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1971-72 NBA Season Summary

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League Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Most Valuable Player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34.8/16.6/4.6)
Rookie of the Year: Sidney Wicks (24.5/11.5/4.3)

PPG Leader: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34.8)
RPG Leader: Wilt Chamberlain (19.2)
APG Leader: Jerry West (9.7)
WS Leader: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25.4)

League Standings

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*) ▪ Click conference name for conference standings
Eastern Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G SRS
Atlantic Division              
Boston Celtics* (1) 56 26 .683 — 115.6 110.8 4.38
New York Knicks* (3) 48 34 .585 8.0 107.1 104.7 2.28
Philadelphia 76ers (6) 30 52 .366 26.0 112.2 115.9 -3.44
Buffalo Braves (8) 22 60 .268 34.0 102.0 111.3 -9.44
Central Division              
Baltimore Bullets* (2) 38 44 .463 — 107.1 108.3 -1.26
Atlanta Hawks* (4) 36 46 .439 2.0 109.5 111.3 -1.94
Cincinnati Royals (5) 30 52 .366 8.0 107.8 111.8 -4.13
Cleveland Cavaliers (7) 23 59 .280 15.0 105.8 113.4 -7.90
Western Conference W L W-L% GB PS/G PA/G SRS
Midwest Division              
Milwaukee Bucks* (2) 63 19 .768 — 114.6 103.5 10.70
Chicago Bulls* (3) 57 25 .695 6.0 111.2 102.9 7.91
Phoenix Suns (5) 49 33 .598 14.0 116.3 110.8 5.57
Detroit Pistons (8) 26 56 .317 37.0 109.1 115.9 -6.11
Pacific Division              
Los Angeles Lakers* (1) 69 13 .841 — 121.0 108.7 11.65
Golden State Warriors* (4) 51 31 .622 18.0 108.2 107.4 0.92
Seattle SuperSonics (6) 47 35 .573 22.0 109.2 108.8 0.86
Houston Rockets (7) 34 48 .415 35.0 109.7 111.2 -1.22
Portland Trail Blazers (9) 18 64 .220 51.0 106.8 116.5 -8.84

League Playoffs

Click series name to show/hide game results
Finals (4-1): Los Angeles Lakers over New York Knicks
 
Eastern Conference Finals (4-1): New York Knicks over Boston Celtics
Western Conference Finals (4-2): Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks
 
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-2): Boston Celtics over Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-2): New York Knicks over Baltimore Bullets
Western Conference Semifinals (4-0): Los Angeles Lakers over Chicago Bulls
Western Conference Semifinals (4-1): Milwaukee Bucks over Golden State Warriors

Team Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19755 3920 7998 .490 2080 2833 .734 4628 2232 1636 9920 121.0
2 Phoenix Suns 82 19880 3599 7877 .457 2336 2999 .779 4301 1976 2026 9534 116.3
3 Boston Celtics* 82 19730 3819 8431 .453 1839 2367 .777 4462 2230 2030 9477 115.6
4 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19780 3813 7653 .498 1774 2399 .739 4269 2160 1862 9400 114.6
5 Philadelphia 76ers 82 19780 3577 8057 .444 2049 2825 .725 4318 1920 2203 9203 112.2
6 Chicago Bulls* 82 19780 3539 7853 .451 2039 2700 .755 4371 2087 1964 9117 111.2
7 Houston Rockets 82 19730 3590 8277 .434 1813 2424 .748 4433 1777 1992 8993 109.7
8 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19730 3482 7570 .460 2018 2725 .741 4080 1897 1967 8982 109.5
9 Seattle SuperSonics 82 19755 3461 7457 .464 2035 2659 .765 4123 1976 1738 8957 109.2
10 Detroit Pistons 82 19805 3482 7665 .454 1981 2653 .747 3970 1687 1954 8945 109.1
11 Golden State Warriors* 82 19705 3477 7923 .439 1917 2500 .767 4450 1854 1840 8871 108.2
12 Cincinnati Royals 82 19780 3444 7496 .459 1948 2578 .756 3754 2020 2079 8836 107.8
13 New York Knicks* 82 19805 3521 7673 .459 1743 2303 .757 3909 1985 1899 8785 107.1
14 Baltimore Bullets* 82 19780 3490 7748 .450 1804 2378 .759 4159 1816 1858 8784 107.1
15 Portland Trail Blazers 82 19805 3462 7840 .442 1835 2494 .736 3996 2090 1873 8759 106.8
16 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19755 3458 8074 .428 1758 2390 .736 4098 2060 1936 8674 105.8
17 Buffalo Braves 82 19805 3409 7560 .451 1549 2219 .698 3978 1759 2110 8367 102.0
League Average 82 19774 3561 7832 .455 1913 2556 .748 4194 1972 1939 9036 110.2

Opponent Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Rk Team G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS PTS/G
1 Chicago Bulls* 82 19780 3263 7189 .454 1914 2617 .731 3928 1853 2041 8440 102.9
2 Milwaukee Bucks* 82 19780 3370 8025 .420 1745 2358 .740 3922 1843 1788 8485 103.5
3 New York Knicks* 82 19805 3332 7513 .443 1920 2565 .749 4169 1626 1892 8584 104.7
4 Golden State Warriors* 82 19705 3560 8082 .440 1688 2265 .745 4381 1968 1912 8808 107.4
5 Baltimore Bullets* 82 19780 3545 7842 .452 1790 2412 .742 4244 1844 1869 8880 108.3
6 Los Angeles Lakers* 82 19755 3699 8553 .432 1515 1972 .768 4290 1994 1997 8913 108.7
7 Seattle SuperSonics 82 19755 3619 8029 .451 1681 2248 .748 4183 2037 1975 8919 108.8
8 Boston Celtics* 82 19730 3498 7886 .444 2089 2766 .755 4179 1798 1842 9085 110.8
9 Phoenix Suns 82 19880 3568 7896 .452 1947 2658 .733 4009 1929 2182 9083 110.8
10 Houston Rockets 82 19730 3542 7817 .453 2037 2737 .744 4298 1945 1944 9121 111.2
11 Atlanta Hawks* 82 19730 3601 7744 .465 1925 2530 .761 4004 1890 1996 9127 111.3
12 Buffalo Braves 82 19805 3479 7557 .460 2167 2842 .762 4187 1918 1728 9125 111.3
13 Cincinnati Royals 82 19780 3537 7588 .466 2093 2829 .740 4228 2028 1971 9167 111.8
14 Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19755 3653 7537 .485 1994 2611 .764 4034 2322 1937 9300 113.4
15 Philadelphia 76ers 82 19780 3614 7882 .459 2276 3063 .743 4427 2005 2059 9504 115.9
16 Detroit Pistons 82 19805 3822 8106 .472 1862 2474 .753 4377 2214 1931 9506 115.9
17 Portland Trail Blazers 82 19805 3841 7906 .486 1875 2499 .750 4439 2312 1903 9557 116.5
League Average 82 19774 3561 7832 .455 1913 2556 .748 4194 1972 1939 9036 110.2

Miscellaneous Stats

Playoff teams are marked with an asterisk (*)
Offense Four Factors Defense Four Factors
Rk Team Age PW PL MOV SOS SRS ORtg DRtg Pace eFG% TOV% ORB% FT/FGA eFG% TOV% DRB% FT/FGA Arena Attendance
1 Los Angeles Lakers* 29.5 67 15 12.28 -0.63 11.65 .490 .260 .432 .177 The Forum 668,340
2 Milwaukee Bucks* 26.3 66 16 11.16 -0.46 10.70 .498 .232 .420 .217 Milwaukee Arena 372,439
3 Chicago Bulls* 27.5 61 21 8.26 -0.35 7.91 .451 .260 .454 .266 Chicago Stadium 435,282
4 Phoenix Suns 26.6 54 28 5.50 0.07 5.57 .457 .297 .452 .247 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 342,922
5 Boston Celtics* 27.6 53 29 4.78 -0.40 4.38 .453 .218 .444 .265 Boston Garden 346,701
6 New York Knicks* 28.8 48 34 2.45 -0.17 2.28 .459 .227 .443 .256 Madison Square Garden (IV) 785,298
7 Golden State Warriors* 27.7 43 39 0.77 0.15 0.92 .439 .242 .440 .209 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 200,917
8 Seattle SuperSonics 26.7 42 40 0.46 0.40 0.86 .464 .273 .451 .209 Seattle Center Coliseum 444,302
9 Houston Rockets 24.6 37 45 -1.56 0.35 -1.22 .434 .219 .453 .261 Hofheinz Pavilion 203,599
10 Baltimore Bullets* 26.7 38 44 -1.17 -0.09 -1.26 .450 .233 .452 .228 Baltimore Civic Center 272,339
11 Atlanta Hawks* 26.8 36 46 -1.77 -0.17 -1.94 .460 .267 .465 .249 Alexander Memorial Coliseum 230,784
12 Philadelphia 76ers 28.3 32 50 -3.67 0.23 -3.44 .444 .254 .459 .289 The Spectrum 326,493
13 Cincinnati Royals 25.7 31 51 -4.04 -0.10 -4.13 .459 .260 .466 .276 Cincinnati Gardens 151,186
14 Detroit Pistons 26.2 25 57 -6.84 0.73 -6.11 .454 .258 .472 .230 Cobo Arena 188,763
15 Cleveland Cavaliers 24.2 22 60 -7.63 -0.26 -7.90 .428 .218 .485 .265 Cleveland Arena 214,119
16 Portland Trail Blazers 24.5 19 63 -9.73 0.90 -8.84 .442 .234 .486 .237 Memorial Coliseum 279,506
17 Buffalo Braves 25.0 19 63 -9.24 -0.20 -9.44 .451 .205 .460 .287 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 350,852
League Average 26.7 41 41 0.00 0.00 0.00 .455 .244 .455 .244 341,991

League Leaders

Rate statistic requirements
Minutes Played
1. John Havlicek*-BOS 3698
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 3583
3. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 3469
4. Elvin Hayes*-HOU 3461
5. Nate Thurmond*-GSW 3362
Field Goals
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 1159
2. John Havlicek*-BOS 897
3. Bob Lanier*-DET 834
4. Elvin Hayes*-HOU 832
5. Gail Goodrich*-LAL 826
Field Goal Attempts
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 2019
2. John Havlicek*-BOS 1957
3. Elvin Hayes*-HOU 1918
4. Bob Love-CHI 1854
5. Sidney Wicks-POR 1837
Free Throws
1. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 677
2. Dick Van Arsdale-PHO 529
3. Jerry West*-LAL 515
4. Archie Clark-TOT 514
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 504
Free Throw Attempts
1. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 824
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 732
3. Archie Clark-TOT 667
4. Jerry West*-LAL 633
5. Dick Van Arsdale-PHO 626
Total Rebounds
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 1572
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 1346
3. Wes Unseld*-BAL 1336
4. Nate Thurmond*-GSW 1252
5. Dave Cowens*-BOS 1203
Assists
1. Lenny Wilkens*-SEA 766
2. Jerry West*-LAL 747
3. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 701
4. John Havlicek*-BOS 614
5. Archie Clark-TOT 613
Personal Fouls
1. Dave Cowens*-BOS 314
2. Jerry Sloan-CHI 309
3. Elmore Smith-BUF 306
4. Nate Williams-CIN 300
5. Calvin Murphy*-HOU 298
Points
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 2822
2. John Havlicek*-BOS 2252
3. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 2145
4. Gail Goodrich*-LAL 2127
5. Elvin Hayes*-HOU 2063
Field Goal Pct
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL .649
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL .574
3. Walt Bellamy*-ATL .544
4. Dick Snyder-SEA .529
5. Jerry Lucas*-NYK .512
Free Throw Pct
1. Jack Marin-BAL .894
2. Calvin Murphy*-HOU .890
3. Gail Goodrich*-LAL .850
4. Chet Walker*-CHI .847
5. Dick Van Arsdale-PHO .845
Minutes Per Game
1. John Havlicek*-BOS 45.1
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 44.2
3. Spencer Haywood-SEA 43.4
4. Nate Thurmond*-GSW 43.1
5. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 43.1
Points Per Game
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 34.8
2. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 28.2
3. John Havlicek*-BOS 27.5
4. Spencer Haywood-SEA 26.2
5. Gail Goodrich*-LAL 25.9
Rebounds Per Game
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 19.2
2. Wes Unseld*-BAL 17.6
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 16.6
4. Nate Thurmond*-GSW 16.1
5. Dave Cowens*-BOS 15.2
Assists Per Game
1. Jerry West*-LAL 9.7
2. Lenny Wilkens*-SEA 9.6
3. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 9.2
4. Archie Clark-TOT 8.0
5. John Havlicek*-BOS 7.5
Player Efficiency Rating
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 29.9
2. Bob Lanier*-DET 23.1
3. Jerry West*-LAL 23.1
4. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 23.0
5. Chet Walker*-CHI 21.8
True Shooting Pct
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL .610
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL .603
3. Chet Walker*-CHI .583
4. Dale Schlueter-POR .581
5. Johnny Green-CIN .580
Effective Field Goal Pct
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL .649
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL .574
3. Walt Bellamy*-ATL .545
4. Dick Snyder-SEA .529
5. Jerry Lucas*-NYK .512
Total Rebound Pct
1. Clifford Ray-CHI 22.1
2. Tom Boerwinkle-CHI 21.1
3. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 20.1
4. Wes Unseld*-BAL 19.8
5. Clyde Lee-GSW 18.9
Assist Pct
1. Lenny Wilkens*-SEA 35.8
2. Jerry West*-LAL 33.7
3. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 33.2
4. Norm Van Lier-TOT 29.8
5. Archie Clark-TOT 28.0
Offensive Win Shares
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 18.3
2. Tiny Archibald*-CIN 11.8
3. Walt Frazier*-NYK 10.3
4. Chet Walker*-CHI 10.0
5. Gail Goodrich*-LAL 8.8
Defensive Win Shares
1. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 7.9
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 7.1
3. Dave Cowens*-BOS 6.9
4. Tom Boerwinkle-CHI 6.7
5. John Havlicek*-BOS 6.5
Win Shares
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL 25.4
2. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL 15.8
3. Walt Frazier*-NYK 14.5
4. Chet Walker*-CHI 14.5
5. Jerry West*-LAL 13.3
Win Shares Per 48 Minutes
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*-MIL .340
2. Chet Walker*-CHI .268
3. Walt Frazier*-NYK .223
4. Clifford Ray-CHI .222
5. Wilt Chamberlain*-LAL .219