The 1971-72 season was the fifth in the history of the Seattle SuperSonics. Under the guidance of head coach Lenny Wilkens, the team sought to improve their standing in the NBA’s Western Conference. Despite Wilkens’ dual role as both coach and player, the team faced challenges in finding consistent success throughout the season.
The SuperSonics ended the regular season with a 47-35 record, which marked a significant improvement from their previous campaigns. This performance allowed them to secure a playoff berth as the fourth seed in the Western Conference, reflecting their growth and competitiveness in the league. Key players like Spencer Haywood, who averaged 26.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, played a crucial role in the team’s improved record and playoff contention. Haywood’s performance was instrumental, establishing him as one of the league’s top forwards.
Despite their strong regular-season finish, the Seattle SuperSonics faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks, featuring stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, proved to be a formidable opponent. The SuperSonics were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals, losing the series 4-1 to Milwaukee. While their playoff run was short-lived, the 1971-72 season laid the groundwork for future success and marked a pivotal point in the franchise’s early history.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1971-72 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Spencer Haywood | 73 | 26.2 | 12.7 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lenny Wilkens | 80 | 18.0 | 4.2 | 9.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dick Snyder | 73 | 16.6 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Zaid Abdul-Aziz | 58 | 13.8 | 11.3 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Don Kojis | 73 | 11.4 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lee Winfield | 81 | 10.6 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim McDaniels | 12 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gar Heard | 58 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Barry Clemens | 82 | 7.1 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bob Rule | 16 | 7.1 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pete Cross | 74 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Fred Brown | 33 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jake Ford | 26 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Seattle SuperSonics 1971-72 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1971-72 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 123-90 | |
| Oct 15, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-88 | |
| Oct 16, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-91 | |
| Oct 19, 1971 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 101-100 | |
| Oct 20, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-93 | |
| Oct 22, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-91 | |
| Oct 24, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-101 | |
| Oct 28, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-96 | |
| Oct 30, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-106 | |
| Nov 04, 1971 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 98-96 | |
| Nov 05, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 07, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-102 | |
| Nov 11, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-91 | |
| Nov 12, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-107 | |
| Nov 13, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-112 | |
| Nov 16, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 95-87 | |
| Nov 17, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-104 | |
| Nov 19, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-107 | |
| Nov 20, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-100 | |
| Nov 21, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-117 | |
| Nov 25, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 139-115 | |
| Nov 27, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-102 | |
| Nov 28, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 138-121 | |
| Nov 30, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-109 | |
| Dec 01, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-98 | |
| Dec 03, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 117-106 | |
| Dec 04, 1971 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 100-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1971 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-91 | |
| Dec 07, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-83 | |
| Dec 10, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-94 | |
| Dec 12, 1971 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-98 | |
| Dec 14, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 103-86 | |
| Dec 15, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 17, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-113 | |
| Dec 18, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-105 | |
| Dec 19, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-127 | |
| Dec 22, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-104 | |
| Dec 25, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-86 | |
| Dec 26, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-106 | |
| Jan 01, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-83 | |
| Jan 04, 1972 | @ Houston Rockets | L 119-110 | |
| Jan 05, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-116 | |
| Jan 07, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-119 | |
| Jan 11, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 141-126 | |
| Jan 13, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-107 | |
| Jan 15, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-110 | |
| Jan 21, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-113 | |
| Jan 23, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-99 | |
| Jan 25, 1972 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 123-91 | |
| Jan 26, 1972 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 131-119 | |
| Jan 28, 1972 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 104-93 | |
| Jan 29, 1972 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-106 | |
| Feb 01, 1972 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 121-103 | |
| Feb 02, 1972 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-88 | |
| Feb 04, 1972 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-112 | |
| Feb 06, 1972 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-123 | |
| Feb 08, 1972 | @ Houston Rockets | W 127-119 | |
| Feb 10, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-96 | |
| Feb 12, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-97 | |
| Feb 13, 1972 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-117 | |
| Feb 16, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-112 | |
| Feb 18, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 20, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-105 | |
| Feb 22, 1972 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-104 | |
| Feb 23, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-96 | |
| Feb 26, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-106 | |
| Feb 29, 1972 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 118-117 | |
| Mar 01, 1972 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-102 | |
| Mar 03, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-103 | |
| Mar 04, 1972 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-96 | |
| Mar 05, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-110 | |
| Mar 07, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-98 | |
| Mar 09, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-123 | |
| Mar 12, 1972 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-99 | |
| Mar 14, 1972 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 115-111 | |
| Mar 15, 1972 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 134-96 | |
| Mar 17, 1972 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 112-107 | |
| Mar 19, 1972 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-100 | |
| Mar 25, 1972 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-99 | |
| Mar 26, 1972 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-98 |