The 2003–04 NBA season was the 36th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. After advancing to the playoffs the previous season, the Suns started off to a disappointing start under head coachFrank Johnson. With the team at 8-13, team management elected to turn to assistant coachMike D'Antoni to take over for Johnson. Under D'Antoni, the Suns would lose 40 of their next 61 games and miss the playoffs, finishing sixth in the Pacific division with a 29-53 regular season record, the first time since the 1987-88 season the Suns recorded 50 losses or more. The Suns played their home games at America West Arena. Before the halfway mark of the season, the Suns sent starting point guardStephon Marbury along with Anfernee Hardaway to the New York Knicks for Antonio McDyess, and a lack of offense was felt the rest of the season. Marbury, a future All-Star, was replaced with rookie SG Leandro Barbosa, who only averaged eight points per game. The oft-injured Tom Gugliotta was released and signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz. The Suns found the injury bug, with reigning Rookie of the YearAmar'e Stoudemire missing nearly 30 games. Power forwardShawn Marion did not repeat as an All-Star, despite ending the season averaging 19 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and finishing second in the league in steals per game. Joe Johnson had a breakthrough year in his third season NBA season, leading the league in minutes played and providing the Suns nearly 17 points a game. By trading Marbury, the Suns were without a point guard to lead an improving young core of Stoudemire, Marion, Johnson and Barbosa, all 25 yearsof age or younger. By shedding the injury-riddled Hardaway and Gugliotta, as well as Marbury, the Suns ended the season with a need for a club leader and money at their disposal. Following the season, McDyess signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons.
Offseason
NBA Draft
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College
1
17
Žarko Čabarkapa
Forward
Roster
Regular season
Record vs. opponents
Awards and honors
All-Star
Amar'e Stoudemire was selected to play for the Sophomore team in the Rookie Challenge.
Season
Shawn Marion led the league in steals with 167.
Joe Johnson led the league in minutes played with 3,331.
