The 1972-73 season was a challenging one for the Denver Rockets in the American Basketball Association (ABA). The team, coached by Alex Hannum, struggled to find consistent success, finishing with a record of 47-37. Despite the ups and downs, the Rockets managed to secure a spot in the playoffs, showcasing their resilience and determination throughout the season.
Key players like Ralph Simpson and Larry Jones provided offensive firepower, with Simpson averaging over 20 points per game. However, the Rockets faced a tough playoff run and were eliminated in the Western Division Semifinals by the Indiana Pacers. The season was marked by competitive play but ultimately fell short of their championship aspirations. This season laid the groundwork for future franchise changes, eventually leading to the team’s transformation into the Denver Nuggets as they joined the NBA in 1976.
- Regular Season Record: 47-37
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Denver Rockets Roster and Stats for 1972-73 Season
POINTS
Ralph Simpson
23.3
REBOUNDS
Julius Keye
10.7
ASSISTS
Warren Jabali
5.7
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ralph Simpson | 82 | 23.3 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.4 | 5 | 26.4 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Warren Jabali | 83 | 16.9 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 37.4 | 5 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 84 | 16.2 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 20.2 | 13.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Byron Beck | 78 | 14.3 | 7.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 4 | 17.3 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marv Roberts | 78 | 12.4 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 2 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Smith | 84 | 11.0 | 2.6 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.4 | 5 | 9.6 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Long | 57 | 9.1 | 5.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julius Keye | 84 | 5.5 | 10.7 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 60.0 | 5 | 9.8 | 13.6 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| Frank Card | 4 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Trapp | 25 | 5.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Claude Terry | 69 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 47.6 | 4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Bustion | 48 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Rockets in the 1973 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Indiana Pacers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 114-91 | |
| Apr 01, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 106-93 | |
| Apr 03, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Apr 05, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 97-95 | |
| Apr 07, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 121-107 |
Denver Rockets 1972-73 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1972-73 season for the Denver Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1972 | @ Utah Stars | L 115-104 | |
| Oct 13, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 109-100 | |
| Oct 14, 1972 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 96-90 | |
| Oct 18, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 115-109 | |
| Oct 20, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-99 | |
| Oct 25, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | W 118-112 | |
| Oct 26, 1972 | @ Virginia Squires | L 2-0 | |
| Oct 27, 1972 | @ New York Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Oct 28, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | W 119-106 | |
| Oct 31, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-103 | |
| Nov 01, 1972 | @ Utah Stars | L 122-113 | |
| Nov 03, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 107-94 | |
| Nov 05, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 137-107 | |
| Nov 08, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | W 116-111 | |
| Nov 11, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 114-111 | |
| Nov 14, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 118-108 | |
| Nov 18, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 111-103 | |
| Nov 19, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 122-116 | |
| Nov 21, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 24, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 130-111 | |
| Nov 29, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | W 114-113 | |
| Nov 30, 1972 | @ Utah Stars | L 111-95 | |
| Dec 02, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 127-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 110-104 | |
| Dec 07, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 102-89 | |
| Dec 08, 1972 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 107-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1972 | @ Virginia Squires | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 12, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 110-103 | |
| Dec 14, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 103-99 | |
| Dec 15, 1972 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 104-99 | |
| Dec 16, 1972 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 117-110 | |
| Dec 17, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 113-104 | |
| Dec 19, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 137-115 | |
| Dec 21, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-96 | |
| Dec 22, 1972 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 128-116 | |
| Dec 26, 1972 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 103-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 115-113 | |
| Dec 30, 1972 | @ Denver Rockets | L 136-98 | |
| Jan 03, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 04, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 125-111 | |
| Jan 07, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 113-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1973 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 113-109 | |
| Jan 10, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-105 | |
| Jan 11, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 113-109 | |
| Jan 12, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 128-119 | |
| Jan 16, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 130-113 | |
| Jan 17, 1973 | @ New York Nets | L 102-92 | |
| Jan 18, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 116-110 | |
| Jan 19, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 117-113 | |
| Jan 21, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 118-111 | |
| Jan 23, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 24, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | W 98-87 | |
| Jan 26, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | L 114-107 | |
| Jan 28, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 106-77 | |
| Jan 31, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 134-106 | |
| Feb 01, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 97-92 | |
| Feb 02, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | L 113-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | W 104-99 | |
| Feb 11, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 117-108 | |
| Feb 12, 1973 | @ Utah Stars | L 119-107 | |
| Feb 14, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 111-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 127-121 | |
| Feb 18, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 109-90 | |
| Feb 21, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-109 | |
| Feb 23, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | W 129-103 | |
| Feb 24, 1973 | @ Carolina Cougars | W 115-104 | |
| Feb 25, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 87-86 | |
| Feb 28, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 104-96 | |
| Mar 02, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 03, 1973 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 124-106 | |
| Mar 04, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 133-125 | |
| Mar 07, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-111 | |
| Mar 09, 1973 | @ New York Nets | W 120-105 | |
| Mar 10, 1973 | @ Virginia Squires | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 11, 1973 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 119-82 | |
| Mar 13, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 114-96 | |
| Mar 17, 1973 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 124-107 | |
| Mar 18, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 122-105 | |
| Mar 20, 1973 | @ Memphis Tams | W 113-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1973 | @ New York Nets | W 116-101 | |
| Mar 23, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 101-92 | |
| Mar 24, 1973 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 116-94 | |
| Mar 25, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | L 114-106 | |
| Mar 27, 1973 | @ Denver Rockets | W 115-109 |