1988–89 Phoenix Suns season

{{Short description|NBA team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Phoenix Suns

| end_year = 1989

| wins = 55

| losses = 27

| division = Pacific

| division_place = 2

| conf_place = 3

| coach = Cotton Fitzsimmons

| gm = Jerry Colangelo

| owner = Jerry Colangelo

| arena = Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

| playoffs = Western Conference finals
(lost to Lakers 0–4)

| bbr_team = PHO

| television = KUTP
ASPN

| radio = KTAR
(Al McCoy)

}}

The 1988–89 Phoenix Suns season was the 20th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHX/1989.html 1988–89 Phoenix Suns] The Suns had the seventh overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, where they selected Tim Perry out of Temple University, and also selected Dan Majerle from the University of Central Michigan with the fourteenth overall pick.{{cite news | last = Goldaper | first = Sam | title = N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers | work = The New York Times | date = June 29, 1988 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/29/sports/nba-draft-manning-then-3-way-trade-give-hope-to-lowly-clippers.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Love | first = Ian | title = The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best... | publisher = United Press International | date = June 29, 1988 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/06/29/The-Los-Angeles-Clippers-gave-up-the-leagues-best/9390583560000/ | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite news | title = NBA Draft Lists | work = Chicago Tribune | date = June 29, 1988 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-06-29-8801110961-story.html | access-date = June 20, 2023}}{{cite news | title = Top Picks for Each NBA Team Over Last Decade | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1997/draft/articles/everytm.htm | access-date = June 20, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1988 NBA Draft | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}} During the off-season, the Suns fired head coach John Wetzel, and replaced him with director of player personnel (and former head coach) Cotton Fitzsimmons, who coached the team for the '70–'71 and '71–'72 seasons,{{cite news | title = Phoenix Suns President Jerry Colangelo, in Search... | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 6, 1988 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-06-sp-2912-story.html | access-date = June 20, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Hindman | first = Harriett | title = Cotton Fitzsimmons, Who Began His NBA Coaching Career with... | publisher = United Press International | date = May 10, 1988 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/05/10/Cotton-Fitzsimmons-who-began-his-NBA-coaching-career-with/6548579240000/ | access-date = November 4, 2024}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE; Suns Pick Fitzsimmons | work = The New York Times | date = May 11, 1988 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/11/sports/sports-people-suns-pick-fitzsimmons.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Fitzsimmons to Coach Suns, Groom Westphal | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 11, 1988 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/05/11/fitzsimmons-to-coach-suns-groom-westphal/cd21c866-031f-469e-b181-2139055f7bab/ | access-date = December 28, 2022}} and signed free agent and one-time All-Star forward Tom Chambers.{{cite news | title = The Phoenix Suns Tuesday Announced the Signing of Unrestricted... | publisher = United Press International | date = July 5, 1988 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/07/05/The-Phoenix-Suns-Tuesday-announced-the-signing-of-unrestricted/5085584078400/ | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Chambers Joins Suns | work = The New York Times | date = July 6, 1988 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/06/sports/chambers-joins-suns.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Unrestricted Chambers Signs with the Suns | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 6, 1988 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-06-sp-5323-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Kragthorpe | first = Kurt | title = Tom's Rich Chambers Spurns Jazz, Signs 5-Year, $9 Million Pact with Suns | work = Deseret News | date = July 6, 1988 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1988/7/6/18770897/tom-s-rich-br-chambers-spurns-jazz-signs-5-year-9-million-pact-with-suns | access-date = December 20, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Goldaper | first = Sam | title = N.B.A. '88-'89; League Is Changing, But Lakers Are Still on Top | work = The New York Times | date = October 30, 1988 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/30/sports/nba-88-89-league-is-changing-but-lakers-are-still-on-top.html | access-date = February 29, 2024}}

The Suns showed a lot of improvement over the previous season, holding a 29–17 record at the All-Star break,{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=9&year=1989 | access-date = December 6, 2022}} posting a nine-game winning streak between March and April, and finishing in second place in the Pacific Division with a 55–27 record.{{cite web | title = 1988–89 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1989_games.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}} All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Chambers led a triplet of Suns who averaged 20 points or more for the season, with Chambers averaging 25.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. In addition, sixth man Eddie Johnson averaged 21.5 points per game off the bench, and earned the season's Sixth Man of the Year Award,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Suns' Johnson Wins NBA's 6th Man Award | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 8, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-08-sp-2691-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Johnson Is Top 6th Man | work = The New York Times | date = May 9, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/09/sports/sports-people-basketball-johnson-is-top-6th-man.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Bailey Finishes Second in Sixth-Man Balloting | work = Deseret News | date = May 9, 1989 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1989/5/9/18806436/bailey-finishes-second-in-sixth-man-balloting | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite web | title = NBA & ABA Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/smoy.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}} while second-year point guard Kevin Johnson provided the team with 20.4 points, 12.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and earned the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.{{cite news | agency = Times Wire Services | title = IN BRIEF: Suns' Johnson "Most Improved" | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 15, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-15-sp-287-story.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Sports Digest | publisher = United Press International | date = May 15, 1989 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/15/Sports-Digest/3299611208000/ | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Suns Guard Honored | work = The New York Times | date = May 16, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/16/sports/sports-people-basketball-suns-guard-honored.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}{{cite web | title = NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mip.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}} Second-year forward Armen Gilliam averaged 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Jeff Hornacek contributed 13.5 points, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, Majerle provided with 8.6 points per game in only 54 games, Tyrone Corbin contributed 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Mark West provided with 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.{{cite web | title = 1988–89 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1989.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}} Fitzsimmons was named Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 27-game improvement.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Fitzsimmons Coach of Year | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 25, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-25-sp-1088-story.html | access-date = December 28, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Cotton Fitzsimmons, Who Led the Phoenix Suns to the... | publisher = United Press International | date = May 25, 1989 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/25/Cotton-Fitzsimmons-who-led-the-Phoenix-Suns-to-the/3696612072000/ | access-date = January 31, 2023}}{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Fitzsimmons Honored | work = The New York Times | date = May 26, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/26/sports/sports-people-basketball-fitzsimmons-honored.html | access-date = March 9, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Around the NBA | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 26, 1989 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/05/26/around-the-nba/745126b6-c9dd-4fee-a36e-5419e64424db/ | access-date = November 6, 2023}}{{cite web | title = NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/coy.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}}

In the playoffs, the Suns swept the Denver Nuggets in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = NBA Playoffs Roundup: Knicks Complete Sweep with Overtime Win | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 3, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-03-sp-2350-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Pistons, Knicks, Suns Complete Playoff Sweeps; Bucks Take 2-1 Lead Over Hawks | work = Deseret News | date = May 3, 1989 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1989/5/3/18805415/pistons-knicks-suns-complete-playoff-sweeps-br-bucks-take-2-1-lead-over-hawks | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Suns 130, Nuggets 121 | publisher = United Press International | date = May 3, 1989 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/03/Suns-130-Nuggets-121/5774610171200/ | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Nuggets vs. Suns | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-western-conference-first-round-nuggets-vs-suns.html | access-date = March 20, 2023}} and defeated the 7th-seeded Golden State Warriors four games to one in the Western Conference Semi-finals.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Suns Beat Warriors to Advance | work = The New York Times | date = May 17, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/17/sports/suns-beat-warriors-to-advance.html | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = NBA PLAYOFFS: The Suns Also Rise in West as Warriors Fall, 116-104 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 17, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-17-sp-245-story.html | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Cobbs | first = Chris | title = Suns Carry Their Case On to a Higher Forum | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 18, 1989 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/05/18/suns-carry-their-case-on-to-a-higher-forum/4aee1c3f-79ee-45a2-803b-b7f948c64bb8/ | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Warriors vs. Suns | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-western-conference-semifinals-warriors-vs-suns.html | access-date = March 20, 2023}} The Suns saw their playoff fortunes reverse in the Western Conference Finals, when they met the season's MVP Magic Johnson, and the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, getting swept four games to zero.{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Lakers Make a Full Sweep Into Final | work = The New York Times | date = May 29, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/29/sports/lakers-make-a-full-sweep-into-final.html | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite news | last = McManis | first = Sam | title = NBA PLAYOFFS: Sundown Comes Early in Phoenix: Lakers Sweep Into NBA Finals Again, 122-117 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 29, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-29-sp-712-story.html | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Aldridge | first = David | title = Lakers 11-0 and In Finals | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 29, 1989 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/05/29/lakers-11-0-and-in-finals/e166efc6-3867-422f-91af-979415a40db3/ | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA Western Conference Finals: Suns vs. Lakers | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-western-conference-finals-suns-vs-lakers.html | access-date = March 20, 2023}} The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games.{{cite news | last = Barnes | first = Mike | title = Pistons Win NBA Title | publisher = United Press International | date = June 13, 1989 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/06/13/Pistons-win-NBA-title/2910613713600/ | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Goldaper | first = Sam | title = Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers | work = The New York Times | date = June 14, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/14/sports/pistons-earn-first-title-by-sweeping-lakers.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = McManis | first = Sam | title = Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 14, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-14-sp-2097-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Sam | title = Pistons Sweep to NBA Title | work = Chicago Tribune | date = June 14, 1989 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-06-14-8902090575-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-finals-lakers-vs-pistons.html | access-date = March 20, 2023}}

Chambers was the only member of the team to be selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas, which was his second All-Star appearance;{{cite news | last = Robinson | first = John | title = Stockton, Eaton on All-Star Squad | work = Deseret News | date = February 1, 1989 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/1/18793542/stockton-eaton-on-all-star-squad | access-date = May 21, 2023}}{{cite news | last = McManis | first = Sam | title = Today's All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic: Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won't Be the Same | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 12, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-12-sp-3000-story.html | access-date = December 20, 2022}}{{cite news | title = NBA All-Star Weekend Stars Will Have to Shine Without Bird, Magic Spotlights | work = Sun Sentinel | date = February 12, 1989 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/02/12/nba-all-star-weekend-stars-will-have-to-shine-without-bird-magic-spotlights/ | access-date = May 21, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = NBA.com Staff | title = 1989 NBA All-Star Recap | publisher = NBA.com | date = September 13, 2021 | url = https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1989 | access-date = May 21, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1989.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}} at season's end, Chambers and Johnson were both members of the All-NBA Second Team. Following the season, Corbin was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft | work = The New York Times | date = June 16, 1989 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/16/sports/knicks-green-is-taken-first-in-nba-s-expansion-draft.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 16, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-16-sp-1959-story.html | access-date = December 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Cotton | first = Anthony | title = Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 16, 1989 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/06/16/green-tabbed-no-1-mahorn-no-2-in-nba-expansion-draft/02cba5ec-962f-41fa-be20-cebc59d4c544/ | access-date = January 31, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Sam | title = Magic Day for Vincent, Not for Mahorn | work = Chicago Tribune | date = June 16, 1989 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-06-16-8902100511-story.html | access-date = July 8, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1989 NBA Expansion Draft | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1989_expansion.html | access-date = February 10, 2022}}