The 1972–73 NBA season was the Warriors' 27th season in the NBA and 11th in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1]
See main article: article and 1972 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 43 | F | North Carolina | |||
| 4 | 60 | F | UC Santa Barbara | |||
| 5 | 76 | G | Washington | |||
| 6 | 93 | G | Louisville | |||
| 7 | 110 | F | Purdue | |||
| 8 | 126 | San Francisco | ||||
| 9 | 141 | California |
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1972–73 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | 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 | — | |
| 1972–73 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 14 | 81–77 | Cazzie Russell (20) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 16 | 96–97 | Rick Barry (22) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 20 | 101–92 | Jeff Mullins (28) | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | October 21 | 104–97 | Jeff Mullins (23) | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | October 26 | 94–93 | Cazzie Russell (28) | 3–2 | ||
| 6 | October 27 | 119–91 | Jeff Mullins (28) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 28 | 107–122 | Cazzie Russell (34) | 5–2 | ||
| 8 | October 31 | 104–112 | Rick Barry (27) | 6–2 | ||
| 9 | November 2 | Portland | 104–118 | Cazzie Russell (23) | 7–2 | |
| 10 | November 4 | 104–127 | Rick Barry (26) | 8–2 | ||
| 11 | November 7 | 105–91 | Jeff Mullins (22) | 9–2 | ||
| 12 | November 8 | 111–128 | Rick Barry (34) | 9–3 | ||
| 13 | November 10 | @ Detroit | 96–121 | Cazzie Russell (22) | 9–4 | |
| 14 | November 11 | @ New York | 103–102 (OT) | Rick Barry (27) | 10–4 | |
| 15 | November 14 | @ Atlanta | 114–105 | Nate Thurmond (33) | 11–4 | |
| 16 | November 16 | 106–128 | Cazzie Russell (21) | 12–4 | ||
| 17 | November 17 | @ Portland | 97–105 | Rick Barry (23) | 12–5 | |
| 18 | November 18 | Buffalo | 92–120 | Jeff Mullins (27) | 13–5 | |
| 19 | November 22 | 104–132 | Rick Barry (25) | 13–6 | ||
| 20 | November 24 | @ Chicago | 96–100 | Jeff Mullins (22) | 13–7 | |
| 21 | November 25 | 133–114 | Rick Barry (35) | 14–7 | ||
| 22 | November 28 | 102–110 | Jim Barnett (23) | 15–7 | ||
| 23 | December 1 | @ Phoenix | 106–115 | Nate Thurmond (32) | 15–8 | |
| 24 | December 2 | Los Angeles | 112–103 | Rick Barry (38) | 15–9 | |
| 25 | December 5 | Houston | 101–108 | Rick Barry (30) | 16–9 | |
| 26 | December 8 | @ Milwaukee | 91–124 | Rick Barry (26) | 16–10 | |
| 27 | December 10 | 103–100 | Rick Barry (36) | 17–10 | ||
| 28 | December 13 | @ Detroit | 110–107 | Mullins, Russell (26) | 18–10 | |
| 29 | December 15 | @ Buffalo | 129–95 | Jeff Mullins (27) | 19–10 | |
| 30 | December 16 | N Baltimore | 99–105 | Rick Barry (24) | 19–11 | |
| 31 | December 19 | Boston | 112–115 | Nate Thurmond (33) | 20–11 | |
| 32 | December 23 | Chicago | 109–127 | Nate Thurmond (22) | 21–11 | |
| 33 | December 26 | Seattle | 97–95 | Nate Thurmond (25) | 21–12 | |
| 34 | December 28 | Cleveland | 105–118 | Rick Barry (35) | 22–12 | |
| 35 | December 30 | Kansas City–Omaha | 107–113 | Rick Barry (36) | 23–12 | |
| 36 | January 2 | Los Angeles | 106–112 | Rick Barry (30) | 24–12 | |
| 37 | January 4 | Portland | 83–108 | Rick Barry (30) | 25–12 | |
| 38 | January 5 | @ Seattle | 128–96 | Cazzie Russell (22) | 26–12 | |
| 39 | January 6 | Philadelphia | 79–111 | Ron Williams (20) | 27–12 | |
| 40 | January 9 | Detroit | 98–105 | Rick Barry (28) | 28–12 | |
| 41 | January 11 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 108–109 | Nate Thurmond (27) | 28–13 | |
| 42 | January 12 | @ Phoenix | 108–107 | Jeff Mullins (25) | 29–13 | |
| 43 | January 13 | Phoenix | 116–110 | Nate Thurmond (23) | 29–14 | |
| 44 | January 16 | Cleveland | 100–98 | Cazzie Russell (24) | 29–15 | |
| 45 | January 17 | N Houston | 117–123 | Rick Barry (51) | 30–15 | |
| 46 | January 19 | @ Chicago | 115–80 | Jeff Mullins (24) | 31–15 | |
| 47 | January 21 | @ Milwaukee | 108–124 | Jeff Mullins (17) | 31–16 | |
| 48 | January 25 | Kansas City–Omaha | 115–129 | Rick Barry (30) | 32–16 | |
| 49 | January 26 | @ Los Angeles | 84–100 | Ellis, Russell (16) | 32–17 | |
| 50 | January 27 | Los Angeles | 122–107 | Jeff Mullins (30) | 32–18 | |
| 51 | January 29 | @ New York | 84–97 | Rick Barry (20) | 32–19 | |
| 52 | January 30 | @ Baltimore | 86–104 | Jeff Mullins (22) | 32–20 | |
| 53 | January 31 | @ Philadelphia | 131–115 | Rick Barry (31) | 33–20 | |
| 54 | February 1 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 96–98 | Cazzie Russell (34) | 33–21 | |
| 55 | February 3 | Seattle | 101–123 | Cazzie Russell (32) | 34–21 | |
| 56 | February 8 | Portland | 111–123 | Nate Thurmond (39) | 35–21 | |
| 57 | February 10 | @ Milwaukee | 108–135 | Nate Thurmond (28) | 35–22 | |
| 58 | February 11 | @ Chicago | 101–96 | Nate Thurmond (26) | 36–22 | |
| 59 | February 13 | @ Cleveland | 103–90 | Rick Barry (36) | 37–22 | |
| 60 | February 15 | Baltimore | 96–94 | Jeff Mullins (30) | 37–23 | |
| 61 | February 16 | @ Seattle | 108–114 (OT) | Barry, C. Johnson (24) | 37–24 | |
| 62 | February 17 | Boston | 110–106 | Nate Thurmond (29) | 37–25 | |
| 63 | February 20 | Atlanta | 115–118 | Rick Barry (31) | 38–25 | |
| 64 | February 23 | @ Los Angeles | 111–106 | Jeff Mullins (32) | 39–25 | |
| 65 | February 24 | Milwaukee | 93–102 | Rick Barry (25) | 40–25 | |
| 66 | February 27 | @ Detroit | 100–114 | Nate Thurmond (24) | 40–26 | |
| 67 | February 28 | @ Boston | 111–118 | Nate Thurmond (23) | 40–27 | |
| 68 | March 2 | Kansas City–Omaha | 112–117 | Cazzie Russell (37) | 41–27 | |
| 69 | March 3 | Chicago | 117–116 | Rick Barry (33) | 41–28 | |
| 70 | March 6 | Detroit | 93–108 | Jeff Mullins (24) | 42–28 | |
| 71 | March 10 | @ Atlanta | 113–117 | Jeff Mullins (28) | 42–29 | |
| 72 | March 11 | N Philadelphia | 93–97 | Rick Barry (25) | 43–29 | |
| 73 | March 13 | @ Portland | 109–101 | Rick Barry (34) | 44–29 | |
| 74 | March 15 | Houston | 125–141 | Jeff Mullins (26) | 45–29 | |
| 75 | March 16 | @ Seattle | 106–116 | Nate Thurmond (24) | 45–30 | |
| 76 | March 17 | New York | 117–108 | Barry, C. Johnson (24) | 45–31 | |
| 77 | March 20 | Seattle | 106–114 | Jeff Mullins (27) | 46–31 | |
| 78 | March 22 | Milwaukee | 108–98 | Cazzie Russell (23) | 46–32 | |
| 79 | March 23 | @ Phoenix | 124–125 | Rick Barry (22) | 46–33 | |
| 80 | March 24 | Buffalo | 101–106 | Rick Barry (26) | 47–33 | |
| 81 | March 26 | Phoenix | 120–114 | Rick Barry (32) | 47–34 | |
| 82 | March 28 | Los Angeles | 96–89 | Joe Ellis (17) | 47–35 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| March 30| @ Milwaukee| L 90–110| Rick Barry (22)| Clyde Lee (10)| Jim Barnett (6)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 1| @ Milwaukee| W 95–92| Cazzie Russell (25)| Clyde Lee (17)| Walt Hazzard (7)| Milwaukee Arena
10,379| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 5| Milwaukee| L 93–113| Jeff Mullins (21)| Clyde Lee (17)| Jeff Mullins (4)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,493| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 7| Milwaukee| W 102–97| Rick Barry (38)| Clyde Lee (21)| Jeff Mullins (6)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,173| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 10| @ Milwaukee| W 100–97| Clyde Lee (21)| Clyde Lee (18)| Walt Hazzard (5)| University of Wisconsin Field House
12,204| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 13| Milwaukee| W 100–86| Jim Barnett (26)| Clyde Lee (19)| Jim Barnett (7)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,175| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 17| @ Los Angeles| L 99–101| Nate Thurmond (22)| Nate Thurmond (26)| Thurmond, Barnett (5)| The Forum
17,505| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 19| @ Los Angeles| L 93–104| Rick Barry (29)| Clyde Lee (18)| Nate Thurmond (6)| The Forum
17,505| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 21| Los Angeles| L 70–126| Rick Barry (10)| Clyde Lee (18)| six players tied (2)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,183| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 23| Los Angeles| W 117–109| Cazzie Russell (33)| Nate Thurmond (18)| Jeff Mullins (7)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,000| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 25| @ Los Angeles| L 118–128| Cazzie Russell (29)| Nate Thurmond (15)| Thurmond, Mullins (5)| The Forum
17,505| 1–4|-