Valley of the Suns continues our series “50 for 50: The History of the Phoenix Suns” with their sophomore campaign, 1969-70.
The most important moment of 1969-70 for the Phoenix Suns happened off the court. It was a moment that if it had happened the only other way it could have happened, the entire history of the franchise would be vastly different.
On March 19th, 1969 the Phoenix Suns lost a coin flip to the Milwaukee Bucks for the rights to the 1st overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft. The prize for winning that coin flip? Future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest basketball players ever: Lew Alcindor (soon to be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
The Suns and Bucks were listening in on the phone as the commissioner of the NBA, J. Walter Kennedy, flipped a coin.
The Suns called heads.
It was tails.
Phoenix was forced to settle for the 2nd overall pick in the draft, selecting Florida big man Neal Walk. Although Walk would go on to become a solid NBA player for the Suns for a short period, the “what if?” of the coin flip has stayed with Phoenix for almost fifty years.
The Alcindor coin flip wouldn’t be the only one for Phoenix that off-season. In the same summer, the Suns had a coin flip with Seattle for the rights to ABA star Connie Hawkins. Fortunately for the Suns, the second flip was more favorable to Phoenix. The Suns won that coin flip and the rights to “The Hawk” who would become one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Also of note, during the offseason was a trade between the Suns and the Atlanta Hawks. Phoenix gave up Gary Gregor, their first draft pick in franchise history, for power forward Paul Silas. Silas was a productive player for the Suns during his stay with the team, recording double-double averages in each of his three seasons in the Valley, making the All-Star team once and the All-Defensive Team twice.
The Suns, behind Hawkins, were a much improved team in their second season. Phoenix even had a stretch of winning seven out of nine games in November and December. Phoenix won their first game over the Los Angeles Lakers in franchise history on November 7th, 1969, and ended up actually winning the season series 4-3. Winning helped push improved attendance over their inaugural year, as Phoenix finished with a 39-43 record en-route to the franchise’s first playoff berth.
The Suns were led by Hawkins, who became an immediate NBA star. The Hawk led Phoenix in scoring at 24.6 points per game and was named to the All-NBA First Team. The Suns also had terrific play in the back-court with Gail Goodrich averaging 20.0 points and 7.5 assists per game and Dick Van Arsdale chipping in 21.3 points per game. Paul Silas and Jim Fox combined for 25.7 points and 18.7 rebounds per game in the paint. Rookie Neal Walk had a decent season, averaging 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds while playing in all 82 games.
38 games into the season, Phoenix’s young General Manager Jerry Colangelo fired Head Coach Johnny “Red” Ker. Colangelo, still only 30 years old at the time, guided the Suns to a 24-20 record the rest of the way, and the playoff appearance.
Phoenix faced the Los Angeles Lakers, fanning the flames of what was quickly becoming an intense rivalry. The Suns dropped game one in L.A. 128-112 before rebounding to steal game two behind 34 points from Hawkins sending the series back to Phoenix tied at one game apiece.
In Phoenix, the Suns shocked the Lakers and won both games three and four before crowds of 12,000 plus in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Gail Goodrich scored 29 points in game three and had 34 points and 11 assists in game four to lead the Suns.
Unfortunately, the Suns couldn’t finish the Lakers off and squandered a 3-1 series lead by losing three straight despite solid games from Hawkins in each outing. The Hawk had 28 points and 19 rebounds in game five, and 25 points and 15 rebounds in game seven, both in losing efforts.
Despite the disappointing finish, the Suns had announced their arrival in the NBA. Taking the Lakers to seven games in only their second season as a franchise was a huge accomplish for the team, and a fore-bearer of future success to come.
Next: 50 for 50: The History of the Phoenix Suns - 1969-70