2004–05 Phoenix Suns season

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 37th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Suns re-acquired All-Star guard Steve Nash from the Dallas Mavericks, and signed free agent Quentin Richardson. During that same period of time, it also became the team's first season under Robert Sarver's ownership tenure, as he controlled major duties with the franchise for 18 seasons after Jerry Colangelo sold the team to him until a year-long suspension during the 2022–23 season for actions he did behind the scenes from as early as this season caused him to eventually sell off the team during that season in 2023. The Suns got off to a fast start winning 31 of their first 35 games, but then lost six straight afterwards. They finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20 under head coach Mike D'Antoni, tying their franchise best 1992–93 season record which would hold until 2021-22, when they won 64 games. Three members of the team, Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion were all selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns also gained solid play from Richardson and Joe Johnson. Nash finished the season averaging 11.5 assists per game, while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season. He ended up winning the MVP award. D'Antoni was awarded Coach of the Year, and Bryan Colangelo Executive of the Year.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games, and, in the semifinals, defeated Nash's former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in six games. In the Western Conference finals, however, the Suns lost 4-1 to the 2-seed, and eventual NBA champion, San Antonio Spurs. The Suns' 62-20 record was the best in the league and tied the franchise record for wins. The 33-win improvement over the 2003–04 campaign constituted the third-best year-to-year jump in NBA history. The 2004-05 Phoenix Suns were the youngest team to earn the 1-seed since seeding began in 1984 (and held the record until the 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder displaced them). Following the season, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and Richardson was dealt to the New York Knicks.