1998–99 Phoenix Suns season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the 31st season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Suns signed free agent Tom Gugliotta,[2] and acquired Luc Longley from the Chicago Bulls.[3] Head coach Danny Ainge returned for his third season with the team. After a 15–18 start, the Suns won 12 of their final 17 games, and finished tied with the Sacramento Kings for third in the Pacific Division with a record of 27–23,[4] in the shortened lockout season, which cut the regular season to just 50 games instead of the full 82 games.[5][6] The 7th-seeded Suns made the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season before being swept in the Western Conference First Round to the 2nd-seeded, and Pacific winner-Portland Trail Blazers, three games to zero.[7] All home games were played in America West Arena.

1998–99 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachDanny Ainge
General managerBryan Colangelo
OwnersJerry Colangelo
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record27–23 (.540)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishLost in first round to Portland (0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKUTP
Fox Sports Arizona
Cox 9
RadioKTAR

Starting point guard Jason Kidd finished the regular season leading the league with 10.8 assists per game, plus contributing 2.3 steals per game. Four Suns would average double-digits in points per game, with Gugliotta leading the team with 17.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, while Kidd averaged 16.9 points per game, Clifford Robinson provided with 16.4 points per game, and Rex Chapman contributed 12.1 points per game.[8] Kidd also led the league in total minutes played and was third in total steals, before being selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams. In addition, sixth man Danny Manning averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench, while Longley provided the team with 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and George McCloud contributed 8.9 points per game.[8]

Following the season, Manning and rookie forward Pat Garrity were both traded to the Orlando Magic,[9] who then traded Manning to the Milwaukee Bucks two weeks later,[10] and McCloud signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets.

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1998 NBA draft

This was the first year in franchise history that the Suns had no draft picks. Their first-round pick (which turned into Tyronn Lue) was traded to the Denver Nuggets the previous year in the Antonio McDyess deal,[11] and their second-round pick (which turned into Greg Buckner) was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1996 in the Jason Kidd deal.[12]

Roster
1998–99 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 12 Bailey, Toby 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1975–11–19 UCLA
G 4 Brown, Gerald 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1975–07–28 Pepperdine
G 3 Chapman, Rex 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1967–10–05 Kentucky
F 8 Garrity, Pat 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1976–08–23 Notre Dame
F/C 24 Gugliotta, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–12–19 North Carolina State
G 32 Kidd, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1973–03–23 California
C 35 Kleine, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1962–01–04 Arkansas
G 2 Livingston, Randy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1975–04–02 LSU
C 17 Llamas, Horacio  6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1973–07–17 Grand Canyon
C 13 Longley, Luc 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1969–01–19 New Mexico
F/C 15 Manning, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas
G/F 21 McCloud, George 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–05–27 Florida State
F 20 Milič, Marko  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1977–05–07 Slovenia
G/F 34 Morris, Chris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–01–20 Auburn
F 30 Robinson, Clifford 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–12–16 Connecticut
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-Portland Trail Blazers 3515.700–22–313–1215–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 3119.620418–713–1214–8
x-Sacramento Kings 2723.540816–911–1411–9
x-Phoenix Suns 2723.540815–1012–139–10
Seattle SuperSonics 2525.5001017–88–1711–10
Golden State Warriors 2129.4201413–128–178–11
Los Angeles Clippers 941.180266–193–223–16
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs3713.740–
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers3515.7002
3 x-Utah Jazz3713.740–
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers3119.6206
5 x-Houston Rockets3119.6206
6 x-Sacramento Kings2723.54010
7 x-Phoenix Suns2723.54010
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves2525.50012
9 Seattle SuperSonics2525.50012
10 Golden State Warriors2129.42016
11 Dallas Mavericks1931.38018
12 Denver Nuggets1436.28023
13 Los Angeles Clippers941.18028
14 Vancouver Grizzlies842.16029

Record vs. opponents
1998–99 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 TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —3–03–03–12–10–10–01–20–01–03–11–00–00–31–20–01–22–12–22–11–00–00–00–00–02–10–01–02–1
Boston 0–3—1–22–12–20–01–00–30–00–00–31–00–03–00–30–11–21–21–21–20–00–10–10–00–01–20–01–03–1
Charlotte 0–32–1—2–12–10–00–03–00–10–01–20–00–11–22–20–03–01–31–21–21–01–00–00–00–02–11–00–02–1
Chicago 1–31–21–2—0–30–10–00–30–00–00–31–00–01–21–30–02–11–20–31–20–00–00–00–10–11–20–11–01–2
Cleveland 1–22–21–23–0—0–00–01–21–00–10–30–01–00–31–20–03–01–21–21–21–00–00–01–00–02–20–10–01–2
Dallas 1–00–00–01–00–0—2–10–12–22–20–03–00–30–10–01–20–10–01–00–01–30–32–21–30–30–00–32–10–0
Denver 0–00–10–00–00–01–2—0–01–30–40–13–01–20–11–00–31–00–00–00–00–30–30–30–42–20–01–23–10–1
Detroit 2–13–00–33–02–11–00–0—0–00–02–10–00–02–12–10–12–12–10–41–31–00–00–00–11–02–11–00–02–1
Golden State 0–00–01–00–00–12–23–10–0—0–31–02–11–20–00–12–20–00–00–10–01–22–21–20–31–20–00–44–00–0
Houston 0–10–00–00–01–02–24–00–03–0—0–03–11–20–10–02–11–00–00–10–02–22–13–00–32–11–00–34–00–0
Indiana 1–23–02–13–03–00–01–01–20–10–0—0–01–02–23–00–03–12–11–21–20–00–10–00–00–02–10–01–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–10–10–00–10–00–30–30–01–21–30–0—0–40–00–02–21–00–10–00–00–31–21–20–30–30–11–31–30–0
L.A. Lakers 0–00–01–00–00–13–02–10–02–12–10–14–0—0–00–02–10–01–01–00–13–12–21–22–12–20–01–32–10–0
Miami 3–00–32–12–13–01–01–01–20–01–02–20–00–0—2–10–13–12–22–12–10–00–00–00–00–03–00–10–03–0
Milwaukee 2–13–02–23–12–10–00–11–21–00–00–30–00–01–2—1–02–12–11–21–20–10–00–00–01–03–10–00–02–1
Minnesota 0–01–00–00–00–02–13–01–02–21–20–02–21–21–00–1—0–00–10–00–01–20–33–12–22–10–10–33–10–0
New Jersey 2–12–10–31–20–31–00–11–20–00–11–30–10–01–31–20–0—0–30–31–20–00–10–00–01–02–10–00–02–1
New York 1–22–13–12–12–10–00–01–20–00–01–21–00–12–21–21–03–0—0–33–11–00–00–10–00–01–20–00–02–1
Orlando 2–22–12–13–02–10–10–04–01–01–02–10–00–11–22–10–03–03–0—1–20–00–01–00–10–01–20–00–02–1
Philadelphia 1–22–12–12–12–10–00–03–10–00–02–10–01–01–22–10–02–11–32–1—0–00–11–00–10–12–10–01–01–2
Phoenix 0–10–00–10–00–13–13–00–12–12–20–03–01–30–01–02–10–00–10–00–0—0–30–32–23–00–02–23–00–0
Portland 0–01–00–10–00–03–03–00–02–21–21–02–12–20–00–03–01–00–00–01–03–0—4–01–32–20–01–24–00–0
Sacramento 0–01–01–00–00–02–23–00–02–10–30–02–12–10–00–01–30–01–00–10–13–00–4—1–22–20–01–24–01–0
San Antonio 0–00–00–01–00–13–14–01–03–03–00–03–01–20–00–02–20–00–01–01–02–23–12–1—2–10–12–13–00–0
Seattle 0–00–00–01–00–03–02–20–12–11–20–03–02–20–00–11–20–10–00–01–00–32–22–21–2—0–02–22–10–1
Toronto 1–22–11–22–12–20–00–01–20–00–11–21–00–00–31–31–01–22–12–11–20–00–00–01–00–0—0–01–02–2
Utah 0–00–00–11–01–03–02–10–14–03–00–03–13–11–00–03–00–00–00–00–02–22–12–11–22–20–0—3–01–0
Vancouver 0–10–10–00–10–01–21–30–00–30–40–13–11–20–00–01–30–00–00–00–10–30–30–40–31–20–10–3—0–0
Washington 1–21–31–22–12–10–01–01–20–10–00–30–00–00–31–20–01–21–21–22–10–00–10–10–01–02–20–10–0—

Playoffs

Game log
1999 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 8 @ Portland L 85–95 Jason Kidd (17) Tom Gugliotta (9) Jason Kidd (7) Rose Garden
20,040		 0–1
2 May 10 @ Portland L 99–110 Garrity, McCloud (15) Tom Gugliotta (9) Jason Kidd (12) Rose Garden
20,588		 0–2
3 May 12 Portland L 93–103 Clifford Robinson (24) Gugliotta, Robinson (7) Jason Kidd (12) America West Arena
17,306		 0–3
1999 schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Month for April.
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played April 12 through April 18.

All-Star

All-Star weekend was cancelled due to the 1998–99 NBA lockout.

Season

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
Toby Bailey27109.2.395.200.6922.00.5.3.12.9
Gerald Brown3307.2.371.300.7860.70.9.2.02.4
Rex Chapman383531.1.359.351.835#2.72.9.9.212.1
Pat Garrity39913.8.500†.389.7141.90.5.2.15.6
Tom Gugliotta434336.3.483.286.7948.92.81.4.517.0
Jason Kidd505041.2.444.366.7576.810.82.3.416.9
Joe Kleine31512.1.405.000.6672.20.4.3.02.2
Randy Livingston1022.0.625†.1.000#2.03.02.0.012.0
Luc Longley393923.9.483..7765.71.2.6.58.7
Danny Manning50523.7.484†.111.6964.42.3.7.89.1
George McCloud481625.9.438.416.862#3.41.6.9.38.9
Marko Milič1104.8.400.000.0.50.2.3.11.5
Chris Morris44212.2.430.286.870#2.80.5.4.34.2
Jimmy Oliver205.5.3331.000^.0.00.0.0.01.5
Shawn Respert1218.3.361.308.7001.10.7.4.03.1
Clifford Robinson503534.8.475.417^.6974.52.61.51.216.4
Alvin Sims406.3.4001.000^.4001.01.3.5.02.8

† – Minimum 183 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 34 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 76 free throws made.

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gerald Brown101.01.000..0.00.0.0.02.0
Rex Chapman3319.0.286.333.7502.02.0.3.05.7
Pat Garrity3017.3.5291.000^1.000#3.00.3.3.39.0
Tom Gugliotta3339.3.371..7508.33.31.31.010.7
Jason Kidd3342.0.419.250.7142.310.31.7.315.0
Joe Kleine105.0.500..1.00.01.01.02.0
Randy Livingston308.0.400.0001.000#2.30.7.3.05.3
Luc Longley3217.0.167..3.00.31.0.01.3
Danny Manning3126.3.583..769#1.72.01.3.012.7
George McCloud3026.7.433.450^.7004.30.71.7.014.0
Chris Morris1010.01.0001.000^.0001.00.0.0.05.0
Clifford Robinson3339.0.475.222.6365.32.72.0.315.7

^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions

Trades
June 24, 1998 To Los Angeles Lakers----
  • Future considerations
 To Phoenix Suns----
June 24, 1998 To Dallas Mavericks---- To Phoenix Suns----
January 23, 1999 To Chicago Bulls---- To Phoenix Suns----

Free agents
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