2010–11 Phoenix Suns season

The 2010–11 Phoenix Suns season was the 43rd season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time in eight seasons, the Suns were without the play of power forward Amar'e Stoudemire, a 5-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year who joined the New York Knicks in the summer. The Suns traded Jason Richardson on December 18, 2010, as part of a trade that brought Vince Carter to the Suns. On February 24, 2011, the Suns traded Goran Dragić and the draft pick they got earlier from Orlando in exchange for Aaron Brooks. Alvin Gentry was head coach and the Suns played their home games at US Airways Center.

Key dates

• June 24, 2010 – The 2010 NBA draft was held in New York City.
• July 1, 2010 – The free agency period begun.
• July 11, 2010 – The Suns traded with the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors.
• July 12, 2010 – The Suns announced Lon Babby as their newest vice president for basketball operations.
• August 5, 2010 – The Suns announced Lance Blanks as their newest general manager, hiring him over Jeff Bower, Tommy Sheppard, Jeff Weltman, and Ronnie Lester.
• December 18, 2010 – The Suns traded Jason Richardson, Hedo Türkoğlu, and Earl Clark to the Orlando Magic for Vince Carter, Mickaël Piétrus, Marcin Gortat, their 2011 first-round draft pick and cash.
• February 24, 2011 – The Suns traded Goran Dragić and a lottery protected 2011 draft pick to the Houston Rockets for Aaron Brooks.

Offseason

NBA draft

Free agency

Amar'e Stoudemire opted out of his final year of his contract and became an unrestricted free agent. He was to be paid $17.7 million. He later joined the New York Knicks.

Channing Frye re-signed with Phoenix on a 5-year, $30 million contract on July 1. One day later, the Suns signed power forward Hakim Warrick to a 4-year, $16 million contract. At the same time, Phoenix ended up trading Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Hedo Türkoğlu.

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 5 | @ Sacramento | | Jason Richardson (17) | Robin Lopez (6) | Chucky Atkins (4) | ARCO Arena<br />9,485 | 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 8 | Toronto | | Jared Dudley (10) | Hedo Türkoğlu (8) | Steve Nash (7) | General Motors Place<br />18,123 | 0–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | October 9 | Dallas | | Grant Hill (16) | Robin Lopez (6) | Steve Nash (10) | Indian Wells Tennis Garden<br />15,617 | 1–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 12 | Utah | | Goran Dragić (15) | Josh Childress (8) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />12,410 | 1–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | October 14 | @ Utah | | Hedo Türkoğlu (13) | Jason Richardson,<br />Garret Siler (7) | Steve Nash (5) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,883 | 1–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 17 | @ Toronto | | Steve Nash (16) | Steve Nash (7) | Steve Nash (6) | Air Canada Centre<br />12,902 | 1–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | October 19 | Golden State | | Steve Nash (18) | Robin Lopez (10) | Steve Nash,<br />Goran Dragić (4) | US Airways Center<br />14,635 | 2–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | October 22 | Denver | | Jared Dudley (17) | Robin Lopez (7) | Steve Nash (12) | US Airways Center<br />15,440 | 2–6 |-

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | October 26 | @ Portland | | Steve Nash (26) | Channing Frye,<br />Jason Richardson (6) | Steve Nash (6) | Rose Garden<br />20,603 | 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 28 | @ Utah | | Hakim Warrick,<br />Steve Nash (18) | Grant Hill (12) | Goran Dragić (6) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,911 | 1–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | October 29 | L.A. Lakers | | Grant Hill (21) | Robin Lopez (14) | Steve Nash (9) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 1–2

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 3 | San Antonio | | Jason Richardson (21) | Grant Hill (8) | Goran Dragić (8) | US Airways Center<br />17,060 | 1–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 5 | Memphis | | Jason Richardson (38) | Channing Frye (11) | Steve Nash (9) | US Airways Center<br />16,470 | 2–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 7 | @ Atlanta | | Jason Richardson (21) | Jared Dudley,<br />Grant Hill,<br />Josh Childress (6) | Steve Nash (15) | Philips Arena<br />13,395 | 3–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | November 8 | @ Memphis | | Grant Hill (19) | Grant Hill (12) | Steve Nash (11) | FedExForum<br />10,786 | 3–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 12 | Sacramento | | Steve Nash (28) | Jason Richardson (8) | Steve Nash (14) | US Airways Center<br />18,029 | 4–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 14 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Jason Richardson (35) | Jason Richardson (8) | Steve Nash (13) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 5–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 15 | Denver | | Hakim Warrick (21) | Josh Childress (8) | Steve Nash (7) | US Airways Center<br />17,744 | 6–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 17 | @ Miami | | Steve Nash (17) | Channing Frye,<br />Hedo Türkoğlu (6) | Hedo Türkoğlu (4) | American Airlines Arena<br />19,600 | 6–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 18 | @ Orlando | | Grant Hill (21) | Channing Frye (6) | Goran Dragić (4) | Amway Center<br />18,846 | 6–6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 20 | @ Charlotte | | Grant Hill (23) | Channing Frye (6) | Goran Dragić (10) | Time Warner Cable Arena<br />16,428 | 6–7 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 22 | @ Houston | | Jason Richardson (26) | Hedo Türkoğlu (9) | Steve Nash (8) | Toyota Center<br />15,080 | 7–7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 24 | Chicago | | Grant Hill (27) | Hedo Türkoğlu (10) | Steve Nash (16) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 7–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 26 | L.A. Clippers | | Jason Richardson (29) | Jason Richardson,<br />Hakim Warrick (6) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />17,486 | 8–8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | November 28 | @ Denver | | Jason Richardson (39) | Jason Richardson (10) | Steve Nash (11) | Pepsi Center<br />15,482 | 8–9

|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 2 | @ Golden State | | Jason Richardson (25) | Channing Frye (10) | Steve Nash (16) | Oracle Arena<br />18,328 | 9–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 3 | Indiana | | Channing Frye (29) | Goran Dragić (6) | Steve Nash (11) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 10–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 5 | Washington | | Hakim Warrick (26) | Earl Barron (8) | Steve Nash (17) | US Airways Center<br />17,430 | 11–9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | December 7 | @ Portland | | Steve Nash (24) | Grant Hill (8) | Steve Nash (14) | Rose Garden<br />20,151 | 11–10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 8 | Memphis | | Goran Dragić (17) | Josh Childress,<br />Channing Frye,<br />Hedo Türkoğlu (7) | Steve Nash (7) | US Airways Center<br />16,288 | 11–11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | December 10 | Portland | | Steve Nash (24) | Channing Frye,<br />Steve Nash (7) | Steve Nash (5) | US Airways Center<br />17,284 | 11–12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 15 | Minnesota | | Jason Richardson (29) | Channing Frye (9) | Steve Nash (19) | US Airways Center<br />16,997 | 12–12 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | December 17 | @ Dallas | | Hakim Warrick (15) | Channing Frye,<br />Hakim Warrick (14) | Goran Dragić (10) | American Airlines Center<br />20,406 | 12–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 19 | @ Oklahoma City | | Grant Hill (30) | Grant Hill (11) | Steve Nash (10) | Oklahoma City Arena<br />18,203 | 13–13 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 20 | @ San Antonio | | Jared Dudley (27) | Robin Lopez (7) | Steve Nash (10) | AT&T Center<br />18,581 | 13–14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | December 23 | Miami | | Jared Dudley (33) | Jared Dudley (12) | Steve Nash (18) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 13–15 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | December 26 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Mickaël Piétrus (25) | Grant Hill (7) | Steve Nash (15) | Staples Center<br />19,060 | 13–16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | December 29 | Philadelphia | | Steve Nash (23) | Marcin Gortat (6) | Steve Nash (15) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 13–17 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | December 31 | Detroit | | Vince Carter,<br />Jared Dudley (19) | Vince Carter,<br />Marcin Gortat (8) | Marcin Gortat,<br />Goran Dragić (5) | US Airways Center<br />17,637 | 14–17

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | January 2 | @ Sacramento | | Steve Nash (20) | Marcin Gortat,<br />Grant Hill (6) | Steve Nash (12) | ARCO Arena<br />12,500 | 14–18 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 5 | L.A. Lakers | | Jared Dudley (21) | Marcin Gortat (9) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,105 | 14–19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 7 | New York | | Vince Carter (19) | Jared Dudley,<br />Channing Frye (6) | Steve Nash (9) | US Airways Center<br />17,621 | 14–20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 9 | Cleveland | | Jared Dudley (21) | Channing Frye (12) | Steve Nash (17) | US Airways Center<br />17,031 | 15–20 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 11 | @ Denver | | Vince Carter,<br />Steve Nash (15) | Channing Frye (8) | Steve Nash (7) | Pepsi Center<br />14,874 | 15–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 12 | New Jersey | | Vince Carter,<br />Steve Nash (23) | Channing Frye,<br />Steve Nash (7) | Steve Nash (16) | US Airways Center<br />16,334 | 16–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 14 | Portland | | Steve Nash (23) | Channing Frye (8) | Steve Nash (13) | US Airways Center<br />17,412 | 17–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 17 | @ New York | | Vince Carter (29) | Vince Carter (12) | Steve Nash (11) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 18–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 19 | @ Cleveland | | Grant Hill (27) | Marcin Gortat,<br />Grant Hill (12) | Steve Nash (15) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 19–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 21 | @ Washington | | Channing Frye (25) | Marcin Gortat (14) | Steve Nash (14) | Verizon Center<br />15,716 | 20–21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 22 | @ Detroit | | Steve Nash (14) | Marcin Gortat (13) | Steve Nash (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />21,326 | 20–22 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 24 | @ Philadelphia | | Jared Dudley (23) | Jared Dudley (7) | Steve Nash (9) | Wells Fargo Center<br />14,881 | 20–23 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | January 26 | Charlotte | | Steve Nash (27) | Marcin Gortat (7) | Steve Nash (15) | US Airways Center<br />16,986 | 20–24 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | January 28 | Boston | | Marcin Gortat (19) | Marcin Gortat (17) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 21–24 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | January 30 | New Orleans | | Marcin Gortat (25) | Marcin Gortat (11) | Steve Nash (15) | US Airways Center<br />17,921 | 22–24

|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 2 | Milwaukee | | Marcin Gortat (19) | Channing Frye (13) | Steve Nash (13) | US Airways Center<br />16,422 | 23–24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 4 | Oklahoma City | | Vince Carter (33) | Channing Frye (9) | Steve Nash (8) | US Airways Center<br />16,274 | 23–25 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | February 7 | @ Golden State | | Channing Frye (19) | Channing Frye (11) | Steve Nash (15) | Oracle Arena<br />18,002 | 24–25 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 10 | Golden State | | Steve Nash (18) | Channing Frye,<br />Marcin Gortat (9) | Steve Nash (11) | US Airways Center<br />16,731 | 25–25 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 11 | @ Utah | | Steve Nash (18) | Marcin Gortat (10) | Steve Nash (10) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,911 | 26–25 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 13 | Sacramento | | Steve Nash (22) | Marcin Gortat (12) | Steve Nash (18) | US Airways Center<br />17,798 | 26–26 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 15 | Utah | | Channing Frye (31) | Channing Frye (11) | Steve Nash (14) | US Airways Center<br />16,874 | 27–26 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 17 | Dallas | | Channing Frye (24) | Robin Lopez (13) | Steve Nash (14) | US Airways Center<br />17,903 | 27–27 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | February 23 | Atlanta | | Channing Frye (20) | Marcin Gortat (12) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,254 | 28–27 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | February 25 | @ Toronto | | Vince Carter,<br />Marcin Gortat (17) | Marcin Gortat (11) | Steve Nash (11) | Air Canada Centre<br />19,004 | 29–27 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | February 27 | @ Indiana | | Grant Hill (34) | Marcin Gortat (11) | Steve Nash (13) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />14,168 | 30–27 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | February 28 | @ New Jersey | | Marcin Gortat (17) | Channing Frye (8) | Steve Nash (15) | Prudential Center<br />15,836 | 31–27

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 2 | @ Boston | | Aaron Brooks (17) | Marcin Gortat (13) | Aaron Brooks,<br />Steve Nash (7) | TD Garden<br />18,624 | 31–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 4 | @ Milwaukee | | Channing Frye,<br />Mickaël Piétrus (20) | Channing Frye (9) | Steve Nash (13) | Bradley Center<br />15,011 | 32–28 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | March 6 | @ Oklahoma City | | Vince Carter (29) | Channing Frye (15) | Steve Nash (14) | Oklahoma City Arena<br />18,203 | 32–29 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | March 8 | Houston | | Vince Carter,<br />Hakim Warrick (32) | Marcin Gortat (16) | Steve Nash (14) | US Airways Center<br />17,363 | 33–29 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | March 10 | Denver | | Marcin Gortat (14) | Marcin Gortat (18) | Aaron Brooks,<br />Steve Nash (7) | US Airways Center<br />17,465 | 33–30 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 13 | Orlando | | Aaron Brooks (19) | Hakim Warrick (8) | Aaron Brooks (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,091 | 33–31 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 14 | @ Houston | | Vince Carter (21) | Marcin Gortat,<br />Hakim Warrick (8) | Zabian Dowdell (5) | Toyota Center<br />16,262 | 33–32 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 16 | @ New Orleans | | Jared Dudley (25) | Jared Dudley,<br />Marcin Gortat (8) | Steve Nash (10) | New Orleans Arena<br />13,758 | 33–33 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 18 | Golden State | | Marcin Gortat (18) | Channing Frye,<br />Marcin Gortat (9) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 34–33 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 20 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Steve Nash (23) | Marcin Gortat (13) | Steve Nash (13) | Staples Center<br />19,060 | 35–33 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 22 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Channing Frye (32) | Marcin Gortat (16) | Steve Nash (20) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 35–34 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 23 | Toronto | | Aaron Brooks (25) | Marcin Gortat (8) | Aaron Brooks,<br />Steve Nash (8) | US Airways Center<br />17,865 | 36–34 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 25 | New Orleans | | Marcin Gortat,<br />Grant Hill (18) | Marcin Gortat (10) | Steve Nash (8) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 36–35 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | March 27 | Dallas | | Jared Dudley,<br />Marcin Gortat (20) | Marcin Gortat (15) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />17,314 | 36–36 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | March 29 | @ Sacramento | | Jared Dudley,<br />Channing Frye (21) | Marcin Gortat (11) | Steve Nash (14) | Power Balance Pavilion<br />13,774 | 36–37 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | March 30 | Oklahoma City | | Vince Carter (28) | Marcin Gortat (10) | Steve Nash (9) | US Airways Center<br />18,033 | 36–38

|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 1 | L.A. Clippers | | Grant Hill (19) | Marcin Gortat (11) | Aaron Brooks (6) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 37–38 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | April 3 | @ San Antonio | | Aaron Brooks,<br />Channing Frye (14) | Jared Dudley (10) | Aaron Brooks (6) | AT&T Center<br />18,581 | 37–39 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | April 5 | @ Chicago | | Vince Carter (23) | Marcin Gortat (13) | Steve Nash (16) | United Center<br />21,873 | 37–40 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 6 | @ Minnesota | | Marcin Gortat (20) | Marcin Gortat (16) | Steve Nash (9) | Target Center<br />16,113 | 38–40 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 8 | @ New Orleans | | Jared Dudley (18) | Jared Dudley,<br />Channing Frye (7) | Aaron Brooks (9) | New Orleans Arena<br />14,950 | 38–41 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | April 10 | @ Dallas | | Marcin Gortat (15) | Marcin Gortat (9) | Steve Nash (9) | American Airlines Center<br />20,355 | 38–42 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 11 | Minnesota | | Channing Frye (33) | Jared Dudley,<br />Marcin Gortat (8) | Steve Nash (16) | US Airways Center<br />17,485 | 39–42 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 13 | San Antonio | | Marcin Gortat (21) | Marcin Gortat (13) | Steve Nash (10) | US Airways Center<br />18,195 | 40–42

Player statistics

Season

<small>* – Stats with the Suns.</small><br /> <small>† – Minimum 300 field goals made.</small><br /> <small>^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.</small><br /> <small># – Minimum 125 free throws made.</small><br /> <small>+ – Minimum 70 games played or 800 rebounds, 125 steals, 100 blocks, 1400 points.</small>

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

All-Star

Season

• Steve Nash led the league in assists with 11.4 assists per game.

Records

• On November 14, 2010, the Suns scored a franchise record 22 three-pointers in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Milestones

• On January 16, 2011, Vince Carter scored his 20,000th point in a victory over the New York Knicks.

Team Milestones

Injuries and surgeries

• During the Los Angeles Lakers game on November 14, Jared Dudley accidentally landed on Robin Lopez's right leg. Robin was slated to be out for 1–2 weeks. This caused the Suns to replace Matt Janning with Earl Barron.

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References