1972–73 Denver Rockets season

The 1972–73 ABA season was the sixth season of the Denver Rockets. They ended with a 47–37 record, good for third place. They lost in the Division semifinals to the Indiana Pacers.

1972–73 Denver Rockets season
Head coach	Alex Hannum
Arena	Denver Auditorium Arena
Results
Record	47–37 (.560)
Place	Division: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finish	Western Division semifinals (lost to Pacers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

Roster

1972–73 Denver Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From 40 Byron Beck C 6-9 225 January 25, 1945 University of Denver 14 David Bustion PF 6-8 215 August 30, 1949 University of Denver 20 Frank Card SF 6-7 195 December 28, 1944 South Carolina State University 12 Warren Jabali PG 6-2 200 August 29, 1946 Wichita State University 13 Julius Keye PF 6-10 200 September 5, 1946 Alcorn State University 30 Willie Long PF 6-8 225 March 1, 1950 University of New Mexico 31 Marv Roberts SF 6-8 200 January 29, 1950 Utah State University 25 Dave Robisch C 6-10 235 December 22, 1949 University of Kansas 44 Ralph Simpson SG 6-5 200 August 10, 1949 Michigan State University 10 Al Smith PG 6-1 185 January 15, 1947 Bradley University 21 Claude Terry SG 6-4 195 January 12, 1950 Stanford University 24 John Trapp SF 6-7 210 October 2, 1945 University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Head coach Alex Hannum Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Season standings

Eastern Division

Team	W	L	%	GB
Carolina Cougars	57	27	.679	-
Kentucky Colonels	56	28	.667	1
Virginia Squires	42	42	.500	15
New York Nets	30	54	.357	27
Memphis Tams	24	60	.286	33

Western Division

Team	W	L	%	GB
Utah Stars	55	29	.655	-
Indiana Pacers	51	33	.607	4
Denver Rockets	47	37	.560	8
San Diego Conquistadors	30	54	.357	25
Dallas Chaparrals	28	56	.333	27

Game log

• 1972-73 Denver Rockets Schedule and Results | Basketball-Reference.com

Statistics

Rk	Player	Age	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	TOV	PF	PTS
1	Julius Keye	26	83	36.3	2.0	4.5	.435	0.0	0.1	.375	1.9	4.4	.436	1.6	2.8	.558	3.3	7.4	10.7	2.2	1.6	3.2	5.5
2	Warren Jabali	26	82	33.4	5.4	11.9	.453	0.4	1.7	.257	4.9	10.2	.486	5.9	7.3	.805	1.6	3.6	5.2	6.6	3.7	3.4	17.0
3	Ralph Simpson	23	81	32.0	9.0	20.6	.438	0.1	0.3	.208	9.0	20.3	.442	5.2	6.9	.757	1.7	2.9	4.6	2.7	3.5	3.0	23.3
4	Dave Robisch	23	83	31.9	6.3	12.2	.516	0.0	0.0	.000	6.3	12.2	.516	3.7	4.9	.756	3.0	6.0	9.0	2.0	1.6	3.3	16.3
5	Byron Beck	28	77	29.9	6.1	11.4	.530	0.0	0.1	.286	6.0	11.3	.532	2.1	2.6	.798	2.6	4.3	7.0	1.4	1.6	3.5	14.2
6	Al Smith	26	83	28.2	3.8	9.2	.411	0.2	1.1	.189	3.6	8.2	.440	3.3	4.2	.773	0.8	1.8	2.6	5.7	3.1	3.6	11.1
7	Marv Roberts	23	77	25.4	4.9	10.5	.463	0.0	0.0	.333	4.8	10.4	.464	2.6	3.3	.788	2.3	2.8	5.2	1.2	1.4	2.5	12.3
8	Willie Long	22	56	18.8	3.3	8.2	.400	0.0	0.0	.000	3.3	8.1	.401	2.5	3.2	.780	1.8	3.4	5.2	0.8	1.7	2.6	9.0
9	John Trapp	27	24	14.3	2.3	5.3	.422	0.0	0.1	.000	2.3	5.3	.429	0.8	1.3	.594	1.1	1.9	3.0	0.8	1.0	3.2	5.3
10	Claude Terry	23	68	9.8	1.8	4.2	.421	0.1	0.4	.417	1.6	3.8	.421	1.1	1.7	.649	0.7	0.4	1.1	0.9	1.0	1.6	4.8
11	Frank Card	28	4	9.0	1.5	3.8	.400	0.0	0.0		1.5	3.8	.400	2.3	3.3	.692	1.0	0.8	1.8	0.0	0.8	1.0	5.3
12	David Bustion	23	47	7.6	1.2	2.8	.436	0.0	0.0		1.2	2.8	.436	0.9	1.3	.712	0.8	1.3	2.1	0.4	1.1	1.7	3.4[1]

Playoffs

Western Division semifinals

Game	Date	Location	Score	Record	Attendance
1	March 31	Indiana	91–114	0–1	7,051
2	April 1	Denver	93–106	0–2	7,235
3	April 3	Denver	105–94	1–2	5,335
4	April 5	Denver	95–97	1–3	6,904
5	April 7	Indiana	107–121	1–4	9,816

^[2]

Awards and honors

• All-ABA 1st Team: Warren Jabali
• All-ABA 2nd Team: Ralph Simpson
• All-Defensive 1st Team: Julius Keye
• ABA All-Stars: Warren Jabali, Ralph Simpson^[3]

Transactions