1972–73 New York Knicks season

The 1972–73 New York Knicks season was the 27th season of NBA basketball in New York City. The Knicks captured their second NBA title as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, four games to one, which was exactly the same count the Knicks lost to the Lakers a year earlier. To date this is the last Knicks' championship. This is also the Knicks' last season with a Finals appearance until 1993–94, 21 years later.

1972–73 New York Knicks season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerRed Holzman
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–1)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOR–TV 9
(Bob Wolff and Cal Ramsey)
Manhattan Cable Television
(Bob Wolff and Cal Ramsey)
RadioWNBC–AM 660
(Marv Albert and John Andariese)

Besides being the last Knicks team to win a championship, the team is also remembered for the deep roster of future Hall of Fame players, which included Dave DeBusschere, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Jerry Lucas, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Willis Reed, Future U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, and future Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson. In fact, as of 2023, the 1972-73 Knicks are the last championship team to have their five starters all in the Hall.

Draft picks
Main article: 1972 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Tom Riker F/C  United States South Carolina
4 58 Henry Bibby G  United States UCLA

Roster
1972–73 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
SG 12 Barnett, Dick 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1936–10–02 Tennessee State
PG 17 Bibby, Henry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949–11–24 UCLA
SF 24 Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943–07–28 Princeton
PF 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–10–16 Detroit Mercy
PG 10 Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945–03–29 Southern Illinois
C 40 Gianelli, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950–06–10 Pacific
PF 18 Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945–09–17 North Dakota
PF 32 Lucas, Jerry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1940–03–30 Ohio State
SG 7 Meminger, Dean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948–05–13 Marquette
SG 15 Monroe, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1944–11–21 Winston-Salem State
C 23 Rackley, Luther 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1946–06–11 Xavier
C 19 Reed, Willis (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1942–06–25 Grambling State
C 6 Riker, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1950–02–28 South Carolina
PF 43 Wingo, Harthorne 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947–09–09 Friendship College
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 1973–05–10

Pre season

Game log
1972–73 Pre Season Game Log
September/October
GameDateTimeOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecord

All times are EASTERN time

Regular season

Standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Boston Celtics 6814.829–33–632–83–018–4
x-New York Knicks 5725.6951135–621–181–116–6
Buffalo Braves 2161.2564714–276–311–38–14
Philadelphia 76ers 973.110595–262–362–112–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Boston Celtics6814.829
2 x-New York Knicks5725.695
3 y-Baltimore Bullets5230.634
4 x-Atlanta Hawks4636.561
5 Houston Rockets3349.402
6 Cleveland Cavaliers3250.390
7 Buffalo Braves2161.256
8 Philadelphia 76ers973.110
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 —3–41–55–12–23–42–21–34–42–23–11–33–36–03–14–03–1
Baltimore 4–3—1–55–10–48–02–23–15–23–11–32–23–35–12–24–04–0
Boston 5–15–1—7–03–15–13–13–15–13–14–02–24–47–04–04–04–0
Buffalo 1–51–50–7—2–21–51–30–41–51–30–40–41–67–11–32–22–2
Chicago 2–24–01–32–2—3–13–43–34–05–21–52–43–14–04–25–15–1
Cleveland 4–30–81–55–11–3—1–31–34–32–21–31–30–66–01–31–33–1
Detroit 2–22–21–33–14–33–1—2–41–33–31–52–51–33–14–26–02–4
Golden State 3–11–31–34–03–33–14–2—3–14–23–41–52–24–02–45–14–3
Houston 4–42–51–55–10–43–43–11–3—0–41–31–31–55–12–22–22–2
Kansas City-Omaha 2–21–31–33–12–52–23–32–44–0—1–51–60–43–13–34–24–2
Los Angeles 1–33–10–44–05–13–15–14–33–15–1—3–32–24–06–16–06–0
Milwaukee 3–12–22–24–04–23–15–25–13–16–13–3—2–23–15–15–15–1
New York 3–33–34–46–11–36–03–12–25–14–02–22–2—6–13–13–14–0
Philadelphia 0–61–50–71–70–40–61–30–41–51–30–41–31–6—0–41–31–3
Phoenix 1–32–20–43–12–43–12–44–22–23–31–61–51–34–0—5–24–2
Portland 0–40–40–42–21–53–10–61–52–22–40–61–51–33–12–5—3–4
Seattle 1–30–40–42–21–51–34–23–42–22–40–61–50–43–12–44–3—

Game log
1972–73 Game log
#DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
1October 10Seattle89–113Bill Bradley (26)1–0
2October 14Los Angeles100–125Bill Bradley (29)2–0
3October 15@ Atlanta101–109Bradley, DeBusschere (21)2–1
4October 17Houston95–103Jerry Lucas (22)3–1
5October 20@ Cleveland92–89Walt Frazier (33)4–1
6October 21Philadelphia88–111Walt Frazier (21)5–1
7October 24Cleveland90–123Walt Frazier (22)6–1
8October 27@ Baltimore92–88Walt Frazier (25)7–1
9October 28Baltimore90–94Earl Monroe (21)8–1
10November 1@ Kansas City–Omaha122–85Walt Frazier (22)9–1
11November 3@ Seattle105–80Bradley, Monroe (18)10–1
12November 4@ Golden State104–127Bill Bradley (23)10–2
13November 6@ Portland111–95Bill Bradley (24)11–2
14November 9Atlanta99–101Walt Frazier (35)12–2
15November 10@ Philadelphia125–106Dave DeBusschere (24)13–2
16November 11Golden State103–102 (OT)Dave DeBusschere (27)13–3
17November 14Phoenix97–103Walt Frazier (32)14–3
18November 16Houston100–119Earl Monroe (24)15–3
19November 18Milwaukee86–87Earl Monroe (22)16–3
20November 21Portland80–108Dave DeBusschere (25)17–3
21November 24@ Boston97–114Walt Frazier (25)17–4
22November 25Boston94–97Walt Frazier (31)18–4
23November 28Cleveland84–107Walt Frazier (19)19–4
24November 29@ Philadelphia139–91Bill Bradley (26)20–4
25December 1@ Milwaukee74–100Earl Monroe (17)20–5
26December 2Buffalo94–119Earl Monroe (24)21–5
27December 5Kansas City–Omaha103–125Dave DeBusschere (28)22–5
28December 8@ Buffalo89–91Walt Frazier (26)22–6
29December 9Philadelphia109–120Bradley, Frazier (26)23–6
30December 12Atlanta93–114Walt Frazier (29)24–6
31December 13@ Atlanta120–121Dave DeBusschere (21)24–7
32December 15@ Chicago86–90Walt Frazier (20)24–8
33December 16Chicago83–97Dave DeBusschere (27)25–8
34December 19@ Phoenix84–117Earl Monroe (17)25–9
35December 20N Houston124–102DeBusschere, Reed (26)26–9
36December 22@ Cleveland98–87Dave DeBusschere (24)27–9
37December 25Detroit110–113Bill Bradley (29)28–9
38December 26@ Boston106–115Walt Frazier (29)28–10
39December 28Buffalo86–107Walt Frazier (19)29–10
40December 29@ Detroit99–94Walt Frazier (24)30–10
41December 30Baltimore98–100Earl Monroe (26)31–10
42January 2Milwaukee92–102Bill Bradley (22)32–10
43January 5@ Buffalo129–106Bill Bradley (38)33–10
44January 6Houston106–116Walt Frazier (33)34–10
45January 9@ Kansas City–Omaha116–115 (OT)DeBusschere, Monroe (24)35–10
46January 11@ Atlanta122–107Walt Frazier (31)36–10
47January 12@ Houston104–103Earl Monroe (25)37–10
48January 14@ Seattle86–84Willis Reed (22)38–10
49January 16@ Phoenix102–101Dave DeBusschere (30)39–10
50January 19@ Los Angeles88–95Walt Frazier (24)39–11
51January 21@ Houston103–107Walt Frazier (24)39–12
52January 25Buffalo92–99Walt Frazier (23)40–12
53January 27Boston108–111Walt Frazier (25)41–12
54January 28@ Boston96–93Walt Frazier (23)42–12
55January 29Golden State84–97DeBusschere, Frazier (27)43–12
56January 31@ Detroit91–94Walt Frazier (20)43–13
57February 2@ Baltimore77–89Dave DeBusschere (22)43–14
58February 3Cleveland90–95Dave DeBusschere (21)44–14
59February 4@ Cleveland114–97Walt Frazier (28)45–14
60February 6Los Angeles95–90Phil Jackson (15)45–15
61February 10Detroit93–107Earl Monroe (22)46–15
62February 14Chicago100–98Walt Frazier (29)46–16
63February 16@ Buffalo102–98Walt Frazier (34)47–16
64February 17Philadelphia89–107Earl Monroe (25)48–16
65February 18@ Philadelphia98–114Walt Frazier (25)48–17
66February 20Portland106–110Jerry Lucas (27)49–17
67February 23@ Chicago83–84Jerry Lucas (22)49–18
68February 24Buffalo97–125Walt Frazier (25)50–18
69February 27Boston91–123Frazier, Jackson (20)51–18
70March 1@ Milwaukee100–114Phil Jackson (22)51–19
71March 3Baltimore97–75Walt Frazier (22)51–20
72March 4N Baltimore97–106Walt Frazier (26)51–21
73March 6Seattle94–106Bill Bradley (29)52–21
74March 7@ Philadelphia120–94Walt Frazier (28)53–21
75March 10Kansas City–Omaha102–125Bradley, Frazier (28)54–21
76March 11@ Boston107–122Walt Frazier (22)54–22
77March 13Phoenix111–115Frazier, Reed (28)55–22
78March 16@ Los Angeles109–98Earl Monroe (23)56–22
79March 17@ Golden State117–108Earl Monroe (21)57–22
80March 18@ Portland96–99Earl Monroe (18)57–23
81March 21Atlanta98–93Jackson, Monroe (18)57–24
82March 24Boston108–103Earl Monroe (25)57–25

Playoffs
1973 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 March 30 Baltimore W 95–83 Walt Frazier (25) Frazier, DeBusschere (7) Walt Frazier (6) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 1–0
2 April 1 Baltimore W 123–103 Walt Frazier (29) Dave DeBusschere (11) Walt Frazier (13) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 2–0
3 April 4 @ Baltimore W 103–96 Bill Bradley (23) Dave DeBusschere (11) Walt Frazier (7) Baltimore Civic Center
12,289		 3–0
4 April 6 @ Baltimore L 89–97 Walt Frazier (17) Willis Reed (8) DeBusschere, Monroe (4) Baltimore Civic Center
12,289		 3–1
5 April 8 Baltimore W 109–99 Earl Monroe (26) Dave DeBusschere (15) Walt Frazier (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 4–1
Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 15 @ Boston L 108–134 Walt Frazier (24) Walt Frazier (7) Walt Frazier (10) Boston Garden
15,320		 0–1
2 April 18 Boston W 129–96 Walt Frazier (24) Dave DeBusschere (8) Walt Frazier (10) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 1–1
3 April 20 @ Boston W 98–91 Walt Frazier (23) DeBusschere, Reed (11) Walt Frazier (5) Boston Garden
15,320		 2–1
4 April 22 Boston W 117–110 (2OT) Walt Frazier (37) Dave DeBusschere (10) Dean Meminger (7) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 3–1
5 April 25 @ Boston L 97–98 Walt Frazier (21) Dave DeBusschere (12) Frazier, DeBusschere (5) Boston Garden
15,320		 3–2
6 April 27 Boston L 100–110 Walt Frazier (29) Dave DeBusschere (17) Bradley, DeBusschere (5) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 3–3
7 April 29 @ Boston W 94–78 Walt Frazier (25) Walt Frazier (10) Dave DeBusschere (8) Boston Garden
15,320		 4–3
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 1 @ Los Angeles L 112–115 Dave DeBusschere (25) Dave DeBusschere (16) Walt Frazier (8) The Forum
17,505		 0–1
2 May 3 @ Los Angeles W 99–95 Bill Bradley (26) DeBusschere, Reed (9) Bill Bradley (4) The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 May 6 Los Angeles W 87–83 Willis Reed (22) Dave DeBusschere (11) Earl Monroe (6) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 2–1
4 May 8 Los Angeles W 103–98 Dave DeBusschere (33) Dave DeBusschere (14) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
19,694		 3–1
5 May 10 @ Los Angeles W 102–93 Earl Monroe (23) Willis Reed (12) Frazier, Bradley (5) The Forum
17,505		 4–1
1973 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

Season
Player Games Played Games Started Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Walt Frazier7831816812865704611648
Bill Bradley8229985751693013671319
Dave DeBusschere7728275321947872591258
Earl Monroe7523704961722452881163
Willis Reed69187633492590126760
Jerry Lucas71200131281510317704
Phil Jackson80139324515434494644
Dean Meminger80145319281229133457
Henry Bibby5547578738264229
Dick Barnett5151488164150192
John Gianelli52516792315025181
Tom Riker1466101516235
Harthorne Wingo13599216120
Luther Rackley1200100
Knicks8219730 240.63627 44.21356 16.53882 47.32187 26.78610 105.0
Opponents8219730 240.63291 40.11471 17.94100 50.01714 20.98053 98.2
New York Knicks statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dick Barnett5110.11.70.30.81.03.8
Henry Bibby558.61.41.31.51.24.2
Bill Bradley8236.67.02.13.74.516.1
Dave DeBusschere7736.76.92.510.23.416.3
Walt Frazier7840.88.73.77.35.921.1
John Gianelli529.91.50.42.90.53.5
Phil Jackson8017.43.11.94.31.28.1
Jerry Lucas7128.24.41.17.24.59.9
Dean Meminger8018.22.41.02.91.75.7
Earl Monroe7531.66.62.33.33.815.5
Luther Rackley12.00.00.01.00.00.0
Willis Reed6927.24.81.31.51.211.0
Tom Riker144.60.71.11.10.12.5
Harthorne Wingo134.50.70.21.20.11.5
New York Knicks82240.644.216.547.326.7105.0

Vs. Atlanta
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks6288275101651
Hawks6288256115627

Vs. Baltimore
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks628823957535
Bullets628824284568

Vs. Boston
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks8384340160840
Celtics8384336173845

Vs. Buffalo
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks7336322126770
Braves7336282100664

Vs. Chicago
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks419215358364
Bulls419213489357

Vs. Cleveland
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks628825098598
Cavaliers628822096536

Vs. Detroit
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks419217854410
Pistons419216463391

Vs. Golden State
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks419717668420
Warriors419716592422

Vs. Houston
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks6
Rockets6

Vs. Kansas City-Omaha
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4
Kings4

Vs. Los Angeles
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4
Lakers4

Vs. Milwaukee
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4
Bucks4

Vs. Philadelphia
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks7336348124820
76ers7336285121691

Vs. Phoenix
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4
Suns4

Vs. Portland
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4
Trail Blazers4

Vs. Seattle
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks4192410
SuperSonics4192347
Opponent Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Against
Atlanta6
Baltimore6
Boston8
Buffalo7
Chicago4
Cleveland6
Detroit4
Golden State4
Houston6
Kansas City-Omaha4
Los Angeles4
Milwaukee4
Philadelphia7
Phoenix4
Portland4
Seattle4
Opponents82

Playoffs
Player Games Played Games Started Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Walt Frazier1776515073124106373
Dave DeBusschere176321173117958265
Earl Monroe16504111365151258
Bill Bradley1758799405745238
Willis Reed17486971812930212
Phil Jackson1733860287224148
Jerry Lucas1736854208539128
Dean Meminger173233119373781
John Gianelli75511313125
Henry Bibby643842320
Harthorne Wingo312517011
Dick Barnett41730026
Knicks17822 48.4746 48.0273 17.2756 47.9396 24.21765 113.2
Opponents171679 98.3
New York Knicks statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dick Barnett44.30.80.00.05.51.5
Henry Bibby67.21.30.70.30.53.3
Bill Bradley1734.55.82.43.42.614.0
Dave DeBusschere1737.26.92.310.53.415.6
Walt Frazier1745.08.84.37.36.221.9
John Gianelli527.91.60.41.90.13.6
Phil Jackson1719.93.51.64.21.48.7
Jerry Lucas1721.63.21.25.02.37.5
Dean Meminger1719.01.81.12.22.24.8
Earl Monroe1631.56.92.33.23.216.1
Willis Reed1728.65.71.17.61.812.5
Harthorne Wingo34.01.70.32.30.03.7
New York Knicks1748.448.017.247.924.2113.2

1973 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Baltimore
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks524022373519
Bullets524020470478

1973 NBA Eastern Conference Finals vs. Boston
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks7346308127743
Celtics7346289139717

1973 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points
Knicks524021573232117503
Lakers524019711026487484
Opponent Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Against
Baltimore5
Boston7
Los Angeles5
Opponents17

Media

Local TV
Local TV Play-by-Play Color Commentator
WOR-TV 9 Bob Wolff Cal Ramsey

Some New York Knicks TV Games never aired on WOR-TV because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL).

Local cable TV
Local Cable TV Play-by-Play Color Commentator
Manhattan Cable Television Bob Wolff Cal Ramsey

Local radio
Flagship station Play-by-Play Color Commentator
WNBC–AM 660 Marv Albert John Andariese

Some New York Knicks radio games never aired on WNBC–AM because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL).

Awards and records
Player Award
Willis Reed NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
Walt Frazier All-NBA Second Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
Dave DeBusschere NBA All-Defensive First Team

24th NBA All-Star Game
Main article: 1973 NBA All-Star Game

New York Knicks NBA All-Star representatives at the 1973 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago, Illinois at Chicago Stadium.

Player Team Position Minutes Points Field Goals FGA Free Throws FTA Rebounds Assists Personal Fouls
Bill Bradley (Eastern Conference All-Stars) F 12 4 2 5 0 0 1 0 2
Dave DeBusschere (Eastern Conference All-Stars) F, Starter 25 9 4 8 1 2 7 2 1
Walt Frazier (Eastern Conference All-Stars) G, Starter 26 10 5 15 0 0 6 2 1

Transactions

Transactions listed are from July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973.

Trades
October 9, 1972 To Atlanta Hawks
Eddie Mast
for a 1973 2nd Round draft pick

References
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