Marion makes his first All-Star appearance and Stephon Marbury his second, both as reserves on the Western Conference roster.
March 9
Dan Majerle is inducted into the Suns' Ring of Honor.
April 1
The Suns hold Denver to 65 points, tying a record for frewest points allowed ever by Phoenix.
April 13
The Suns clinch the eighth and final Western Conference playoff seed to return to the postseason after a one-year absence.
April 13
Bo Outlaw is presented with the first-ever Dan Majerle Hustle Award.
April 19
The Suns stun the top-seeded Spurs, 96-95, in San Antonio in the opener of the Western Conference first-round playoff series.
April 24
Amaré Stoudemire is named the 2002-03 'got milk?' Rookie of the Year, becoming the youngest winner in the award's history and just the third Suns player to win the honor, following Walter Davis ('77-78) and Alvan Adams ('75-76). Stoudemire was named as a unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
June 26
The Suns select Serbian forward Zarko Cabarkapa witht he 17th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and acquire the rights to Brazilian guard Leandro Barbosa, the 28th pick, from San Antonio for a future protected 1st rd. pick.
Sept. 30
Suns acquire Brevin Knight, Robert Archibald and Cezary Trybanski in a trade with Memphis for Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis.
Nov. 5
Suns acquire center Jahidi White in a trade with Washington for Bravin Knight.
Dec. 10
Frank Johnson is dismissed as head coach and Mike D'Antoni is named as the new head coach.
Dec. 23
Suns acquire forward Donnell Harvey from Orlando for a second-round pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Dec. 26
Suns acquire a conditional second-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft for Robert Archibald.
Jan. 5
Acquired forward Antono McDyess, guards Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward, forward Maciej Lampe, the draft rights to guard Milos Vujanic and two first round draft picks from New York for Stephon Marbury, Anfernee Hardaway and Cezary Trybanski.
March 20
Former Suns MVP Charles Barkley is inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor during halftime of Phoenix's 123-111 win over Milwaukee.
June 24
The Suns draft Luol Deng with the 7th overall pick in the NBA Draft before trading his rights to Chicago for Jackson Vroman and a future conditional first-round pick.
July 14
Steve Nash rejoins the Suns, resigning with the team that originally drafted him following six seasons in Dallas.
July 14
Sharpshooter Quentin Richardson joins Nash and the Suns after signing on as a restricted free agent.
Aug. 20
Suns sign free agent center Steven Hunter.
Sept. 7
Suns sign Japanese-born free agent Yuta Tabuse.
Oct. 1
Suns sign free agent center Paul Shirley.
Nov. 3
The Suns tip-off the 2004-05 season with a win over the Atlanta Hawks. It is their first victory in a franchise-tying best 62-win season.
Nov. 8
Veteran forward Bo Outlaw signs with the Suns.
Jan. 3
Amare' Stoudemire scorches the Trail Blazers for a new career-high 50 points.
Jan. 21
Suns acquire veteran Jim Jackson and a 2005 2nd round pick via Dallas for Casey Jacobsen, Maciej Lampe and Jackson Vroman.
Feb. 8
Suns acquire Walter McCarty and cash from Boston for a 2005 second round pick.
May 8
Steve Nash becomes the first Phoenix Sun since Charles Barkley in 1993 to take home the NBA's MVP Award.
May 10
Mike D'Antoni is named NBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Suns to a 62-win season and the Pacific Division title.
June 28
Suns acquire Kurt Thomas and the draft rights to Dijon Thompson from New York in exchange for Quentin Richardson and the draft rights to Nate Robinson.
Aug. 3
Free agent guard Raja Bell signs with the Suns.
Aug. 18
Big men Brian Grant and Pat Burke both sign on to play with the Suns.
Aug. 19
The Suns acquire another big man, Boris Diaw, from the Atlanta Hawks along with two lottery-protected first round draft picks in a sign-and-trade for Joe Johnson.
Aug. 25
The Suns sign Mike D'Antoni to a multi-year extension and acquire James Jones from Indiana for a 2008 second-round pick.
Sept. 12
Former Arizona State Sun Devil Eddie House signs with the Phoenix Suns.
Jan. 6
America West Arena officially becomes US Airways Center as the Suns defeat the 76ers.
March 3
Tim Thomas signs with the Phoenix Suns for the remainder of the 2005-06 season.
May 1
Boris Diaw receives the NBA's 2005-06 Most Improved Player Award.
May 7
For the second-straight year, the NBA's MVP is awarded to Suns guard Steve Nash.
July 13
Eric Piatkowski signs a two-year deal with the Suns.
July 20
Suns sign free-agent guard Marcus Banks.
July 27
Sean Marks signs with the Phoenix Suns.
Aug. 31
The Suns sign former Laker and Bobcat Jumaine Jones to a one-year contract.
Sept. 12
Suns name Ann Meyers Drysdale a vice president with the Phoenix Suns and general manager of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
Nov. 7
Veteran Jalen Rose signs a one-year deal with the Suns.
April 23
Leandro Barbosa becomes the fourth Sun in history to earn the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award.
June 6
Steve Kerr is named Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager; David Griffin is promoted to Sr. Vice President of Basketball Operations
June 28
With their two selections in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select Wisconsin's Alando Tucker and Maryland's DJ Strawberry.
July 11
The Suns sign veteran All-Star Grant Hill to a two-year deal.
Nov. 7
Jerry Colangelo is inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor.
Feb. 6
Suns acquire NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks.
May 8
Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire are named to the All-NBA Second Team.
June 7
With Mike D'Antoni departing for New York, the Suns name Terry Porter the team's new head coach.
June 20
Suns legend Dan Majerle joins the Suns bench as an assistant coach under Terry Porter. Joining him is returning assistant Alvin Adams and newcomers Bill Cartwright and Igor Kokoskov.
June 26
The Suns use their two selections in the 2008 NBA Draft on center Robin Lopez and guard Goran Dragic.
July 22
Forward Matt Barnes signs a one-year deal with the Suns.
Aug. 14
The Suns sign forward Louis Amundson after watching him excel in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Aug. 25
The Suns acquire guard Sean Singletary in exchange for second-year guard DJ Strawberry.
Dec. 10
In exchange for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, the Suns acquire Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley from the Charlotte Bobcats.
Feb. 15
In front of the hometown fans in Phoenix, Shaquille O'Neal becomes the first Sun ever to be named an All-Star Game MVP.
Feb. 16
Terry Porter is dismissed as Suns head coach and replaced by long-time assistant coach Alvin Gentry.
Feb. 17
In his debut as Suns Head Coach, Alvin Gentry and his team defeat the Clippers, 140-100.















