The 1971–72 season was the Trail Blazers second season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Geoff Petrie missed 22 games due to injury. Petrie who averaged 24.8 points per game in his rookie season would drop nearly 6 points per game as the Blazers finished with an NBA worst record of 18–64.[1] One of the highlights of the season was Sidney Wicks. He would win the Rookie of the Year with a team best 24.5 points per game.[1]
Before the start of the season, Blazers guard Rick Adelman was named captain, making him the first in franchise history.[2]
Portland head coach Rolland Todd was fired on February 2, 1972 and replaced by Stu Inman, the Blazers director of player personnel.[3] Todd's dismissal came in the wake of a 129–117 loss to the Phoenix Suns the day before. Portland players were allegedly upset with team management for placing guard Willie McCarter on waivers. Sidney Wicks was accused by Todd and Inman of playing lackadaisical defense, allowing his opponent Paul Silas to take 30 shots against him. Charlie Yelverton sat on the bench during th U.S. national anthem and did not participate in pre-game warmups.[4] [5]
| 1971–72 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 | |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | |
| Boston | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | |
| Buffalo | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 | |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 | |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | |
| Golden State | 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Houston | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | |
| Los Angeles | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | |
| New York | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 | |
| Phoenix | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | |
| Portland | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 | |
| Seattle | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — | |
| 1971–72 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 15 | 119–88 | Stan McKenzie (22) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 17 | 127–94 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 0–2 | ||
| 3 | October 19 | 101–99 | Stan McKenzie (25) | 0–3 | ||
| 4 | October 23 | 100–104 | Sidney Wicks (34) | 1–3 | ||
| 5 | October 26 | 123–111 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 1–4 | ||
| 6 | October 29 | 120–119 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 1–5 | ||
| 7 | November 4 | 112–110 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 2–5 | ||
| 8 | November 6 | 109–124 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 2–6 | ||
| 9 | November 7 | 99–120 | Willie McCarter (13) | 2–7 | ||
| 10 | November 9 | @ Buffalo | 100–109 | Sidney Wicks (34) | 2–8 | |
| 11 | November 10 | @ Detroit | 122–139 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 2–9 | |
| 12 | November 12 | Cleveland | 106–104 | Dale Schlueter (18) | 2–10 | |
| 13 | November 13 | 130–108 | Sidney Wicks (33) | 2–11 | ||
| 14 | November 16 | Milwaukee | 125–105 | Sidney Wicks (20) | 2–12 | |
| 15 | November 18 | 105–115 | Sidney Wicks (29) | 2–13 | ||
| 16 | November 19 | Cleveland | 105–118 | Stan McKenzie (31) | 3–13 | |
| 17 | November 20 | Seattle | 104–100 | Sidney Wicks (27) | 3–14 | |
| 18 | November 23 | @ Chicago | 94–130 | Sidney Wicks (27) | 3–15 | |
| 19 | November 24 | @ Cincinnati | 112–114 | Stan McKenzie (29) | 3–16 | |
| 20 | November 26 | @ Milwaukee | 105–120 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 3–17 | |
| 21 | November 27 | 93–116 | Sidney Wicks (22) | 3–18 | ||
| 22 | November 30 | 121–111 (OT) | Sidney Wicks (23) | 3–19 | ||
| 23 | December 1 | @ Phoenix | 103–139 | Sidney Wicks (27) | 3–20 | |
| 24 | December 3 | Golden State | 107–115 | Geoff Petrie (35) | 4–20 | |
| 25 | December 5 | @ Los Angeles | 107–123 | Gary Gregor (20) | 4–21 | |
| 26 | December 7 | @ Detroit | 131–130 (OT) | Geoff Petrie (36) | 5–21 | |
| 27 | December 8 | 97–115 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 5–22 | ||
| 28 | December 10 | @ Buffalo | 101–100 (OT) | Geoff Petrie (28) | 6–22 | |
| 29 | December 11 | 102–134 | Willie McCarter (16) | 6–23 | ||
| 30 | December 14 | Los Angeles | 129–114 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 6–24 | |
| 31 | December 17 | Philadelphia | 126–127 | Gary Gregor (28) | 7–24 | |
| 32 | December 18 | @ Seattle | 105–107 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 7–25 | |
| 33 | December 19 | Detroit | 113–114 | Sidney Wicks (26) | 8–25 | |
| 34 | December 21 | Houston | 132–119 | McKenzie, Wicks (24) | 8–26 | |
| 35 | December 23 | New York | 120–117 | Stan McKenzie (27) | 8–27 | |
| 36 | December 25 | Chicago | 109–88 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 8–28 | |
| 37 | December 27 | 121–135 | Geoff Petrie (23) | 8–29 | ||
| 38 | December 28 | @ Cleveland | 111–112 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 8–30 | |
| 39 | December 29 | @ Milwaukee | 84–123 | Dale Schlueter (18) | 8–31 | |
| 40 | December 30 | @ Chicago | 92–117 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 8–32 | |
| 41 | January 2 | Buffalo | 90–108 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 9–32 | |
| 42 | January 4 | Atlanta | 103–91 | Sidney Wicks (22) | 9–33 | |
| 43 | January 6 | @ Golden State | 115–119 | Sidney Wicks (29) | 9–34 | |
| 44 | January 7 | Boston | 120–114 | Geoff Petrie (24) | 9–35 | |
| 45 | January 8 | Cleveland | 102–125 | Geoff Petrie (22) | 10–35 | |
| 46 | January 11 | Baltimore | 106–114 | Gary Gregor (25) | 11–35 | |
| 47 | January 14 | @ Buffalo | 102–100 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 12–35 | |
| 48 | January 15 | @ Chicago | 100–120 | Geoff Petrie (21) | 12–36 | |
| 49 | January 16 | @ Milwaukee | 97–126 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 12–37 | |
| 50 | January 21 | N Philadelphia | 122–136 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 12–38 | |
| 51 | January 22 | N Baltimore | 99–116 | Sidney Wicks (19) | 12–39 | |
| 52 | January 23 | @ Boston | 105–115 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 12–40 | |
| 53 | January 25 | @ Houston | 104–118 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 12–41 | |
| 54 | January 28 | Golden State | 105–102 | Sidney Wicks (25) | 12–42 | |
| 55 | January 30 | @ Los Angeles | 131–153 | Stan McKenzie (22) | 12–43 | |
| 56 | February 1 | Phoenix | 129–117 | Geoff Petrie (25) | 12–44 | |
| 57 | February 4 | Houston | 113–114 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 13–44 | |
| 58 | February 5 | Phoenix | 118–117 (OT) | Sidney Wicks (32) | 13–45 | |
| 59 | February 6 | @ Phoenix | 94–107 | Geoff Petrie (33) | 13–46 | |
| 60 | February 8 | Cincinnati | 100–104 | Geoff Petrie (30) | 14–46 | |
| 61 | February 11 | Philadelphia | 106–110 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 15–46 | |
| 62 | February 12 | @ Seattle | 97–125 | Sidney Wicks (21) | 15–47 | |
| 63 | February 13 | Seattle | 127–117 (OT) | Sidney Wicks (32) | 15–48 | |
| 64 | February 15 | Boston | 111–104 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 15–49 | |
| 65 | February 18 | @ Los Angeles | 114–125 | Rick Adelman (24) | 15–50 | |
| 66 | February 19 | Los Angeles | 115–94 | Sidney Wicks (23) | 15–51 | |
| 67 | February 20 | @ Seattle | 105–109 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 15–52 | |
| 68 | February 22 | @ New York | 105–122 | Petrie, Wicks (21) | 15–53 | |
| 69 | February 23 | @ Cincinnati | 106–110 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 15–54 | |
| 70 | February 25 | @ Cleveland | 104–113 | Geoff Petrie (29) | 15–55 | |
| 71 | February 27 | @ Atlanta | 110–113 | Sidney Wicks (32) | 15–56 | |
| 72 | February 29 | Chicago | 116–92 | Petrie, Wicks (20) | 15–57 | |
| 73 | March 3 | Baltimore | 90–80 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 15–58 | |
| 74 | March 4 | Atlanta | 120–101 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 15–59 | |
| 75 | March 7 | Buffalo | 94–98 | Sidney Wicks (24) | 16–59 | |
| 76 | March 9 | N Houston | 111–114 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 16–60 | |
| 77 | March 14 | Milwaukee | 109–98 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 16–61 | |
| 78 | March 16 | @ Golden State | 94–107 | Sidney Wicks (28) | 16–62 | |
| 79 | March 17 | Golden State | 109–114 | Geoff Petrie (39) | 17–62 | |
| 80 | March 18 | New York | 86–133 | Sidney Wicks (30) | 18–62 | |
| 81 | March 21 | @ Phoenix | 128–160 | Sidney Wicks (31) | 18–63 | |
| 82 | March 26 | @ Houston | 109–131 | Geoff Petrie (26) | 18–64 |