1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers season

1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachBill Sharman
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record60–22 (.732)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Knicks 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

The 1972–73 NBA season was the Lakers' 25th season in the NBA and 13th season in Los Angeles.[1]

During the previous season (1971–1972), the Lakers had posted the longest winning streak in NBA history with 33 straight victories. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers had defeated New York Knicks in five games to win their sixth NBA Championship. However, even though the Lakers managed to make to the NBA Finals for a second consecutive time, they proved unable to repeat as champions. The Knicks defeated them in five games.

Following the season, Wilt Chamberlain retired.

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1972 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
2 16 Jim Price Guard  United States Louisville

Roster

1972-73 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 32 Bridges, Bill 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1939-04-04 Kansas
C 30 Brown, Roger 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1950-02-23 Kansas
C 13 Chamberlain, Wilt 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1936-08-21 Kansas
C 31 Counts, Mel 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1941-10-16 Oregon State
F 24 Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
G 25 Goodrich, Gail 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1943-04-23 UCLA
F 33 Grant, Travis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1950-01-01 Kentucky State
F 52 Hairston, Happy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1942-05-31 NYU
F 5 McMillian, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1948-03-11 Columbia
G 15 Price, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1949-11-27 Louisville
G 12 Riley, Pat 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1945-03-20 Kentucky
F 30 Turner, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1944-02-18 Akron
G 44 West, Jerry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1938-05-28 West Virginia
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2013-03-22

Regular season

The defending champion Lakers returned intact, albeit another year older. They staged another season long battle for best record in the Western Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams ended up with 60–22 records and they split their regular season matchups, winning three games apiece. At the time, the NBA had no tiebreaking formula beyond head-to-head record. In a special league meeting, they attempted to schedule a tiebreaking game between the two teams. However, the players' union intervened and demanded the players be paid an extra 1/82 share of the salaries; the owners objected so ultimately the tie was broken by a coin flip, which was won by Milwaukee.

Season standings

Pacific Division
 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
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 11 @ Kansas City–Omaha 129–94 Jim McMillian (23) 1–0
2 October 13 @ Boston 104–112 Jerry West (21) 1–1
3 October 14 @ New York 100–125 McMillian, Riley, West (18) 1–2
4 October 15 @ Cleveland 95–83 Jerry West (31) 2–2
5 October 20 Portland 104–126 Hairston, McMillian (20) 3–2
6 October 22 Chicago 99–104 Jerry West (35) 4–2
7 October 24 @ Kansas City–Omaha 114–94 Jerry West (29) 5–2
8 October 25 @ Houston 112–107 Jerry West (33) 6–2
9 October 27 Golden State 119–91 Gail Goodrich (19) 6–3
10 October 29 Phoenix 123–133 Gail Goodrich (32) 7–3
11 November 3 Detroit 107–116 Jerry West (28) 8–3
12 November 4 @ Portland 134–120 Gail Goodrich (30) 9–3
13 November 5 @ Seattle 124–115 Jerry West (35) 10–3
14 November 7 Houston 109–122 Happy Hairston (30) 11–3
15 November 10 Cleveland 88–118 Jerry West (27) 12–3
16 November 14 @ Milwaukee 95–92 Jerry West (26) 13–3
17 November 15 @ Detroit 110–99 Gail Goodrich (24) 14–3
18 November 17 Buffalo 100–103 Jerry West (27) 15–3
19 November 19 Philadelphia 95–135 Gail Goodrich (24) 16–3
20 November 24 Detroit 123–140 Gail Goodrich (23) 17–3
21 November 25 @ Phoenix 116–109 Gail Goodrich (27) 18–3
22 November 26 Phoenix 107–112 Jerry West (26) 19–3
23 December 1 Atlanta 114–109 (OT) Jerry West (33) 19–4
24 December 2 @ Golden State 112–103 McMillian, West (29) 20–4
25 December 5 Milwaukee 94–116 Gail Goodrich (24) 21–4
26 December 8 Seattle 100–119 Happy Hairston (28) 22–4
27 December 10 Portland 101–137 Jim McMillian (28) 23–4
28 December 12 @ Chicago 106–105 (OT) Gail Goodrich (34) 24–4
29 December 13 @ Philadelphia 128–90 Gail Goodrich (31) 25–4
30 December 15 Boston 102–98 Gail Goodrich (24) 25–5
31 December 19 @ Buffalo 126–100 Gail Goodrich (32) 26–5
32 December 20 @ Baltimore 96–90 Gail Goodrich (18) 27–5
33 December 22 Phoenix 118–110 Gail Goodrich (39) 27–6
34 December 26 Portland 92–116 Gail Goodrich (25) 28–6
35 December 27 @ Houston 104–136 Gail Goodrich (37) 28–7
36 December 29 Kansas City–Omaha 92–121 Jerry West (28) 29–7
37 January 1 @ Seattle 108–103 Gail Goodrich (36) 30–7
38 January 2 @ Golden State 106–112 Gail Goodrich (38) 30–8
39 January 6 @ Cleveland 93–108 Jim McMillian (27) 30–9
40 January 7 @ Milwaukee 92–99 McMillian, West (26) 30–10
41 January 10 @ Philadelphia 120–96 Gail Goodrich (26) 31–10
42 January 12 @ Chicago 109–97 Jerry West (39) 32–10
43 January 14 @ Atlanta 102–100 Jerry West (37) 33–10
44 January 16 Baltimore 112–104 Gail Goodrich (30) 33–11
45 January 19 New York 88–95 Jerry West (32) 34–11
46 January 20 @ Phoenix 124–104 Jerry West (28) 35–11
47 January 21 Kansas City–Omaha 102–123 Wilt Chamberlain (29) 36–11
48 January 26 Golden State 84–100 Jerry West (22) 37–11
49 January 27 @ Golden State 122–107 Jim McMillian (31) 38–11
50 January 28 Seattle 94–130 Wilt Chamberlain (22) 39–11
51 January 30 Chicago 92–95 Jerry West (31) 40–11
52 February 1 @ Phoenix 120–106 Wilt Chamberlain (25) 41–11
53 February 2 Houston 109–126 Goodrich, West (24) 42–11
54 February 4 N Baltimore 125–115 Goodrich, West (28) 43–11
55 February 6 @ New York 95–90 Jim McMillian (27) 44–11
56 February 7 @ Boston 112–113 (OT) Gail Goodrich (35) 44–12
57 February 9 @ Milwaukee 88–109 Jim McMillian (28) 44–13
58 February 11 Philadelphia 90–108 Jim McMillian (26) 45–13
59 February 13 Seattle 98–101 Gail Goodrich (25) 46–13
60 February 16 Baltimore 103–121 Jim McMillian (26) 47–13
61 February 17 @ Portland 110–103 Gail Goodrich (46) 48–13
62 February 18 Atlanta 99–92 Gail Goodrich (38) 48–14
63 February 20 @ Chicago 89–103 Gail Goodrich (27) 48–15
64 February 21 @ Detroit 98–106 Gail Goodrich (29) 48–16
65 February 23 Golden State 111–106 Jim McMillian (29) 48–17
66 February 25 Milwaukee 82–91 Wilt Chamberlain (24) 49–17
67 February 27 Kansas City–Omaha 107–103 Jim McMillian (34) 49–18
68 March 2 Chicago 88–108 Jerry West (19) 50–18
69 March 4 Cleveland 84–127 Gail Goodrich (32) 51–18
70 March 6 @ Portland 114–102 Gail Goodrich (30) 52–18
71 March 9 Boston 119–111 Jerry West (28) 52–19
72 March 11 Detroit 117–141 Goodrich, McMillian (24) 53–19
73 March 13 @ Buffalo 121–112 Wilt Chamberlain (25) 54–19
74 March 14 @ Detroit 121–112 Gail Goodrich (27) 55–19
75 March 16 New York 109–98 Jerry West (32) 55–20
76 March 18 Phoenix 113–131 Jim McMillian (42) 56–20
77 March 20 @ Atlanta 112–114 Jim McMillian (30) 56–21
78 March 21 @ Kansas City–Omaha 124–118 Jerry West (28) 57–21
79 March 23 Buffalo 101–121 Jim McMillian (22) 58–21
80 March 25 @ Seattle 109–93 Chamberlain, Counts, Goodrich, West (20) 59–21
81 March 27 Milwaukee 85–84 Jim McMillian (32) 59–22
82 March 28 @ Golden State 96–89 Gail Goodrich (26) 60–22

Playoffs

1973 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 30 Chicago W 107–104 (OT) Gail Goodrich (28) Wilt Chamberlain (20) Jerry West (9) The Forum
16,341 		1–0
2 April 1 Chicago W 108–93 Gail Goodrich (33) Wilt Chamberlain (21) Jerry West (19) The Forum
17,368 		2–0
3 April 6 @ Chicago L 86–96 Jim McMillian (24) Wilt Chamberlain (18) Jerry West (13) Chicago Stadium
14,606 		2–1
4 April 8 @ Chicago L 94–98 Jim McMillian (25) Wilt Chamberlain (30) Goodrich, West (5) Chicago Stadium
14,181 		2–2
5 April 10 Chicago W 123–102 Jerry West (36) Wilt Chamberlain (29) Jerry West (11) The Forum
17,505 		3–2
6 April 13 @ Chicago L 93–101 Jerry West (19) Wilt Chamberlain (26) Jerry West (5) Chicago Stadium
18,096 		3–3
7 April 15 Chicago W 95–92 Jerry West (27) Wilt Chamberlain (28) Jerry West (7) The Forum
17,505 		4–3
Conference finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 17 Golden State W 101–99 Jim McMillian (37) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Jerry West (8) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 19 Golden State W 104–93 Jerry West (36) Wilt Chamberlain (20) Jerry West (6) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 April 21 @ Golden State W 126–70 Jim McMillian (28) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Jerry West (11) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,183 		3–0
4 April 23 @ Golden State L 109–117 Jerry West (32) Wilt Chamberlain (16) Gail Goodrich (7) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,000 		3–1
5 April 25 Golden State W 128–118 Gail Goodrich (44) Wilt Chamberlain (22) Jerry West (9) The Forum
17,505 		4–1
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 1 New York W 115–112 Gail Goodrich (30) Wilt Chamberlain (20) Wilt Chamberlain (6) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 3 New York L 95–99 Jerry West (32) Wilt Chamberlain (20) Goodrich, West (5) The Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 May 6 @ New York L 83–87 Jim McMillian (22) Wilt Chamberlain (13) Wilt Chamberlain (5) Madison Square Garden
19,694 		1–2
4 May 8 @ New York L 98–103 Goodrich, West (23) Wilt Chamberlain (19) Bill Bridges (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694 		1–3
5 May 10 New York L 93–102 Gail Goodrich (28) Wilt Chamberlain (21) Jerry West (4) The Forum
17,505 		1–4
1973 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers