1972–73 New York Knicks season explained

Team:New York Knicks
End Year:1973
Conferencewin:yes
Championshipwin:yes
Wins:57
Losses:25
Division:Atlantic
Division Place:2
Conf Place:3
Coach:Red Holzman
Gm:Red Holzman
Arena:Madison Square Garden
Television:WOR–TV 9
(Bob Wolff and Cal Ramsey)
Manhattan Cable Television
(Bob Wolff and Cal Ramsey)
Radio:WNBC–AM 660
(Marv Albert and John Andariese)
Playoffs:NBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–1)
Bbr Team:NYK

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.

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

See 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.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
18Tom RikerF/CSouth Carolina
458GUCLA

Pre season

Game log

|-

All times are EASTERN time

Regular season

Standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1972–73 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBALBOSBUFCHICLEDETGSWHOUKCOLALMILNYKPHIPHOPORSEA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 89–113 Bill Bradley (26) 1–0
2 October 14 100–125 Bill Bradley (29) 2–0
3 October 15 101–109 Bradley, DeBusschere (21) 2–1
4 October 17 95–103 Jerry Lucas (22) 3–1
5 October 20 92–89 Walt Frazier (33) 4–1
6 October 21 88–111 Walt Frazier (21) 5–1
7 October 24 Cleveland 90–123 Walt Frazier (22) 6–1
8 October 27 92–88 Walt Frazier (25) 7–1
9 October 28 Baltimore 90–94 Earl Monroe (21) 8–1
10 November 1 122–85 Walt Frazier (22) 9–1
11 November 3 @ Seattle 105–80 Bradley, Monroe (18) 10–1
12 November 4 104–127 Bill Bradley (23) 10–2
13 November 6 111–95 Bill Bradley (24) 11–2
14 November 9 Atlanta 99–101 Walt Frazier (35) 12–2
15 November 10 @ Philadelphia 125–106 Dave DeBusschere (24) 13–2
16 November 11 Golden State 103–102 (OT) Dave DeBusschere (27) 13–3
17 November 14 97–103 Walt Frazier (32) 14–3
18 November 16 Houston 100–119 Earl Monroe (24) 15–3
19 November 18 86–87 Earl Monroe (22) 16–3
20 November 21 Portland 80–108 Dave DeBusschere (25) 17–3
21 November 24 97–114 Walt Frazier (25) 17–4
22 November 25 Boston 94–97 Walt Frazier (31) 18–4
23 November 28 Cleveland 84–107 Walt Frazier (19) 19–4
24 November 29 @ Philadelphia 139–91 Bill Bradley (26) 20–4
25 December 1 @ Milwaukee 74–100 Earl Monroe (17) 20–5
26 December 2 94–119 Earl Monroe (24) 21–5
27 December 5 Kansas City–Omaha 103–125 Dave DeBusschere (28) 22–5
28 December 8 @ Buffalo 89–91 Walt Frazier (26) 22–6
29 December 9 Philadelphia 109–120 Bradley, Frazier (26) 23–6
30 December 12 Atlanta 93–114 Walt Frazier (29) 24–6
31 December 13 @ Atlanta 120–121 Dave DeBusschere (21) 24–7
32 December 15 86–90 Walt Frazier (20) 24–8
33 December 16 Chicago 83–97 Dave DeBusschere (27) 25–8
34 December 19 @ Phoenix 84–117 Earl Monroe (17) 25–9
35 December 20 N Houston 124–102 DeBusschere, Reed (26) 26–9
36 December 22 @ Cleveland 98–87 Dave DeBusschere (24) 27–9
37 December 25 110–113 Bill Bradley (29) 28–9
38 December 26 @ Boston 106–115 Walt Frazier (29) 28–10
39 December 28 Buffalo 86–107 Walt Frazier (19) 29–10
40 December 29 @ Detroit 99–94 Walt Frazier (24) 30–10
41 December 30 Baltimore 98–100 Earl Monroe (26) 31–10
42 January 2 Milwaukee 92–102 Bill Bradley (22) 32–10
43 January 5 @ Buffalo 129–106 Bill Bradley (38) 33–10
44 January 6 Houston 106–116 Walt Frazier (33) 34–10
45 January 9 @ Kansas City–Omaha 116–115 (OT) DeBusschere, Monroe (24) 35–10
46 January 11 @ Atlanta 122–107 Walt Frazier (31) 36–10
47 January 12 @ Houston 104–103 Earl Monroe (25) 37–10
48 January 14 @ Seattle 86–84 Willis Reed (22) 38–10
49 January 16 @ Phoenix 102–101 Dave DeBusschere (30) 39–10
50 January 19 @ Los Angeles 88–95 Walt Frazier (24) 39–11
51 January 21 @ Houston 103–107 Walt Frazier (24) 39–12
52 January 25 Buffalo 92–99 Walt Frazier (23) 40–12
53 January 27 Boston 108–111 Walt Frazier (25) 41–12
54 January 28 @ Boston 96–93 Walt Frazier (23) 42–12
55 January 29 Golden State 84–97 DeBusschere, Frazier (27) 43–12
56 January 31 @ Detroit 91–94 Walt Frazier (20) 43–13
57 February 2 @ Baltimore 77–89 Dave DeBusschere (22) 43–14
58 February 3 Cleveland 90–95 Dave DeBusschere (21) 44–14
59 February 4 @ Cleveland 114–97 Walt Frazier (28) 45–14
60 February 6 Los Angeles 95–90 Phil Jackson (15) 45–15
61 February 10 Detroit 93–107 Earl Monroe (22) 46–15
62 February 14 Chicago 100–98 Walt Frazier (29) 46–16
63 February 16 @ Buffalo 102–98 Walt Frazier (34) 47–16
64 February 17 Philadelphia 89–107 Earl Monroe (25) 48–16
65 February 18 @ Philadelphia 98–114 Walt Frazier (25) 48–17
66 February 20 Portland 106–110 Jerry Lucas (27) 49–17
67 February 23 @ Chicago 83–84 Jerry Lucas (22) 49–18
68 February 24 Buffalo 97–125 Walt Frazier (25) 50–18
69 February 27 Boston 91–123 Frazier, Jackson (20) 51–18
70 March 1 @ Milwaukee 100–114 Phil Jackson (22) 51–19
71 March 3 Baltimore 97–75 Walt Frazier (22) 51–20
72 March 4 N Baltimore 97–106 Walt Frazier (26) 51–21
73 March 6 Seattle 94–106 Bill Bradley (29) 52–21
74 March 7 @ Philadelphia 120–94 Walt Frazier (28) 53–21
75 March 10 Kansas City–Omaha 102–125 Bradley, Frazier (28) 54–21
76 March 11 @ Boston 107–122 Walt Frazier (22) 54–22
77 March 13 Phoenix 111–115 Frazier, Reed (28) 55–22
78 March 16 @ Los Angeles 109–98 Earl Monroe (23) 56–22
79 March 17 @ Golden State 117–108 Earl Monroe (21) 57–22
80 March 18 @ Portland 96–99 Earl Monroe (18) 57–23
81 March 21 Atlanta 98–93 Jackson, Monroe (18) 57–24
82 March 24 Boston 108–103 Earl Monroe (25) 57–25

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 30| Baltimore| W 95–83| Walt Frazier (25)| Frazier, DeBusschere (7)| Walt Frazier (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 1| Baltimore| W 123–103| Walt Frazier (29)| Dave DeBusschere (11)| Walt Frazier (13)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 4| @ Baltimore| W 103–96| Bill Bradley (23)| Dave DeBusschere (11)| Walt Frazier (7)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 3–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 6| @ Baltimore| L 89–97| Walt Frazier (17)| Willis Reed (8)| DeBusschere, Monroe (4)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 8| Baltimore| W 109–99| Earl Monroe (26)| Dave DeBusschere (15)| Walt Frazier (7)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 4–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 15| @ Boston| L 108–134| Walt Frazier (24)| Walt Frazier (7)| Walt Frazier (10)| Boston Garden
15,320| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 18| Boston| W 129–96| Walt Frazier (24)| Dave DeBusschere (8)| Walt Frazier (10)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 20| @ Boston| W 98–91| Walt Frazier (23)| DeBusschere, Reed (11)| Walt Frazier (5)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 22| Boston| W 117–110 (2OT)| Walt Frazier (37)| Dave DeBusschere (10)| Dean Meminger (7)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 25| @ Boston| L 97–98| Walt Frazier (21)| Dave DeBusschere (12)| Frazier, DeBusschere (5)| Boston Garden
15,320| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 27| Boston| L 100–110| Walt Frazier (29)| Dave DeBusschere (17)| Bradley, DeBusschere (5)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| April 29| @ Boston| W 94–78| Walt Frazier (25)| Walt Frazier (10)| Dave DeBusschere (8)| Boston Garden
15,320| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 1| @ Los Angeles| L 112–115| Dave DeBusschere (25)| Dave DeBusschere (16)| Walt Frazier (8)| The Forum
17,505| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 3| @ Los Angeles| W 99–95| Bill Bradley (26)| DeBusschere, Reed (9)| Bill Bradley (4)| The Forum
17,505| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| May 6| Los Angeles| W 87–83| Willis Reed (22)| Dave DeBusschere (11)| Earl Monroe (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 8| Los Angeles| W 103–98| Dave DeBusschere (33)| Dave DeBusschere (14)| Walt Frazier (8)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 10| @ Los Angeles| W 102–93| Earl Monroe (23)| Willis Reed (12)| Frazier, Bradley (5)| The Forum
17,505| 4–1|-

Player statistics

Season

PlayerGames PlayedGames StartedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
78 3181 681 286 570 461 1648
82 2998 575 169 301 367 1319
77 2827 532 194 787 259 1258
75 2370 496 172 245 288 1163
69 1876 334 92 590 126 760
71 2001 312 81 510 317 704
80 1393 245 154 344 94 644
80 1453 192 81 229 133 457
55 475 78 73 82 64 229
51 514 88 16 41 50 192
52 516 79 23 150 25 181
14 66 10 15 16 2 35
13 59 9 2 16 1 20
1 2 0 0 1 0 0
Knicks 82 19730 240.6 3627 44.2 1356 16.5 3882 47.3 2187 26.7 8610 105.0
Opponents 82 19730 240.6 3291 40.1 1471 17.9 4100 50.0 1714 20.9 8053 98.2

|- align="center"| || 51 || || 10.1 || 1.7 || || 0.3 || 0.8 || 1.0 || || || 3.8|- align="center"| || 55 || || 8.6 || 1.4 || || 1.3 || 1.5 || 1.2 || || || 4.2|- align="center"| || 82 || || 36.6 || 7.0 || || 2.1 || 3.7 || 4.5 || || || 16.1|- align="center"| || 77 || || 36.7 || 6.9 || || 2.5 || 10.2 || 3.4 || || || 16.3|- align="center"| || 78 || || 40.8 || 8.7 || || 3.7 || 7.3 || 5.9 || || || 21.1|- align="center"| || 52 || || 9.9 || 1.5 || || 0.4 || 2.9 || 0.5 || || || 3.5|- align="center"| || 80 || || 17.4 || 3.1 || || 1.9 || 4.3 || 1.2 || || || 8.1|- align="center"| || 71 || || 28.2 || 4.4 || || 1.1 || 7.2 || 4.5 || || || 9.9|- align="center"| || 80 || || 18.2 || 2.4 || || 1.0 || 2.9 || 1.7 || || || 5.7|- align="center"| || 75 || || 31.6 || 6.6 || || 2.3 || 3.3 || 3.8 || || || 15.5|- align="center"| || 1 || || 2.0 || 0.0 || || 0.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || || || 0.0|- align="center"| || 69 || || 27.2 || 4.8 || || 1.3 || 1.5 || 1.2 || || || 11.0|- align="center"| || 14 || || 4.6 || 0.7 || || 1.1 || 1.1 || 0.1 || || || 2.5|- align="center"| || 13 || || 4.5 || 0.7 || || 0.2 || 1.2 || 0.1 || || || 1.5|- align="center"| || 82 || || 240.6 || 44.2 || || 16.5 || 47.3 || 26.7 || || || 105.0|}

Opponents

Vs. Atlanta

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 6 288 275 101 651
Hawks 6 288 256 115 627

Vs. Baltimore

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 6 288 239 57 535
Bullets 6 288 242 84 568

Vs. Boston

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 8 384 340 160 840
Celtics 8 384 336 173 845

Vs. Buffalo

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 7 336 322 126 770
Braves 7 336 282 100 664

Vs. Chicago

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4 192 153 58 364
Bulls 4 192 134 89 357

Vs. Cleveland

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 6 288 250 98 598
Cavaliers 6 288 220 96 536

Vs. Detroit

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4 192 178 54 410
Pistons 4 192 164 63 391

Vs. Golden State

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4 197 176 68 420
Warriors 4 197 165 92 422

Vs. Houston

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 6
Rockets 6

Vs. Kansas City-Omaha

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4
Kings 4

Vs. Los Angeles

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4
Lakers 4

Vs. Milwaukee

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4
Bucks 4

Vs. Philadelphia

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 7 336 348 124 820
76ers 7 336 285 121 691

Vs. Phoenix

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4
Suns 4

Vs. Portland

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4
Trail Blazers 4

Vs. Seattle

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 4 192 410
SuperSonics 4 192 347
OpponentGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints Against
6
6
8
7
4
6
4
4
6
4
4
4
7
4
4
4
Opponents 82

Playoffs

PlayerGames PlayedGames StartedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
17 765 150 73 124 106 373
17 632 117 31 179 58 265
16 504 111 36 51 51 258
17 587 99 40 57 45 238
17 486 97 18 129 30 212
17 338 60 28 72 24 148
17 368 54 20 85 39 128
17 323 31 19 37 37 81
7 55 11 3 13 1 25
6 43 8 4 2 3 20
3 12 5 1 7 0 11
4 17 3 0 0 2 6
Knicks 17 822 48.4 746 48.0 273 17.2 756 47.9 396 24.2 1765 113.2
Opponents 17 1679 98.3

|- align="center"| || 4 || || 4.3 || 0.8 || || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.5 || || || 1.5|- align="center"| || 6 || || 7.2 || 1.3 || || 0.7 || 0.3 || 0.5 || || || 3.3|- align="center"| || 17 || || 34.5 || 5.8 || || 2.4 || 3.4 || 2.6 || || || 14.0|- align="center"| || 17 || || 37.2 || 6.9 || || 2.3 || 10.5 || 3.4 || || || 15.6|- align="center"| || 17 || || 45.0 || 8.8 || || 4.3 || 7.3 || 6.2 || || || 21.9|- align="center"| || 52 || || 7.9 || 1.6 || || 0.4 || 1.9 || 0.1 || || || 3.6|- align="center"| || 17 || || 19.9 || 3.5 || || 1.6 || 4.2 || 1.4 || || || 8.7|- align="center"| || 17 || || 21.6 || 3.2 || || 1.2 || 5.0 || 2.3 || || || 7.5|- align="center"| || 17 || || 19.0 || 1.8 || || 1.1 || 2.2 || 2.2 || || || 4.8|- align="center"| || 16 || || 31.5 || 6.9 || || 2.3 || 3.2 || 3.2 || || || 16.1|- align="center"| || 17 || || 28.6 || 5.7 || || 1.1 || 7.6 || 1.8 || || || 12.5|- align="center"| || 3 || || 4.0 || 1.7 || || 0.3 || 2.3 || 0.0 || || || 3.7|- align="center"| || 17 || || 48.4 || 48.0 || || 17.2 || 47.9 || 24.2 || || || 113.2|}

Opponents

1973 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Baltimore

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 5 240 223 73 519
Bullets 5 240 204 70 478

1973 NBA Eastern Conference Finals vs. Boston

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 7 346 308 127 743
Celtics 7 346 289 139 717

1973 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles

TeamGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints
Knicks 5 240 215 73 232 117 503
Lakers 5 240 197 110 264 87 484
OpponentGames PlayedMinutes PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsAssistsPoints Against
5
7
5
Opponents 17

Media

Local TV

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

Local radio

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

Awards and records

PlayerAward
Willis ReedNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
Walt FrazierAll-NBA Second Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
Dave DeBusschereNBA All-Defensive First Team

24th NBA All-Star Game

See 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.

PlayerTeamPositionMinutesPointsField GoalsFGAFree ThrowsFTAReboundsAssistsPersonal Fouls
Bill Bradley(Eastern Conference All-Stars)F1242500102
Dave DeBusschere(Eastern Conference All-Stars) F, Starter2594812721
Walt Frazier(Eastern Conference All-Stars)G, Starter261051500621

Transactions

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

Trades

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

References