The 1995âÂÂ96 Phoenix Suns season was the 28th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. The Suns had the 21st overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Michael Finley from the University of Wisconsin. During the off-season, the team acquired Hot Rod Williams from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and signed free agent Tony Smith.
With the addition of Finley and Williams, the Suns got off to a 13âÂÂ13 start to the regular season, but then lost eight of their next nine games, falling below .500 in winning percentage with a 14âÂÂ21 record as of January 19, 1996. Head coach Paul Westphal was fired after a 14âÂÂ19 start to the season, and was replaced with former Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, who came in to coach in his third stint with the team. Under Fitzsimmons, the Suns won 9 of their 13 games in February, and held a 22âÂÂ24 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Smith to the Miami Heat in exchange for rookie point guard Terrence Rencher. The Suns played above .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 41âÂÂ41 record, earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. The Suns were also one of the nine teams to defeat the 72âÂÂ10 Chicago Bulls during the regular season.
Charles Barkley averaged 23.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Kevin Johnson averaged 18.7 points, 9.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, but only played 56 games due to hamstring and groin injuries, and Finley provided the team with 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, sixth man Danny Manning averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played just 33 games due to a torn ACL, and sprained ankle, while second-year guard Wesley Person contributed 12.7 points per game, and led the Suns with 117 three-point field goals, and Wayman Tisdale contributed 10.7 points per game off the bench. Meanwhile, Elliott Perry provided with 8.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, A.C. Green contributed 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Hot Rod Williams averaged 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Barkley was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his tenth consecutive All-Star selection. Meanwhile, Finley was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Western Conference Rookie team, and also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Barkley also finished tied in twelfth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Finley finished tied in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting.
In the Western Conference First Round of the 1996 NBA playoffs, the Suns faced off against the 2ndâÂÂseeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by All-Star center David Robinson, All-Star forward Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson. However, despite playing all 82 games, Finley suffered an ankle injury on the final day of the regular season, and did not play in any of the Suns' playoff games. Without Finley, the Suns lost the first two games to the Spurs on the road at the Alamodome, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 94âÂÂ93 at the America West Arena. However, the Suns lost Game 4 to the Spurs at home, 116âÂÂ98, thus losing the series in four games.
The Suns finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 779,943 at the America West Arena during the regular season. Following the season, Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets after four seasons with the Suns, while Perry was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Rencher was released to free agency.
The Suns received the 21st pick from a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1994. With the pick they would select future All-Star swingman Michael Finley from Wisconsin. Finley averaged 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in four years with the Badgers. On October 4, the Suns signed Finley to a three-year rookie contract for $2.17 million. In his rookie season, Finley would average 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Finley was traded to the Dallas Mavericks midway through his sophomore season for All-Star point guard Jason Kidd.
The Suns used their first-round pick to select small forward Mario Bennett from Arizona State. Bennett averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in three years with the Sun Devils. On October 4, the Suns signed Bennett to a three-year rookie contract for $1.66 million. Bennett underwent knee surgery before the season and remained on the injured reserve until March 1. Bennett would appear in just 19 regular season games, starting in 14 due to injuries, and two playoff games before being waived prior to the 1996âÂÂ97 season.
The Suns used their second-round pick to select shooting guard Chris Carr from Southern Illinois. Carr averaged 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in three years with the Salukis. On October 2, the Suns signed Carr to a one-year rookie contract for $200,000. Carr appeared in 60 regular season games, starting in ten, and three playoff games. Carr would sign as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves after the season.
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 26 | @ San Antonio | L 98âÂÂ120 | Charles Barkley (26) | Charles Barkley (12) | Kevin Johnson (11) | Alamodome<br>16,545 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 28 | @ San Antonio | L 105âÂÂ110 | Charles Barkley (30) | Charles Barkley (20) | Kevin Johnson (16) | Alamodome<br>19,507 | 0âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 1 | San Antonio | W 94âÂÂ93 | Charles Barkley (25) | Charles Barkley (13) | Kevin Johnson (8) | America West Arena<br>19,023 | 1âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 3 | San Antonio | L 98âÂÂ116 | Charles Barkley (21) | Charles Barkley (9) | Kevin Johnson (8) | America West Arena<br>19,023 | 1âÂÂ3 |-
<small>* â Stats with the Suns.</small><br> <small>â â Minimum 300 field goals made.</small><br> <small>^ â Minimum 82 three-pointers made.</small><br> <small># â Minimum 125 free-throws made.</small>
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