Phoenix Suns: 10 Highest Scoring Games In Suns’ History
Gail Goodrich dropped his 47 points on another team that has since relocated, the San Diego Rockets. For those curious, the Rockets moved to Houston for the 1971-72 season, and have been there ever since.
The Rockets were a below average team that allowed 115 points per game that season, so Goodrich’s total should be kept in perspective. Phoenix would win the game 146-133 – in regulation.
While the Rockets made the playoffs, at 37-45 they were far from a strong team. The Phoenix Suns were much worse, on the way to a 16-66 inaugural season.
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This performance by Goodrich was a rare bright spot in the season. Because the NBA only had 14 teams at the time, this Suns team would actually place two players on the all-star team that year.
Both Gail Goodrich and Dick Van Arsdale made the all-star team during 1968-69 season despite the Suns’ horrible record.
Gail Goodrich would score 40 or more points five times in the 1968-69 season, and one more time in 1969-70.
It is natural to wonder how many more Suns’ records he could have set.
After the 1969-70 season, the Phoenix Suns traded Gail Goodrich to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Mel Counts.
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While Goodrich would end up having a Hall of Fame career with the Lakers, making four more all-star games and winning a title in 1972, Counts would play just two seasons with the Phoenix Suns.