Valley of the Suns
Fansided

12 days of X-Mas – Obscure stats in Suns history Day 9

By Adam Maynes

(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition.
(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition. /
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Walter Davis

LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1983: Walter Davis #6 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Rick Mahorn #44 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Davis played for the Suns from 1977-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1983: Walter Davis #6 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Rick Mahorn #44 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Davis played for the Suns from 1977-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Following the step-back season of 1976-77, Phoenix received the 5th overall pick in the rookie draft, which they used to select Walter Davis, a sweet-shooting SG/SF from North Carolina, and an instant success.

In the first game of his career, Davis drained 20 points on 10-16 shooting from the field and grabbed 6 rebounds in a Phoenix route of the Golden State Warriors.

He’d go on to score over 20 points in a game 44 times, 30 or more points 16 additional times, while draining a season-high 40 points on January 5, 1978, a game that teammate Paul Westphal scored 43.

Davis would go on to average 24.2 points, 10th best in the league, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

His fantastic season not only earned him the franchise’s second Rookie of the Year award winner in three seasons, but Davis’ success was so spectacular that he finished 5th in the NBA MVP award – Paul Westphal finished tied for 6th.

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