NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 5th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their third season with Lenny Wilkens as head coach, the Sonics finished the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 47–35 record, their first winning record in franchise history. Wilkens quit as head coach at the end of the season[ 1] and was replaced by former Dallas Chaparrals coach Tom Nissalke .[ 2]
With the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NBA draft , Seattle selected Fred Brown from the University of Iowa . After months of negotiation (the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association also selected him in the 1971 ABA Draft ), the Sonics signed him to a multi-year contract[ 3] Brown would go on to have a career spanning 13 seasons with the SuperSonics.
The Buffalo Braves selected Spencer Haywood with the 30th overall pick and intended to claim rights to the player from the SuperSonics. Matters were taken to court, with the judge ruling in favor of the Seattle franchise.[ 4] Tensions prior to the trial rose to the point that Buffalo decided to pay expansion fees to every team in the league with the exception of the Sonics.[ 5]
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.
The Seattle SuperSonics signed their second round pick Jim McDaniels in February 1972.[ 6] Since McDaniels was under contract with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association , both teams began a legal battle over the player's contract,[ 7] with a judge in the King County Superior Court granting permission to McDaniels to play for the Sonics.[ 8] The Cougars appealed to the Washington Supreme Court [ 9] but McDaniels stayed in Seattle.[ 10]
1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
32
Brown, Fred
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
182 lb (83 kg)
1948–08–07
Iowa
F
43
Clemens, Barry
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1943–05–01
Ohio Wesleyan
F/C
41
Cross, Pete
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1948–03–28
San Francisco
G
33
Ford, Jake
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1946–04–29
Maryland Eastern Shore
F/C
24
Haywood, Spencer
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1949–04–22
Detroit Mercy
F
40
Heard, Gar
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1948–05–03
Oklahoma
F
22
Kojis, Don
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1939–01–15
Marquette
F/C
44
McDaniels, Jim
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
228 lb (103 kg)
1948–04–02
Western Kentucky
F/C
35
Smith, Don
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1946–04–07
Iowa State
G/F
10
Snyder, Dick
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
207 lb (94 kg)
1944–02–01
West Virginia
G
19
Wilkens, Lenny
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1937–10–28
Providence
G
11
Winfield, Lee
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
1947–02–04
North Texas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1971–72 NBA records
Team
ATL
BAL
BOS
BUF
CHI
CIN
CLE
DET
GSW
HOU
LAL
MIL
NYK
PHI
PHO
POR
SEA
Atlanta
–
2–4
0–4
4–2
0–5
3–3
4–2
3–2
3–2
1–4
0–5
2–3
3–1
3–3
3–2
4–0
1–4
Baltimore
4–2
–
2–2
3–3
1–4
4–2
1–5
3–2
1–4
3–2
1–4
0–5
2–4
4–0
4–1
3–1
2–3
Boston
4–0
2–2
–
6–0
3–2
4–2
5–1
5–0
2–3
5–0
1–4
2–3
3–3
6–0
2–3
4–0
2–3
Buffalo
2–4
3–3
0–6
–
1–3
3–3
4–2
2–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–5
3–3
0–4
2–4
0–4
Chicago
5–0
4–1
2–3
3–1
–
3–1
4–0
5–1
3–3
5–1
1–3
2–4
3–2
4–1
5–1
6–0
2–3
Cincinnati
3–3
2–4
2–4
3–3
1–3
–
6–2
2–3
2–3
0–4
1–4
0–5
2–2
2–2
2–3
2–2
0–5
Cleveland
2–4
5–1
1–5
2–4
0–4
2–6
–
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–5
2–4
0–4
4–2
0–4
Detroit
2–3
2–3
0–5
4–2
1–5
3–2
3–1
–
0–5
3–3
1–4
1–5
1–4
1–4
2–4
2–2
0–4
Golden State
2–3
4–1
3–2
3–1
3–3
3–2
4–0
5–0
–
5–1
1–5
2–2
2–3
4–1
2–3
4–2
4–2
Houston
4–1
2–3
0–5
4–0
1–5
4–0
2–2
3–3
1–5
–
1–5
0–5
0–5
4–1
1–3
4–2
3–3
Los Angeles
5–0
4–1
4–1
4–0
3–1
4–1
3–1
4–1
5–1
5–1
–
4–1
4–1
5–0
4–2
6–0
5–1
Milwaukee
3–2
5–0
3–2
4–0
4–2
5–0
4–0
5–1
2–2
5–0
1–4
–
2–3
4–1
4–2
6–0
6–0
New York
1–3
4–2
3–3
5–1
2–3
2–2
5–1
4–1
3–2
5–0
1–4
3–2
–
3–3
1–4
3–1
3–2
Philadelphia
3–3
0–4
0–6
3–3
1–4
2–2
4–2
4–1
1–4
1–4
0–5
1–4
3–3
–
1–4
2–2
4–1
Phoenix
2–3
1–4
3–2
4–0
1–5
3–2
4–0
4–2
3–2
3–1
2–4
2–4
4–1
4–1
–
6–0
3–2
Portland
0–4
1–3
0–4
4–2
0–6
2–2
2–4
2–2
2–4
2–4
0–6
0–6
1–3
2–2
0–6
–
0–6
Seattle
4–1
3–2
3–2
4–0
3–2
5–0
4–0
4–0
2–4
3–3
1–5
0–6
2–3
1–4
2–3
6–0
—
1971–72 game log Total: 47–35 (Home: 28–12; Road: 18–22; Neutral:1–1)
October: 7–2 (home: 4–1; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 12
@ Buffalo
W 123–90
Spencer Haywood (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,723
1–0
2
October 15
@ Portland
W 119–88
Spencer Haywood , Lenny Wilkens (23)
Memorial Coliseum 6,124
2–0
3
October 16
Milwaukee
L 91–98
Spencer Haywood (23)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,100
2–1
4
October 19
@ Cincinnati
W 101–100
Dick Snyder (24)
Cincinnati Gardens 2,967
3–1
5
October 20
@ Philadelphia
L 93–100
Don Kojis (18)
The Spectrum 10,365
3–2
6
October 22
Houston
W 110–91
Spencer Haywood (23)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,182
4–2
7
October 24
Cincinnati
W 119–101
Spencer Haywood (23)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,318
5–2
8
October 28
Buffalo
W 106–96
Barry Clemens (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,816
6–2
9
October 30
Los Angeles
W 115–106
Don Kojis (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,138
7–2
November
: 8–7 (home: 5–3; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
10
November 4
@ Golden State
L 96–98
Spencer Haywood (31)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5,814
7–3
11
November 5
New York
W 101–97
Lenny Wilkens (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,638
8–3
12
November 7
Golden State
L 102–109
Spencer Haywood (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,197
8–4
13
November 11
Cleveland
W 110–91
Spencer Haywood (20)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,808
9–4
14
November 12
@ Los Angeles
L 107–115
Spencer Haywood (26)
The Forum 16,550
9–5
15
November 13
Boston
W 116 112
Lenny Wilkens (21)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,738
10–5
16
November 16
@ Chicago
L 87 95
Don Kojis (22)
Chicago Stadium 8,907
10–6
17
November 17
@ Atlanta
W 112–104
Spencer Haywood (23)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,462
11–6
18
November 19
Milwaukee
L 107–108
Spencer Haywood (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,914
11–7
19
November 20
@ Portland
W 104–100
Spencer Haywood (25)
Memorial Coliseum 6,634
12–7
20
November 21
Philadelphia
W 127–117
Don Smith (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,151
13–7
21
November 25
Los Angeles
L 115–139
Spencer Haywood (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,170
13–8
22
November 27
Detroit
W 124–102
Spencer Haywood (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,565
14–8
23
November 28
@ Los Angeles
L 121–138
Spencer Haywood (29)
The Forum 15,544
14–9
24
November 30
@ New York
W 110–109
Lenny Wilkens (29)
Madison Square Garden 18,111
15–9
December
: 7–9 (home: 3–3; road: 4–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
25
December 1
@ Philadelphia
L 98–102
Spencer Haywood (36)
The Spectrum 4,507
15–10
26
December 3
@ Baltimore
W 117–106
Spencer Haywood (35)
Baltimore Civic Center 3,480
16–10
27
December 4
@ Cincinnati
W 100–98
Spencer Haywood (25)
Cincinnati Gardens 2,643
17–10
28
December 5
@ Cleveland
W 99–91
Lenny Wilkens (27)
Cleveland Arena 5,029
18–10
29
December 7
@ Milwaukee
L 83–116
Don Smith (21)
Milwaukee Arena 9,061
18–11
30
December 10
Golden State
W 105–94
Spencer Haywood , Lenny Wilkens (21)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,928
19–11
31
December 12
@ Houston
L 98–100
Dick Snyder (23)
Hofheinz Pavilion 2,751
19–12
32
December 14
@ Detroit
W 103–86
Spencer Haywood (31)
Cobo Arena 3,465
20–12
33
December 15
@ Boston
L 100–112
Spencer Haywood (20)
Boston Garden 9,225
20–13
34
December 17
@ Milwaukee
L 113–120
Spencer Haywood (36)
Milwaukee Arena 9,360
20–14
35
December 18
Portland
W 107–105
Spencer Haywood (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,532
21–14
36
December 19
Phoenix
W 130–127 (OT)
Spencer Haywood (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,189
22–14
37
December 22
New York
L 104–120
Don Smith (17)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,953
22–15
38
December 25
@ Phoenix
L 86–116
Lenny Wilkens (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6,565
22–16
39
December 26
Chicago
L 102–103
Spencer Haywood (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,240
22–17
40
December 30
Los Angeles
L 106–122
Spencer Haywood (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,106
22–18
January
: 9–5 (home: 7–2; road: 2–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
41
January 1
Buffalo
W 97–83
Don Smith (23)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,676
23–18
42
January 4
@ Houston
L 110–119
Spencer Haywood , Lee Winfield (22)
Hofheinz Pavilion 2,786
23–19
43
January 5
Atlanta
W 127–116
Lee Winfield (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,120
24–19
44
January 7
Cleveland
W 125–111
Spencer Haywood (48)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,169
25–19
45
January 9
Boston
W 125–119
Spencer Haywood (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,108
26–19
46
January 11
Houston
W 141–126
Spencer Haywood (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,404
27–19
47
January 13
Baltimore
W 112–107
Spencer Haywood (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,868
28–19
48
January 15
Phoenix
W 118–110
Spencer Haywood (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,693
29–19
49
January 21
Phoenix
L 113–128
Spencer Haywood (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,751
29–20
50
January 23
New York
L 99–101
Dick Snyder (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,261
29–21
51
January 25
@ Milwaukee
L 91–123
Spencer Haywood (15)
Milwaukee Arena 9,046
29–22
52
January 26
@ Atlanta
W 131–119
Spencer Haywood (28)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,249
30–22
53
January 28
@ Buffalo
W 104–93
Don Smith (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 4,589
31–22
54
January 29
@ New York
L 106–110
Spencer Haywood (30)
Madison Square Garden 19,588
31–23
February
: 12–3 (home: 8–0; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
55
February 1
@ Chicago
W 121–103
Spencer Haywood (27)
Chicago Stadium 7,886
32–23
56
February 2
Houston
L 88–111
Spencer Haywood (27)
San Antonio , TX 6,074
32–24
57
February 4
@ Cleveland
W 118–112
Lenny Wilkens (25)
Cleveland Arena 3,038
33–24
58
February 6
@ Boston
L 123–128
Spencer Haywood (32)
Boston Garden 7,246
33–25
59
February 8
Houston
W 127–119
Spencer Haywood (28)
Portland , OR 9,000
34–25
60
February 10
Cincinnati
W 118–96
Spencer Haywood (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,523
35–25
61
February 12
Portland
W 125–97
Spencer Haywood (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,348
36–25
62
February 13
@ Portland
W 127–117 (OT)
Spencer Haywood (44)
Memorial Coliseum 6,034
37–25
63
February 16
Boston
W 113–112
Spencer Haywood (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,120
38–25
64
February 18
Golden State
W 110–108
Lenny Wilkens (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,097
39–25
65
February 20
Portland
W 109–105
Dick Snyder (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,115
40–25
66
February 22
@ Golden State
L 104–120
Lenny Wilkens (26)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,063
40–26
67
February 23
Detroit
W 97–96
Spencer Haywood (38)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,359
41–26
68
February 26
Cincinnati
W 122–106
Spencer Haywood (38)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,089
42–26
69
February 29
@ Baltimore
W 118–117 (OT)
Spencer Haywood (38)
Baltimore Civic Center 6,187
43–26
March
: 4–9 (home: 2–3; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
70
March 1
@ Detroit
W 116–102
Lenny Wilkens (28)
Cobo Arena 2,954
44–26
71
March 3
Chicago
W 112–103
Spencer Haywood (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,005
45–26
72
March 4
@ Golden State
L 96–114
Spencer Haywood (20)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,502
45–27
73
March 5
Atlanta
W 112–110
Lee Winfield (18)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,021
46–27
74
March 7
Baltimore
L 98–105
Lenny Wilkens (19)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,507
46–28
75
March 9
Philadelphia
L 123–128
Lenny Wilkens (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,971
46–29
76
March 12
Milwaukee
L 99–109
Gar Heard (17)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,129
46–30
77
March 14
@ Chicago
W 115–111
Lee Winfield (38)
Chicago Stadium 11,910
47–30
78
March 15
@ Atlanta
L 96–134
Lenny Wilkens (17)
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 5,091
47–31
79
March 17
@ Baltimore
L 107–112
Lee Winfield (29)
Baltimore Civic Center 4,346
47–32
80
March 19
@ Philadelphia
L 100–115
Lee Winfield (26)
The Spectrum 9,828
47–33
81
March 25
@ Phoenix
L 99–118
Lee Winfield (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,189
47–34
82
March 26
@ Los Angeles
L 98–124
Gar Heard (21)
The Forum 17,505
47–35
1971–72 season schedule
Spencer Haywood suffered a leg injury at the beginning of March and was out for the season.[ 11]
Players Added
Players Lost
Via draft
Via trade
Retired
^ Wilkens Quits as Seattle Coach , The Rock Hill Herald . March 27, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Nissalke Selected Supersonics' Coach , Nashua Telegraph . April 21, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Iowa Hoop Star Fred Brown Signs SuperSonics Contract , The Press-Courier . July 7, 1971. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
^ Haywood Stays With Seattle , The Modesto Bee . July 7, 1971. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
^ Braves Not Paying Fee to Seattle , Spartanburg Herald-Journal . May 12, 1971. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
^ Jim McDaniels: No Longer No. 1 Theft! Sonics Sign McDaniels , The Palm Beach Post . February 18, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Sonics Swap Court Writs With Cougs , The Spokesman-Review . February 19, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ McDaniels Gets OK , The Milwaukee Sentinel . February 29, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Carolina Gets Full Hearing , The Spokesman-Review . March 10, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Cougars Give Up McDaniels , The Milwaukee Sentinel . September 6, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Haywood Out for Season , Star-News . March 10, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
^ Meschery to Teach , Tri-City Herald . April 1, 1971. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
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