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 1994.
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.
Draft picks
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.
Roster
1972–73 New York Knicks roster
Players
|
Coaches
|
|
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
Roster Updated: 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
|
# |
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
|
Playoffs
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
|
Player statistics
Season
Opponents
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
|
Playoffs
Opponents
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
|
Local TV
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 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.
Transactions
Transactions listed are from July 1, 1972, to June 30, 1973.
Trades
References
External links
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