1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1972–73 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 6th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished the regular season in 6th place in the Western Conference with a 26–56 record, 21 wins behind the one obtained in their previous season. Head coach Tom Nissalke was fired by the team in January after a 13–32 start and was replaced by his assistant Bucky Buckwalter.

Offseason
The offseason trade that sent player-coach Lenny Wilkens to the Cleveland Cavaliers was received with shock from fans and the player himself. The trade also sent Barry Clemens to the Cavaliers and brought All-Star Butch Beard to the Sonics.

The signing of free agent John Brisker cost the SuperSonics a $10,000 fine and the resignation of their 1973 first round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for violation of league rules that prohibited the team to approach Brisker without contacting the Sixers, who selected him in a supplemental draft in 1969 and held the rights to the player. However, Seattle regained its first round pick after an appeal and the Sonics' second round selection was given to the 76ers.

Draft picks
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Season standings
z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Game log
19,447 6,257 8,573 10,950 8,315 6,925 7,140 8,201 8,022
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 1
 * October 10
 * @ New York
 * L 89–113
 * John Brisker (16)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 0–1
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 2
 * October 11
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 105–100
 * Spencer Haywood (22)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 1–1
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 3
 * October 13
 * @ Portland
 * W 92–84
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 2–1
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 4
 * October 20
 * Golden State
 * L 92–101
 * Spencer Haywood (22)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 2–2
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 5
 * October 21
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 117–129
 * John Brisker (34)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 2–3
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 6
 * October 22
 * Portland
 * W 120–119 (OT)
 * John Brisker (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–3
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 7
 * October 25
 * Atlanta
 * L 115–118
 * Spencer Haywood (33)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–4
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 8
 * October 27
 * Phoenix
 * W 120–115
 * Dick Snyder (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–4
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 9
 * October 29
 * Chicago
 * L 94–95
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–5

6,005 10,031 11,250 7,378 8,156 13,174 7,894 4,364 7,762 9,639 6,587 2,864 2,877 6,523 2,912 7,980 5,263
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 10
 * November 1
 * Detroit
 * L 106–116
 * John Brisker (33)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–6
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 11
 * November 3
 * New York
 * L 80–105
 * Spencer Haywood (18)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–7
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 12
 * November 5
 * Los Angeles
 * L 115–124
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–8
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 13
 * November 8
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 103–116
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 4–9
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 14
 * November 10
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 106–111
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–10
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 15
 * November 12
 * Cleveland
 * L 107–113
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–11
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 16
 * November 14
 * @ Chicago
 * L 80–97
 * Spencer Haywood (20)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 4–12
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 17
 * November 15
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 97–106
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * 4–13
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 18
 * November 17
 * Philadelphia
 * W 105–92
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–13
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 19
 * November 18
 * @ Portland
 * W 102–100
 * Spencer Haywood (21)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 6–13
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 20
 * November 19
 * Buffalo
 * W 107–84
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 7–13
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 21
 * November 21
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 88–98
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 7–14
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 22
 * November 22
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 90–112
 * Dick Snyder (21)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 7–15
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 23
 * November 23
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 97–110
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Omni Coliseum
 * Omni Coliseum
 * Omni Coliseum
 * 7–16
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 24
 * November 25
 * @ Houston
 * L 109–114
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * 7–17
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 25
 * November 26
 * Detroit
 * W 103–96
 * Spencer Haywood (39)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–17
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 26
 * November 29
 * @ Boston
 * L 98–120
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 8–18

16,107 8,030 2,957 8,953 14,618 10,628 8,036 7,812 10,633 7,407 4,067 | @ Detroit 3,779 6,818 3,605 12,738
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 27
 * December 1
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 90–93
 * Spencer Haywood, Dick Snyder (15)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–19
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 28
 * December 2
 * @ Chicago
 * L 80–89
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 8–20
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 29
 * December 3
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 103–105 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 8–21
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 30
 * December 6
 * Milwaukee
 * W 95–91
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 9–21
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 31
 * December 8
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 100–119
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 9–22
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 32
 * December 10
 * Phoenix
 * W 110–102
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–22
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 33
 * December 13
 * Milwaukee
 * L 103–104 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–23
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 34
 * December 15
 * Portland
 * L 95–96
 * Spencer Haywood (37)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–24
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 35
 * December 17
 * Boston
 * L 98–123
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–25
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 36
 * December 19
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 77–121
 * John Brisker (15)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 10–26
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 37
 * December 20
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 110–121
 * Isaac Stallworth (32)
 * Omaha, NE
 * Omaha, NE
 * Omaha, NE
 * 10–27
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 38
 * December 22
 * L 97–109
 * Fred Brown (21)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 10–28
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 39
 * December 25
 * @ Portland
 * L 113–116
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 10–29
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 40
 * December 26
 * @ Golden State
 * W 97–95
 * Spencer Haywood (42)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 11–29
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 41
 * December 29
 * Cleveland
 * W 99–91
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 12–29

8,751 10,266 9,087 12,150 7,570 8,420 11,538 4,468 2,630 14,190 12,084 5,701 17,107 6,257
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 42
 * January 1
 * Los Angeles
 * L 103–108
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 12–30
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 43
 * January 3
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 107–100
 * Spencer Haywood (51)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–30
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 44
 * January 5
 * Golden State
 * L 96–128
 * Fred Brown (20)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–31
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 45
 * January 7
 * Philadelphia
 * L 82–85
 * Spencer Haywood (18)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–32
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 46
 * January 10
 * Baltimore
 * L 86–98
 * Spencer Haywood (17)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–33
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 47
 * January 12
 * Detroit
 * W 113–104
 * Spencer Haywood (36)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–33
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 48
 * January 14
 * New York Knicks
 * L 84–86
 * Spencer Haywood (18)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–34
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 49
 * January 16
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 125–122
 * Jim Fox, Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * 15–34
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 50
 * January 17
 * @ Detroit
 * W 106–104
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 16–34
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 51
 * January 19
 * @ Boston
 * L 104–124
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 16–35
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 52
 * January 20
 * Baltimore
 * L 106–126
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * College Park, MD
 * College Park, MD
 * College Park, MD
 * 16–36
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 53
 * January 25
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 109–112
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 16–37
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 54
 * January 28
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 94–130
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 16–38
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 55
 * January 31
 * Houston
 * W 118–109
 * Spencer Haywood (37)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 17–38

8,818 3,261 11,140 4,755 7,084 6,960 13,127 6,034 9,070 12,905 4,179 11,735 10,103 8,295 10,292
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 56
 * February 2
 * Chicago
 * W 118–104
 * John Brisker (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 18–38
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 57
 * February 3
 * @ Golden State
 * L 101–123
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 18–39
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 58
 * February 4
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 98–120
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 18–40
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 59
 * February 6
 * @ Portland
 * W 118–117
 * Spencer Haywood (41)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 19–40
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 60
 * February 8
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 112–125
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 19–41
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 61
 * February 11
 * Buffalo
 * L 125–128
 * Spencer Haywood (40)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 19–42
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 62
 * February 13
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 98–101
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 19–43
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 63
 * February 14
 * Baltimore
 * L 106–107
 * Spencer Haywood (37)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 19–44
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 64
 * February 16
 * Golden State
 * W 114–108 (OT)
 * Fred Brown (33)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 20–44
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 65
 * February 18
 * Boston
 * L 105–106
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 20–45
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 66
 * February 21
 * Houston
 * L 107–139
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * San Antonio, TX
 * San Antonio, TX
 * San Antonio, TX
 * 20–46
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 67
 * February 23
 * Atlanta
 * W 124–120
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 21–46
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 68
 * February 25
 * Chicago
 * L 85–88
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 21–47
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 69
 * February 27
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 130–131
 * Spencer Haywood (33)
 * Omni Coliseum
 * Omni Coliseum
 * Omni Coliseum
 * 21–48
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 70
 * February 28
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 110–124
 * Spencer Haywood (36)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 21–49

5,563 5,044 19,644 4,942 9,270 10,512 8,956 2,992 11,407 10,305 13,180 11,246
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 71
 * March 2
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 139–120
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 22–49
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 72
 * March 3
 * @ Detroit
 * W 115–113
 * Spencer Haywood (33)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 23–49
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 73
 * March 6
 * @ New York
 * L 94–106
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 23–50
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 74
 * March 10
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 106–96
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 24–50
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 75
 * March 13
 * @ Chicago
 * L 89–104
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 24–51
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 76
 * March 16
 * Golden State
 * W 116–106
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 25–51
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 77
 * March 18
 * Houston
 * W 121–112
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–51
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 78
 * March 20
 * @ Golden State
 * L 106–114
 * Spencer Haywood (39)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 26–52
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 79
 * March 21
 * Milwaukee
 * L 96–119
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–53
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 80
 * March 23
 * Portland
 * L 112–118
 * Kennedy McIntosh (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–54
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 81
 * March 25
 * Los Angeles
 * L 93–109
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–55
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 82
 * March 28
 * Phoenix
 * L 125–127
 * John Brisker (39)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–56

Awards and records

 * Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA First Team for the second time.