The 1974-75 Denver Nuggets had an impressive season in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Under the guidance of head coach Larry Brown, the team finished with a league-best record of 65-19. This dominant performance secured them the top seed in the Western Division and demonstrated their prowess on both ends of the court.
Led by standout players such as David Thompson and Dan Issel, the Nuggets excelled in scoring, averaging 118.7 points per game. Their offensive firepower was complemented by a solid defense, which allowed just 110.3 points per game. Despite their regular-season success, the Nuggets fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Indiana Pacers in a tightly contested Western Division Finals.
The 1974-75 season remains one of the most successful in the franchise’s history, showcasing the team’s potential and laying the groundwork for future success in the NBA after the ABA-NBA merger. Their performance that season is still celebrated by Nuggets fans and serves as a benchmark for the team’s excellence.
- Regular Season Record: 65-19
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Western Conference Finals: 3-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1974-75 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ralph Simpson | 82 | 20.6 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 13 | 19.8 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| Mack Calvin | 74 | 19.5 | 2.8 | 7.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 27.3 | 13 | 17.9 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 37.5 |
| Mike Green | 81 | 17.4 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 13 | 21.3 | 9.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Jones | 84 | 14.8 | 8.2 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 13 | 13.0 | 8.5 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 84 | 13.0 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 13 | 14.8 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Byron Beck | 84 | 10.1 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 12.5 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Fatty Taylor | 76 | 8.4 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 13 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Claude Terry | 69 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 43.5 | 12 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.0 |
| Pat McFarland | 70 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 15.4 | 5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | 84 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 12 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Don Washington | 50 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1975 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Utah Stars
During the 1975 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Indiana Pacers in the Western Division Finals, which was the second round. The Nuggets, led by stars like Ralph Simpson and Bobby Jones, put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to the Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite the loss, Denver's performance was a testament to their competitive edge and set the stage for future success in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 06, 1975 | vs. Utah Stars | W 122-107 | |
| Apr 07, 1975 | vs. Utah Stars | W 126-120 | |
| Apr 09, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | L 122-108 | |
| Apr 11, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | L 132-110 | |
| Apr 12, 1975 | vs. Utah Stars | W 130-119 | |
| Apr 14, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | W 115-113 |
1975 Conference Championship vs. Indiana Pacers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 131-128 | |
| Apr 22, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 131-124 | |
| Apr 24, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 118-112 | |
| Apr 25, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 126-109 | |
| Apr 27, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 109-90 | |
| Apr 30, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 104-99 | |
| May 03, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 104-96 |
Denver Nuggets 1974-75 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1974-75 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1974 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 117-99 | |
| Oct 19, 1974 | vs. New York Nets | W 111-103 | |
| Oct 23, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 120-106 | |
| Oct 26, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 137-101 | |
| Oct 29, 1974 | vs. New York Nets | W 126-115 | |
| Oct 30, 1974 | @ Memphis Sounds | W 105-95 | |
| Nov 01, 1974 | vs. Memphis Sounds | W 128-112 | |
| Nov 02, 1974 | vs. Spirits of St. Louis | W 138-106 | |
| Nov 05, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 145-101 | |
| Nov 06, 1974 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 136-116 | |
| Nov 08, 1974 | @ Spirits of St. Louis | L 132-121 | |
| Nov 09, 1974 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 130-108 | |
| Nov 10, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 125-101 | |
| Nov 13, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 132-108 | |
| Nov 15, 1974 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-114 | |
| Nov 17, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 114-91 | |
| Nov 20, 1974 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 117-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | W 115-110 | |
| Nov 23, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | W 122-110 | |
| Nov 24, 1974 | @ New York Nets | L 99-90 | |
| Nov 26, 1974 | @ Spirits of St. Louis | W 134-124 | |
| Nov 27, 1974 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 112-106 | |
| Nov 29, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 139-124 | |
| Nov 30, 1974 | vs. Spirits of St. Louis | W 128-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 114-100 | |
| Dec 05, 1974 | @ Utah Stars | W 89-85 | |
| Dec 07, 1974 | vs. Memphis Sounds | W 122-108 | |
| Dec 11, 1974 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-114 | |
| Dec 14, 1974 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 121-114 | |
| Dec 19, 1974 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 125-107 | |
| Dec 20, 1974 | @ Virginia Squires | W 143-123 | |
| Dec 21, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 119-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1974 | vs. Utah Stars | W 107-102 | |
| Dec 27, 1974 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 115-103 | |
| Dec 28, 1974 | vs. Spirits of St. Louis | W 128-121 | |
| Dec 29, 1974 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-121 | |
| Jan 03, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-111 | |
| Jan 05, 1975 | vs. Utah Stars | W 110-93 | |
| Jan 08, 1975 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 130-128 | |
| Jan 10, 1975 | @ Virginia Squires | W 109-106 | |
| Jan 11, 1975 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 130-108 | |
| Jan 14, 1975 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 118-99 | |
| Jan 15, 1975 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | L 121-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 18, 1975 | vs. Memphis Sounds | W 126-104 | |
| Jan 19, 1975 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 114-101 | |
| Jan 22, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 120-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1975 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 127-117 | |
| Jan 24, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | L 119-116 | |
| Jan 25, 1975 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 119-99 | |
| Jan 30, 1975 | @ Spirits of St. Louis | W 123-111 | |
| Jan 31, 1975 | @ New York Nets | L 114-101 | |
| Feb 01, 1975 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 128-111 | |
| Feb 02, 1975 | @ Memphis Sounds | L 120-103 | |
| Feb 05, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 123-113 | |
| Feb 07, 1975 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-96 | |
| Feb 08, 1975 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 120-115 | |
| Feb 12, 1975 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 115-109 | |
| Feb 13, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | W 116-112 | |
| Feb 15, 1975 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1975 | vs. New York Nets | W 117-115 | |
| Feb 19, 1975 | @ Utah Stars | L 99-80 | |
| Feb 23, 1975 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1975 | vs. New York Nets | W 148-114 | |
| Feb 28, 1975 | @ Memphis Sounds | L 109-105 | |
| Mar 01, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 124-109 | |
| Mar 02, 1975 | @ San Diego Conquistadors | W 133-117 | |
| Mar 04, 1975 | vs. Memphis Sounds | W 133-116 | |
| Mar 06, 1975 | @ Spirits of St. Louis | W 119-107 | |
| Mar 07, 1975 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 100-95 | |
| Mar 08, 1975 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 156-144 | |
| Mar 11, 1975 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 137-123 | |
| Mar 12, 1975 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 14, 1975 | @ New York Nets | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1975 | vs. Kentucky Colonels | W 128-125 | |
| Mar 19, 1975 | vs. Virginia Squires | W 124-108 | |
| Mar 22, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-105 | |
| Mar 23, 1975 | @ New York Nets | W 114-111 | |
| Mar 25, 1975 | @ Memphis Sounds | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 26, 1975 | vs. Utah Stars | W 121-109 | |
| Mar 29, 1975 | vs. Spirits of St. Louis | W 140-130 | |
| Mar 30, 1975 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 128-121 | |
| Apr 01, 1975 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 126-115 | |
| Apr 03, 1975 | vs. San Diego Conquistadors | W 148-121 |