The 1973-74 Denver Rockets, in their seventh ABA season, finished with a 37-47 record. Despite their struggles, they secured a playoff spot, finishing fourth in the Western Division. Larry Brown served as head coach, guiding a team led by Ralph Simpson, who was the Rockets’ standout performer and an ABA All-Star that season. Denver’s campaign saw them facing challenges in maintaining consistency, reflected in their sub-.500 record.
Entering the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Utah Stars in the Western Division Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, Denver was eliminated in five games, losing the series 4-1. This season marked the end of the “Rockets” name, as the team rebranded to the “Denver Nuggets” the following year, coinciding with the ABA-NBA merger talks. The 1973-74 season was pivotal for setting the stage for future changes and developments in the franchise.
- Regular Season Record: 37-48
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Rockets Roster and Stats for 1973-74 Season
POINTS
Ralph Simpson
18.7
REBOUNDS
Julius Keye
8.7
ASSISTS
Al Smith
8.1
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ralph Simpson | 76 | 18.7 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 18.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Warren Jabali | 49 | 15.9 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 47.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 85 | 14.5 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Jones | 43 | 13.6 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Long | 83 | 12.6 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Byron Beck | 83 | 11.9 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Green | 80 | 11.5 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Smith | 77 | 10.9 | 3.1 | 8.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 34.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marv Roberts | 35 | 7.5 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pat McFarland | 68 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 38.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Claude Terry | 61 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 44.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julius Keye | 80 | 4.4 | 8.7 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Rockets 1973-74 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1973-74 season for the Denver Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 135-111 | |
| Oct 12, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 111-100 | |
| Oct 13, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | W 125-100 | |
| Oct 17, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 112-97 | |
| Oct 19, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 113-100 | |
| Oct 24, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 98-89 | |
| Oct 26, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 109-104 | |
| Oct 27, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 90-87 | |
| Oct 31, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 107-104 | |
| Nov 02, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-103 | |
| Nov 03, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 95-72 | |
| Nov 06, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 110-104 | |
| Nov 10, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 88-78 | |
| Nov 13, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 127-109 | |
| Nov 16, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 130-126 | |
| Nov 17, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 112-102 | |
| Nov 20, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 113-107 | |
| Nov 23, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 128-86 | |
| Nov 24, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | W 127-122 | |
| Nov 25, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | L 87-86 | |
| Nov 27, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 103-91 | |
| Nov 29, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 127-111 | |
| Nov 30, 1973 | @ New York Nets | L 123-102 | |
| Dec 01, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 107-86 | |
| Dec 05, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 138-108 | |
| Dec 07, 1973 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-94 | |
| Dec 08, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 121-111 | |
| Dec 12, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 123-112 | |
| Dec 15, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 120-114 | |
| Dec 19, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 118-113 | |
| Dec 21, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | W 92-83 | |
| Dec 22, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 113-108 | |
| Dec 26, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 118-113 | |
| Dec 27, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 29, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-108 | |
| Jan 03, 1974 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 100-97 | |
| Jan 04, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 109-92 | |
| Jan 05, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 146-122 | |
| Jan 07, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 116-108 | |
| Jan 09, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 119-103 | |
| Jan 11, 1974 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 122-95 | |
| Jan 12, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | L 117-94 | |
| Jan 16, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 105-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 19, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 120-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-99 | |
| Jan 26, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 119-117 | |
| Jan 27, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-87 | |
| Feb 02, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 138-120 | |
| Feb 03, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 111-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 82-79 | |
| Feb 07, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Feb 08, 1974 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 106-105 | |
| Feb 09, 1974 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-97 | |
| Feb 10, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 99-90 | |
| Feb 12, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 125-112 | |
| Feb 13, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 119-115 | |
| Feb 15, 1974 | @ Memphis Tams | L 102-98 | |
| Feb 16, 1974 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 102-89 | |
| Feb 17, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 93-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 124-117 | |
| Feb 21, 1974 | @ Memphis Tams | L 111-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1974 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 121-117 | |
| Feb 24, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 103-91 | |
| Feb 27, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 118-114 | |
| Feb 28, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 127-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 113-104 | |
| Mar 03, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 139-112 | |
| Mar 05, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 135-101 | |
| Mar 07, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-100 | |
| Mar 08, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | L 132-111 | |
| Mar 09, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 100-96 | |
| Mar 10, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-99 | |
| Mar 13, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 111-108 | |
| Mar 15, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 112-93 | |
| Mar 16, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | L 107-101 | |
| Mar 17, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 101-90 | |
| Mar 20, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 111-107 | |
| Mar 22, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 105-103 | |
| Mar 23, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | W 112-100 | |
| Mar 24, 1974 | @ Denver Rockets | L 109-107 | |
| Mar 27, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 102-96 | |
| Mar 28, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 96-92 | |
| Mar 29, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 131-111 |