1994–95 Phoenix Suns season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the 27th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents Danny Manning and Wayman Tisdale.[2][3] The team was led by Paul Westphal, in his third year as head coach of the Suns. The Suns held the league's best record at 38–10 before the All-Star break, and finished the regular season with 59 wins and 23 losses, the first time in the franchise's history they had ended the season with 55 or more wins for three consecutive seasons.[4] The Suns swept the Portland Trail Blazers in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs,[5] but for the second year in a row, had their playoff run stopped in a Western Conference Semi-finals' Game 7 loss at the hands of the 6th-seeded defending, and eventual back-to-back NBA champion Houston Rockets after leading the series 3–1.[6] All home games were played at America West Arena.

1994–95 Phoenix Suns season
Division champions
Head coachPaul Westphal
General managerJerry Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record59–23 (.720)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Rockets 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR

All-Star forward Charles Barkley averaged 23.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while Manning, who was coming off an All-Star year, averaged 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, but the oft-injured Manning appeared in only just 46 games in his first season in Phoenix, and would not be available for the Suns' playoff run due to a torn ACL.[7] In addition, point guard Kevin Johnson averaged 15.5 points and led the team with 7.7 assists per game, despite only playing just 47 games due to injuries, which happened earlier enough in the season, that he would be able to play in the Suns' fourth consecutive Western Conference Semi-finals,[8] and three-point specialist Dan Majerle provided the team with 15.6 points per game, and finished the season tied for second in made three-point field goals at 199. The Suns front court was supplanted by A.C. Green, who provided with 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and Tisdale, who contributed 10.0 points per game. The Suns' pick in the draft was used to select Wesley Person, a shooting guard out of Auburn,[9] who contributed 10.4 points per game while connecting on a team-high 43.6% of his three-pointers. By season's end, Person was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Elliot Perry played most of the season as the team's starting point guard in Johnson's absence, as he contributed 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and led the Suns with 1.9 steals per game.[10]

Barkley was named to his ninth All-Star Game, which was hosted in Phoenix, joined by Majerle, who was selected for his third and final All-Star Game. Westphal was also selected to coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game.[11] Barkley repeated as an All-NBA Second Team selection. Following the season, Majerle was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers,[12] while Danny Ainge retired,[13] Richard Dumas signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers,[14] and undrafted rookie guard Trevor Ruffin left in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft.[15]

For the season, the Suns added new black alternate road uniforms, which remained in use until 2000.[16]

Draft picks
Main article: 1994 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Team
123Wesley PersonSG/SF United StatesAuburn
229Antonio LangSF United StatesDuke
250Charles ClaxtonC United States Virgin IslandsGeorgia
252Anthony GoldwirePG United StatesHouston

Roster
1994–95 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 22 Ainge, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU
F 34 Barkley, Charles 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1963–02–20 Auburn
F 12 Dumas, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–05–19 Oklahoma State
F 45 Green, A. C. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–10–04 Oregon State
G 7 Johnson, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–03–04 California
C 35 Kleine, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1962–01–04 Arkansas
F 21 Lang, Antonio  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1972–05–15 Duke
G 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–09–09 Central Michigan
F 15 Manning, Danny  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas
G 2 Perry, Elliot 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis
G 11 Person, Wesley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–03–28 Auburn
G 8 Ruffin, Trevor 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1970–09–26 Hawaiʻi
C 24 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1959–05–10 Syracuse
F 23 Tisdale, Wayman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964–06–09 Oklahoma
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Phoenix Suns 5923.720—32–927–1423–7
x-Seattle SuperSonics 5725.695232–925–1616–14
x-Los Angeles Lakers 4834.5851129–1219–2215–15
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4438.5371526–1518–2317–13
Sacramento Kings 3943.4762027–1412–2917–13
Golden State Warriors 2656.3173315–2611–3011–19
Los Angeles Clippers 1765.2074213–284–376–24
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs6220.756–
2 y-Phoenix Suns5923.7203
3 x-Utah Jazz6022.7322
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6955
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers4834.58514
6 x-Houston Rockets4735.57315
7 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.53718
8 x-Denver Nuggets4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings3943.47623
10 Dallas Mavericks3646.43926
11 Golden State Warriors2656.31736
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2161.25641
13 Los Angeles Clippers1765.20745

Record vs. opponents
1994–95 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–12–21–41–42–02–03–22–00–21–42–00–22–21–32–04–02–21–33–11–11–11–11–10–20–24–0
Boston 1–3—1–30–42–21–11–13–12–01–12–20–21–14–11–32–02–30–52–33–11–10–21–10–21–10–23–1
Charlotte 2–23–1—2–23–20–21–15–02–00–21–42–00–23–14–11–13–13–11–33–10–22–01–11–12–02–03–1
Chicago 4–14–02–2—2–31–11–15–02–01–12–21–11–13–11–42–02–23–11–34–01–11–10–21–10–20–22–2
Cleveland 4–12–22–33–2—0–21–12–22–00–22–31–11–11–34–01–14–02–21–33–11–11–11–10–20–21–13–1
Dallas 0–21–12–01–12–0—1–41–13–12–31–13–11–30–21–14–11–10–20–22–00–43–12–22–30–42–41–1
Denver 0–21–11–11–11–14–1—1–11–31–41–14–02–22–02–06–01–10–20–21–11–33–12–21–41–31–42–0
Detroit 2–31–30–50–52–21–11–1—1–10–22–21–10–21–32–31–12–21–31–34–01–10–21–10–20–20–23–1
Golden State 0–20–20–20–20–21–33–11–1—0–40–23–23–21–10–21–31–11–10–21–13–21–40–51–31–42–22–0
Houston 2–01–12–01–12–03–24–12–04–0—1–13–10–42–01–13–22–00–20–22–03–11–33–11–50–42–32–0
Indiana 4–12–24–12–23–21–11–12–22–01–1—2–01–12–23–22–03–11–32–24–01–11–12–02–01–10–23–1
L.A. Clippers 0–22–00–21–11–11–30–41–12–31–30–2—2–30–21–11–30–20–20–21–11–40–51–40–40–51–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–12–01–11–13–12–22–02–34–01–13–2—1–11–13–12–00–21–11–11–42–33–21–34–12–22–0
Miami 2–21–41–31–33–12–00–23–11–10–22–22–01–1—4–01–11–31–41–31–40–20–20–20–20–20–24–1
Milwaukee 3–13–11–44–10–41–10–23–22–01–12–31–11–10–4—1–12–22–20–43–10–20–21–10–20–20–23–1
Minnesota 0–20–21–10–21–11–40–61–13–12–30–23–11–31–11–1—1–10–21–11–10–40–41–30–50–41–41–1
New Jersey 0–43–21–32–20–41–11–12–21–10–21–32–00–23–12–21–1—1–42–22–30–21–11–10–21–10–22–3
New York 2–25–01–31–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–02–04–12–22–04–1—2–34–01–11–12–01–10–20–24–0
Orlando 3–13–23–13–13–12–02–03–12–02–02–22–01–13–14–01–12–23–2—4–11–12–01–11–10–21–13–2
Philadelphia 1–31–31–30–41–30–21–10–41–10–20–41–11–14–11–31–13–20–41–4—0–22–01–10–20–20–23–2
Phoenix 1–11–12–01–11–14–03–11–12–31–31–14–14–12–02–04–02–01–11–12–0—5–04–12–24–12–22–0
Portland 1–12–00–21–11–11–31–32–04–13–11–15–03–22–02–04–01–11–10–20–20–5—3–21–32–31–32–0
Sacramento 1–11–11–12–01–12–22–21–15–01–30–24–12–32–01–13–11–10–21–11–11–42–3—0–43–20–41–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–11–12–03–24–12–03–15–10–24–03–12–02–05–02–01–11–12–02–23–14–0—2–23–22–0
Seattle 2–01–10–22–02–04–03–12–04–14–01–15–01–42–02–04–01–12–02–02–01–43–22–32–2—1–32–0
Utah 2–02–00–22–01–14–24–12–02–23–22–03–12–22–02–04–12–02–01–12–02–23–14–02–33–1—2–0
Washington 0–41–31–32–21–31–10–21–30–20–21–32–00–21–41–31–13–20–42–32–30–20–21–10–20–20–2—

Regular season

Game log
1994–95 game log
Total: 59–23 (Home: 32–9; Road: 27–14)
November: 10–4 (Home: 7–0; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December: 11–3 (Home: 7–1; Road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
24 December 22, 1994
6:00 p.m. MST		 @ Houston L 106–114 Manning (23) Barkley (14) Manning, Perry (6) The Summit
16,611		 18–6
January: 13–2 (Home: 4–1; Road: 9–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
February: 8–5 (Home: 6–3; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
46 February 5, 1995
1:30 p.m. MST		 Houston L 100–124 Barkley (24) Barkley (11) Barkley (7) America West Arena
19,023		 36–10
All-Star Break
March: 9–6 (Home: 3–4; Road: 6–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
60 March 7, 1995
6:00 p.m. MST		 @ Houston W 113–102 Barkley (26) Barkley (14) Johnson (11) The Summit
16,611		 46–14
68 March 24, 1995
7:00 p.m. MST		 Houston L 97–99 Barkley (34) Barkley (26) Johnson (10) America West Arena
19,023		 49–19
April: 8–3 (Home: 5–0; Road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1994–95 schedule

Playoffs

Game log
1995 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 28 Portland W 129–102 Charles Barkley (29) Charles Barkley (16) Kevin Johnson (10) America West Arena
19,023		 1–0
2 April 30 Portland W 103–94 Kevin Johnson (28) A. C. Green (15) Kevin Johnson (6) America West Arena
19,023		 2–0
3 May 2 @ Portland W 117–109 Charles Barkley (47) Charles Barkley (12) Kevin Johnson (11) Memorial Coliseum
12,888		 3–0
Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (Home: 2–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 9, 1995
7:30 p.m. MST		 Houston W 130–108 Barkley (26) Green (15) Johnson (13) America West Arena
19,023		 1–0
2 May 11, 1995
7:30 p.m. MST		 Houston W 118–94 Barkley (30) Green (14) Johnson (12) America West Arena
19,023		 2–0
3 May 13, 1995
10:00 a.m. MST		 @ Houston L 85–118 Johnson (14) Green (9) Ainge, Barkley, Johnson (4) The Summit
16,611		 2–1
4 May 14, 1995
10:00 a.m. MST		 @ Houston W 114–110 Johnson (43) Green (12) Johnson (9) The Summit
16,611		 3–1
5 May 16, 1995
7:30 p.m. MST		 Houston L 97–103 (OT) Johnson (28) Barkley, Green (20) Johnson (8) America West Arena
19,023		 3–2
6 May 18, 1995
5:30 p.m. MST		 @ Houston L 103–116 Barkley (34) Barkley (14) Johnson (10) The Summit
16,611		 3–3
7 May 20, 1995
12:30 p.m. MST		 Houston L 114–115 Johnson (46) Barkley (23) Johnson (10) America West Arena
19,023		 3–4
1995 schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month
  • Elliot Perry was named Player of the Week for games played November 14 through November 20.
  • Charles Barkley was named Player of the Week for games played February 13 through February 19.

All-Star
  • Charles Barkley was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his ninth consecutive All-Star selection. Barkley finished first in voting among Western Conference forwards with 1,046,105 votes.
  • Dan Majerle was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third All-Star selection. Majerle finished first in voting among Western Conference guards with 868,115 votes.
  • Paul Westphal coached the Western Conference in the All-Star Game, which was held in Phoenix for the second time. The West defeated the East 139–112.
  • Other Suns players receiving All-Star votes were: Danny Manning (327,554).
  • Dan Majerle was selected to compete in the Three-Point Shootout. Majerle was eliminated in the first round.
  • Wesley Person and Trevor Ruffin were selected to play in the Rookie Challenge.

Season

Injuries/Missed games
  • 10/08/94: Richard Dumas: League suspension (failed drug test); reinstated March 13
  • 11/03/94: Charles Barkley: Strained stomach muscle; placed on injured list until November 26
  • 11/03/94: Aaron Swinson: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until November 15
  • 11/11/94: Kevin Johnson: Sprained rib cage muscle; out until November 18
  • 11/12/94: Danny Ainge: Flu; did not play
  • 11/15/94: Antonio Lang: Back spasms; placed on injured list until February 6
  • 11/16/94: Wayman Tisdale: Sprained ankle; out until November 29
  • 11/23/94: Kevin Johnson: Sore knee; did not play
  • 11/26/94: Kevin Johnson: Strained groin; placed on injured list until December 12
  • 11/27/94: Charles Barkley: Strained stomach muscle; did not play
  • 12/12/94: Kevin Johnson: Strained groin; did not play
  • 12/12/94: Aaron Swinson: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until December 29
  • 01/03/95: Kevin Johnson: Strained quadriceps; out until January 22
  • 01/03/95: Wayman Tisdale: Flu; did not play
  • 01/26/95: Kevin Johnson: Strained quadriceps; out until February 19
  • 01/29/95: Wesley Person: Sore foot; out until February 3
  • 02/03/95: Wayman Tisdale: Separated rib cartilage; out until February 17
  • 02/06/95: Danny Manning: Torn ACL; placed on injured list for rest of season
  • 02/17/95: Danny Ainge: League suspension (punched Chris Dudley on February 15); did not play
  • 02/26/95: Joe Kleine: Personal reasons; did not play
  • 02/28/95: Charles Barkley: Sprained knee; did not play
  • 03/01/95: Charles Barkley: Sprained knee; did not play
  • 03/14/95: Wayman Tisdale: Strained rib; placed on injured reserve until March 24
  • 03/24/95: Trevor Ruffin: Bruised shoulder; did not play
  • 03/24/95: Antonio Lang: Sprained knee; placed on injured list for rest of season
  • 03/31/95: Richard Dumas: Urinary tract infection; did not play
  • 04/02/95: Richard Dumas: Urinary tract infection; did not play
  • 04/09/95: Danny Ainge: Bruised knee, sore back; did not play
  • 04/09/95: Danny Ainge: Bruised knee, sore back; did not play
  • 04/15/95: Charles Barkley: League suspension (exceeded flagrant foul limit); did not play
  • 05/09/95: Richard Dumas: Bruised wrist; out until waived on May 18

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Danny Ainge74118.6.460.364.8081.52.8.6.17.7
Charles Barkley686635.0.486.338.74811.14.11.6.7+23.0
Richard Dumas15111.1.507.000.5001.90.5.7.15.5
A. C. Green825232.8.504.339.7328.21.5.7.411.2
Kevin Johnson473528.8.470.154.8102.47.7+1.0.415.5
Joe Kleine754212.9.449.000.857#3.50.5.2.23.7
Antonio Lang1204.4.400..7500.30.1.0.20.9
Dan Majerle824637.7.425.363.7304.64.11.2.515.6
Danny Manning461932.8.547†.286.6736.03.3.91.2+17.9
Elliot Perry825124.1.520.417.810#1.84.8+1.9.09.7
Wesley Person785623.1.484.436^.7922.61.3.6.310.4
Trevor Ruffin4916.5.426.384.7110.51.0.3.04.8
Danny Schayes692711.9.5081.000^.7253.01.3.3.54.4
Aaron Swinson905.7.556†..8000.90.3.1.02.7
Wayman Tisdale651319.6.484..7703.80.7.4.410.0

† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 50 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 125 free-throws made.
+ – Minimum 50 games played.

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Danny Ainge10013.7.500.462.9091.01.0.5.06.0
Charles Barkley101039.0.500.257.73313.43.21.31.125.7
Richard Dumas301.7.250..0.30.0.0.00.7
A. C. Green101036.8.462.083.87312.01.3.6.212.8
Kevin Johnson101037.1.573.500.8454.19.3.9.424.8
Joe Kleine101016.7.574.500^.3.10.8.5.36.3
Dan Majerle10030.7.370.364.7063.11.71.4.38.2
Elliot Perry9011.8.476.400.8001.11.3.6.06.9
Wesley Person101024.7.410.378.9172.11.1.3.29.6
Trevor Ruffin302.2.500.250.2000.60.4.2.02.0
Danny Schayes10014.6.379.000.8752.00.8.3.32.9
Wayman Tisdale10017.0.451.000.6433.01.1.0.47.3

^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.

Transactions

Trades
August 1, 1994 To Detroit Pistons---- To Phoenix Suns----
September 23, 1994 To Los Angeles Lakers---- To Phoenix Suns----

Free agents
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