1987–88 Phoenix Suns season
1987–88 Phoenix Suns season | |
---|---|
Head coach | John Wetzel |
General manager | Jerry Colangelo |
Owners | Jerry Colangelo |
Arena | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
Results | |
Record | 28–54 (.341) |
Place | Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 9th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KUTP |
Radio | KTAR |
The 1987–88 Phoenix Suns season was the 19th season for the
Despite Nance's quality play (he was leading the Suns in scoring with 21
Offseason
NBA draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Armon Gilliam | Forward | United States | UNLV
|
2 | 46 | Bruce Dalrymple | Guard | United States | Georgia Tech |
3 | 53 | Winston Crite | Forward | United States | Texas A&M |
4 | 76 | Steve Beck | Guard | United States | Arizona State |
5 | 99 | Brent Counts | Forward | United States | Pacific |
6 | 122 | Marcel Boyce | Forward | United States | Akron |
7 | 145 | Ron Singleton | Guard | United States | Grand Canyon |
The Suns finished the
The Suns traded the 30th pick to the
The Suns used their third-round pick to select forward Winston Crite from Texas A&M. Crite averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in four years with the Aggies. Crite would play part of two seasons with the Suns, averaging 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 31 games, before being waived in December 1988.[8]
Drug scandal
On April 17, 1987, the
The investigation began as a gambling probe in February 1987. While at Malarkey's night club on February 21, a group including James Edwards and two other NBA players allegedly claimed that that night's Suns-Bucks game (a 115–107 Milwaukee victory) would not exceed 226 points. No further evidence was cited and no mention of gambling was made in the indictments.[10] The drug charges were in part based on testimony from Suns star Walter Davis, who was subpoenaed in March and offered immunity in exchange for testimony. Davis stated that he first used cocaine with then-teammate Garfield Heard during the 1978–79 season, and admitted to using the drug with multiple teammates. Davis had first admitted to his drug problem in December 1985 when he left the team mid-season to enter a drug rehabilitation program. Upon news of the indictments, Davis was suspended and re-entered a drug rehab program. Suns rookie center William Bedford was also granted immunity in exchange for testimony.[11]
The story, dubbed "Waltergate", received nationwide news coverage and damaged the team's reputation. General manager Jerry Colangelo stated, "We got crucified. We were tried, convicted and hung in 72 hours." The prosecution started falling apart in July. Davis' initial questioning did not include dates, locations and other details. When questioned in regards to the details, Davis could not provide them. No defendant in the case went to trial. Edwards and Humphries were required to join a drug counseling program. Gondrezick pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness and received three-years of probation.[12] Terrence Patrick Kelly pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to sell a narcotic drug and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five-years of probation.[13] Wynn Lesure pleaded no contest to conspiracy to possess a narcotic drug and received three-years of probation. All other charges were dismissed.[14] This scandal led to the original ownership of the team looking to sell the franchise to someone else, potentially to move them elsewhere as well.
Death of Nick Vanos
On August 16, 1987, Suns center Nick Vanos and his fiancée Carolyn Cohen were among 156 killed in the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash. Vanos and Cohen, who had spent four days on vacation in Michigan, were returning to Phoenix when the flight crashed after takeoff due to pilot error. Separate lawsuits were filed against Northwest Airlines by the Suns and Vanos' parents. The team filed a property damage suit against the airline, due to the three years remaining on Vanos' five-year contract, claiming the center to be "irreplaceable".[15] Nick's parents, Peter and Josie, filed a wrongful death suit seeking $13.85 million in damages.[16]
We are stunned, shocked, and deeply saddened at the loss of Nick Vanos. It's just a terrible shock when a young man loses his life at such an early age. Nick recently appeared to be coming into his own and to have his life taken away at this time is a tragedy to his family, friends and to our organization.
— Jerry Colangelo, [17]
Vanos had spent most of his two seasons as a backup center. Appearing in 11 games his rookie season, Vanos averaged 4.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Through 57 games in his sophomore season, he averaged 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Vanos' role would increase late in the season due to injuries to centers James Edwards and William Bedford. He would start the final 10 games of the season, during which the team would go 9–1. His production jumped to 7.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during the stretch.[18] His promising developments would lead the Suns to trade Bedford, their number one pick in the 1986 draft, to the Detroit Pistons the day before the 1987 draft. With their longtime center Alvan Adams nearing retirement, and with the oft-injured Edwards facing trial on cocaine conspiracy charges, Vanos was expected to be the team's starting center to start the 1987–88 season.
The 7'2", 260 pound left-hander had become a cult favorite with Suns fan. He had developed a 145-member fan club, which sold "Let Nick Play" T-shirts.[19] The Suns dedicated the 1987–88 season to his memory, and the players wore a black #30 patch on their jerseys throughout the year.[20]
Another Sun's player caught up in the drug scandal, Johnny High, died after crashing his car, at a high speed, into a freeway underpass
Franchise sold
On October 14, 1987, a group headed by Suns general manager and vice president
Twenty years ago, Donald Pitt, Don Diamond and Richard Bloch had the foresight to see that Phoenix had the ability to be a professional sports franchise despite the cynics back East. It has been a profitable and a successful endeavor. To own a team is a dream-come-true for me personally. This is going to be a good deal and it's going to work. We're going to re-dedicate this team to the community.
— Jerry Colangelo, [21]
In the wake of the damaging drug scandal, Bloch, Pitt and Diamond were prepared to sell the team. Colangelo feared potential buyers planned to relocate the franchise to another city. The sale was finalized on October 16, just days before the October 19 "Black Monday" stock market crash happened. Colangelo later stated that if the deal had not been completed prior, it would not have happened, and that the team likely would've been sold and relocated.[22]
Free agency
On June 11, the Suns signed free agent guard Joe Ward, forward Bill Martin and guard Victor Fleming. Ward, the Suns second-round pick in 1986, had been the team's final preseason cut the previous season. Ward was again cut before the season. Martin had previously played for the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks in between stints with the CBA. Martin appeared in 10 games with the Suns before being waived on December 26.[23] Fleming, the brother of Vern Fleming, was waived on October 19, re-signed on October 21, and waived again on November 1.[24]
In early October, the Suns signed free agent forward Jeff Cook, and centers Greg Spurling and Ozell Jones. Cook had previously played with the franchise from 1979 to 1983, and had just returned from a stint in Italy before re-signing with Suns. He would appear in just 33 games and spend much of the season on the injured list. Spurling was waived on October 21, while Jones was waived on November 1. On October 20, the Suns signed restricted free agent center Alton Lister to a four-year offer sheet worth $3.5 million. The SuperSonics matched the offer, keeping him in Seattle.[25]
Roster
Phoenix Suns roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Standings
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 23–7 |
x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 | 33–8 | 20–21 | 23–7 |
x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 | 32–9 | 12–29 | 19–11 |
Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 | 22–19 | 6–35 | 11–19 |
Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 16–25 | 4–37 | 7–23 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 | 14–27 | 3–38 | 7–23 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 8 |
3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
5 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
9 | Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
10 | Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
11 | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
Record vs. opponents
1987–88 NBA records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Boston | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 |
Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 |
Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Game log
Regular season
1987–88 game log Total: 28–54 (Home: 22–19; Road: 6–35) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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November: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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December: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
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1987–88 schedule |
Awards and honors
Week/Month
- Larry Nance was named Player of the Month for December.
- Larry Nance was named Player of the Week for games played December 14 through December 20.
- Kevin Johnson was named Rookie of the Month for April.
All-Star
This was only the second year in franchise history that the Suns were not represented in the All-Star Game.
Season
- NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- Craig Hodges led the league in three-point field goal percentage, making .491% of his attempts. Hodges had a .466% average with the Bucks, and a .544% average with the Suns.
Player statistics
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvan Adams | 82 | 25 | 20.1 | .496 | .500 | .844 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .5 | 7.5 |
James Bailey | 65 | 0 | 13.4 | .452 | .000 | .787 | 3.2 | 0.6 | .3 | .4 | 4.4 |
Jeff Cook | 33 | 0 | 10.9 | .237 | .000 | .821 | 3.2 | 0.4 | .3 | .2 | 1.5 |
Tyrone Corbin* | 30 | 1 | 19.7 | .488 | .333 | .825 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .1 | 7.7 |
Winston Crite | 29 | 0 | 8.9 | .500 | . | .760 | 2.2 | 0.5 | .2 | .3 | 3.0 |
Walter Davis | 68 | 48 | 28.7 | .473 | .375 | .887^ | 2.3 | 4.1 | 1.3 | .0 | 17.9+ |
James Edwards* | 43 | 42 | 32.0 | .469 | .000 | .635 | 7.8 | 1.7 | .3 | .7+ | 15.7 |
Armon Gilliam | 55 | 53 | 32.9+ | .475 | . | .679 | 7.9+ | 1.3 | 1.1 | .5+ | 14.8 |
Craig Hodges* | 23 | 0 | 20.1 | .489 | .544 | .844 | 1.4 | 1.9 | .7 | .1 | 10.1 |
Jeff Hornacek | 82 | 49 | 27.4 | .506 | .293 | .822 | 3.2 | 6.6 | 1.3+ | .1 | 9.5 |
Jay Humphries* | 50 | 33 | 31.1 | .545 | .188 | .741 | 3.0 | 7.1+ | 1.2 | .1 | 12.7 |
Eddie Johnson | 73 | 59 | 29.8 | .480 | .255 | .850 | 4.4 | 2.5 | .5 | .1 | 17.7 |
Kevin Johnson* | 28 | 25 | 31.2 | .463 | .200 | .859 | 4.3 | 8.7+ | 1.5+ | .3 | 12.6 |
Bill Martin | 10 | 0 | 10.1 | .314 | .000 | .615 | 2.7 | 0.6 | .5 | .0 | 4.0 |
Ron Moore* | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | .313 | . | 1.000^ | 1.2 | 0.0 | .6 | .0 | 2.8 |
Larry Nance* | 40 | 34 | 36.9+ | .531 | .400 | .751 | 9.9+ | 3.1 | 1.1 | 2.4+ | 21.1+ |
Mike Sanders* | 35 | 5 | 13.3 | .480 | .000 | .736 | 1.8 | 0.9 | .5 | .1 | 5.8 |
Bernard Thompson | 37 | 7 | 15.3 | .465 | .000 | .717 | 2.1 | 1.4 | .6 | .0 | 5.2 |
Mark West* | 29 | 29 | 31.6 | .521 | .000 | .568 | 8.3+ | 0.8 | .8 | 2.3+ | 11.8 |
* – Stats with the Suns.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
+ – Minimum 50 games played.
Transactions
Trades
June 21, 1987 | To Sacramento Kings
Ed Pinckney |
To Phoenix Suns
Eddie Johnson |
June 21, 1987 | To Detroit Pistons
William Bedford |
To Phoenix Suns
1988 first-round draft pick ( Randolph Keys) |
October 29, 1987 | To Cleveland
1989 second-round draft pick ( Greg Grant) |
To Phoenix Suns
James Bailey |
February 24, 1988 | To Detroit Pistons
James Edwards |
To Phoenix Suns
Ron Moore |
February 25, 1988 | To Milwaukee Bucks
Jay Humphries |
To Phoenix Suns
Craig Hodges |
February 25, 1988 | To Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Nance |
To Phoenix Suns
Tyrone Corbin |
Free agents
Additions
Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
---|---|---|---|
June 11, 1987 | Bill Martin | Undisclosed | New York Knicks |
October 2, 1987 | Jeff Cook | Undisclosed | Libertas Livorno (Italy)
|
Subtractions
Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
---|---|---|---|
October 13, 1987 | Grant Gondrezick | Waived | Caen Basket Calvados (France) |
October 19, 1987 | Rafael Addison | Waived | Libertas Livorno (Italy)
|
December 28, 1987 | Bill Martin | Waived | Olimpia Milano (Italy) |
References
- ^ "Suns Trade Nance To the Cavaliers – New York Times". Nytimes.com. February 26, 1988. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Larry Nance NBA & ABA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ "Armen Gilliam NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Suns sign Armon Gilliam, their top draft pick from Las Vegas". Gainesville Sun.
- ^ "Armen Gilliam NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Nikita Wilson NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Basketball Transactions Search Results". prosportstransactions.com.
- ^ "Winston Crite NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Past, present Suns hit with drug charges". Lodi News-Sentinel.
- ^ "3 Current and 2 Former Suns Indicted on Drug Charges". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "After an off-season darkened by drugs and death, – 11.23.87 – SI Vault". Sports Illustratated.
- ^ "After an off-season darkened by drugs and death, – 11.23.87 – SI Vault". Sports Illustratated.
- ^ "Waiter draws 30-day term in Suns' drug case". Sports Illustratated.
- ^ "Last of the Suns' drug cases won't be pursued". Eugene Register-Guard.
- ^ "Claiming Vanos Was Irreplaceable, Suns File Suit". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Briefs". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Popular Vanos will be missed". The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ "Nick Vanos 1986-87 Game Log". basketball-reference.com.
- ^ "Popular Vanos will be missed". The Free Lance-Star.
- ^ "After an off-season darkened by drugs and death, – 11.23.87 – SI Vault". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Colangelo announces restructuring of Suns". Observer-Reporter.
- ^ "Jerry Colangelo". SportsBusiness Daily.
- ^ "Suns activate Davis, waive Martin". Deseret News.
- ^ "Suns Cut Fleming, Jones; Bailey Missing". Casa Grande Dispatch.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sonics to Match Sun's $3.5M Offer for Lister". Schenectady Gazette.