1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Seattle SuperSonics 1973 26 56 Pacific 4 8 Tom NissalkeBucky Buckwalter Bob Houbregs Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum KTNT-TV KOMO Did not qualify SEA The 1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 6th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished the regular season in 6th place in the Western Conference with a 26–56 record, 21 wins behind the one obtained in their previous season. Head coach Tom Nissalke was fired by the team in January after a 13–32 start and was replaced by his assistant Bucky Buckwalter.Supersonics fire Tom Nissalke, Star-News. January 11, 1973. Retrieved June 13, 2012. Offseason The offseason trade that sent player-coach Lenny Wilkens to the Cleveland Cavaliers was received with shock from fans and the player himself.SuperSonics Trade Wilkens; Houbregs: 'difficult trade', Ellensburg Daily Record. August 24, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012.Ex-Sonic Wilkens may quit pro ball, Ellensburg Daily Record. August 31, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012. The trade also sent Barry Clemens to the Cavaliers and brought All-Star Butch Beard to the Sonics. The signing of free agent John Brisker cost the SuperSonics a $10,000 fine and the resignation of their 1973 first round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for violation of league rules that prohibited the team to approach Brisker without contacting the Sixers, who selected him in a supplemental draft in 1969 and held the rights to the player.SuperSonics Fined For Signing Brisker, The Day. November 17, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012. However, Seattle regained its first round pick after an appeal and the Sonics' second round selection was given to the 76ers.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-kYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8lMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6486,927448 Seattle Regains First-Round Pick The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania E. W. Scripps Company April 19, 1973 April 7, 2010 Draft 1972 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 7 Isaac Stallworth G/F United States Kansas 2 18 Joby Wright C/F United States Indiana 2 23 Brian Taylor G United States Princeton 3 40 Jim Creighton F United States Colorado 4 57 Joe Mackey F United States USC 5 73 Gary Ladd G United States Seattle 6 90 Ronald Thomas PF United States Louisville 7 107 Jerry Dunn F United States Western Kentucky 8 123 Willie Stoudamire G United States Portland State 9 138 Dwight Holiday G United States Hawaii 10 151 Dan Steward G United States Washington State 11 162 Steve Turner C United States Vanderbilt 12 171 Greg Daust F United States UMSL 14 185 Cleveland Hill F United States Nicholls State Roster Seattle SuperSonics 1972–73 21 Butch Beard G 6 3 185 Louisville 1947–05–04 42 John Brisker F/G 6 5 210 Toledo 1947–06–15 32 Fred Brown basketball G 6 3 182 Iowa 1948–08–07 41 Pete Cross F/C 6 9 230 San Francisco 1948–03–28 12 Charles Dudley basketball G 6 2 180 Washington 1950–03–05 31 Jim Fox basketball, born 1943 F/C 6 10 230 South Carolina 1943–04–07 24 Spencer Haywood F/C 6 8 225 Detroit 1949–04–22 44 Jim McDaniels F/C 6 11 228 Western Kentucky 1948–04–02 40 Kennedy McIntosh F 6 7 225 Eastern Michigan 1949–01–21 10 Dick Snyder F/G 6 5 207 West Virginia 1944–02–01 15 Isaac Stallworth F/G 6 5 190 Kansas 1950–01–18 11 Lee Winfield G 6 2 174 Providence 1947–02–04 14 Joby Wright F/C 6 8 220 Indiana 1950–09–05 Tom Nissalke (fired) Bucky Buckwalter (interim) https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/1973.html#all_roster Standings SEA SEA z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Seattle SuperSonics 1973 Total: 26–56 (Home: 16–25; Road: 10–29; Neutral: 0–2) Seattle SuperSonics October yes 2 3 2 2 |- | 1 | October 10 | @ New York | L 89–113 | John Brisker (16) | | | Madison Square Garden19,447 | 0–1 |- | 2 | October 11 | @ Philadelphia | W 105–100 | Spencer Haywood (22) | | | The Spectrum6,257 | 1–1 |- | 3 | October 13 | @ Portland | W 92–84 | Spencer Haywood (35) | | | Memorial Coliseum8,573 | 2–1 |- | 4 | October 20 | Golden State | L 92–101 | Spencer Haywood (22) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,950 | 2–2 |- | 5 | October 21 | @ Phoenix | L 117–129 | John Brisker (34) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum8,315 | 2–3 |- | 6 | October 22 | Portland | W 120–119 (OT) | John Brisker (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,925 | 3–3 |- | 7 | October 25 | Atlanta | L 115–118 | Spencer Haywood (33) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum7,140 | 3–4 |- | 8 | October 27 | Phoenix | W 120–115 | Dick Snyder (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,201 | 4–4 |- | 9 | October 29 | Chicago | L 94–95 | Spencer Haywood (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,022 | 4–5 Seattle SuperSonics November 3 5 1 8 |- | 10 | November 1 | Detroit | L 106–116 | John Brisker (33) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,005 | 4–6 |- | 11 | November 3 | New York | L 80–105 | Spencer Haywood (18) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,031 | 4–7 |- | 12 | November 5 | Los Angeles | L 115–124 | Spencer Haywood (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,250 | 4–8 |- | 13 | November 8 | @ Milwaukee | L 103–116 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Milwaukee Arena7,378 | 4–9 |- | 14 | November 10 | Kansas City–Omaha | L 106–111 | Spencer Haywood (38) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,156 | 4–10 |- | 15 | November 12 | Cleveland | L 107–113 | Spencer Haywood (28) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum13,174 | 4–11 |- | 16 | November 14 | @ Chicago | L 80–97 | Spencer Haywood (20) | | | Chicago Stadium7,894 | 4–12 |- | 17 | November 15 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | L 97–106 | Spencer Haywood (27) | | | Municipal Auditorium4,364 | 4–13 |- | 18 | November 17 | Philadelphia | W 105–92 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum7,762 | 5–13 |- | 19 | November 18 | @ Portland | W 102–100 | Spencer Haywood (21) | | | Memorial Coliseum9,639 | 6–13 |- | 20 | November 19 | Buffalo | W 107–84 | Spencer Haywood (26) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,587 | 7–13 |- | 21 | November 21 | @ Cleveland | L 88–98 | Spencer Haywood (32) | | | Cleveland Arena2,864 | 7–14 |- | 22 | November 22 | @ Baltimore | L 90–112 | Dick Snyder (21) | | | Baltimore Civic Center2,877 | 7–15 |- | 23 | November 23 | @ Atlanta | L 97–110 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Omni Coliseum6,523 | 7–16 |- | 24 | November 25 | @ Houston | L 109–114 | Spencer Haywood (38) | | | Hofheinz Pavilion2,912 | 7–17 |- | 25 | November 26 | Detroit | W 103–96 | Spencer Haywood (39) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum7,980 | 8–17 |- | 26 | November 29 | @ Boston | L 98–120 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Boston Garden5,263 | 8–18 Seattle SuperSonics December 3 3 1 8 |- | 27 | December 1 | @ Buffalo | L 90–93 | Spencer Haywood, Dick Snyder (15) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum16,107 | 8–19 |- | 28 | December 2 | @ Chicago | L 80–89 | Spencer Haywood (26) | | | Chicago Stadium8,030 | 8–20 |- | 29 | December 3 | @ Cleveland | L 103–105 (OT) | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Cleveland Arena2,957 | 8–21 |- | 30 | December 6 | Milwaukee | W 95–91 | Spencer Haywood (32) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,953 | 9–21 |- | 31 | December 8 | @ Los Angeles | L 100–119 | Spencer Haywood (26) | | | The Forum14,618 | 9–22 |- | 32 | December 10 | Phoenix | W 110–102 | Spencer Haywood (32) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,628 | 10–22 |- | 33 | December 13 | Milwaukee | L 103–104 (OT) | Spencer Haywood (38) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,036 | 10–23 |- | 34 | December 15 | Portland | L 95–96 | Spencer Haywood (37) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum7,812 | 10–24 |- | 35 | December 17 | Boston | L 98–123 | Spencer Haywood (34) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,633 | 10–25 |- | 36 | December 19 | @ Milwaukee | L 77–121 | John Brisker (15) | | | Milwaukee Arena7,407 | 10–26 |- | 37 | December 20 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | L 110–121 | Isaac Stallworth (32) | | | Omaha, NE4,067 | 10–27 |- | 38 | December 22 | @ Detroit | L 97–109 | Fred Brown (21) | | | Cobo Arena3,779 | 10–28 |- | 39 | December 25 | @ Portland | L 113–116 | Spencer Haywood (35) | | | Memorial Coliseum6,818 | 10–29 |- | 40 | December 26 | @ Golden State | W 97–95 | Spencer Haywood (42) | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena3,605 | 11–29 |- | 41 | December 29 | Cleveland | W 99–91 | Spencer Haywood (31) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum12,738 | 12–29 Seattle SuperSonics January 3 5 2 4 |- | 42 | January 1 | Los Angeles | L 103–108 | Spencer Haywood (28) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,751 | 12–30 |- | 43 | January 3 | Kansas City–Omaha | W 107–100 | Spencer Haywood (51) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,266 | 13–30 |- | 44 | January 5 | Golden State | L 96–128 | Fred Brown (20) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum9,087 | 13–31 |- | 45 | January 7 | Philadelphia | L 82–85 | Spencer Haywood (18) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum12,150 | 13–32 |- | 46 | January 10 | Baltimore | L 86–98 | Spencer Haywood (17) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum7,570 | 13–33 |- | 47 | January 12 | Detroit | W 113–104 | Spencer Haywood (36) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,420 | 14–33 |- | 48 | January 14 | New York Knicks | L 84–86 | Spencer Haywood (18) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,538 | 14–34 |- | 49 | January 16 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | W 125–122 | Jim Fox, Spencer Haywood (23) | | | Municipal Auditorium4,468 | 15–34 |- | 50 | January 17 | @ Detroit | W 106–104 | Spencer Haywood (28) | | | Cobo Arena2,630 | 16–34 |- | 51 | January 19 | @ Boston | L 104–124 | Spencer Haywood (25) | | | Boston Garden14,190 | 16–35 |- | 52 | January 20 | Baltimore | L 106–126 | Spencer Haywood (28) | | | College Park, MD12,084 | 16–36 |- | 53 | January 25 | @ Phoenix | L 109–112 | Spencer Haywood (27) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,701 | 16–37 |- | 54 | January 28 | @ Los Angeles | L 94–130 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | The Forum17,107 | 16–38 |- | 55 | January 31 | Houston | W 118–109 | Spencer Haywood (37) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,257 | 17–38 Seattle SuperSonics February 3 5 1 6 |- | 56 | February 2 | Chicago | W 118–104 | John Brisker (24) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,818 | 18–38 |- | 57 | February 3 | @ Golden State | L 101–123 | Spencer Haywood (34) | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena3,261 | 18–39 |- | 58 | February 4 | Kansas City–Omaha | L 98–120 | Spencer Haywood (27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,140 | 18–40 |- | 59 | February 6 | @ Portland | W 118–117 | Spencer Haywood (41) | | | Memorial Coliseum4,755 | 19–40 |- | 60 | February 8 | @ Phoenix | L 112–125 | Spencer Haywood (31) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum7,084 | 19–41 |- | 61 | February 11 | Buffalo | L 125–128 | Spencer Haywood (40) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,960 | 19–42 |- | 62 | February 13 | @ Los Angeles | L 98–101 | Spencer Haywood (35) | | | The Forum13,127 | 19–43 |- | 63 | February 14 | Baltimore | L 106–107 | Spencer Haywood (37) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum6,034 | 19–44 |- | 64 | February 16 | Golden State | W 114–108 (OT) | Fred Brown (33) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum9,070 | 20–44 |- | 65 | February 18 | Boston | L 105–106 | Spencer Haywood (32) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum12,905 | 20–45 |- | 66 | February 21 | Houston | L 107–139 | Spencer Haywood (27) | | | San Antonio, TX4,179 | 20–46 |- | 67 | February 23 | Atlanta | W 124–120 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,735 | 21–46 |- | 68 | February 25 | Chicago | L 85–88 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,103 | 21–47 |- | 69 | February 27 | @ Atlanta | L 130–131 | Spencer Haywood (33) | | | Omni Coliseum8,295 | 21–48 |- | 70 | February 28 | @ Milwaukee | L 110–124 | Spencer Haywood (36) | | | Milwaukee Arena10,292 | 21–49 Seattle SuperSonics March 2 4 3 5 |- | 71 | March 2 | @ Buffalo | W 139–120 | Spencer Haywood (35) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum5,563 | 22–49 |- | 72 | March 3 | @ Detroit | W 115–113 | Spencer Haywood (33) | | | Cobo Arena5,044 | 23–49 |- | 73 | March 6 | @ New York | L 94–106 | Spencer Haywood (25) | | | Madison Square Garden19,644 | 23–50 |- | 74 | March 10 | @ Philadelphia | W 106–96 | Spencer Haywood (27) | | | The Spectrum4,942 | 24–50 |- | 75 | March 13 | @ Chicago | L 89–104 | Spencer Haywood (31) | | | Chicago Stadium9,270 | 24–51 |- | 76 | March 16 | Golden State | W 116–106 | Spencer Haywood (35) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,512 | 25–51 |- | 77 | March 18 | Houston | W 121–112 | Spencer Haywood (38) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum8,956 | 26–51 |- | 78 | March 20 | @ Golden State | L 106–114 | Spencer Haywood (39) | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena2,992 | 26–52 |- | 79 | March 21 | Milwaukee | L 96–119 | Spencer Haywood (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,407 | 26–53 |- | 80 | March 23 | Portland | L 112–118 | Kennedy McIntosh (25) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum10,305 | 26–54 |- | 81 | March 25 | Los Angeles | L 93–109 | Spencer Haywood (25) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum13,180 | 26–55 |- | 82 | March 28 | Phoenix | L 125–127 | John Brisker (39) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum11,246 | 26–56 OKC 1973 Player statistics Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Butch Beard 73 – 19.2 .439 – .714 2.4 3.4 – – 6.6 John Brisker 70 – 23.3 .435 – .822 4.6 2.1 – – 12.8 Fred Brown Fred Brown (basketball) 79 – 29.4 .455 – .818 4.0 5.5 – – 13.5 Pete Cross 26 – 5.1 .286 – .444 2.2 .4 – – .8 Charles Dudley Charles Dudley (basketball) 12 – 8.3 .435 – .875 .5 1.3 – – 2.8 Jim Fox Jim Fox (basketball, born 1943) 74 – 33.0 .515 – .808 11.2 2.4 – – 11.4 Spencer Haywood 77 – 42.3 .476 – .839 12.9 2.5 – – 29.2 Gar Heard 3 – 5.7 .444 – 1.000 2.0 .7 – – 3.0 Jim McDaniels 68 – 16.1 .399 – .700 5.1 1.1 – – 5.6 Kennedy McIntosh 56 – 19.7 .326 – .615 4.0 .9 – – 4.5 Dick Snyder 82 – 37.3 .463 – .861 3.9 3.8 – – 13.8 Isaac Stallworth 77 – 15.9 .379 – .754 2.9 .8 – – 6.3 Lee Winfield 53 – 20.0 .431 – .574 2.4 3.5 – – 6.6 Joby Wright 77 – 12.1 .478 – .416 2.8 .5 – – 3.9 Awards and records Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA First Team for the second time. Transactions Overview Players Added Players Lost Via draft Isaac Stallworth Joby Wright Via trade Butch Beard Kennedy McIntosh Via free agency John BriskerSeattle Inks Brisker, The Michigan Daily. August 9, 1972. Retrieved June 12, 2012. Charles Dudley Via trade Barry Clemens Pete Cross (later claimed on waivers) Gar Heard Don Smith Lenny Wilkens Trades August 23, 1972 To Seattle SuperSonics To Cleveland Cavaliers Butch Beard Lenny WilkensBarry Clemens September 18, 1972 To Seattle SuperSonics To Houston Rockets Cash considerations Don Smith October 20, 1972 To Seattle SuperSonics To Chicago Bulls Kennedy McIntosh Gar Heard1973 third round pick References Seattle Category:Seattle SuperSonics seasons