Season of National Basketball Association team the New York Knicks
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1972–73 New York Knicks season was the 27th season of NBA basketball in New York City. The Knicks captured their second NBA title as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, four games to one, which was exactly the same count the Knicks lost to the Lakers a year earlier . To date this is the last Knicks' championship. This is also the Knicks' last season with a Finals appearance until 1993–94 , 21 years later.
Besides being the last Knicks team to win a championship, the team is also remembered for the deep roster of future Hall of Fame players, which included Dave DeBusschere , Walt "Clyde" Frazier , Jerry Lucas , Earl "The Pearl" Monroe , Willis Reed , Future U.S. Senator Bill Bradley , and future Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson . In fact, as of 2023, the 1972-73 Knicks are the last championship team to have their five starters all in the Hall.
Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.
1972–73 New York Knicks roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From SG 12 Barnett, Dick 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1936–10–02 Tennessee State PG 17 Bibby, Henry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949–11–24 UCLA SF 24 Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943–07–28 Princeton PF 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–10–16 Detroit Mercy PG 10 Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945–03–29 Southern Illinois C 40 Gianelli, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1950–06–10 Pacific PF 18 Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945–09–17 North Dakota PF 32 Lucas, Jerry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1940–03–30 Ohio State SG 7 Meminger, Dean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1948–05–13 Marquette SG 15 Monroe, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1944–11–21 Winston-Salem State C 23 Rackley, Luther 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1946–06–11 Xavier C 19 Reed, Willis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1942–06–25 Grambling State C 6 Riker, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1950–02–28 South Carolina PF 43 Wingo, Harthorne 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947–09–09 Friendship College
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: 1973–05–10
1972–73 Pre Season Game Log Game Date Time Opponent Score Location Attendance Record
All times are EASTERN time
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1972–73 NBA Records Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA Atlanta — 3–4 1–5 5–1 2–2 3–4 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–3 6–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 Baltimore 4–3 — 1–5 5–1 0–4 8–0 2–2 3–1 5–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–3 5–1 2–2 4–0 4–0 Boston 5–1 5–1 — 7–0 3–1 5–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 4–4 7–0 4–0 4–0 4–0 Buffalo 1–5 1–5 0–7 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–6 7–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 Chicago 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 — 3–1 3–4 3–3 4–0 5–2 1–5 2–4 3–1 4–0 4–2 5–1 5–1 Cleveland 4–3 0–8 1–5 5–1 1–3 — 1–3 1–3 4–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–6 6–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 Detroit 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 4–3 3–1 — 2–4 1–3 3–3 1–5 2–5 1–3 3–1 4–2 6–0 2–4 Golden State 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–3 3–1 4–2 — 3–1 4–2 3–4 1–5 2–2 4–0 2–4 5–1 4–3 Houston 4–4 2–5 1–5 5–1 0–4 3–4 3–1 1–3 — 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–5 5–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–5 2–2 3–3 2–4 4–0 — 1–5 1–6 0–4 3–1 3–3 4–2 4–2 Los Angeles 1–3 3–1 0–4 4–0 5–1 3–1 5–1 4–3 3–1 5–1 — 3–3 2–2 4–0 6–1 6–0 6–0 Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 3–1 5–2 5–1 3–1 6–1 3–3 — 2–2 3–1 5–1 5–1 5–1 New York 3–3 3–3 4–4 6–1 1–3 6–0 3–1 2–2 5–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 — 6–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 Philadelphia 0–6 1–5 0–7 1–7 0–4 0–6 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–6 — 0–4 1–3 1–3 Phoenix 1–3 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–4 4–2 2–2 3–3 1–6 1–5 1–3 4–0 — 5–2 4–2 Portland 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 3–1 0–6 1–5 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 1–3 3–1 2–5 — 3–4 Seattle 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 1–3 4–2 3–4 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 0–4 3–1 2–4 4–3 —
1972–73 Game log # Date Opponent Score High points Record 1 October 10 Seattle 89–113 Bill Bradley (26) 1–0 2 October 14 Los Angeles 100–125 Bill Bradley (29) 2–0 3 October 15 @ Atlanta 101–109 Bradley, DeBusschere (21) 2–1 4 October 17 Houston 95–103 Jerry Lucas (22) 3–1 5 October 20 @ Cleveland 92–89 Walt Frazier (33) 4–1 6 October 21 Philadelphia 88–111 Walt Frazier (21) 5–1 7 October 24 Cleveland 90–123 Walt Frazier (22) 6–1 8 October 27 @ Baltimore 92–88 Walt Frazier (25) 7–1 9 October 28 Baltimore 90–94 Earl Monroe (21) 8–1 10 November 1 @ Kansas City–Omaha 122–85 Walt Frazier (22) 9–1 11 November 3 @ Seattle 105–80 Bradley, Monroe (18) 10–1 12 November 4 @ Golden State 104–127 Bill Bradley (23) 10–2 13 November 6 @ Portland 111–95 Bill Bradley (24) 11–2 14 November 9 Atlanta 99–101 Walt Frazier (35) 12–2 15 November 10 @ Philadelphia 125–106 Dave DeBusschere (24) 13–2 16 November 11 Golden State 103–102 (OT) Dave DeBusschere (27) 13–3 17 November 14 Phoenix 97–103 Walt Frazier (32) 14–3 18 November 16 Houston 100–119 Earl Monroe (24) 15–3 19 November 18 Milwaukee 86–87 Earl Monroe (22) 16–3 20 November 21 Portland 80–108 Dave DeBusschere (25) 17–3 21 November 24 @ Boston 97–114 Walt Frazier (25) 17–4 22 November 25 Boston 94–97 Walt Frazier (31) 18–4 23 November 28 Cleveland 84–107 Walt Frazier (19) 19–4 24 November 29 @ Philadelphia 139–91 Bill Bradley (26) 20–4 25 December 1 @ Milwaukee 74–100 Earl Monroe (17) 20–5 26 December 2 Buffalo 94–119 Earl Monroe (24) 21–5 27 December 5 Kansas City–Omaha 103–125 Dave DeBusschere (28) 22–5 28 December 8 @ Buffalo 89–91 Walt Frazier (26) 22–6 29 December 9 Philadelphia 109–120 Bradley, Frazier (26) 23–6 30 December 12 Atlanta 93–114 Walt Frazier (29) 24–6 31 December 13 @ Atlanta 120–121 Dave DeBusschere (21) 24–7 32 December 15 @ Chicago 86–90 Walt Frazier (20) 24–8 33 December 16 Chicago 83–97 Dave DeBusschere (27) 25–8 34 December 19 @ Phoenix 84–117 Earl Monroe (17) 25–9 35 December 20 N Houston 124–102 DeBusschere, Reed (26) 26–9 36 December 22 @ Cleveland 98–87 Dave DeBusschere (24) 27–9 37 December 25 Detroit 110–113 Bill Bradley (29) 28–9 38 December 26 @ Boston 106–115 Walt Frazier (29) 28–10 39 December 28 Buffalo 86–107 Walt Frazier (19) 29–10 40 December 29 @ Detroit 99–94 Walt Frazier (24) 30–10 41 December 30 Baltimore 98–100 Earl Monroe (26) 31–10 42 January 2 Milwaukee 92–102 Bill Bradley (22) 32–10 43 January 5 @ Buffalo 129–106 Bill Bradley (38) 33–10 44 January 6 Houston 106–116 Walt Frazier (33) 34–10 45 January 9 @ Kansas City–Omaha 116–115 (OT) DeBusschere, Monroe (24) 35–10 46 January 11 @ Atlanta 122–107 Walt Frazier (31) 36–10 47 January 12 @ Houston 104–103 Earl Monroe (25) 37–10 48 January 14 @ Seattle 86–84 Willis Reed (22) 38–10 49 January 16 @ Phoenix 102–101 Dave DeBusschere (30) 39–10 50 January 19 @ Los Angeles 88–95 Walt Frazier (24) 39–11 51 January 21 @ Houston 103–107 Walt Frazier (24) 39–12 52 January 25 Buffalo 92–99 Walt Frazier (23) 40–12 53 January 27 Boston 108–111 Walt Frazier (25) 41–12 54 January 28 @ Boston 96–93 Walt Frazier (23) 42–12 55 January 29 Golden State 84–97 DeBusschere, Frazier (27) 43–12 56 January 31 @ Detroit 91–94 Walt Frazier (20) 43–13 57 February 2 @ Baltimore 77–89 Dave DeBusschere (22) 43–14 58 February 3 Cleveland 90–95 Dave DeBusschere (21) 44–14 59 February 4 @ Cleveland 114–97 Walt Frazier (28) 45–14 60 February 6 Los Angeles 95–90 Phil Jackson (15) 45–15 61 February 10 Detroit 93–107 Earl Monroe (22) 46–15 62 February 14 Chicago 100–98 Walt Frazier (29) 46–16 63 February 16 @ Buffalo 102–98 Walt Frazier (34) 47–16 64 February 17 Philadelphia 89–107 Earl Monroe (25) 48–16 65 February 18 @ Philadelphia 98–114 Walt Frazier (25) 48–17 66 February 20 Portland 106–110 Jerry Lucas (27) 49–17 67 February 23 @ Chicago 83–84 Jerry Lucas (22) 49–18 68 February 24 Buffalo 97–125 Walt Frazier (25) 50–18 69 February 27 Boston 91–123 Frazier, Jackson (20) 51–18 70 March 1 @ Milwaukee 100–114 Phil Jackson (22) 51–19 71 March 3 Baltimore 97–75 Walt Frazier (22) 51–20 72 March 4 N Baltimore 97–106 Walt Frazier (26) 51–21 73 March 6 Seattle 94–106 Bill Bradley (29) 52–21 74 March 7 @ Philadelphia 120–94 Walt Frazier (28) 53–21 75 March 10 Kansas City–Omaha 102–125 Bradley, Frazier (28) 54–21 76 March 11 @ Boston 107–122 Walt Frazier (22) 54–22 77 March 13 Phoenix 111–115 Frazier, Reed (28) 55–22 78 March 16 @ Los Angeles 109–98 Earl Monroe (23) 56–22 79 March 17 @ Golden State 117–108 Earl Monroe (21) 57–22 80 March 18 @ Portland 96–99 Earl Monroe (18) 57–23 81 March 21 Atlanta 98–93 Jackson, Monroe (18) 57–24 82 March 24 Boston 108–103 Earl Monroe (25) 57–25
1973 playoff game log Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 15 @ Boston L 108–134 Walt Frazier (24) Walt Frazier (7) Walt Frazier (10) Boston Garden 15,320 0–1 2 April 18 Boston W 129–96 Walt Frazier (24) Dave DeBusschere (8) Walt Frazier (10) Madison Square Garden 19,694 1–1 3 April 20 @ Boston W 98–91 Walt Frazier (23) DeBusschere , Reed (11) Walt Frazier (5) Boston Garden 15,320 2–1 4 April 22 Boston W 117–110 (2OT) Walt Frazier (37) Dave DeBusschere (10) Dean Meminger (7) Madison Square Garden 19,694 3–1 5 April 25 @ Boston L 97–98 Walt Frazier (21) Dave DeBusschere (12) Frazier , DeBusschere (5) Boston Garden 15,320 3–2 6 April 27 Boston L 100–110 Walt Frazier (29) Dave DeBusschere (17) Bradley , DeBusschere (5) Madison Square Garden 19,694 3–3 7 April 29 @ Boston W 94–78 Walt Frazier (25) Walt Frazier (10) Dave DeBusschere (8) Boston Garden 15,320 4–3
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
1973 schedule
Regular-season series New York tied 3–3 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 6 288 275 101 651 Hawks 6 288 256 115 627
Regular-season series New York tied 3–3 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 6 288 239 57 535 Bullets 6 288 242 84 568
Regular-season series New York tied 4–4 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 8 384 340 160 840 Celtics 8 384 336 173 845
Regular-season series New York won 6–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 7 336 322 126 770 Braves 7 336 282 100 664
Regular-season series New York lost 1–3 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 192 153 58 364 Bulls 4 192 134 89 357
Regular-season series New York won 6–0 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 6 288 250 98 598 Cavaliers 6 288 220 96 536
Regular-season series New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 192 178 54 410 Pistons 4 192 164 63 391
Regular-season series New York tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 197 176 68 420 Warriors 4 197 165 92 422
Regular-season series New York won 5–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 6 Rockets 6
Regular-season series New York won 4–0 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 Kings 4
Regular-season series New York tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 Lakers 4
Regular-season series New York tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 Bucks 4
Regular-season series New York won 6–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 7 336 348 124 820 76ers 7 336 285 121 691
Regular-season series New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 Suns 4
Regular-season series New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 Trail Blazers 4
Regular-season series New York won 4–0 in the regular-season series
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 4 192 410 SuperSonics 4 192 347
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 5 240 223 73 519 Bullets 5 240 204 70 478
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 7 346 308 127 743 Celtics 7 346 289 139 717
Team Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Knicks 5 240 215 73 232 117 503 Lakers 5 240 197 110 264 87 484
Opponent Games Played Minutes Played Field Goals Free Throws Rebounds Assists Points Against Baltimore 5 Boston 7 Los Angeles 5 Opponents 17
Some New York Knicks TV Games never aired on WOR-TV because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL ).
Some New York Knicks radio games never aired on WNBC–AM because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL ).
24th NBA All-Star Game [ edit ] New York Knicks NBA All-Star representatives at the 1973 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago , Illinois at Chicago Stadium .
Transactions listed are from July 1, 1972, to June 30, 1973.
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