The1995–96 Phoenix Suns season was the 28th season for thePhoenix Suns in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] The Suns had the 21st overall pick in the1995 NBA draft, and selected shooting guardMichael Finley from theUniversity of Wisconsin.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team acquiredHot Rod Williams from theCleveland Cavaliers,^[5][6][7] and signed free agentTony Smith.^[8]

The Suns struggled with a 13–13 start to the regular season, then lost eight of their next nine games.Head coachPaul Westphal, who had led the Suns to the1993 NBA Finals, went 14–19 before being replaced byCotton Fitzsimmons, who would come in to coach in his third stint with the Suns,^[9][10][11] while Smith was traded to theMiami Heat in exchange for rookie point guardTerrence Rencher at mid-season.^[12][13][14]

The team played above .500 basketball for the remainder of the season, as they held a 22–24 record at the All-Star break,^[15] and finished in fourth place in thePacific Division with a 41–41 record, earning the seventh seed in theWestern Conference, and qualifying for theNBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.^[16] The Suns were also one of the nine teams to defeat the 72–10Chicago Bulls during the regular season.^[17]

Charles Barkley led the Suns with 23.2points, 11.6rebounds and 1.6steals per game, and was named to theAll-NBA Third Team, whileKevin Johnson averaged 18.7 points, led the team with 9.2assists, and contributed 1.5 steals per game in only 56 games due to hamstring and groin injuries,^[17][18][19] and Finley provided the team with 15.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, sixth manDanny Manning averaged 13.4 points per game off the bench, but only played just 33 games due to a torn ACL, and sprained ankle,^[20][21] while second-year guardWesley Person contributed 12.7 points per game, and led the Suns with 117 three-point field goals, andWayman 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, andHot Rod Williams averaged 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and led the team with 1.5blocks per game.^[22]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theAlamodome inSan Antonio, Texas, Barkley was selected for the1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his tenth consecutive All-Star selection.^[23][24][25] Meanwhile, Finley was selected for theNBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Western Conference Rookie team,^[26][27] and also participated in theNBA Slam Dunk Contest.^[26][28] Barkley also finished tied in twelfth place inMost Valuable Player voting,^[29] while Finley finished tied in fourth place inRookie of the Year voting.^[30][29]

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.^[31][32][33] Without Finley, the Suns were eliminated from the1996 NBA playoffs by theSan Antonio Spurs, three games to one in the Western Conference First Round.^[34][35][36]

The Suns finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 779,943 at theAmerica West Arena during the regular season.^[22][37] Following the season, Barkley was traded to theHouston Rockets after four seasons with the Suns,^[38][39][40] while Perry was dealt to theMilwaukee Bucks,^[41][42] and Rencher was released to free agency.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	21	Michael Finley	Guard/Forward	United States	Wisconsin
1	27	Mario Bennett	Forward	United States	Arizona State
2	56	Chris Carr	Guard	United States	Southern Illinois

The Suns received the 21st pick from a trade with theLos Angeles Lakers in 1994. With the pick they would select future All-StarswingmanMichael Finley fromWisconsin. Finley averaged 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in four years with theBadgers. 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, earningNBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Finley was traded to theDallas Mavericks midway through his sophomore season for All-Starpoint guardJason Kidd.

The Suns used their first-round pick to selectsmall forwardMario Bennett fromArizona State. Bennett averaged 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in three years with theSun 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 the1996–97 season.

The Suns used their second-round pick to selectshooting guardChris Carr fromSouthern Illinois. Carr averaged 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in three years with theSalukis. 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 theMinnesota Timberwolves after the season.

• Kevin Johnson was named Player of the Week for games played April 1 through April 7.
• Charles Barkley was named Player of the Month for February.

• Charles Barkley was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in theAll-Star Game. It was his tenth consecutive All-Star selection. Barkley finished first in voting among Western Conference players with 1,268,195 votes.
• Other Suns players receiving All-Star votes were:A.C. Green (269,175).
• Michael Finley was selected to compete in theSlam Dunk Contest. Finley finished second, losing to championBrent Barry in the final round.
• Michael Finley was selected to compete for the Western Conference in theRookie Challenge.

• Charles Barkley was named to theAll-NBA Third Team. Barkley also finished 12th inMVP voting.^[29]
• Michael Finley was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team. Finley also finished tied in fourth inRookie of the Year voting.^[29]

• 10/31/95:Mario Bennett: Knee chondromalacia; placed on injured reserve until March 1
• 10/31/95:John Coker: Foot stress fracture; placed on injured reserve until March 8
• 10/31/95:Danny Manning: Torn ACL; placed on injured list until February 1
• 11/10/95:Kevin Johnson: Strained knee tendon; out until November 18
• 11/27/95:Wayman Tisdale: Sore shoulder; did not play
• 12/02/95:Kevin Johnson: Sore hamstring; did not play
• 12/08/95:Charles Barkley: Flu; did not play
• 12/08/95:Elliot Perry: Bruised lower back; did not play
• 12/16/95:Kevin Johnson: Strained groin; out until January 21
• 12/16/95:Stefano Rusconi: Flu; did not play
• 12/19/95:Hot Rod Williams: Sprained knee; out until December 27
• 01/04/96:Stefano Rusconi: Injured achilles tendon; out until waived on January 31
• 01/09/96:Charles Barkley: Sore toe; out until January 21
• 01/09/96:Hot Rod Williams: Leg nerve irritation; out until January 28
• 02/08/96:Kevin Johnson: Strained hamstring, strained groin; out until February 19
• 02/13/96:Wayman Tisdale: Injured eye; did not play
• 03/01/96:Terrence Rencher: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until April 22
• 03/07/96:Wayman Tisdale: Bruised shoulder; did not play
• 03/08/96:Wayman Tisdale: Strained shoulder; placed on injured list until March 29
• 03/13/96:Danny Manning: Sprained ankle; out until March 21
• 03/29/96:John Coker: Sore foot, placed on injured list until April 22
• 04/02/96:Mario Bennett: Flu; out until April 10
• 04/07/96:Danny Manning: Knee tendinitis; out until April 16
• 04/10/96:Hot Rod Williams: Injured hand, wrist, foot; out until April 19
• 04/14/96:Joe Kleine: Fainting spell; out until April 26
• 04/16/96:Charles Barkley: Strained calf; out until April 26
• 04/21/96:Kevin Johnson: Strained calf; did not play
• 04/26/96:Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 04/28/96:Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 05/01/96:Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play
• 05/03/96:Michael Finley: Sprained ankle; did not play

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 82 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 125 free-throws made.

Player Statistics Citation:^[22]

October 7, 1995	ToCleveland Cavaliers Dan Majerle Antonio Lang 1997 first-round draft pick (Brevin Knight)	ToPhoenix Suns John "Hot Rod" Williams
February 22, 1996	ToMiami Heat Tony Smith	ToPhoenix Suns Terrence Rencher

Player Transactions Citation:^[43]

• Standings on Basketball Reference

• Phoenix Suns seasons

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• Use mdy dates from August 2023