1991–92 Phoenix Suns season
The 1991–92 NBA season was the 24th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the off-season, the Suns acquired three-point specialist Trent Tucker from the New York Knicks. However, Tucker never played for the team as he was released to free agency, and later on signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[2] The Suns were led by head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, which would be the last of his four-season second stint as coach of the Suns.[3] All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team got off to a slow 5–9 start, but went on a nine-game winning streak as they won 14 of their next 15 games. The Suns finished third in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record.[4] In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, they swept the Spurs in three straight games,[5] but lost 4–1 to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semi-finals.[6]
1991–92 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Cotton Fitzsimmons |
General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
Owner(s) | Jerry Colangelo |
Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 53–29 (.646) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Conference Semifinals (Lost to Trail Blazers 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | |
Radio | KTAR |
Guard Jeff Hornacek led the Suns in scoring, averaging 20.1 points per game plus contributing 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. In addition, Kevin Johnson averaged 19.7 points and led the team with 10.7 assists per game, while sixth man Dan Majerle provided the team with 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game off the bench, and Tom Chambers, at 32 years of age, appeared in 69 games and contributed 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Tim Perry stepped into the lineup averaging 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while Andrew Lang replaced Mark West in the lineup at center, averaging 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and leading the team with 2.5 blocks per game.[7] Hornacek finished the season third in three-point field goal percentage at .439, while Johnson's assist average was good for second-best in the league.[8]
Hornacek and Majerle were both selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game,[9] while by season's end, Johnson was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, and second-year forward Cedric Ceballos won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Orlando. Following the season, Hornacek, Perry and Lang were all traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[10]
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 32 | Chad Gallagher | Center | ![]() |
Creighton |
2 | 46 | Richard Dumas | Forward | ![]() |
Oklahoma State |
2 | 50 | Joey Wright | Guard | ![]() |
Texas |
Roster
Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
Roster Notes
- Rookie small forward Richard Dumas was suspended for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy.[11]
Regular season
Season standings
Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Portland Trail Blazers | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | 33–8 | 24–17 | 21–9 |
x-Golden State Warriors | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 31–10 | 24–17 | 19–11 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 4 | 36–5 | 17–24 | 17–13 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 28–13 | 19–22 | 16–14 |
x-Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 13–17 |
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 | 24–17 | 19–22 | 13–17 |
Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 6–24 |
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Portland Trail Blazers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
2 | y-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
3 | x-Golden State Warriors | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 4 |
5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
6 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
7 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
8 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 |
9 | Houston Rockets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
10 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 |
11 | Denver Nuggets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 33 |
12 | Dallas Mavericks | 22 | 60 | .268 | 35 |
13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1991–92 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 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Boston | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Charlotte | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
Cleveland | 5–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 4–1 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Miami | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
New York | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Orlando | 2–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
Philadelphia | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 2–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–0 |
Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | — | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
San Antonio | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Playoffs
Game log
Awards and honors
Week/Month
- Jeff Hornacek was named Player of the Month for December.
- Cotton Fitzsimmons was named Coach of the Month for December.
All-Star
- Jeff Hornacek was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection. Hornacek finished seventh in voting among Western Conference guards with 271,180 votes.
- Dan Majerle was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first All-Star selection.
- Other Suns players receiving All-Star votes were Tom Chambers (406,185) and Kevin Johnson (309,820).
- Cedric Ceballos won the Slam Dunk Contest, winning the competition with the famous "Hocus Pocus" blindfolded dunk.
- Jeff Hornacek participated in the Three-Point Shootout, losing to champion and former Suns teammate Craig Hodges.
Season
- Kevin Johnson was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Johnson also finished 14th in MVP voting.[12]
- Dan Majerle finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[12]
Player statistics
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Burtt | 31 | 2 | 11.5 | .463 | .167 | .704 | 1.1 | 1.9 | .5 | .1 | 6.0 |
Cedric Ceballos | 64 | 4 | 11.3 | .482 | .167 | .736 | 2.4 | 0.8 | .3 | .2 | 7.2 |
Tom Chambers | 69 | 66 | 28.2 | .431 | .367 | .830 | 5.8 | 2.1 | .8 | .5 | 16.3 |
Jeff Hornacek | 81 | 81 | 38.0 | .512 | .439 | .886 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 2.0 | .4 | 20.1 |
Kevin Johnson | 78 | 78 | 37.2 | .479 | .217 | .807 | 3.7 | 10.7 | 1.5 | .3 | 19.7 |
Negele Knight | 42 | 1 | 15.0 | .475 | .308 | .688 | 1.1 | 2.7 | .6 | .1 | 5.8 |
Andrew Lang | 81 | 71 | 24.3 | .522 | .000 | .768 | 6.7 | 0.5 | .6 | 2.5 | 7.7 |
Dan Majerle | 82 | 15 | 34.8 | .478 | .382 | .756 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 1.6 | .5 | 17.3 |
Jerrod Mustaf | 52 | 3 | 10.5 | .477 | . | .690 | 2.8 | 0.9 | .4 | .3 | 4.5 |
Ed Nealy | 52 | 4 | 9.7 | .512 | .400 | .667 | 2.1 | 0.7 | .3 | .0 | 3.1 |
Tim Perry | 80 | 69 | 31.0 | .523 | .375 | .712 | 6.9 | 1.7 | .6 | 1.5 | 12.3 |
Kurt Rambis | 28 | 5 | 13.6 | .463 | . | .778 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .4 | .5 | 3.2 |
Mark West | 82 | 11 | 17.5 | .632 | . | .637 | 4.5 | 0.3 | .2 | 1.0 | 6.1 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Burtt | 8 | 0 | 13.0 | .421 | .000 | .857 | 1.5 | 1.8 | .6 | .0 | 6.3 |
Cedric Ceballos | 8 | 8 | 23.5 | .550 | . | .667 | 6.4 | 1.5 | .8 | .8 | 13.5 |
Tom Chambers | 7 | 0 | 27.7 | .459 | .571^ | .844 | 4.4 | 2.7 | .3 | .7 | 15.6 |
Jeff Hornacek | 8 | 8 | 42.9 | .484 | .471^ | .912 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 1.8 | .3 | 20.4 |
Kevin Johnson | 8 | 8 | 41.9 | .484 | .500^ | .861 | 4.1 | 11.6 | 1.5 | .3 | 23.6 |
Andrew Lang | 8 | 8 | 24.0 | .375 | . | .789 | 4.0 | 0.3 | .4 | 1.9 | 5.6 |
Dan Majerle | 7 | 0 | 38.0 | .432 | .273 | .962+ | 6.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | .0 | 18.6 |
Ed Nealy | 8 | 0 | 8.4 | .389 | .385 | 1.000+ | 2.3 | 0.5 | .4 | .0 | 2.9 |
Tim Perry | 8 | 8 | 23.1 | .603† | . | .719 | 4.9 | 1.4 | .4 | .8 | 12.4 |
Mark West | 8 | 0 | 12.0 | .737† | . | .500 | 2.1 | 0.3 | .3 | .5 | 4.0 |
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
+ – Minimum 10 free throws made.
Transactions
Trades
June 27, 1991 | To Cleveland Cavaliers----
|
To Phoenix Suns----
|
October 1, 1991 | To New York Knicks---- | To Phoenix Suns---- |
Additions
Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
---|---|---|---|
February 14, 1992 | Steve Burtt | Signed two 10-day contracts | Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA) |
March 5, 1992 | Steve Burtt | Signed for rest of season | Phoenix Suns |
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
---|---|---|---|
August 6, 1991 | Ian Lockhart | Free agent | Cholet Basket (France) |
October 29, 1991 | Joey Wright | Waived | Pensacola HotShots (GBA) |
October 30, 1991 | Joe Barry Carroll | Waived | N/A (Retired) |
November 15, 1991 | Trent Tucker | Waived | San Antonio Spurs |
Player Transactions Citation:[13]
See also
References
- "1991-92 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats".
- "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Tucker Joins Spurs". New York Times. February 28, 1992. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns to Change Coaches". New York Times. April 24, 1992. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Scores 56 Points, Finishing Sweep of Heat". New York Times. April 30, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- "Trail Blazers 118, Suns 106". UPI Archives. May 15, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- "1991–92 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- Brown, Clifton (June 18, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Bright Day for Suns: They Get Barkley". New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns Suspend Dumas". New York Times. November 1, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- "1991–92 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.