The 1971-72 NBA season was the Rockets' 5th season in the NBA and 1st season in the city of Houston[1] following their relocation from San Diego, where the franchise played its first four seasons prior to moving to becoming the first NBA franchise in Texas.
1971–72 Houston Rockets roster
Players
|
Coaches
|
Pos.
|
No.
|
Name
|
Height
|
Weight
|
DOB
|
From
|
C
|
34
|
Cunningham, Dick
|
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
|
245 lb (111 kg)
|
1946-07-11
|
Murray State
|
PG
|
21
|
Egan, Johnny
|
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
1939-01-31
|
Providence
|
SF
|
40
|
Gibbs, Dick
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
210 lb (95 kg)
|
1948-12-20
|
UTEP
|
C
|
44
|
Hayes, Elvin
|
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
|
235 lb (107 kg)
|
1945-11-17
|
Houston
|
SG
|
22
|
Lantz, Stu
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
175 lb (79 kg)
|
1946-07-13
|
Nebraska
|
SF
|
18
|
McLemore, McCoy
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
230 lb (104 kg)
|
1942-04-03
|
Drake
|
PF
|
25
|
Meely, Cliff
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
215 lb (98 kg)
|
1947-07-10
|
Colorado
|
PG
|
23
|
Murphy, Calvin
|
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
|
165 lb (75 kg)
|
1948-05-09
|
Niagara
|
SG
|
14
|
Newlin, Mike
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
200 lb (91 kg)
|
1949-01-02
|
Utah
|
SF
|
4
|
Smith, Greg
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
195 lb (88 kg)
|
1947-01-28
|
Western Kentucky
|
PF
|
45
|
Tomjanovich, Rudy
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
218 lb (99 kg)
|
1948-11-24
|
Michigan
|
SG
|
33
|
Vallely, John
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
1948-10-03
|
UCLA
|
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
Roster Last transaction: December 16, 1971
|
Record vs. opponents
edit
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
|
# |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
High points |
Record
|
1 |
October 14 |
Philadelphia |
105–94 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (28) |
0–1
|
2 |
October 16 |
@ Phoenix |
108–128 |
Elvin Hayes (26) |
0–2
|
3 |
October 17 |
N Detroit |
99–112 |
Calvin Murphy (26) |
0–3
|
4 |
October 20 |
N Chicago |
110–125 |
Stu Lantz (33) |
0–4
|
5 |
October 22 |
@ Seattle |
91–110 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (18) |
0–5
|
6 |
October 24 |
Los Angeles |
113–103 |
Elvin Hayes (35) |
0–6
|
7 |
October 26 |
@ Detroit |
104–103 |
Elvin Hayes (30) |
1–6
|
8 |
October 27 |
@ Boston |
97–108 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (25) |
1–7
|
9 |
October 28 |
@ New York |
94–112 |
Calvin Murphy (21) |
1–8
|
10 |
October 31 |
Buffalo |
87–102 |
Cliff Meely (19) |
2–8
|
11 |
November 3 |
New York |
117–98 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (26) |
2–9
|
12 |
November 4 |
Portland |
112–110 |
Elvin Hayes (28) |
2–10
|
13 |
November 7 |
Baltimore |
109–106 |
Elvin Hayes (38) |
2–11
|
14 |
November 9 |
@ Golden State |
99–115 |
Stu Lantz (30) |
2–12
|
15 |
November 10 |
Boston |
142–103 |
Elvin Hayes (30) |
2–13
|
16 |
November 12 |
@ Milwaukee |
102–111 |
Stu Lantz (26) |
2–14
|
17 |
November 13 |
@ Chicago |
102–111 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
2–15
|
18 |
November 16 |
@ Baltimore |
107–110 |
Elvin Hayes (31) |
2–16
|
19 |
November 17 |
@ Philadelphia |
118–112 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
3–16
|
20 |
November 19 |
@ Los Angeles |
99–106 |
Elvin Hayes (26) |
3–17
|
21 |
November 21 |
N Golden State |
115–96 |
Mike Newlin (31) |
4–17
|
22 |
November 24 |
Philadelphia |
108–109 |
Hayes, Tomjanovich (27) |
5–17
|
23 |
November 28 |
Phoenix |
116–110 |
Elvin Hayes (30) |
5–18
|
24 |
November 30 |
@ Buffalo |
115–101 |
Lantz, Murphy (18) |
6–18
|
25 |
December 1 |
@ Cleveland |
106–116 |
Lantz, Murphy (24) |
6–19
|
26 |
December 3 |
@ Detroit |
112–113 |
Elvin Hayes (35) |
6–20
|
27 |
December 4 |
@ Boston |
107–117 |
Elvin Hayes (28) |
6–21
|
28 |
December 8 |
Los Angeles |
125–120 |
Elvin Hayes (31) |
6–22
|
29 |
December 10 |
Atlanta |
88–95 |
Stu Lantz (28) |
7–22
|
30 |
December 11 |
@ Phoenix |
111–110 |
Hayes, Murphy (24) |
8–22
|
31 |
December 12 |
Seattle |
98–100 |
Elvin Hayes (34) |
9–22
|
32 |
December 14 |
@ Milwaukee |
98–106 |
Cliff Meely (20) |
9–23
|
33 |
December 15 |
@ Atlanta |
117–115 (OT) |
Stu Lantz (30) |
10–23
|
34 |
December 17 |
@ Chicago |
109–98 |
Stu Lantz (31) |
11–23
|
35 |
December 18 |
@ Cincinnati |
126–116 |
Elvin Hayes (29) |
12–23
|
36 |
December 21 |
@ Portland |
132–119 |
Elvin Hayes (44) |
13–23
|
37 |
December 26 |
@ Los Angeles |
115–137 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
13–24
|
38 |
December 29 |
Phoenix |
124–106 |
Stu Lantz (19) |
13–25
|
39 |
December 30 |
Atlanta |
115–129 |
Elvin Hayes (42) |
14–25
|
40 |
January 2 |
Detroit |
109–107 |
Elvin Hayes (26) |
14–26
|
41 |
January 4 |
Seattle |
110–119 |
Calvin Murphy (28) |
15–26
|
42 |
January 5 |
Boston |
113–105 |
Elvin Hayes (25) |
15–27
|
43 |
January 9 |
Golden State |
113–112 |
Calvin Murphy (25) |
15–28
|
44 |
January 11 |
@ Seattle |
126–141 |
Elvin Hayes (42) |
15–29
|
45 |
January 15 |
Cleveland |
109–112 |
Elvin Hayes (30) |
16–29
|
46 |
January 16 |
New York |
109–108 |
Elvin Hayes (24) |
16–30
|
47 |
January 20 |
@ Cincinnati |
104–87 |
Elvin Hayes (27) |
17–30
|
48 |
January 21 |
@ Boston |
105–110 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (25) |
17–31
|
49 |
January 22 |
@ Chicago |
108–115 |
Elvin Hayes (23) |
17–32
|
50 |
January 23 |
@ Detroit |
109–107 |
Stu Lantz (32) |
18–32
|
51 |
January 25 |
Portland |
104–118 |
Elvin Hayes (27) |
19–32
|
52 |
January 26 |
N Chicago |
108–117 |
Elvin Hayes (36) |
19–33
|
53 |
January 28 |
@ Los Angeles |
105–118 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
19–34
|
54 |
February 2 |
N Seattle |
88–111 |
Greg Smith (23) |
20–34
|
55 |
February 4 |
@ Portland |
113–114 |
Elvin Hayes (28) |
20–35
|
56 |
February 5 |
Milwaukee |
119–112 |
Stu Lantz (30) |
20–36
|
57 |
February 6 |
Atlanta |
113–120 |
Calvin Murphy (27) |
21–36
|
58 |
February 8 |
N Seattle |
127–119 |
Elvin Hayes (31) |
21–37
|
59 |
February 11 |
Baltimore |
95–116 |
Calvin Murphy (28) |
22–37
|
60 |
February 13 |
Cincinnati |
111–112 |
Calvin Murphy (31) |
23–37
|
61 |
February 14 |
@ Philadelphia |
130–116 |
Elvin Hayes (28) |
24–37
|
62 |
February 15 |
@ Baltimore |
98–113 |
Elvin Hayes (31) |
24–38
|
63 |
February 16 |
@ New York |
100–110 |
Elvin Hayes (26) |
24–39
|
64 |
February 18 |
@ Buffalo |
108–96 |
Elvin Hayes (27) |
25–39
|
65 |
February 23 |
N Los Angeles |
110–115 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
26–39
|
66 |
February 26 |
Detroit |
106–122 |
Elvin Hayes (36) |
27–39
|
67 |
February 27 |
Golden State |
117–104 |
Elvin Hayes (33) |
27–40
|
68 |
March 1 |
N Cincinnati |
108–96 |
Hayes, Lantz (26) |
28–40
|
69 |
March 3 |
N Golden State |
107–108 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (26) |
28–41
|
70 |
March 4 |
Cleveland |
130–123 |
Stu Lantz (31) |
28–42
|
71 |
March 5 |
Chicago |
128–97 |
Calvin Murphy (28) |
28–43
|
72 |
March 9 |
N Portland |
111–114 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (29) |
29–43
|
73 |
March 10 |
Golden State |
119–116 |
Calvin Murphy (35) |
29–44
|
74 |
March 11 |
Buffalo |
100–121 |
Stu Lantz (29) |
30–44
|
75 |
March 12 |
Philadelphia |
112–121 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (33) |
31–44
|
76 |
March 16 |
New York |
103–102 |
Elvin Hayes (37) |
31–45
|
77 |
March 18 |
Milwaukee |
120–116 (OT) |
Elvin Hayes (39) |
31–46
|
78 |
March 21 |
@ Milwaukee |
94–111 |
Calvin Murphy (21) |
31–47
|
79 |
March 22 |
@ Atlanta |
106–107 |
Stu Lantz (29) |
31–48
|
80 |
March 24 |
@ Cleveland |
127–119 |
Rudy Tomjanovich (35) |
32–48
|
81 |
March 25 |
@ Baltimore |
106–85 |
Calvin Murphy (27) |
33–48
|
82 |
March 26 |
Portland |
109–131 |
Elvin Hayes (30) |
34–48
|