1973 ABA playoffs

Basketball competition August 2023 ABA playoffs 1973 1972–73 March 30 – May 12, 1973 8 Indiana Pacers 3 Kentucky Colonels Carolina Cougars Utah Stars 1972 1974 The 1973 ABA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1972–73 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Indiana Pacers defeating the Eastern Division champion Kentucky Colonels, four games to three in the 1973 ABA Finals. Notable events The teams with the three best records in the ABA that year failed to win the championship. The Carolina Cougars had the league's best record at 57–27 (.679), one game ahead of the Kentucky Colonels (56–28, .667) in the Eastern Division. The Utah Stars won the Western Division with a record of 55–29 (.655), four games ahead of the Indiana Pacers, who won the league championship after posting a regular season record of 51–33 (.607).Remember the ABA: 1972-73 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results https://web.archive.org/web/20101129165745/http://remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1973Playoffs.html 2010-11-29 With the Pacers and Colonels meeting in the playoffs once again, the rivalry, referred to in some circles as the "I-65 Series" (referring to Interstate 65 that goes through the two states) heated up once again as they met in the ABA Finals.On This Day in Pacers History: Indiana Wins Its Third ABA Championship | Indiana Pacers NBA.com https://www.nba.com/pacers/day-pacers-history-indiana-wins-third-aba-championship The Pacers became the first team to win a third ABA championship. The Colonels became the first team to lose two separate ABA championship series. The series also marked the second time in three years that the Colonels lost the ABA finals 4 games to 3; the same happened at the end of the 1971 ABA Playoffs against the Utah Stars. Two years after the 1973 finals the Colonels and Pacers would meet again at the end of the 1975 ABA Playoffs with the Colonels winning the championship series. The Pacers' George McGinnis was the Most Valuable Player of the ABA playoffs. Bracket Division Semifinals Division Finals ABA Finals Western Division Eastern Division 1 Utah Stars 4 4 San Diego Conquistadors 0 3 Denver Rockets 1 2 Indiana Pacers 4 1 Carolina Cougars 4 4 New York Nets 1 3 Virginia Squires 1 2 Kentucky Colonels 4 1 Utah Stars 2 2 Indiana Pacers 4 1 Carolina Cougars 3 2 Kentucky Colonels 4 W2 Indiana Pacers 4 E2 Kentucky Colonels 3 Division Semifinals Western Division Semifinals (1) Utah Stars vs. (4) San Diego Conquistadors #eee April 2 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah San Diego Conquistadors 93 Utah Stars 107 Box score 21–30 23–19 27–26 22–32 Stew Johnson 22 Ron Boone 27 Red Robbins 8 Gerald Govan 15 Chuck Williams 8 Ron Boone 8 7,268 Utah leads series, 1–0 April 4 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah San Diego Conquistadors 92 Utah Stars 103 Box score 23–34 26–19 26–26 17–24 Chuck Williams 23 Willie Wise 29 Red Robbins 17 Gerald Govan 14 Taylor, Williams 5 each Willie Wise 5 7,271 Utah leads series, 2–0 #eee April 7 Peterson Gym, San Diego, California Utah Stars 97 San Diego Conquistadors 96 Box score 24–20 24–27 19–26 30–23 Willie Wise 24 Ollie Taylor 22 Zelmo Beaty 11 Gene Moore 15 Willie Wise 7 Chuck Williams 5 1,729 Utah leads series, 3–0 April 8 Peterson Gym, San Diego, California Utah Stars 120 San Diego Conquistadors 98 Box score 25–30 32–19 35–19 28–30 Ron Boone 27 Stew Johnson 19 Bob Warren 11 Gene Moore 10 Wise, Boone 7 each Stew Johnson 4 1,394 Utah wins series, 4–0 (2) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Denver Rockets #eee March 31 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Denver Rockets 91 Indiana Pacers 114 Box score 24–29 21–25 18–31 28–29 Byron Beck 25 Roger Brown 20 Byron Beck 13 Darnell Hillman 9 Ralph Simpson 5 Billy Keller 7 7,051 Indiana leads series, 1–0 April 1 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Denver Rockets 93 Indiana Pacers 106 Box score 31–23 19–25 26–25 17–33 Ralph Simpson 29 Freddie Lewis 30 Dave Robisch 12 Mel Daniels 23 Warren Jabali 6 Billy Keller 4 7,235 Indiana leads series, 2–0 #eee April 3 Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado Indiana Pacers 94 Denver Rockets 105 score 19–32 23–23 31–31 21–19 George McGinnis 32 Dave Robisch 22 Mel Daniels 13 Julius Keye 21 Freddie Lewis 11 Al Smith 11 5,335 Indiana leads series, 2–1 April 5 Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado Indiana Pacers 97 Denver Rockets 95 Box score 21–32 24–22 26–23 26–18 Mel Daniels 25 Ralph Simpson 41 Mel Daniels 11 Dave Robisch 19 Freddie Lewis 10 Al Smith 5 6,904 Indiana leads series, 3–1 #eee April 7 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Denver Rockets 107 Indiana Pacers 121 Box score 26–32 27–38 24–33 30–28 Dave Robisch 28 Donnie Freeman 30 Julius Keye 18 Mel Daniels 23 Al Smith 8 Billy Keller 10 9,816 Indiana wins series, 4–1 Eastern Division Semifinals (1) Carolina Cougars vs. (4) New York Nets #eee March 30 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina New York Nets 96 Carolina Cougars 104 Box score 24–24 21–29 29–22 22–29 Billy Paultz 26 Billy Cunningham 25 Billy Paultz 16 Billy Cunningham 15 Bill Melchionni 9 Billy Cunningham 9 4,725 Carolina leads series, 1–0 March 31 Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina New York Nets 114 Carolina Cougars 111 Box score 30–20 21–29 19–24 33–30 11–8 Johnny Baum 26 Billy Cunningham 24 George Carter 14 Billy Cunningham 16 Taylor, Melchionni, Roche 3 each Mack Calvin 5 6,343 Series tied 1–1 #eee April 3 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Carolina Cougars 101 New York Nets 91 Box score 29–33 17–15 27–25 28–18 Mack Calvin 28 Brian Taylor 25 Tom Owens 9 Carter, Paultz 11 each Mack Calvin 5 Bill Melchionni 5 8,418 Carolina leads series, 2–1 April 5 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York Carolina Cougars 112 New York Nets 108 Box score 25–31 37–14 28–37 22–26 Billy Cunningham 29 George Carter 29 Tom Owens 10 Billy Paultz 13 Mack Calvin 6 Bill Melchionni 8 7,867 Carolina leads series, 3–1 #eee April 6 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina New York Nets 113 Carolina Cougars 136 Box score 24–36 36–33 20–38 33–29 George Carter 25 Tom Owens 26 Jim Chones 12 Tom Owens 15 Bill Melchionni 6 Billy Cunningham 6 6,388 Carolina wins series, 4–1 (2) Kentucky Colonels vs. (3) Virginia Squires #eee March 30 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Virginia Squires 101 Kentucky Colonels 129 Box score 28–33 24–29 20–30 29–37 Julius Erving 21 Dan Issel 43 Julius Erving 9 Artis Gilmore 14 Fatty Taylor 5 Mike Gale 6 4,692 Kentucky leads series, 1–0 April 10 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Virginia Squires 109 Kentucky Colonels 94 Box score 21–31 35–23 20–26 33–14 Julius Erving 41 Dan Issel 35 Jim Eakins 14 Artis Gilmore 14 Jim Eakins 5 Artis Gilmore 6 5,139 Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 3 Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia Virginia Squires 113 Kentucky Colonels 115 Box score 28–27 20–21 28–22 27–33 12–10 Dan Issel 31 Julius Erving 35 Dan Issel 18 George Gervin 12 Jimmy O'Brien 10 Jim Eakins 5 9,621 Kentucky leads series, 2–1 April 6 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia Kentucky Colonels 108 Virginia Squires 90 Box score 19–25 30–22 28–23 31–20 Issel, Gilmore, Mount 22 each George Gervin 23 Artis Gilmore 11 Jim Eakins 15 Jimmy O'Brien 8 Julius Erving 5 8,644 Kentucky leads series, 3–1 #eee April 7 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Virginia Squires 103 Kentucky Colonels 114 Box score 32–29 30–22 21–31 20–32 Jim Eakins 32 Dan Issel 27 Jim Eakins 12 Artis Gilmore 15 Erwin Mueller 7 Mike Gale 6 16,887 Kentucky wins series, 4–1 Division Finals Western Division Finals (1) Utah Stars vs. (2) Indiana Pacers #eee April 12 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah Indiana Pacers 107 Utah Stars 124 Box score 25–30 27–27 32–32 23–35 George McGinnis 31 Willie Wise 29 Mel Daniels 14 Zelmo Beaty 18 Freddie Lewis 8 Ron Boone 9 7,712 Utah leads series, 1–0 April 14 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah Indiana Pacers 116 Utah Stars 110 Box score 33–27 26–31 36–26 21–26 Donnie Freeman 31 Willie Wise 29 George McGinnis 16 Beaty Govan 11 each McGinnis, Daniels, Buse 5 each Ron Boone 7 12,233 Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 16 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Utah Stars 108 Indiana Pacers 118 Box score 27–23 23–24 27–36 31–35 Zelmo Beaty 27 George McGinnis 31 Willie Wise 15 George McGinnis 17 Wise, Govan, Jones 3 each Billy Keller 4 9,353 Indiana leads series, 2–1 April 18 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Utah Stars 104 Indiana Pacers 103 Box score 29–23 24–33 28–24 23–23 Jimmy Jones 34 George McGinnis 36 Zelmo Beaty 11 George McGinnis 18 Jimmy Jones 6 Billy Keller 7 10,079 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 19 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah Indiana Pacers 104 Utah Stars 102 Box score 29–28 29–32 26–24 20–18 Mel Daniels 23 Willie Wise 34 Darnell Hillman 19 Zelmo Beaty 13 Darnell Hillman 6 Gerald Govan 6 12,453 Indiana leads series, 3–2 April 21 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Utah Stars 98 Indiana Pacers 107 Box score 21–29 32–26 18–27 27–25 Willie Wise 17 George McGinnis 23 Gerald Govan 12 Mel Daniels 17 Govan, Warren, Jones 4 each Freddie Lewis 7 9,529 Indiana wins series, 4–2 Eastern Division Finals (1) Carolina Cougars vs. (2) Kentucky Colonels #eee April 11 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina Kentucky Colonels 113 Carolina Cougars 103 Box score 31–35 25–17 29–28 28–23 Rick Mount 31 Billy Cunningham 25 Dan Issel 12 Tom Owens 16 Walt Simon 7 Billy Cunningham 6 9,165 Kentucky leads series, 1–0 April 14 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina Kentucky Colonels 105 Carolina Cougars 125 Box score 23–29 21–26 30–36 31–34 Rick Mount 29 Billy Cunningham 27 Artis Gilmore 11 Billy Cunningham 15 Mike Gale 7 Billy Cunningham 9 5,103 Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 16 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Carolina Cougars 94 Kentucky Colonels 108 Box score 20–29 25–28 24–20 25–31 Tom Owens 17 Dan Issel 34 Tom Owens 10 Artis Gilmore 15 Joe Caldwell 7 Simon, Gale 5 each 10,422 Kentucky leads series, 2–1 April 18 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Carolina Cougars 102 Kentucky Colonels 91 Box score 31–21 22–29 25–20 24–21 Billy Cunningham 32 Dan Issel 31 Tom Owens 17 Dan Issel 15 Mack Calvin 6 Jim O'Brien 5 16,238 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 20 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina Kentucky Colonels 107 Carolina Cougars 112 Box score 23–31 29–18 33–34 22–29 Dan Issel 36 Billy Cunningham 30 Dan Issel 12 Billy Cunningham 15 Dampier, O'Brien 5 each Billy Cunningham 5 11,988 Carolina leads series, 3–2 April 21 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Carolina Cougars 100 Kentucky Colonels 119 Box score 20–29 28–26 26–31 26–33 Billy Cunningham 26 Rick Mount 25 Billy Cunningham 20 Artis Gilmore 16 Mack Calvin 5 Walt Simon 8 16,892 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 24 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina Kentucky Colonels 107 Carolina Cougars 96 Box score 26–18 24–27 28–16 29–35 Dan Issel 31 Cunningham, Jones, Calvin 16 each Dan Issel 17 Tom Owens 16 Simon, Dampier, Mount 3 each Billy Cunningham 3 10,231 Kentucky wins series, 4–3 ABA Finals: (E2) Kentucky Colonels vs. (W2) Indiana Pacers #eee April 28 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Indiana Pacers 111 Kentucky Colonels 107 Box score 38–19 27–32 14–34 21–15 11–7 Freddie Lewis 29 Dan Issel 33 Mel Daniels 14 Dan Issel 20 Freddie Lewis 13 Jim O'Brien 8 12,119 Norm Drucker, Ed Middleton Indiana leads series, 1–0 This was the third time that the Pacers and Colonels played each other in a postseason series, having previously played each other in 1969 and 1970. Indiana dominated most of the first half to lead by 14 but the Colonels scored the first 17 points of the second half to take a lead that would change hands several times. A contentious second half saw the Colonels play a chunk of it under protest after a scoring play by Artis Gilmore was disallowed on a three-second violation. With the Pacers trailing 100–97, Roger Brown shot a three-pointer to tie the game with 1:09 left. With seconds to play, Jimmy O'Brien missed a shot and got the rebound to shoot what seemed to be a successful shot with 35 seconds to go that would have made it 102–100 for the Colonels. However, the referees ruled that the 30-second shot clock had expired and gave the ball back to Indiana, with an apparent television replay being reported as showing the first shot having hit the backboard but not the rim. The Kentucky crowd showered the court with debris as fans scuffled with Pacer players after the game ended. At any rate, the game went into overtime that saw the Pacers take the lead late with Freddie Lewis making a driving jump shot to give Indiana a 109–107 lead before recovering a subsequent missed Colonel shot and being fouled that saw him make both shots to close the scoring.https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-apr-29-1973-p-23/ Associated Press Pacers Capture Controversial Opener Anderson Sunday Herald April 29, 1973 April 8, 2025 April 30 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Indiana Pacers 102 Kentucky Colonels 114 Box score 23–28 24–29 33–22 22–35 George McGinnis 28 Artis Gilmore 29 Mel Daniels 16 Artis Gilmore 26 Mel Daniels 4 Jim O'Brien 10 13,408 Series tied, 1–1 The Colonels dominated the first half with a ten-point lead before Indiana narrowed it to one in under four minutes that saw the two teams trade points until Indiana briefly had the lead 80–79 on a 11–0 run. However, the Colonels took control from there, with Walt Simon making two early baskets to give Kentucky the lead before continuing to build their lead. Artis Gilmore led the game in scoring with 29 points with 11-of-16 shooting while getting 26 rebounds and blocking seven shots while battling a pulled back muscle he re-injured in warmups.https://newspaperarchive.com/seymour-daily-tribune-may-01-1973-p-6/ Associated Press Gilmore Leads Colonels Over Pacers, 114-102 Seymour Daily Tribune May 1, 1973 April 8, 2025https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-01-1973-p-7/ Indiana Fades At Finish, 114-102 Anderson Herald May 1, 1973 April 8, 2025 #eee May 3 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Kentucky Colonels 92 Indiana Pacers 88 Box score 26–14 18–26 22–27 26–21 Artis Gilmore 28 Mel Daniels 21 Artis Gilmore 16 George McGinnis 17 Gilmore, Mount, Simon 6 each Freddie Lewis 8 10,079 Kentucky leads series, 2–1 A tough first quarter saw Kentucky lead 17–5 with one successful field goal in the first four minutes for Indiana before the Pacers eventually battled back to be trailing by just four points at halftime. Indiana took control in the third period and even led 65–59 at one point, but Kentucky took control from there and had the lead for most of the fourth quarter. Kentucky led by as much as 12 before Indiana made one last effort to get it to three points with under 90 seconds to play. With a missed shot by Rick Mount, the Pacers tried to get the ball to George McGinnis down two with under 30 seconds to go, but Gilmore stole the ball and got it to his teammate before Mount was fouled with time expiring that saw him finish the game with free throws made to give Kentucky a four-point win. Indiana out-rebounded Kentucky (66–42) but shot for 31-of-92 (33 percent) while the Colonels made 37-of-85 (43 percent).https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-04-1973-p-16/ Bob Coffman Pacers Start, Finish Slow Anderson Herald May 4, 1973 April 8, 2025 May 5 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Kentucky Colonels 86 Indiana Pacers 90 Box score 22–29 23–19 27–26 16–16 Dan Issel 21 George McGinnis 20 Dan Issel 15 Darnell Hillman 18 Walt Simon 4 Freddie Lewis 6 9,498 Joe Gushue, Wally Rooney Series tied, 2–2 Both teams battled a physical game that saw Indiana lead 48–45. Head coach Bobby Leonard was ejected at halftime after receiving his second technical foul when words he spoke to Freddie Lewis were misconstrued by referee Joe Gushue as directed at him. With no assistant coach, Gus Johnson served as the coach for the rest of the game. Kentucky led early in the third period by four, but the Pacers kept up with the Colonels, with multiple lead changes occurring in the third quarter before Indiana took the lead for good on a Don Buse layup to make it 72–70. Indiana never trailed after that, even leading by seven before the Colonels threatened with under five minutes to go to get it to two. Hillman then scored a shot and free throws to give the Pacers a six-point lead again as the Pacers held on to tie the series. Indiana managed to shoot over 40 percent from the field (37-of-85) while Kentucky was just 37 percent on 34-of-91; after the game, Leonard called the next couple of games ones to "go to war".https://www.ibj.com/articles/mark-montieth-cool-and-crazy Mark Montieth The 1973 ABA champion Pacers were drama kings to the end Indianapolis Business Journal May 12, 2023 April 8, 2025https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-may-06-1973-p-26/ Jim Bailey Pacers Outbrutalize Kentucky Anderson Sunday Herald May 6, 1973 April 8, 2025 #eee May 8 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Indiana Pacers 89 Kentucky Colonels 86 Box score 19–24 23–18 20–22 27–22 Freddie Lewis 31 Dan Issel 31 Mel Daniels 20 Artis Gilmore 17 Daniels, Freeman 3 each Artis Gilmore 11 16,779 John Vanak, Ed Middleton Indiana lead series 3–2 Freddie Lewis scored 28 of his 31 points in the second half as the Pacers took a nine-point lead with under nine minutes to go. But Kentucky stormed back with a 19–5 run (emphasized by a Louie Dampier three-pointer to tie it) that saw them lead 85–80 with under two minutes to go. George McGinnis soon got fouled by Artis Gilmore (his sixth foul) that saw him make both free throws before Freddie Lewis subsequently got the ball and made it from the three-line. Kentucky got the ball and tried to run it down, but Walt Simon missed his 16-ft shot that saw Indiana rebound it with 0:48 to go. On the inbound play, Lewis tried to get the ball to McGinnis, but the ball went out of bounds with under 30 seconds to play. On the Kentucky inbound, McGinnis would bat the pass away and picked it up for what became a slam dunk to give Indiana an 87–86 lead with 0:23 to play. Jim O'Brien missed a shot for Kentucky that saw Mel Daniels fouled on the rebound. Lewis was then fouled on the inbound play that sent him to the free-throw line that saw him make both with under five seconds to go.https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-may-09-1973-p-12/ Associated Press McGinnis' Steal, Basket Saves Pacers, 89-86 Anderson Herald May 9, 1973 April 8, 2025https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-may-09-1973-p-19/ Don Cronin Pacers spurt at proper time, go for ABA crown Thursday Anderson Herald Bulletin May 9, 1973 April 8, 2025 May 10 Indiana State Fair Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana Kentucky Colonels 109 Indiana Pacers 93 Box score 28–24 27–19 25–33 29–17 Artis Gilmore 29 George McGinnis 26 Artis Gilmore 21 George McGinnis 15 Louie Dampier 7 Donnie Freeman 7 10,079 Series tied, 3–3 Kentucky took control of the first half for a twelve-point lead that had fans thinking the team would possibly not enjoy the cases of champagne wheeled through the Coliseum for a potential series victory for the Pacers. Once trailing 70–58 in the third, Indiana pulled within two late in the third quarter, but the Colonels dominated from there, turning a 78–76 lead to 88–76 as the Colonels staved off elimination and sent the series back home to Louisville.https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-herald-bulletin-may-11-1973-p-6/ Kevin Lane Champagne still waits, Pacers fall by 109-93 Anderson Herald Bulletin May 9, 1973 April 8, 2025 #eee May 12 Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky Indiana Pacers 88 Kentucky Colonels 81 Box score 24–18 18–23 24–11 22–29 George McGinnis 27 Artis Gilmore 19 Darnell Hillman 13 Artis Gilmore 17 Freeman, Brown, Keller each Dan Issel 4 16,597 Indiana wins series 4–3 After leading by one point at halftime, Indiana pounced on Kentucky's weak third quarter (where they went three of 22 for just eleven points), with George McGinnis scoring 13 of his 27 points in that quarter that the Colonels could not recover from. It was the last game for Gus Johnson, who recorded seven rebounds and played late defense against Artis Gilmore.https://newspaperarchive.com/terre-haute-tribune-star-may-13-1973-p-45/ George Hackett Leonard Calls Win Team Effort Terre Haute Tribune Star May 13, 1973 April 8, 2025https://newspaperarchive.com/anderson-sunday-herald-may-13-1973-p-23/ George Hackett Pacers Win Third ABA Title Anderson Sunday Herald Associated Press May 13, 1973 April 8, 2025https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/story-behind-all-three-pacers-aba-championships Mark Montieth The Story Behind All Three of the Pacers' ABA Championships NBA.com December 8, 2016 April 8, 2025 Four members of the Pacers eventually made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Gus Johnson (2010), Mel Daniels (2012), Roger Brown (2013), and George McGinnis (2017), to go along with head coach Bobby Leonard (2014) while the Colonels saw three players inducted in Dan Issel (1993), Artis Gilmore (2011), and Louie Dampier (2015). In July, the Colonels lost both their general manager (Mike Storen) and head coach (Joe Mullaney), who each resigned; on July 24, Mullaney promptly signed a contract to coach the Utah Stars.https://newspaperarchive.com/bluefield-daily-telegraph-jul-25-1973-p-14/ Joe Mullaney Will Coach Utah Stars Bluefield Daily Telegraph July 25, 1973 April 8, 2025 He was replaced by Babe McCarthy. Statistical leaders Category Total AveragePlayer Team Total Player Team Avg. Games played Points Dan Issel Kentucky Colonels 521 Julius Erving Virginia Squires 29.6 5 Rebounds Artis Gilmore Kentucky Colonels 260 Mel Daniels Indiana Pacers 13.8 18 Assists Freddie Lewis Indiana Pacers 91 Bill Melchionni New York Nets 6.2 5 Total leaders Points Dan Issel - 521 George McGinnis - 431 Artis Gilmore - 361 Rick Mount - 321 Mel Daniels - 286 Rebounds Artis Gilmore - 260 Mel Daniels - 248 Dan Issel - 225 George McGinnis - 222 Billy Cunningham - 142 Assists Freddie Lewis - 91 Jim O'Brien - 82 Walt Simon - 79 Artis Gilmore - 75 Billy Keller - 63 Minutes Dan Issel - 825 Artis Gilmore - 780 George McGinnis - 731 Rick Mount - 676 Walt Simon - 639 References Sports External links RememberTheABA.com page on 1973 ABA playoffs Basketball-Reference.com's 1973 ABA Playoffs page Playoffs Category:American Basketball Association playoffs