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1991–92 Phoenix Suns season

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1991–92 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachCotton Fitzsimmons
General managerJerry Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record53–29 (.646)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Trail Blazers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

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.[2] However, Tucker never played for the team as he was released to free agency, and later on signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[3][4] 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.[5][6] 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, and held a 32–16 record at the All-Star break.[7] The Suns finished third in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Suns swept the Spurs in three straight games,[11][12] but lost 4–1 to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semi-finals.[13][14] The Blazers would lose in six games to the defending champion Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.[15][16][17]

Hornacek and Majerle were both selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game,[18] 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.[19][20] Following the season, Hornacek, Perry and Lang were all traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[21][22][23]

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 32 Chad Gallagher Center  United States Creighton
2 46 Richard Dumas Forward  United States Oklahoma State
2 50 Joey Wright Guard  United States Texas

Roster

1991–92 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 15 Burtt, Steve 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962–11–05 Iona
SF 23 Ceballos, Cedric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969–08–02 Cal State Fullerton
PF 24 Chambers, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1959–06–21 Utah
SF 21 Dumas, Richard (S) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–05–19 Oklahoma State
SG 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–05–03 Iowa State
PG 7 Johnson, Kevin (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–03–04 California
PG 32 Knight, Negele 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967–03–06 Dayton
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas
SF 9 Majerle, Dan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–09–09 Central Michigan
PF 0 Mustaf, Jerrod 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1969–10–28 Maryland
SF 45 Nealy, Ed 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1960–02–19 Kansas State
PF 34 Perry, Tim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965–06–04 Temple
PF 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958–02–25 Santa Clara
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 23, 1992

Roster Notes

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 —

Game log

Playoffs

Game log

1992 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 24 San Antonio W 117–111 Dan Majerle (25) Cedric Ceballos (9) Kevin Johnson (17) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496 		1–0
2 April 26 San Antonio W 119–107 Hornacek, Perry (31) Lang, Perry (10) Kevin Johnson (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496 		2–0
3 April 29 @ San Antonio W 101–92 Hornacek, Johnson (22) Tim Perry (9) Kevin Johnson (11) HemisFair Arena
14,853 		3–0
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ Portland L 111–113 Kevin Johnson (24) Chambers, Johnson (8) Jeff Hornacek (12) Memorial Coliseum
12,888 		0–1
2 May 7 @ Portland L 119–126 Kevin Johnson (35) Jeff Hornacek (11) Dan Majerle (6) Memorial Coliseum
12,888 		0–2
3 May 9 Portland W 124–117 Jeff Hornacek (30) Majerle, Perry (9) Kevin Johnson (16) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496 		1–2
4 May 11 Portland L 151–153 (2OT) Kevin Johnson (35) Dan Majerle (11) Kevin Johnson (14) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496 		1–3
5 May 14 @ Portland L 106–118 Chambers, Perry (19) Tom Chambers (8) Kevin Johnson (6) Memorial Coliseum
12,888 		1–4
1992 schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month

All-Star

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
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----

Free agents

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 — (Retired)
November 15, 1991 Trent Tucker Waived San Antonio Spurs

Player Transactions Citation:[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "1991-92 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 2, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Add Firepower by Acquiring McDaniel". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns Release Tucker". The New York Times. November 17, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Tucker Joins Spurs". The New York Times. February 28, 1992. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns to Change Coaches". The New York Times. April 24, 1992. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "NBA Firings: Westhead, Hamblen". Los Angeles Times. April 24, 1992. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "1991–92 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Scores 56 Points, Finishing Sweep of Heat". The New York Times. April 30, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Jordan Warms to Task, Hits 56, Eliminates Heat". The Washington Post. April 30, 1992. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Press, Associated (May 15, 1992). "Drexler Scores 34 as Trail Blazers Move Ahead: NBA: Portland Takes Series from Suns, 4-1, to Reach Western Finals Again, 118-106". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Stewart, Bill (May 15, 1992). "Trail Blazers 118, Suns 106". United Press International. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  15. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1992). "With Jordan Starring, Bulls Make It a Rerun". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 15, 1992). "Bull Reserves Take Title by Horns: Game 6: Along with Pippen, They Go on a Late 14-2 Run That Carries Chicago to a 97-93 Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (June 15, 1992). "Bulls Find Repeat Sweet". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "In the Dark, in the Money". The New York Times. February 10, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  20. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 9, 1992). "Ceballos' Dunking Victory: Out of Sight: Contest: Former CS Fullerton Standout Makes Shot Blindfolded to Defeat Hornets' Johnson". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  21. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 18, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Bright Day for Suns: They Get Barkley". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  22. ^ Press, Associated (June 18, 1992). "76ers Send Barkley to Suns: Pro Basketball: Controversial Forward Traded After Acquittal in Milwaukee. Philadelphia Gets Hornacek, Lang and Perry". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  23. ^ Nakamura, David (June 18, 1992). "76ers Trade Barkley to Suns". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns Suspend Dumas". The New York Times. November 1, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "1991–92 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "1991–92 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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