1972–73 Chicago Bulls season

1972–73 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachDick Motta
General managerPat Williams
Owner(s)Dick Klein and Elmer Rich sold team to Arthur Wirtz group
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record51–31 (.622)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Lakers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV
(Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd)
RadioWIND
(Jack Fleming, Bill Berg)
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

The 1972–73 NBA season was the Bulls' seventh season in the NBA.[1][2]

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1972 NBA draft

Roster

1972–73 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 20 Awtrey, Dennis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948-02-22 Santa Clara
C 18 Boerwinkle, Tom 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1945-08-23 Tennessee
F 23 Garrett, Rowland 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1950-07-16 Florida State
F 24 Heard, Gar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1948-05-03 Oklahoma
G 21 King, Jim 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1941-02-07 Tulsa
F 10 Love, Bob 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1942-12-08 Southern
F 54 Porter, Howard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1948-08-31 Villanova
C 14 Ray, Clifford 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1949-01-21 Oklahoma
G 4 Sloan, Jerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1942-03-28 Evansville
G 2 Van Lier, Norm 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1947-04-01 Saint Francis (PA)
F 25 Walker, Chet 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1940-02-22 Bradley
G 8 Weiss, Bob 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1942-05-07 Penn State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: October 20, 1972

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 – 33–5 25–15 2–2 15–5
x-Chicago Bulls 51 31 .622 9 29–12 20–19 2–0 10–10
Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488 20 26–15 13–25 1–2 9–11
Kansas City–Omaha Kings 36 46 .439 24 24–17 12–29 – 6–14
#
Western Conference
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
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 10 Philadelphia 89–95 Chet Walker (24) 1–0
2 October 13 @ Detroit 91–100 Bob Love (20) 1–1
3 October 14 Boston 96–88 Norm Van Lier (18) 1–2
4 October 21 @ Houston 130–97 Bob Love (24) 2–2
5 October 22 @ Los Angeles 99–104 Chet Walker (22) 2–3
6 October 24 @ Phoenix 107–106 Bob Love (29) 3–3
7 October 26 @ Golden State 94–93 Bob Love (30) 4–3
8 October 27 @ Portland 118–95 Bob Love (26) 5–3
9 October 29 @ Seattle 95–94 Chet Walker (28) 6–3
10 October 31 Kansas City–Omaha 95–104 Chet Walker (25) 7–3
11 November 3 Phoenix 100–115 Bob Love (34) 8–3
12 November 4 @ Buffalo 99–101 Bob Love (27) 8–4
13 November 11 @ Baltimore 111–106 Norm Van Lier (28) 9–4
14 November 14 Seattle 80–97 Norm Van Lier (26) 10–4
15 November 17 @ Detroit 96–109 Gar Heard (20) 10–5
16 November 18 Baltimore 79–95 Gar Heard (31) 11–5
17 November 21 Houston 105–113 Jerry Sloan (31) 12–5
18 November 24 Golden State 96–100 Chet Walker (35) 13–5
19 November 25 @ Atlanta 100–99 Chet Walker (25) 14–5
20 November 28 Kansas City–Omaha 92–91 Chet Walker (27) 14–6
21 November 29 @ Milwaukee 97–105 Heard, Weiss (18) 14–7
22 December 1 @ Kansas City–Omaha 106–97 (OT) Chet Walker (32) 15–7
23 December 2 Seattle 80–89 Chet Walker (22) 16–7
24 December 5 Detroit 108–130 Chet Walker (26) 17–7
25 December 7 Atlanta 94–89 (OT) Bob Love (26) 17–8
26 December 8 @ Philadelphia 118–102 Bob Love (30) 18–8
27 December 9 Buffalo 94–105 Gar Heard (29) 19–8
28 December 12 Los Angeles 106–105 (OT) Bob Weiss (21) 19–9
29 December 15 New York 86–90 Bob Love (18) 20–9
30 December 16 @ New York 83–97 Chet Walker (17) 20–10
31 December 19 Portland 109–100 Chet Walker (25) 20–11
32 December 22 @ Portland 127–97 Bob Love (33) 21–11
33 December 23 @ Golden State 109–127 Bob Love (22) 21–12
34 December 25 @ Phoenix 108–115 Bob Love (29) 21–13
35 December 26 Kansas City–Omaha 103–117 Bob Love (30) 22–13
36 December 29 @ Boston 106–99 Bob Love (41) 23–13
37 December 30 Milwaukee 92–99 Bob Love (28) 24–13
38 January 2 Atlanta 90–100 Chet Walker (26) 25–13
39 January 4 Houston 97–111 Love, Walker (25) 26–13
40 January 5 Phoenix 126–115 Bob Love (36) 26–14
41 January 7 Buffalo 96–119 Bob Love (23) 27–14
42 January 9 Philadelphia 110–126 Gar Heard (27) 28–14
43 January 10 @ Kansas City–Omaha 100–102 Bob Love (36) 28–15
44 January 12 Los Angeles 109–97 Bob Love (30) 28–16
45 January 14 @ Milwaukee 95–100 Sloan, Walker (20) 28–17
46 January 16 Portland 89–100 Love, Heard (27) 29–17
47 January 19 Golden State 115–80 Bob Love (23) 29–18
48 January 20 @ Detroit 92–112 Bob Love (32) 29–19
49 January 26 Baltimore 100–110 Bob Love (24) 30–19
50 January 28 Detroit 105–110 Norm Van Lier (29) 31–19
51 January 30 @ Los Angeles 92–95 Norm Van Lier (26) 31–20
52 February 2 @ Seattle 104–118 Norm Van Lier (29) 31–21
53 February 4 Milwaukee 99–121 Bob Love (49) 32–21
54 February 6 Kansas City–Omaha 107–114 Bob Love (49) 33–21
55 February 9 @ Cleveland 103–97 Bob Love (44) 34–21
56 February 10 @ Kansas City–Omaha 102–101 Bob Love (34) 35–21
57 February 11 Golden State 101–96 Chet Walker (36) 35–22
58 February 13 Boston 105–101 Jerry Sloan (20) 35–23
59 February 14 @ New York 100–98 Bob Love (21) 36–23
60 February 16 Cleveland 92–100 Bob Love (27) 37–23
61 February 18 @ Houston 110–99 Chet Walker (23) 38–23
62 February 20 Los Angeles 89–103 Chet Walker (25) 39–23
63 February 23 New York 83–84 Bob Love (24) 40–23
64 February 24 Phoenix 100–122 Bob Love (30) 41–23
65 February 25 @ Seattle 88–85 Bob Weiss (24) 42–23
66 February 27 @ Portland 125–110 Chet Walker (31) 43–23
67 March 2 @ Los Angeles 88–108 Van Lier, Walker (15) 43–24
68 March 3 @ Golden State 117–116 Bob Love (29) 44–24
69 March 4 @ Phoenix 118–117 (OT) Bob Love (25) 45–24
70 March 6 @ Milwaukee 88–96 Chet Walker (27) 45–25
71 March 8 @ Buffalo 102–112 Bob Love (33) 45–26
72 March 9 N Philadelphia 84–104 Bob Love (26) 46–26
73 March 10 N Baltimore 105–99 Norm Van Lier (28) 47–26
74 March 13 Seattle 89–104 Jim King (20) 48–26
75 March 16 Milwaukee 99–91 (OT) Chet Walker (30) 48–27
76 March 17 Detroit 99–97 Chet Walker (22) 48–28
77 March 18 @ Detroit 119–107 Norm Van Lier (24) 49–28
78 March 20 Portland 109–123 Bob Love (26) 50–28
79 March 21 @ Boston 105–106 Chet Walker (20) 50–29
80 March 24 @ Atlanta 111–113 Norm Van Lier (26) 50–30
81 March 25 @ Cleveland 105–112 Bob Love (29) 50–31
82 March 27 Cleveland 105–121 Chet Walker (30) 51–31

Playoffs

1973 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 30 @ Los Angeles L 104–107 (OT) Bob Love (21) Dennis Awtrey (15) Dennis Awtrey (6) The Forum
16,341 		0–1
2 April 1 @ Los Angeles L 93–108 Bob Love (32) Chet Walker (11) Tom Boerwinkle (9) The Forum
17,368 		0–2
3 April 6 Los Angeles W 96–86 Chet Walker (30) Dennis Awtrey (14) Norm Van Lier (8) Chicago Stadium
14,606 		1–2
4 April 8 Los Angeles W 98–94 Bob Love (38) Bob Love (13) Bob Love (6) Chicago Stadium
14,181 		2–2
5 April 10 @ Los Angeles L 102–123 Bob Love (27) Bob Love (14) Awtrey, Van Lier (5) The Forum
17,505 		2–3
6 April 13 Los Angeles W 101–93 Jerry Sloan (27) Dennis Awtrey (14) Dennis Awtrey (8) Chicago Stadium
18,096 		3–3
7 April 15 @ Los Angeles L 92–95 Norm Van Lier (28) Norm Van Lier (14) Bob Love (5) The Forum
17,505 		3–4
1973 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ "N.B.A. Approves Sale of Bulls". Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ 1972–73 Chicago Bulls