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 .
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 all of their five regular starters enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
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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