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NBA professional basketball team season
The 1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the third season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio . The Cavaliers finished the season with a 32–50 record, finishing last in the Central Division and 6th Eastern Conference. This was the 2nd consecutive year with a total win increase. Lenny Wilkens led the team in assists and was named an All-Star .
Offseason
Trades
August 23: Guard Lenny Wilkens and forward Barry Clemens obtained from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for guard Butch Beard .
September 21: Cavaliers trade the rights to 1971 second-round draft choice Steve Hawes to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a future undisclosed draft choice.
Draft picks
Note: This table only lists players drafted through the second round.
Roster
1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
34
Carr, Austin
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Mar. 10, 1948
Notre Dame
G
5
Cleamons, Jim
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Sep. 13, 1949
Ohio State
F
40
Clemens, Barry
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
May 1, 1943
Ohio Wesleyan
F
42
Davis, Dwight
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Oct. 28, 1949
Houston
F
32
Johnson, John
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Oct. 18, 1947
Iowa
C
50
Patterson, Steve
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jun. 24, 1948
UCLA
F/C
35
Roberson, Rick
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
231 lb (105 kg)
Jul. 7, 1947
Cincinnati
C
45
Rule, Bob
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jun. 29, 1944
Colorado State
G/F
7
Smith, Bingo
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Feb. 26, 1946
Tulsa
F/C
15
Warner, Cornell
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Aug. 12, 1948
Jackson State
G
11
Warren, John
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jul. 7, 1947
St. John's
G
19
Wilkens, Lenny
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Oct. 28, 1937
Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Season standings
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 Total: 32–50 (Home: 20–21; Road: 10–27; Neutral: 2–2)
October: 3–8 (home: 2–5; road: 1–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
November
: 5–8 (home: 3–2; road: 2–6)
December
: 2–12 (home: 2–6; road: 0–6)
January
: 9–5 (home: 5–1; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
48
January 20, 1973
@ Atlanta
L 84–96
The Omni 6,517
17–31
February
: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4)
March
: 8–8 (home: 5–2; road: 3–6)
1972–73 schedule
Awards and records
References
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s