The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd season for the
Phoenix Suns, members of the
Pacific Division in the
National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents
Mario Elie,[2][3][4] and
Tony Delk,[5] and acquired
Chris Dudley from the
New York Knicks.[6] The Suns were coached by
Scott Skiles, who enjoyed his first full season as
head coach as the Suns posted a 7-game winning streak after losing their season opener, and held a 28–20 record at the All-Star break.[7] The team posted another 7-game winning streak between March and April, as they finished the regular season with a 51–31 record.[8] For a franchise-record 13th season in a row, the Suns earned a trip to the
playoffs,[9] but would later lose in the Western Conference First Round.
America West Arena was the home court venue for the Suns.
The Suns were led by
point guardJason Kidd, who averaged 16.9
points, 6.4
rebounds, 9.8
assists and 2.2
steals per game. Kidd again led the league in assists per game, while earning another
All-NBA First Team selection and
NBA All-Defensive First Team (after being selected to the Second Team the year previous). He was also the team's lone representative in the
2001 NBA All-Star Game.[10][11][12] In addition, second-year star
Shawn Marion showed improvement as he averaged a
double-double, with 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4
blocks per game. Kidd and
Clifford Robinson were the other starters to provide the majority of the team's scoring, with Robinson averaging 16.4 points per game. Sixth men reserves Delk and
Rodney Rogers both brought offensive firepower from the bench, averaging 12.3 and 12.2 points per game respectively.[13]Penny Hardaway was the team's highest-paid player, but only played in just four games due to a knee injury, averaging 9.8 points and 1.5 steals per game.[14][15]
For the fourth season in a row, the Suns finished third in the Pacific Division. The team earned a Western Conference First Round match-up with the 3rd-seeded
Sacramento Kings. Phoenix would take Game 1, a 86–83 road win in Sacramento,[16][17] but would then lose the next three games in a row, losing the series three games to one.[18][19][20][21] Following the season, Kidd was traded to the
New Jersey Nets,[22][23][24][25] while Robinson was dealt to the
Detroit Pistons,[26][27][28] Dudley re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the
Portland Trail Blazers, and Elie retired.
For the season, the Suns redesigned their primary logo,[29] and changed their uniforms adding side panels to their jerseys and shorts,[30][31] and grey to their color scheme. The logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2013.
Jason Kidd was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the
All-Star Game. It was his fourth All-Star selection. Kidd finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 1,062,837 votes.
The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd season for the
Phoenix Suns, members of the
Pacific Division in the
National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Suns signed free agents
Mario Elie,[2][3][4] and
Tony Delk,[5] and acquired
Chris Dudley from the
New York Knicks.[6] The Suns were coached by
Scott Skiles, who enjoyed his first full season as
head coach as the Suns posted a 7-game winning streak after losing their season opener, and held a 28–20 record at the All-Star break.[7] The team posted another 7-game winning streak between March and April, as they finished the regular season with a 51–31 record.[8] For a franchise-record 13th season in a row, the Suns earned a trip to the
playoffs,[9] but would later lose in the Western Conference First Round.
America West Arena was the home court venue for the Suns.
The Suns were led by
point guardJason Kidd, who averaged 16.9
points, 6.4
rebounds, 9.8
assists and 2.2
steals per game. Kidd again led the league in assists per game, while earning another
All-NBA First Team selection and
NBA All-Defensive First Team (after being selected to the Second Team the year previous). He was also the team's lone representative in the
2001 NBA All-Star Game.[10][11][12] In addition, second-year star
Shawn Marion showed improvement as he averaged a
double-double, with 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4
blocks per game. Kidd and
Clifford Robinson were the other starters to provide the majority of the team's scoring, with Robinson averaging 16.4 points per game. Sixth men reserves Delk and
Rodney Rogers both brought offensive firepower from the bench, averaging 12.3 and 12.2 points per game respectively.[13]Penny Hardaway was the team's highest-paid player, but only played in just four games due to a knee injury, averaging 9.8 points and 1.5 steals per game.[14][15]
For the fourth season in a row, the Suns finished third in the Pacific Division. The team earned a Western Conference First Round match-up with the 3rd-seeded
Sacramento Kings. Phoenix would take Game 1, a 86–83 road win in Sacramento,[16][17] but would then lose the next three games in a row, losing the series three games to one.[18][19][20][21] Following the season, Kidd was traded to the
New Jersey Nets,[22][23][24][25] while Robinson was dealt to the
Detroit Pistons,[26][27][28] Dudley re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the
Portland Trail Blazers, and Elie retired.
For the season, the Suns redesigned their primary logo,[29] and changed their uniforms adding side panels to their jerseys and shorts,[30][31] and grey to their color scheme. The logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2013.
Jason Kidd was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the
All-Star Game. It was his fourth All-Star selection. Kidd finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 1,062,837 votes.