Season of National Basketball Association team the New York Knicks
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 .
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1972 NBA Draft
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.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
School/Club Team
1
8
Tom Riker
F/C
United States
South Carolina
4
58
Henry Bibby
G
United States
UCLA
Roster [ ]
1972–73 New York Knicks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
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
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 (C)
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 Junior College
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: 1973–05–10
Pre season [ ]
Game log [ ]
1972–73 Pre Season Game Log
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
All times are EASTERN time
Regular season [ ]
Standings [ ]
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ ]
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
—
Game log [ ]
1972–73 Game Log (57–25) (Home: 34–7; Road: 23–18)
October (8–1) (Home: 6–0; Road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
1
October 10, 1972
Seattle
113–89
Madison Square Garden
1–0
2
October 14, 1972
Los Angeles
3
October 15, 1972
@ Atlanta
4
5
6
7
8
9
November (12–3) (Home: 7–1; Road: 5–2)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
10
11
November 3, 1972
@ Seattle
105–80
Seattle Center Coliseum
10–1
12
13
14
November 9, 1972
Atlanta
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
December (10–5) (Home: 7–0; Road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
25
26
27
28
29
30
December 12, 1972
Atlanta
31
December 13, 1972
@ Atlanta
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
January (12–3) (Home: 5–0; Road: 7–3)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
42
43
44
45
46
January 11, 1973
@ Atlanta
47
48
January 14, 1973
@ Seattle
86–84
Seattle Center Coliseum
38–10
49
50
January 19, 1973
@ Los Angeles
51
52
53
54
55
56
February (8–5) (Home: 6–2; Road: 2–3)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
57
58
59
60
February 6, 1973
Los Angeles
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
March (6–7) (Home: 3–3; Road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Time
Opponent
Score
Location
Attendance
Record
70
71
72
73
March 6, 1973
Seattle
106–94
Madison Square Garden
52–21
74
75
76
77
78
March 16, 1973
@ Los Angeles
79
80
81
March 21, 1973
Atlanta
82
1972–73 Schedule
All times are EASTERN time
Playoffs [ ]
1973 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
March 30
Baltimore
W 95–83
Walt Frazier (25)
Frazier , DeBusschere (7)
Walt Frazier (6)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
1–0
2
April 1
Baltimore
W 123–103
Walt Frazier (29)
Dave DeBusschere (11)
Walt Frazier (13)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
2–0
3
April 4
@ Baltimore
W 103–96
Bill Bradley (23)
Dave DeBusschere (11)
Walt Frazier (7)
Baltimore Civic Center 12,289
3–0
4
April 6
@ Baltimore
L 89–97
Walt Frazier (17)
Willis Reed (8)
DeBusschere , Monroe (4)
Baltimore Civic Center 12,289
3–1
5
April 8
Baltimore
W 109–99
Earl Monroe (26)
Dave DeBusschere (15)
Walt Frazier (7)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
4–1
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)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
May 1
@ Los Angeles
L 112–115
Dave DeBusschere (25)
Dave DeBusschere (16)
Walt Frazier (8)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
May 3
@ Los Angeles
W 99–95
Bill Bradley (26)
DeBusschere , Reed (9)
Bill Bradley (4)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
May 6
Los Angeles
W 87–83
Willis Reed (22)
Dave DeBusschere (11)
Earl Monroe (6)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
2–1
4
May 8
Los Angeles
W 103–98
Dave DeBusschere (33)
Dave DeBusschere (14)
Walt Frazier (8)
Madison Square Garden 19,694
3–1
5
May 10
@ Los Angeles
W 102–93
Earl Monroe (23)
Willis Reed (12)
Frazier , Bradley (5)
The Forum 17,505
4–1
1973 schedule
Player statistics [ ]
Season [ ]
Player
Games Played
Games Started
Minutes Played
Field Goals
Free Throws
Rebounds
Assists
Points
Walt Frazier
78
3181
681
286
570
461
1648
Bill Bradley
82
2998
575
169
301
367
1319
Dave DeBusschere
77
2827
532
194
787
259
1258
Earl Monroe
75
2370
496
172
245
288
1163
Willis Reed
69
1876
334
92
590
126
760
Jerry Lucas
71
2001
312
81
510
317
704
Phil Jackson
80
1393
245
154
344
94
644
Dean Meminger
80
1453
192
81
229
133
457
Henry Bibby
55
475
78
73
82
64
229
Dick Barnett
51
514
88
16
41
50
192
John Gianelli
52
516
79
23
150
25
181
Tom Riker
14
66
10
15
16
2
35
Harthorne Wingo
13
59
9
2
16
1
20
Luther Rackley
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
Knicks
82
19730 240.6
3627 44.2
1356 16.5
3882 47.3
2187 26.7
8610 105.0
Opponents
82
19730 240.6
3291 40.1
1471 17.9
4100 50.0
1714 20.9
8053 98.2
Opponents [ ]
Regular-season series
New York tied 3–3 in the regular-season series
New York Knicks 101, Atlanta Hawks 109
Atlanta Hawks 99, New York Knicks 101
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Atlanta Hawks 93, New York Knicks 114
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 120, Atlanta Hawks 121
New York Knicks 122 , Atlanta Hawks 107
Atlanta Hawks 98 , New York Knicks 93
Madison Square Garden , New York City
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
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Madison Square Garden , New York City
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
New York Knicks 92 , Cleveland Cavaliers 89
Cleveland Cavaliers 89, New York Knicks 92
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Cleveland Cavaliers 84, New York Knicks 107
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 98 , Cleveland Cavaliers 87
Cleveland Cavaliers 90, New York Knicks 95
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 114 , Cleveland Cavaliers 97
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
Detroit Pistons 110, New York Knicks 113
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 99 , Detroit Pistons 94
Cobo Center , Detroit , Michigan
New York Knicks 91, Detroit Pistons 94
Cobo Center , Detroit , Michigan
Detroit Pistons 93, New York Knicks 107
Madison Square Garden , New York City
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
Philadelphia 76ers 88, New York Knicks 111
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 125 , Philadelphia 76ers 106
New York Knicks 139 , Philadelphia 76ers 91
Philadelphia 76ers 109, New York Knicks 120
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Philadelphia 76ers 89, New York Knicks 107
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 98, Philadelphia 76ers 114
New York Knicks 120 , Philadelphia 76ers 94
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
Seattle SuperSonics 89, New York Knicks 113
Madison Square Garden , New York City
New York Knicks 105 , Seattle SuperSonics 80
Seattle Center Coliseum , Seattle
New York Knicks 86 , Seattle SuperSonics 84
Seattle Center Coliseum , Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics 94, New York Knicks 106
Madison Square Garden , New York City
Team
Games Played
Minutes Played
Field Goals
Free Throws
Rebounds
Assists
Points
Knicks
4
192
410
SuperSonics
4
192
347
Playoffs [ ]
Player
Games Played
Games Started
Minutes Played
Field Goals
Free Throws
Rebounds
Assists
Points
Walt Frazier
17
765
150
73
124
106
373
Dave DeBusschere
17
632
117
31
179
58
265
Earl Monroe
16
504
111
36
51
51
258
Bill Bradley
17
587
99
40
57
45
238
Willis Reed
17
486
97
18
129
30
212
Phil Jackson
17
338
60
28
72
24
148
Jerry Lucas
17
368
54
20
85
39
128
Dean Meminger
17
323
31
19
37
37
81
John Gianelli
7
55
11
3
13
1
25
Henry Bibby
6
43
8
4
2
3
20
Harthorne Wingo
3
12
5
1
7
0
11
Dick Barnett
4
17
3
0
0
2
6
Knicks
17
822 48.4
746 48.0
273 17.2
756 47.9
396 24.2
1765 113.2
Opponents
17
1679 98.3
Opponents [ ]
1973 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Baltimore [ ]
Regular-season series
New York won 4–1 in the 1973 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals
Team
Games Played
Minutes Played
Field Goals
Free Throws
Rebounds
Assists
Points
Knicks
5
240
223
73
519
Bullets
5
240
204
70
478
1973 NBA Eastern Conference Finals vs. Boston [ ]
Regular-season series
New York won 4–3 in the 1973 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
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
Media [ ]
Local TV [ ]
Local TV
Play-by-Play
Color Commentator
WOR-TV 9
Bob Wolff
Cal Ramsey
Some New York Knicks TV Games never aired on WOR-TV because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL ).
Local cable TV [ ]
Local Cable TV
Play-by-Play
Color Commentator
Manhattan Cable Television
Bob Wolff
Cal Ramsey
Local radio [ ]
Some New York Knicks radio games never aired on WNBC–AM because of broadcast conflict with the New York Rangers (NHL ).
Awards and records [ ]
24th NBA All-Star Game [ ]
New York Knicks NBA All-Star representatives at the 1973 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago , Illinois at Chicago Stadium .
Player
Team
Position
Minutes
Points
Field Goals
FGA
Free Throws
FTA
Rebounds
Assists
Personal Fouls
Bill Bradley
(Eastern Conference All-Stars)
F
12
4
2
5
0
0
1
0
2
Dave DeBusschere
(Eastern Conference All-Stars)
F, Starter
25
9
4
8
1
2
7
2
1
Walt Frazier
(Eastern Conference All-Stars)
G, Starter
26
10
5
15
0
0
6
2
1
Transactions [ ]
Transactions listed are from July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973.
Trades [ ]
October 9, 1972
To Atlanta Hawks Eddie Mast for a 1973 2nd Round draft pick
References [ ]
NBA champions
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Bold indicates NBA Finals victory