Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Season Review 68-69
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Review68-69
Review68-69
Season
RECORD
On January 22, 1968, the NBA Board of Governors granted a franchise
to the city of Phoenix. On April 25, 1968, the name ‘‘SUNS’’ was selected 16-66
in a contest sponsored by The Arizona Republic. The winning entry was
submitted by Mrs. Selinda King of Phoenix.
The Suns began building their team by naming Johnny “Red” Kerr as head coach. Kerr,
who had coached the Chicago Bulls for the previous two years, was the NBA’s Coach of the
Year in 1967. Next was the 1968 NBA College Draft. Phoenix’s first-ever selection was Gary
Gregor, a 6-7 forward from South Carolina. The Suns continued to build the young squad by
making Dick Van Arsdale the first player taken in the expansion draft. Van Arsdale had
played the previous three years with New York. Phoenix also selected guard Gail Goodrich,
a third-year pro, from the Los Angeles Lakers.
On October 18, the Suns opened their rookie season with a 116-107 victory over Seattle
as 7,112 fans filled Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Goodrich, now in the NBA Hall of Fame, led
the team with 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while Van Arsdale pitched in 21
points. The Suns went on to finish the month with a 4-3 mark. But that was the last time
they would be above .500 as they suffered through the rest of their first season to finish
with a 16-66 record.
Goodrich and Van Arsdale led the Suns averaging 23.8 and 21.0 points, respectively.
Goodrich finished sixth in the league in scoring and third as a guard behind Baltimore’s Earl
Monroe and Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson. Both players also appeared in the 1969 NBA
All-Star game in Baltimore.
FRONT ROW: Gail Goodrich, Stan McKenzie, Dick Van Arsdale, Bob Warlick, Dick Snyder.
BACK ROW: Head Coach Johnny Kerr, Gary Gregor, Neil Johnson, Dave Lattin, Jim Fox, Trainer Joe Proski.