1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season

1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	Lenny Wilkens
General manager	Bob Houbregs
Arena	Seattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTNT-TV
Radio	KOMO
< 1970–71 1972–73 >

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]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	6	Fred Brown	Guard	United States	Iowa
2	23	Jim McDaniels	Forward / center	United States	Western Kentucky
8	125	Charlie Lowery	Guard	United States	Puget Sound

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 Lenny Wilkens Assistant coach(es) Rod Thorn Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Seattle SuperSonics Depth Chart - 1971-72
Position	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Jake Ford	Lenny Wilkens	Lee Winfield
SG	Dick Snyder	Fred Brown
SF	Don Kojis	Barry Clemens
PF	Spencer Haywood	Gar Heard
C	Jim McDaniels	Bob Rule	Zaid Abdul-Aziz	Pete Cross

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	69	13	.841	–	36–5	31–7	2–1	21–3
x-Golden State Warriors	51	31	.622	18	27–8	21–20	3–3	14–10
Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	22	28–12	18–22	1–1	12–12
Houston Rockets	34	48	.415	35	15–20	14–23	5–5	9–15
Portland Trail Blazers	18	64	.220	51	14–26	4–35	0–3	4–20

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	69	13	.841
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	63	19	.768
3	x-Chicago Bulls	57	25	.695
4	x-Golden State Warriors	51	31	.622
5	Phoenix Suns	49	33	.598
6	Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573
7	Houston Rockets	34	48	.415
8	Detroit Pistons	26	56	.317
9	Portland Trail Blazers	18	64	.220

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

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Fred Brown	33	–	10.9	.328	–	.759	1.1	1.8	–	–	4.2
Barry Clemens	82	–	17.6	.521	–	.844	3.5	.8	–	–	7.1
Pete Cross	74	–	19.2	.428	–	.736	6.9	.9	–	–	5.5
Jake Ford	26	–	7.0	.500	–	.788	.4	1.0	–	–	3.5
Spencer Haywood	73	–	43.4	.461	–	.819	12.7	2.0	–	–	26.2
Gar Heard	58	–	25.8	.401	–	.617	7.6	.9	–	–	7.9
Don Kojis	73	–	25.4	.469	–	.793	4.6	1.1	–	–	11.4
Jim McDaniels	12	–	19.6	.415	–	.611	6.8	.8	–	–	9.4
Bob Rule	16	–	15.2	.363	–	.535	3.4	.4	–	–	7.1
Don Smith	58	–	30.7	.429	–	.720	11.3	2.1	–	–	13.8
Dick Snyder	73	–	34.7	.529	–	.842	3.1	3.9	–	–	16.6
Lenny Wilkens	80	–	37.4	.466	–	.774	4.2	9.6	–	–	18.0
Lee Winfield	81	–	25.2	.496	–	.668	2.7	3.6	–	–	10.6

• Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA First Team and made his first All-Star appearance at the 1972 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

• Spencer Haywood suffered a leg injury at the beginning of March and was out for the season.^[11]

Players Added	Players Lost
Via draft Fred Brown Jim McDaniels	Via trade Don Kojis Bob Rule Retired Tom Meschery[12] Rod Thorn

November 25, 1971	To Seattle SuperSonics	To Philadelphia 76ers
	1972 second round pick (became Joby Wright) Future second round pick	Bob Rule