1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the second season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 23–59 record, finishing last in the Central Division and 7th in the Eastern Conference. Rookie top pick Austin Carr was named to the All-Rookie team and John Johnson and Butch Beard were named All-Stars.

1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Arena	Cleveland Arena
Results
Record	23–59 (.280)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WEWS-TV
Radio	WERE
< 1970–71 1972–73 >

Offseason

Trades

August 13: Forward Greg Howard obtained from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for undisclosed future draft choices and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Draft picks

Main article: 1971 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	1	Austin Carr	SG/SF	United States	Notre Dame
2	18	Steve Patterson	C	United States	UCLA
2	35	Willie Long	PF/C	United States	New Mexico

• Note: This table only lists players drafted through the second round.

Roster

1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 21 Butch Beard 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 4, 1947 Louisville G 22 Austin Carr 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mar. 10, 1948 Notre Dame G 18 Charlie Davis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Sep. 7, 1949 Wake Forest F 40 Greg Howard 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jan. 8, 1948 New Mexico F 32 John Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Oct. 18, 1947 Iowa C 50 Steve Patterson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jun. 24, 1948 UCLA G 23 Jackie Ridgle 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb. 13, 1948 California F/C 30 Rick Roberson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 231 lb (105 kg) Jul. 7, 1947 Cincinnati G/F 7 Bingo Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Feb. 26, 1946 Tulsa F 15 Dave Sorenson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jul. 8, 1948 Ohio State G 11 John Warren 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jul. 7, 1947 St. John's G 17 Bobby Washington 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul. 11, 1947 Eastern Kentucky C 44 Walt Wesley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jan. 25, 1945 Kansas

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant(s) Jimmy Rodgers Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
y-Baltimore Bullets	38	44	.463	–	18–15	16–24	4–5	9–9
x-Atlanta Hawks	36	46	.439	2	22–19	13–26	1–1	9–9
Cincinnati Royals	30	52	.366	8	20–18	8–32	2–2	11–9
Cleveland Cavaliers	23	59	.280	15	13–28	8–30	2–1	9–11

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT
1	z-Boston Celtics	56	26	.683
2	y-Baltimore Bullets	38	44	.463
3	x-New York Knicks	48	34	.585
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	36	46	.439
5	Philadelphia 76ers	30	52	.366
5	Cincinnati Royals	30	52	.366
7	Cleveland Cavaliers	23	59	.280
8	Buffalo Braves	22	60	.268

Record vs. opponents

1971–72 NBA records
Team	ATL	BAL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CIN	CLE	DET	GSW	HOU	LAL	MIL	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SEA
Atlanta	–	2–4	0–4	4–2	0–5	3–3	4–2	3–2	3–2	1–4	0–5	2–3	3–1	3–3	3–2	4–0	1–4
Baltimore	4–2	–	2–2	3–3	1–4	4–2	1–5	3–2	1–4	3–2	1–4	0–5	2–4	4–0	4–1	3–1	2–3
Boston	4–0	2–2	–	6–0	3–2	4–2	5–1	5–0	2–3	5–0	1–4	2–3	3–3	6–0	2–3	4–0	2–3
Buffalo	2–4	3–3	0–6	–	1–3	3–3	4–2	2–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–5	3–3	0–4	2–4	0–4
Chicago	5–0	4–1	2–3	3–1	–	3–1	4–0	5–1	3–3	5–1	1–3	2–4	3–2	4–1	5–1	6–0	2–3
Cincinnati	3–3	2–4	2–4	3–3	1–3	–	6–2	2–3	2–3	0–4	1–4	0–5	2–2	2–2	2–3	2–2	0–5
Cleveland	2–4	5–1	1–5	2–4	0–4	2–6	–	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–5	2–4	0–4	4–2	0–4
Detroit	2–3	2–3	0–5	4–2	1–5	3–2	3–1	–	0–5	3–3	1–4	1–5	1–4	1–4	2–4	2–2	0–4
Golden State	2–3	4–1	3–2	3–1	3–3	3–2	4–0	5–0	–	5–1	1–5	2–2	2–3	4–1	2–3	4–2	4–2
Houston	4–1	2–3	0–5	4–0	1–5	4–0	2–2	3–3	1–5	–	1–5	0–5	0–5	4–1	1–3	4–2	3–3
Los Angeles	5–0	4–1	4–1	4–0	3–1	4–1	3–1	4–1	5–1	5–1	–	4–1	4–1	5–0	4–2	6–0	5–1
Milwaukee	3–2	5–0	3–2	4–0	4–2	5–0	4–0	5–1	2–2	5–0	1–4	–	2–3	4–1	4–2	6–0	6–0
New York	1–3	4–2	3–3	5–1	2–3	2–2	5–1	4–1	3–2	5–0	1–4	3–2	–	3–3	1–4	3–1	3–2
Philadelphia	3–3	0–4	0–6	3–3	1–4	2–2	4–2	4–1	1–4	1–4	0–5	1–4	3–3	–	1–4	2–2	4–1
Phoenix	2–3	1–4	3–2	4–0	1–5	3–2	4–0	4–2	3–2	3–1	2–4	2–4	4–1	4–1	–	6–0	3–2
Portland	0–4	1–3	0–4	4–2	0–6	2–2	2–4	2–2	2–4	2–4	0–6	0–6	1–3	2–2	0–6	–	0–6
Seattle	4–1	3–2	3–2	4–0	3–2	5–0	4–0	4–0	2–4	3–3	1–5	0–6	2–3	1–4	2–3	6–0	—

Game log

October

Record: 2–8; Home: 0–6; Road: 1–2; Neutral: 1–0

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
1	October 15	H	Buffalo Braves	L	109–111 (OT)	0–1
2	October 16	A	Buffalo Braves	W	93–89	1–1
3	October 17	H	New York Knicks	L	120–121 (OT)	1–2
4	October 19	A	Milwaukee Bucks	L	82–116	1–3
5	October 20	H	San Francisco Warriors	L	98–115	1–4
6	October 23	N	Baltimore Bullets	W	109–101	2–4	at College Park, Maryland
7	October 24	H	Philadelphia 76ers	L	93–111	2–5
8	October 27	A	Philadelphia 76ers	L	106–120	2–6
9	October 29	H	Atlanta Hawks	L	97–98	2–7
10	October 31	H	Milwaukee Bucks	L	102–118	2–8

November

Record: 6–6; Home: 4–2; Road: 2–4

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
11	November 5	H	Phoenix Suns	L	87–107	2–9
12	November 7	H	Portland Trail Blazers	W	120–99	3–9
13	November 11	A	Seattle SuperSonics	L	91–110	3–10
14	November 12	A	Portland Trail Blazers	W	106–104	4–10
15	November 14	A	Phoenix Suns	L	105–119	4–11
16	November 16	A	Los Angeles Lakers	L	90–108	4–12
17	November 19	A	Portland Trail Blazers	L	105–118	4–13
18	November 21	H	Boston Celtics	L	105–128	4–14
19	November 23	H	Baltimore Bullets	W	104–102	5–14
20	November 26	H	Cincinnati Royals	W	128–114	6–14
21	November 27	A	Atlanta Hawks	W	103–95	7–14
22	November 28	H	Philadelphia 76ers	W	124–120	8–14

December

Record: 7–10; Home: 5–4; Road: 1–6; Neutral: 1–0

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
23	December 1	H	Houston Rockets	W	116–106	9–14
24	December 3	A	Buffalo Braves	L	90–91	9–15
25	December 5	H	Seattle SuperSonics	L	91–99	9–16
26	December 7	A	Chicago Bulls	L	99–115	9–17
27	December 8	A	Boston Celtics	L	107–126	9–18
28	December 10	H	Detroit Pistons	W	112–111	10–18
29	December 11	A	Cincinnati Royals	L	95–103	10–19
30	December 12	H	New York Knicks	L	92–103	10–20
31	December 14	A	Baltimore Bullets	W	88–85	11–20
32	December 17	H	Boston Celtics	L	109–115	11–21
33	December 18	A	New York Knicks	L	84–104	11–22
34	December 19	H	Chicago Bulls	L	101–119	11–23
35	December 22	A	Detroit Pistons	L	94–104	11–24
36	December 23	H	Atlanta Hawks	W	115–110	12–24
37	December 26	H	Baltimore Bullets	W	108–102	13–24
38	December 28	H	Portland Trail Blazers	W	112–111	14–24
39	December 29	N	Philadelphia 76ers	W	103–102	15–24	at Hershey, Pennsylvania

January

Record: 1–13; Home: 0–5; Road: 1–6; Neutral: 0–2

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
40	January 2	H	Philadelphia 76ers	L	119–148	15–25
41	January 5	H	Los Angeles Lakers	L	103–113	15–26
42	January 7	A	Seattle SuperSonics	L	111–125	15–27
43	January 8	A	Portland Trail Blazers	L	102–125	15–28
44	January 11	N	San Francisco Warriors	L	92–101	15–29	at Oakland, California
45	January 14	A	Phoenix Suns	L	107–117	15–30
46	January 15	A	Houston Rockets	L	109–112	15–31
47	January 16	N	Cincinnati Royals	L	108–128	15–32	at Las Cruces, New Mexico
48	January 21	A	Milwaukee Bucks	L	91–120	15–33
49	January 22	A	Cincinnati Royals	L	96–113	15–34
50	January 25	H	San Francisco Warriors	L	111–117	15–35
51	January 26	A	Boston Celtics	W	112–108	16–35
52	January 29	H	Cincinnati Royals	L	118–120	16–36
53	January 30	H	Buffalo Braves	L	98–99	16–37

February

Record: 4–12; Home: 3–6; Road: 1–6

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
54	February 1	A	Buffalo Braves	W	104–99	17–37
55	February 2	A	Detroit Pistons	L	108–133	17–38
56	February 4	H	Seattle SuperSonics	L	112–118	17–39
57	February 5	A	Atlanta Hawks	L	117–120	17–40
58	February 6	H	Buffalo Braves	L	108–121	17–41
59	February 8	A	Chicago Bulls	L	90–114	17–42
60	February 9	H	Milwaukee Bucks	L	121–126	17–43
61	February 12	A	New York Knicks	L	91–106	17–44
62	February 13	H	Detroit Pistons	L	121–136	17–45
63	February 16	A	Philadelphia 76ers	L	116–121	17–46
64	February 18	H	Cincinnati Royals	W	133–109	18–46
65	February 19	A	Cincinnati Royals	L	92–112	18–47
66	February 20	H	New York Knicks	W	111–109	19–47
67	February 23	H	Boston Celtics	L	111–113	19–48
68	February 25	H	Portland Trail Blazers	W	113–104	20–48
69	February 27	H	Phoenix Suns	L	125–127	20–49

March

Record: 3–10; Home: 1–5; Road: 2–4; Neutral: 0–1

#	Date	H/A/N	Opponent	W/L	Score	Record
70	March 1	A	Boston Celtics	L	105–115	20–50
71	March 4	A	Houston Rockets	W	130–123	21–50
72	March 7	N	San Francisco Warriors	L	112–119	21–51	at Oakland
73	March 10	A	Los Angeles Lakers	L	98–132	21–52
74	March 12	A	Atlanta Hawks	L	114–135	21–53
75	March 14	A	Baltimore Bullets	W	127–118 (OT)	22–53
76	March 16	H	Baltimore Bullets	L	101–105	22–54
77	March 18	H	Chicago Bulls	L	91–109	22–55
78	March 19	H	Atlanta Hawks	L	105–115	22–56
79	March 22	H	Los Angeles Lakers	W	124–120	23–56
80	March 24	H	Houston Rockets	L	119–127	23–57
81	March 25	A	New York Knicks	L	83–98	23–58
82	March 26	H	Cincinnati Royals	L	122–135	23–59

1971–72 game log Total: 23–59 (Home: 13–28; Road: 8–30; Neutral: 2–1)
October: 2–8 (home: 0–6; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 October 29, 1971 Atlanta L 97–98 Cleveland Arena 3,442 2–7
November: 6–6 (home: 4–2; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 November 27, 1971 @ Atlanta W 103–95 Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,101 7–14
December: 7–10 (home: 5–4; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 36 December 23, 1971 Atlanta W 115–110 Cleveland Arena 4,562 12–24
January: 1–13 (home: 0–5; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
February: 4–12 (home: 3–6; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 February 5, 1972 @ Atlanta L 117–120 Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,281 17–40
March: 3–10 (home: 1–5; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 March 12, 1972 @ Atlanta L 114–135 Alexander Memorial Coliseum 4,915 21–53 78 March 19, 1972 Atlanta L 105–115 Cleveland Arena 8,049 22–56
1971–72 schedule

Awards and honors

• Austin Carr, NBA All-Rookie Team First Team