The 1970-71 Denver Rockets, part of the American Basketball Association (ABA), finished the season with a record of 30-54, placing them fourth in the Western Division. Despite a challenging season, the Rockets were led by standout player Spencer Haywood, who maintained impressive performance levels before departing for the NBA. Haywood’s contribution was crucial, although it was his last season with the team.
During the season, the Rockets struggled defensively, which contributed to their losing record. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking a disappointing end to their campaign. Their performance underscored the need for restructuring and improvement in both offensive and defensive strategies. The 1970-71 season was a transitional year for the Rockets, setting the stage for future changes in team dynamics and strategy.
- Regular Season Record: 30-55
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Rockets Roster and Stats for 1970-71 Season
POINTS
Larry Cannon
26.5
REBOUNDS
Julius Keye
17.6
ASSISTS
Larry Brown
3.1
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Cannon | 81 | 26.5 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Sidle | 54 | 16.1 | 9.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Art Becker | 30 | 15.1 | 5.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julius Keye | 84 | 14.8 | 17.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Simpson | 82 | 14.2 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 36.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julian Hammond | 84 | 13.8 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Byron Beck | 85 | 13.5 | 10.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Barnhill | 25 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Chapman | 47 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Brown | 35 | 8.4 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 45.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lonnie Wright | 41 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Workman | 40 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dan Hester | 35 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 62.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Wilson | 39 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 42.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Rockets 1970-71 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1970-71 season for the Denver Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1970 | @ Utah Stars | L 134-99 | |
| Oct 16, 1970 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 115-103 | |
| Oct 17, 1970 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 109-103 | |
| Oct 21, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 133-115 | |
| Oct 23, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 127-123 | |
| Oct 25, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 122-116 | |
| Oct 27, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 102-94 | |
| Oct 31, 1970 | @ Utah Stars | L 122-113 | |
| Nov 01, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 117-111 | |
| Nov 06, 1970 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 131-114 | |
| Nov 07, 1970 | @ Virginia Squires | L 138-133 | |
| Nov 08, 1970 | @ New York Nets | L 114-104 | |
| Nov 10, 1970 | @ The Floridians | W 119-116 | |
| Nov 15, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-107 | |
| Nov 18, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 119-114 | |
| Nov 20, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 121-103 | |
| Nov 22, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 141-121 | |
| Nov 24, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 115-102 | |
| Nov 25, 1970 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 153-138 | |
| Nov 26, 1970 | @ Pittsburgh Condors | W 130-124 | |
| Nov 29, 1970 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 130-107 | |
| Nov 30, 1970 | @ Memphis Pros | W 103-93 | |
| Dec 03, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 124-111 | |
| Dec 04, 1970 | @ Texas Chaparrals | L 141-134 | |
| Dec 06, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 140-125 | |
| Dec 09, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 113-109 | |
| Dec 10, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 131-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1970 | @ Memphis Pros | L 102-100 | |
| Dec 15, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 126-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 108-99 | |
| Dec 18, 1970 | @ Pittsburgh Condors | L 143-121 | |
| Dec 19, 1970 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 128-124 | |
| Dec 22, 1970 | @ Memphis Pros | W 104-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 109-102 | |
| Dec 26, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 122-120 | |
| Dec 29, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1970 | @ Denver Rockets | W 136-132 | |
| Jan 03, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 129-124 | |
| Jan 05, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-99 | |
| Jan 07, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 131-116 | |
| Jan 08, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | L 132-126 | |
| Jan 10, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 124-118 | |
| Jan 12, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 120-112 | |
| Jan 15, 1971 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 125-114 | |
| Jan 16, 1971 | @ Virginia Squires | L 141-131 | |
| Jan 17, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 129-123 | |
| Jan 19, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | L 148-127 | |
| Jan 20, 1971 | @ Memphis Pros | L 120-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 119-116 | |
| Jan 27, 1971 | @ Utah Stars | L 111-105 | |
| Jan 29, 1971 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 127-123 | |
| Jan 30, 1971 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 114-109 | |
| Jan 31, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 124-104 | |
| Feb 03, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 127-119 | |
| Feb 05, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 132-120 | |
| Feb 06, 1971 | @ Pittsburgh Condors | W 115-114 | |
| Feb 07, 1971 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 133-131 | |
| Feb 10, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 123-106 | |
| Feb 12, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 142-138 | |
| Feb 14, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 118-117 | |
| Feb 16, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 125-120 | |
| Feb 21, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 120-107 | |
| Feb 23, 1971 | @ Utah Stars | L 133-103 | |
| Feb 24, 1971 | @ The Floridians | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 26, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | W 142-120 | |
| Feb 27, 1971 | @ New York Nets | L 122-115 | |
| Feb 28, 1971 | @ Memphis Pros | W 118-111 | |
| Mar 03, 1971 | @ Utah Stars | L 139-106 | |
| Mar 05, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | L 158-153 | |
| Mar 07, 1971 | @ The Floridians | W 142-141 | |
| Mar 09, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | W 146-127 | |
| Mar 10, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 116-113 | |
| Mar 12, 1971 | @ New York Nets | L 132-127 | |
| Mar 14, 1971 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 131-121 | |
| Mar 16, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 127-118 | |
| Mar 18, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 124-123 | |
| Mar 23, 1971 | @ Utah Stars | L 124-117 | |
| Mar 24, 1971 | @ Memphis Pros | L 132-118 | |
| Mar 25, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | W 129-110 | |
| Mar 27, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 120-118 | |
| Mar 28, 1971 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 146-126 | |
| Mar 30, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 129-119 | |
| Mar 31, 1971 | @ Denver Rockets | L 132-121 | |
| Apr 01, 1971 | @ Texas Chaparrals | L 115-109 |