1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 6th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished the regular season in 6th place in the Western Conference with a 26–56 record, 21 wins behind the one obtained in their previous season. Head coach Tom Nissalke was fired by the team in January after a 13–32 start and was replaced by his assistant Bucky Buckwalter.^[1]

1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	Tom Nissalke Bucky Buckwalter
General manager	Bob Houbregs
Arena	Seattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record	26–56 (.317)
Place	Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTNT-TV
Radio	KOMO
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

Offseason

The offseason trade that sent player-coach Lenny Wilkens to the Cleveland Cavaliers was received with shock from fans and the player himself.^[2][3] The trade also sent Barry Clemens to the Cavaliers and brought All-Star Butch Beard to the Sonics.

The signing of free agent John Brisker cost the SuperSonics a $10,000 fine and the resignation of their 1973 first round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for violation of league rules that prohibited the team to approach Brisker without contacting the Sixers, who selected him in a supplemental draft in 1969 and held the rights to the player.^[4] However, Seattle regained its first round pick after an appeal and the Sonics' second round selection was given to the 76ers.^[5]

Draft picks

Main article: 1972 NBA draft

Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	7	Isaac Stallworth	Guard / forward	United States	Kansas
2	18	Joby Wright	Center / forward	United States	Indiana
2	23	Brian Taylor	Guard	United States	Princeton
3	40	Jim Creighton	Forward	United States	Colorado

Roster

1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 21 Beard, Butch 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947–05–04 Louisville G/F 42 Brisker, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947–06–15 Toledo G 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa F/C 41 Cross, Pete 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–03–28 San Francisco G 12 Dudley, Charles 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1950–03–05 Washington F/C 31 Fox, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1943–04–07 South Carolina F/C 24 Haywood, Spencer 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949–04–22 Detroit Mercy F/C 44 McDaniels, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1948–04–02 Western Kentucky F 40 McIntosh, Kennedy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949–01–21 Eastern Michigan G/F 10 Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944–02–01 West Virginia G/F 15 Stallworth, Isaac 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–01–18 Kansas G 11 Winfield, Lee 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1947–02–04 Providence F/C 14 Wright, Joby 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950–09–05 Indiana

Head coach Tom Nissalke (fired) Bucky Buckwalter (interim) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Depth chart

Seattle SuperSonics Depth Chart - 1972-73
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Butch Beard	Charles Dudley	Lee Winfield
SG	Fred Brown	Dick Snyder
SF	John Brisker	Bud Stallworth	Kennedy McIntosh
PF	Spencer Haywood	Gar Heard	Joby Wright
C	Jim Fox	Jim McDaniels	Pete Cross

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	60	22	.732	–	30–11	28–11	2–0	22–4
x-Golden State Warriors	47	35	.573	13	27–14	18–20	2–1	14–12
Phoenix Suns	38	44	.463	22	22–19	15–25	1–0	14–12
Seattle SuperSonics	26	56	.317	34	16–25	10–29	0–2	9–17
Portland Trail Blazers	21	61	.256	39	13–28	8–32	0–1	6–20

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT
1	z-Milwaukee Bucks	60	22	.732
2	y-Los Angeles Lakers	60	22	.732
3	x-Chicago Bulls	51	31	.622
4	x-Golden State Warriors	47	35	.573
5	Detroit Pistons	40	42	.488
6	Phoenix Suns	38	44	.463
7	Kansas City–Omaha Kings	36	46	.439
8	Seattle SuperSonics	26	56	.317
9	Portland Trail Blazers	21	61	.256

• z – clinched division title
• y – clinched division title
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1972–73 NBA records

Team	ATL	BAL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CLE	DET	GSW	HOU	KCO	LAL	MIL	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SEA
Atlanta	—	3–4	1–5	5–1	2–2	3–4	2–2	1–3	4–4	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–3	6–0	3–1	4–0	3–1
Baltimore	4–3	—	1–5	5–1	0–4	8–0	2–2	3–1	5–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–3	5–1	2–2	4–0	4–0
Boston	5–1	5–1	—	7–0	3–1	5–1	3–1	3–1	5–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	4–4	7–0	4–0	4–0	4–0
Buffalo	1–5	1–5	0–7	—	2–2	1–5	1–3	0–4	1–5	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–6	7–1	1–3	2–2	2–2
Chicago	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–2	—	3–1	3–4	3–3	4–0	5–2	1–5	2–4	3–1	4–0	4–2	5–1	5–1
Cleveland	4–3	0–8	1–5	5–1	1–3	—	1–3	1–3	4–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–6	6–0	1–3	1–3	3–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	4–3	3–1	—	2–4	1–3	3–3	1–5	2–5	1–3	3–1	4–2	6–0	2–4
Golden State	3–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	3–3	3–1	4–2	—	3–1	4–2	3–4	1–5	2–2	4–0	2–4	5–1	4–3
Houston	4–4	2–5	1–5	5–1	0–4	3–4	3–1	1–3	—	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–5	5–1	2–2	2–2	2–2
Kansas City-Omaha	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–5	2–2	3–3	2–4	4–0	—	1–5	1–6	0–4	3–1	3–3	4–2	4–2
Los Angeles	1–3	3–1	0–4	4–0	5–1	3–1	5–1	4–3	3–1	5–1	—	3–3	2–2	4–0	6–1	6–0	6–0
Milwaukee	3–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–2	3–1	5–2	5–1	3–1	6–1	3–3	—	2–2	3–1	5–1	5–1	5–1
New York	3–3	3–3	4–4	6–1	1–3	6–0	3–1	2–2	5–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	—	6–1	3–1	3–1	4–0
Philadelphia	0–6	1–5	0–7	1–7	0–4	0–6	1–3	0–4	1–5	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–6	—	0–4	1–3	1–3
Phoenix	1–3	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–4	3–1	2–4	4–2	2–2	3–3	1–6	1–5	1–3	4–0	—	5–2	4–2
Portland	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–5	3–1	0–6	1–5	2–2	2–4	0–6	1–5	1–3	3–1	2–5	—	3–4
Seattle	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–5	1–3	4–2	3–4	2–2	2–4	0–6	1–5	0–4	3–1	2–4	4–3	—

Game log

1972–73 game log Total: 26–56 (Home: 16–25; Road: 10–29; Neutral: 0–2)
October: 4–5 (home: 2–3; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 10 @ New York L 89–113 John Brisker (16) Madison Square Garden 19,447 0–1 2 October 11 @ Philadelphia W 105–100 Spencer Haywood (22) The Spectrum 6,257 1–1 3 October 13 @ Portland W 92–84 Spencer Haywood (35) Memorial Coliseum 8,573 2–1 4 October 20 Golden State L 92–101 Spencer Haywood (22) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,950 2–2 5 October 21 @ Phoenix L 117–129 John Brisker (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,315 2–3 6 October 22 Portland W 120–119 (OT) John Brisker (30) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,925 3–3 7 October 25 Atlanta L 115–118 Spencer Haywood (33) Seattle Center Coliseum 7,140 3–4 8 October 27 Phoenix W 120–115 Dick Snyder (29) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,201 4–4 9 October 29 Chicago L 94–95 Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,022 4–5
November : 4–13 (home: 3–5; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 10 November 1 Detroit L 106–116 John Brisker (33) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,005 4–6 11 November 3 New York L 80–105 Spencer Haywood (18) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,031 4–7 12 November 5 Los Angeles L 115–124 Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,250 4–8 13 November 8 @ Milwaukee L 103–116 Spencer Haywood (29) Milwaukee Arena 7,378 4–9 14 November 10 Kansas City–Omaha L 106–111 Spencer Haywood (38) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,156 4–10 15 November 12 Cleveland L 107–113 Spencer Haywood (28) Seattle Center Coliseum 13,174 4–11 16 November 14 @ Chicago L 80–97 Spencer Haywood (20) Chicago Stadium 7,894 4–12 17 November 15 @ Kansas City–Omaha L 97–106 Spencer Haywood (27) Municipal Auditorium 4,364 4–13 18 November 17 Philadelphia W 105–92 Spencer Haywood (29) Seattle Center Coliseum 7,762 5–13 19 November 18 @ Portland W 102–100 Spencer Haywood (21) Memorial Coliseum 9,639 6–13 20 November 19 Buffalo W 107–84 Spencer Haywood (26) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,587 7–13 21 November 21 @ Cleveland L 88–98 Spencer Haywood (32) Cleveland Arena 2,864 7–14 22 November 22 @ Baltimore L 90–112 Dick Snyder (21) Baltimore Civic Center 2,877 7–15 23 November 23 @ Atlanta L 97–110 Spencer Haywood (29) Omni Coliseum 6,523 7–16 24 November 25 @ Houston L 109–114 Spencer Haywood (38) Hofheinz Pavilion 2,912 7–17 25 November 26 Detroit W 103–96 Spencer Haywood (39) Seattle Center Coliseum 7,980 8–17 26 November 29 @ Boston L 98–120 Spencer Haywood (29) Boston Garden 5,263 8–18
December : 4–11 (home: 3–3; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 27 December 1 @ Buffalo L 90–93 Spencer Haywood, Dick Snyder (15) Seattle Center Coliseum 16,107 8–19 28 December 2 @ Chicago L 80–89 Spencer Haywood (26) Chicago Stadium 8,030 8–20 29 December 3 @ Cleveland L 103–105 (OT) Spencer Haywood (29) Cleveland Arena 2,957 8–21 30 December 6 Milwaukee W 95–91 Spencer Haywood (32) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,953 9–21 31 December 8 @ Los Angeles L 100–119 Spencer Haywood (26) The Forum 14,618 9–22 32 December 10 Phoenix W 110–102 Spencer Haywood (32) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,628 10–22 33 December 13 Milwaukee L 103–104 (OT) Spencer Haywood (38) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,036 10–23 34 December 15 Portland L 95–96 Spencer Haywood (37) Seattle Center Coliseum 7,812 10–24 35 December 17 Boston L 98–123 Spencer Haywood (34) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,633 10–25 36 December 19 @ Milwaukee L 77–121 John Brisker (15) Milwaukee Arena 7,407 10–26 37 December 20 @ Kansas City–Omaha L 110–121 Isaac Stallworth (32) Omaha, NE 4,067 10–27 38 December 22 @ Detroit L 97–109 Fred Brown (21) Cobo Arena 3,779 10–28 39 December 25 @ Portland L 113–116 Spencer Haywood (35) Memorial Coliseum 6,818 10–29 40 December 26 @ Golden State W 97–95 Spencer Haywood (42) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,605 11–29 41 December 29 Cleveland W 99–91 Spencer Haywood (31) Seattle Center Coliseum 12,738 12–29
January : 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 January 1 Los Angeles L 103–108 Spencer Haywood (28) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,751 12–30 43 January 3 Kansas City–Omaha W 107–100 Spencer Haywood (51) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,266 13–30 44 January 5 Golden State L 96–128 Fred Brown (20) Seattle Center Coliseum 9,087 13–31 45 January 7 Philadelphia L 82–85 Spencer Haywood (18) Seattle Center Coliseum 12,150 13–32 46 January 10 Baltimore L 86–98 Spencer Haywood (17) Seattle Center Coliseum 7,570 13–33 47 January 12 Detroit W 113–104 Spencer Haywood (36) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,420 14–33 48 January 14 New York Knicks L 84–86 Spencer Haywood (18) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,538 14–34 49 January 16 @ Kansas City–Omaha W 125–122 Jim Fox, Spencer Haywood (23) Municipal Auditorium 4,468 15–34 50 January 17 @ Detroit W 106–104 Spencer Haywood (28) Cobo Arena 2,630 16–34 51 January 19 @ Boston L 104–124 Spencer Haywood (25) Boston Garden 14,190 16–35 52 January 20 Baltimore L 106–126 Spencer Haywood (28) College Park, MD 12,084 16–36 53 January 25 @ Phoenix L 109–112 Spencer Haywood (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5,701 16–37 54 January 28 @ Los Angeles L 94–130 Spencer Haywood (29) The Forum 17,107 16–38 55 January 31 Houston W 118–109 Spencer Haywood (37) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,257 17–38
February : 4–11 (home: 3–5; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 February 2 Chicago W 118–104 John Brisker (24) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,818 18–38 57 February 3 @ Golden State L 101–123 Spencer Haywood (34) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3,261 18–39 58 February 4 Kansas City–Omaha L 98–120 Spencer Haywood (27) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,140 18–40 59 February 6 @ Portland W 118–117 Spencer Haywood (41) Memorial Coliseum 4,755 19–40 60 February 8 @ Phoenix L 112–125 Spencer Haywood (31) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7,084 19–41 61 February 11 Buffalo L 125–128 Spencer Haywood (40) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,960 19–42 62 February 13 @ Los Angeles L 98–101 Spencer Haywood (35) The Forum 13,127 19–43 63 February 14 Baltimore L 106–107 Spencer Haywood (37) Seattle Center Coliseum 6,034 19–44 64 February 16 Golden State W 114–108 (OT) Fred Brown (33) Seattle Center Coliseum 9,070 20–44 65 February 18 Boston L 105–106 Spencer Haywood (32) Seattle Center Coliseum 12,905 20–45 66 February 21 Houston L 107–139 Spencer Haywood (27) San Antonio, TX 4,179 20–46 67 February 23 Atlanta W 124–120 Spencer Haywood (29) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,735 21–46 68 February 25 Chicago L 85–88 Spencer Haywood (29) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,103 21–47 69 February 27 @ Atlanta L 130–131 Spencer Haywood (33) Omni Coliseum 8,295 21–48 70 February 28 @ Milwaukee L 110–124 Spencer Haywood (36) Milwaukee Arena 10,292 21–49
March : 5–9 (home: 2–4; road: 3–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 March 2 @ Buffalo W 139–120 Spencer Haywood (35) Seattle Center Coliseum 5,563 22–49 72 March 3 @ Detroit W 115–113 Spencer Haywood (33) Cobo Arena 5,044 23–49 73 March 6 @ New York L 94–106 Spencer Haywood (25) Madison Square Garden 19,644 23–50 74 March 10 @ Philadelphia W 106–96 Spencer Haywood (27) The Spectrum 4,942 24–50 75 March 13 @ Chicago L 89–104 Spencer Haywood (31) Chicago Stadium 9,270 24–51 76 March 16 Golden State W 116–106 Spencer Haywood (35) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,512 25–51 77 March 18 Houston W 121–112 Spencer Haywood (38) Seattle Center Coliseum 8,956 26–51 78 March 20 @ Golden State L 106–114 Spencer Haywood (39) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2,992 26–52 79 March 21 Milwaukee L 96–119 Spencer Haywood (29) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,407 26–53 80 March 23 Portland L 112–118 Kennedy McIntosh (25) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,305 26–54 81 March 25 Los Angeles L 93–109 Spencer Haywood (25) Seattle Center Coliseum 13,180 26–55 82 March 28 Phoenix L 125–127 John Brisker (39) Seattle Center Coliseum 11,246 26–56
1972–73 season schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Butch Beard	73	–	19.2	.439	–	.714	2.4	3.4	–	–	6.6
John Brisker	70	–	23.3	.435	–	.822	4.6	2.1	–	–	12.8
Fred Brown	79	–	29.4	.455	–	.818	4.0	5.5	–	–	13.5
Pete Cross	26	–	5.1	.286	–	.444	2.2	.4	–	–	.8
Charles Dudley	12	–	8.3	.435	–	.875	.5	1.3	–	–	2.8
Jim Fox	74	–	33.0	.515	–	.808	11.2	2.4	–	–	11.4
Spencer Haywood	77	–	42.3	.476	–	.839	12.9	2.5	–	–	29.2
Gar Heard	3	–	5.7	.444	–	1.000	2.0	.7	–	–	3.0
Jim McDaniels	68	–	16.1	.399	–	.700	5.1	1.1	–	–	5.6
Kennedy McIntosh	56	–	19.7	.326	–	.615	4.0	.9	–	–	4.5
Dick Snyder	82	–	37.3	.463	–	.861	3.9	3.8	–	–	13.8
Isaac Stallworth	77	–	15.9	.379	–	.754	2.9	.8	–	–	6.3
Lee Winfield	53	–	20.0	.431	–	.574	2.4	3.5	–	–	6.6
Joby Wright	77	–	12.1	.478	–	.416	2.8	.5	–	–	3.9

Awards and records

• Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA First Team for the second time.

Transactions

Overview

Players Added	Players Lost
Via draft Isaac Stallworth Joby Wright Via trade Butch Beard Kennedy McIntosh Via free agency John Brisker[6] Charles Dudley	Via trade Barry Clemens Pete Cross (later claimed on waivers) Gar Heard Don Smith Lenny Wilkens

Trades

August 23, 1972	To Seattle SuperSonics	To Cleveland Cavaliers
	Butch Beard	Lenny Wilkens Barry Clemens
September 18, 1972	To Seattle SuperSonics	To Houston Rockets
	Cash considerations	Don Smith
October 20, 1972	To Seattle SuperSonics	To Chicago Bulls
	Kennedy McIntosh	Gar Heard 1973 third round pick

References

1. Supersonics fire Tom Nissalke, Star-News. January 11, 1973. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
2. SuperSonics Trade Wilkens; Houbregs: 'difficult trade', Ellensburg Daily Record. August 24, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
3. Ex-Sonic Wilkens may quit pro ball, Ellensburg Daily Record. August 31, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
4. SuperSonics Fined For Signing Brisker, The Day. November 17, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
5. "Seattle Regains First-Round Pick". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: E. W. Scripps Company. April 19, 1973. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
6. Seattle Inks Brisker, The Michigan Daily. August 9, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.