1972–73 Chicago Bulls season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

1972–73 Chicago Bulls season

Head coach| Dick Motta
General manager| Pat Williams
Owner(s)| Dick Klein and Elmer Rich sold team to Arthur Wirtz group
Arena| Chicago Stadium
Results
Record| 51–31 (.622)
Place| Division: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finish| Conference semifinals
(lost to Lakers 3–4)

* * *

Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television| WGN-TV
(Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd)
Radio| WIND
(Jack Fleming, Bill Berg)
| < 1971–72  | 1973–74 >

|

The 1972–73 NBA season was the Bulls' seventh season in the NBA.[1][2]

## Offseason

[edit]

### Draft picks

[edit]

Main article: 1972 NBA draft

## Roster

[edit]

1972–73 Chicago Bulls roster Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Player  | Height  | Weight  | DOB | From

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C | 20 | Dennis Awtrey | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)  | 235 lb (107 kg)  | 1948-02-22  | Santa Clara
C | 18 | Tom Boerwinkle | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)  | 265 lb (120 kg)  | 1945-08-23  | Tennessee
F | 23 | Rowland Garrett | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1950-07-16  | Florida State
F | 24 | Gar Heard | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 219 lb (99 kg)  | 1948-05-03  | Oklahoma
G | 21 | Jim King | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  | 1941-02-07  | Tulsa
F | 10 | Bob Love | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 215 lb (98 kg)  | 1942-12-08  | Southern
F | 54 | Howard Porter | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  | 1948-08-31  | Villanova
C | 14 | Clifford Ray | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 230 lb (104 kg)  | 1949-01-21  | Oklahoma
G | 4 | Jerry Sloan | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1942-03-28  | Evansville
G | 2 | Norm Van Lier | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 173 lb (78 kg)  | 1947-04-01  | Saint Francis (PA)
F | 25 | Chet Walker | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 212 lb (96 kg)  | 1940-02-22  | Bradley
G | 8 | Bob Weiss | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 180 lb (82 kg)  | 1942-05-07  | Penn State

Head coach

* Dick Motta

Assistant(s)

* Phil Johnson

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

* * *

Roster
Updated: October 20, 1972

## Regular season

[edit]

### Season standings

[edit]

Midwest Division

* v
* t
* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Neutral  |  Div

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y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 33–5 | 25–15 | 2–2 | 15–5
x-Chicago Bulls | 51 | 31 | .622 | 9 | 29–12 | 20–19 | 2–0 | 10–10
Detroit Pistons | 40 | 42 | .488 | 20 | 26–15 | 13–25 | 1–2 | 9–11
Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 36 | 46 | .439 | 24 | 24–17 | 12–29 | – | 6–14
#  |

Western Conference

* v
* t
* e

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Team  |  W  |  L  |  PCT
1  | z-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732
2  | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732
3  | x-Chicago Bulls | 51 | 31 | .622
4  | x-Golden State Warriors | 47 | 35 | .573
5  | Detroit Pistons | 40 | 42 | .488
6  | Phoenix Suns | 38 | 44 | .463
7  | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 36 | 46 | .439
8  | Seattle SuperSonics | 26 | 56 | .317
9  | Portland Trail Blazers | 21 | 61 | .256

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 | —

### Game log

[edit]

1972–73 game log

# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record
1 | October 10 | Philadelphia | 89–95 | Chet Walker (24) | 1–0
2 | October 13 | @ Detroit | 91–100 | Bob Love (20) | 1–1
3 | October 14 | Boston | 96–88 | Norm Van Lier (18) | 1–2
4 | October 21 | @ Houston | 130–97 | Bob Love (24) | 2–2
5 | October 22 | @ Los Angeles | 99–104 | Chet Walker (22) | 2–3
6 | October 24 | @ Phoenix | 107–106 | Bob Love (29) | 3–3
7 | October 26 | @ Golden State | 94–93 | Bob Love (30) | 4–3
8 | October 27 | @ Portland | 118–95 | Bob Love (26) | 5–3
9 | October 29 | @ Seattle | 95–94 | Chet Walker (28) | 6–3
10 | October 31 | Kansas City–Omaha | 95–104 | Chet Walker (25) | 7–3
11 | November 3 | Phoenix | 100–115 | Bob Love (34) | 8–3
12 | November 4 | @ Buffalo | 99–101 | Bob Love (27) | 8–4
13 | November 11 | @ Baltimore | 111–106 | Norm Van Lier (28) | 9–4
14 | November 14 | Seattle | 80–97 | Norm Van Lier (26) | 10–4
15 | November 17 | @ Detroit | 96–109 | Gar Heard (20) | 10–5
16 | November 18 | Baltimore | 79–95 | Gar Heard (31) | 11–5
17 | November 21 | Houston | 105–113 | Jerry Sloan (31) | 12–5
18 | November 24 | Golden State | 96–100 | Chet Walker (35) | 13–5
19 | November 25 | @ Atlanta | 100–99 | Chet Walker (25) | 14–5
20 | November 28 | Kansas City–Omaha | 92–91 | Chet Walker (27) | 14–6
21 | November 29 | @ Milwaukee | 97–105 | Heard, Weiss (18) | 14–7
22 | December 1 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 106–97 (OT) | Chet Walker (32) | 15–7
23 | December 2 | Seattle | 80–89 | Chet Walker (22) | 16–7
24 | December 5 | Detroit | 108–130 | Chet Walker (26) | 17–7
25 | December 7 | Atlanta | 94–89 (OT) | Bob Love (26) | 17–8
26 | December 8 | @ Philadelphia | 118–102 | Bob Love (30) | 18–8
27 | December 9 | Buffalo | 94–105 | Gar Heard (29) | 19–8
28 | December 12 | Los Angeles | 106–105 (OT) | Bob Weiss (21) | 19–9
29 | December 15 | New York | 86–90 | Bob Love (18) | 20–9
30 | December 16 | @ New York | 83–97 | Chet Walker (17) | 20–10
31 | December 19 | Portland | 109–100 | Chet Walker (25) | 20–11
32 | December 22 | @ Portland | 127–97 | Bob Love (33) | 21–11
33 | December 23 | @ Golden State | 109–127 | Bob Love (22) | 21–12
34 | December 25 | @ Phoenix | 108–115 | Bob Love (29) | 21–13
35 | December 26 | Kansas City–Omaha | 103–117 | Bob Love (30) | 22–13
36 | December 29 | @ Boston | 106–99 | Bob Love (41) | 23–13
37 | December 30 | Milwaukee | 92–99 | Bob Love (28) | 24–13
38 | January 2 | Atlanta | 90–100 | Chet Walker (26) | 25–13
39 | January 4 | Houston | 97–111 | Love, Walker (25) | 26–13
40 | January 5 | Phoenix | 126–115 | Bob Love (36) | 26–14
41 | January 7 | Buffalo | 96–119 | Bob Love (23) | 27–14
42 | January 9 | Philadelphia | 110–126 | Gar Heard (27) | 28–14
43 | January 10 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 100–102 | Bob Love (36) | 28–15
44 | January 12 | Los Angeles | 109–97 | Bob Love (30) | 28–16
45 | January 14 | @ Milwaukee | 95–100 | Sloan, Walker (20) | 28–17
46 | January 16 | Portland | 89–100 | Love, Heard (27) | 29–17
47 | January 19 | Golden State | 115–80 | Bob Love (23) | 29–18
48 | January 20 | @ Detroit | 92–112 | Bob Love (32) | 29–19
49 | January 26 | Baltimore | 100–110 | Bob Love (24) | 30–19
50 | January 28 | Detroit | 105–110 | Norm Van Lier (29) | 31–19
51 | January 30 | @ Los Angeles | 92–95 | Norm Van Lier (26) | 31–20
52 | February 2 | @ Seattle | 104–118 | Norm Van Lier (29) | 31–21
53 | February 4 | Milwaukee | 99–121 | Bob Love (49) | 32–21
54 | February 6 | Kansas City–Omaha | 107–114 | Bob Love (49) | 33–21
55 | February 9 | @ Cleveland | 103–97 | Bob Love (44) | 34–21
56 | February 10 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 102–101 | Bob Love (34) | 35–21
57 | February 11 | Golden State | 101–96 | Chet Walker (36) | 35–22
58 | February 13 | Boston | 105–101 | Jerry Sloan (20) | 35–23
59 | February 14 | @ New York | 100–98 | Bob Love (21) | 36–23
60 | February 16 | Cleveland | 92–100 | Bob Love (27) | 37–23
61 | February 18 | @ Houston | 110–99 | Chet Walker (23) | 38–23
62 | February 20 | Los Angeles | 89–103 | Chet Walker (25) | 39–23
63 | February 23 | New York | 83–84 | Bob Love (24) | 40–23
64 | February 24 | Phoenix | 100–122 | Bob Love (30) | 41–23
65 | February 25 | @ Seattle | 88–85 | Bob Weiss (24) | 42–23
66 | February 27 | @ Portland | 125–110 | Chet Walker (31) | 43–23
67 | March 2 | @ Los Angeles | 88–108 | Van Lier, Walker (15) | 43–24
68 | March 3 | @ Golden State | 117–116 | Bob Love (29) | 44–24
69 | March 4 | @ Phoenix | 118–117 (OT) | Bob Love (25) | 45–24
70 | March 6 | @ Milwaukee | 88–96 | Chet Walker (27) | 45–25
71 | March 8 | @ Buffalo | 102–112 | Bob Love (33) | 45–26
72 | March 9 | N Philadelphia | 84–104 | Bob Love (26) | 46–26
73 | March 10 | N Baltimore | 105–99 | Norm Van Lier (28) | 47–26
74 | March 13 | Seattle | 89–104 | Jim King (20) | 48–26
75 | March 16 | Milwaukee | 99–91 (OT) | Chet Walker (30) | 48–27
76 | March 17 | Detroit | 99–97 | Chet Walker (22) | 48–28
77 | March 18 | @ Detroit | 119–107 | Norm Van Lier (24) | 49–28
78 | March 20 | Portland | 109–123 | Bob Love (26) | 50–28
79 | March 21 | @ Boston | 105–106 | Chet Walker (20) | 50–29
80 | March 24 | @ Atlanta | 111–113 | Norm Van Lier (26) | 50–30
81 | March 25 | @ Cleveland | 105–112 | Bob Love (29) | 50–31
82 | March 27 | Cleveland | 105–121 | Chet Walker (30) | 51–31

## Playoffs

[edit]

1973 playoff game log

Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

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1  | March 30  | @ Los Angeles | L 104–107 (OT) | Bob Love (21)  | Dennis Awtrey (15)  | Dennis Awtrey (6)  | The Forum
16,341  | 0–1
2  | April 1  | @ Los Angeles | L 93–108 | Bob Love (32)  | Chet Walker (11)  | Tom Boerwinkle (9)  | The Forum
17,368  | 0–2
3  | April 6  | Los Angeles | W 96–86 | Chet Walker (30)  | Dennis Awtrey (14)  | Norm Van Lier (8)  | Chicago Stadium
14,606  | 1–2
4  | April 8  | Los Angeles | W 98–94 | Bob Love (38)  | Bob Love (13)  | Bob Love (6)  | Chicago Stadium
14,181  | 2–2
5  | April 10  | @ Los Angeles | L 102–123 | Bob Love (27)  | Bob Love (14)  | Awtrey, Van Lier (5)  | The Forum
17,505  | 2–3
6  | April 13  | Los Angeles | W 101–93 | Jerry Sloan (27)  | Dennis Awtrey (14)  | Dennis Awtrey (8)  | Chicago Stadium
18,096  | 3–3
7  | April 15  | @ Los Angeles | L 92–95 | Norm Van Lier (28)  | Norm Van Lier (14)  | Bob Love (5)  | The Forum
17,505  | 3–4

1973 schedule

## Awards and records

[edit]

* Norm Van Lier, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Chet Walker, NBA All-Star Game
* Bob Love, NBA All-Star Game

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "N.B.A. Approves Sale of Bulls". Retrieved August 10, 2023.
2. ^ 1972–73 Chicago Bulls

* v
* t
* e

1972–73 NBA season by team

* 1972 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

| Atlantic|

* Boston
* Buffalo
* New York
* Philadelphia

|

Central|

* Atlanta
* Baltimore
* Cleveland
* Houston

Western|

| Midwest|

* Chicago
* Detroit
* Kansas City-Omaha
* Milwaukee

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Pacific|

* Golden State
* Los Angeles
* Phoenix
* Portland
* Seattle

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bulls seasons

* Franchise
* History
* Seasons

1960s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

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1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 | 1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Jersey number
*[DOB]: Date of birth
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Neutral ]: Neutral record
*[ Div ]: Division record