1972 NBA Finals
The 1972 NBA Finals represent a pivotal moment in basketball history, pitting two legendary franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks — against each other. This series wasn't just a contest for the championship; it was the culmination of a record-breaking season for one team and a hard-fought playoff run for the other, defining the legacies of some of the game's greatest players. Join us as we recount the dramatic clash that crowned a new champion. The Los Angeles Lakers capped off one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history with their first championship since moving to Los Angeles, fueled by a record 33-game winning streak. Injuries significantly hampered the New York Knicks' chances, forcing key players to endure grueling minutes against a formidable Lakers squad. Wilt Chamberlain delivered a truly dominant Finals MVP performance, showcasing his incredible all-around game, including an unofficial near-quadruple-double in the decisive Game 5.
AI Summary
The 1972 NBA Finals represent a pivotal moment in basketball history, pitting two legendary franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks — against each other. This series wasn't just a contest for the championship; it was the culmination of a record-breaking season for one team and a hard-fought playoff run for the other, defining the legacies of some of the game's greatest players. Join us as we recount the dramatic clash that crowned a new champion.
- The Los Angeles Lakers capped off one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history with their first championship since moving to Los Angeles, fueled by a record 33-game winning streak.
- Injuries significantly hampered the New York Knicks' chances, forcing key players to endure grueling minutes against a formidable Lakers squad.
- Wilt Chamberlain delivered a truly dominant Finals MVP performance, showcasing his incredible all-around game, including an unofficial near-quadruple-double in the decisive Game 5.
A Championship Rematch
The 1972 NBA Finals brought together two familiar foes: the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks. This wasn't their first dance on basketball's biggest stage — it was a highly anticipated rematch of the dramatic 1970 Finals, which the Knicks had ultimately won in a thrilling seven-game series.
The Unstoppable Lakers
The 1971-72 Lakers were nothing short of historic. They stormed through the regular season, setting an NBA record with an astounding 69 wins — a mark that stood for over two decades. Even more incredible was their legendary 33-game winning streak, a testament to their unparalleled dominance that remains unbroken to this day.
This Lakers team was an offensive juggernaut, averaging an incredible 121 points per game. They were powered by Hall of Fame talents like Wilt Chamberlain, who led the league in rebounding, and the dynamic backcourt duo of Gail Goodrich and Jerry West, both top-ten scorers in the NBA, with West also leading in assists.
Their path to the Finals was equally impressive. Los Angeles swept a strong 57-win Chicago Bulls team in the opening round, then faced a monumental challenge in the Western Conference Finals against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. In a series that pitted Chamberlain against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and West against Oscar Robertson, the Lakers prevailed in six hard-fought games.
The Resilient Knicks
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks presented a formidable challenge with their stifling defense. They allowed a league-best 98.2 points per game, frustrating opponents with their intensity and efficiency. As a team, they shot a respectable 47% from the field, balancing their defensive prowess with solid offensive execution.
The Knicks' journey to the Finals included a first-round victory over the Baltimore Bullets. They then pulled off a significant upset in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the 56-win Boston Celtics, demonstrating their resilience and championship pedigree heading into the series with the Lakers.
Series Summary: A Five-Game Battle
Game Date Home team Result Road team Referees Game 1 April 26 Los Angeles Lakers 92–114 (0–1) New York Knicks Richie Powers, Ed Rush Game 2 April 30 Los Angeles Lakers 106–92 (1–1) New York Knicks Mendy Rudolph, Jack Madden Game 3 May 3 New York Knicks 96–107 (1–2) Los Angeles Lakers Don Murphy, Richie Powers Game 4 May 5 New York Knicks 111–116 (OT) (1–3) Los Angeles Lakers Mendy Rudolph, Jake O'Donnell Game 5 May 7 Los Angeles Lakers 114–100 (4–1) New York Knicks Richie Powers, Jack Madden, Ed Rush (Alternate)
Game 1: Knicks Strike First
Despite the absence of their star center, Willis Reed, due to a knee injury, the Knicks stunned the Lakers in Game 1. Jerry Lucas, stepping into Reed's enormous shoes, delivered a spectacular performance with 26 points, exploiting Wilt Chamberlain's defensive tendencies. Lucas, an excellent outside shooter, drew Chamberlain away from the basket, then shot over him or found lanes to score.
The entire Knicks team was red-hot, particularly Bill Bradley, who hit an incredible 11 of 12 shots. New York shot 53% as a team and jumped to an early lead, never looking back as they cruised to a surprising 114–92 victory. Lakers guards Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, usually prolific scorers, went a frigid 11-for-37 from the field, unable to ignite their offense.
Game 2: Lakers Even the Score
Furious after their Game 1 home loss, the Lakers were determined to even the series. While they held a slim one-point lead at halftime, the game's turning point arrived when Knicks forward Dave DeBusschere, battling Chamberlain for rebounds, suffered a painful side injury and was sidelined for the entire second half. His absence was a critical blow to New York's rebounding and defense.
With DeBusschere out and guard Earl Monroe also playing hurt, the Lakers seized control. Gail Goodrich erupted for 31 points, while Jerry West, still struggling with his shot, masterfully orchestrated the offense with 13 assists. Chamberlain, freed from DeBusschere's relentless pressure, dominated the boards with 24 rebounds, asserting his presence on both ends of the court. The Lakers ultimately secured a 106-92 victory, tying the series at 1-1.
Game 3: Los Angeles Takes the Lead
The series shifted to Madison Square Garden, where optimistic Knicks fans hoped their team would capitalize on their strong home court record. However, DeBusschere, despite a valiant attempt to play through his injury, was ineffective and ultimately sidelined himself at halftime, stating, "I didn't feel I was helping the team." His absence was sorely felt.
Jerry Lucas once again tried to pick up the slack for the Knicks, scoring 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in 47 minutes. But it wasn't enough. The Lakers, led by 20 rebounds each from Chamberlain and Happy Hairston, and 46 combined points from West and Goodrich, took command in the third quarter. They built a commanding 22-point lead and left New York with a 107–96 victory, taking a 2–1 series advantage.
Game 4: An Overtime Thriller
Facing a must-win situation, Dave DeBusschere returned for Game 4, playing all 48 minutes and leading the Knicks with 13 rebounds. The game was a seesaw battle, with the Knicks holding a slim lead at halftime. In the closing seconds of regulation, Jerry West hit a clutch basket to put the Lakers ahead, but Walt Frazier responded with a tip-in over Chamberlain to force overtime, tied at 101-101.
However, the Lakers, fueled by their deep rotation and conditioning, outscored New York 15–10 in the extra period, winning 116-111. All five Lakers starters played at least 45 minutes, with Wilt Chamberlain logging an incredible 53 minutes and pulling down 24 rebounds. The Laker backcourt of West and Goodrich combined for 56 points, again proving decisive. This hard-fought victory gave Los Angeles a commanding 3-1 series lead.
This memorable Game 4 also marked a unique officiating debut in the Finals for Jake O'Donnell, a former professional baseball umpire. Due to his MLB career, O'Donnell had been precluded from working NBA playoff games during his first four seasons. After leaving baseball in 1971 to focus on basketball, he began a long and distinguished career officiating NBA championship series, lasting through 1994.
Game 5: A Championship for Los Angeles
Back home and with the championship in sight, the Lakers faced a moment of concern as Wilt Chamberlain was listed as doubtful for Game 5 due to a sprained right wrist. Despite the injury scare, the Lakers were determined to clinch their first title since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
After a tightly contested first half, with the score tied at 53-all, the Lakers finally pulled away from the exhausted Knicks in the second half. Wilt Chamberlain, seemingly unfazed by his injury, delivered a monumental performance, flirting with what would have been an unofficial quadruple-double: 24 points, 29 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 8 assists in 47 minutes. While blocks weren't an official stat, ABC announcer Keith Jackson meticulously tracked them on air, highlighting Wilt's all-encompassing dominance.
West and Goodrich combined for 48 points, continuing their high-scoring output, while Walt Frazier fought valiantly for the Knicks with 31 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. But the Lakers were simply too strong. They secured a 114-100 victory, winning the series 4-1, and finally claiming their long-awaited NBA Championship in Los Angeles.
For his incredible overall performance throughout the series — averaging 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds — Wilt Chamberlain was rightfully named the Finals Most Valuable Player, a crowning achievement in his legendary career. Gail Goodrich led the Lakers in scoring with 25.2 points per game, while Jerry West averaged 19.8 points and 8.8 assists.
Aftermath: A Rivalry Continues
The rivalry between these two storied franchises wasn't over. The Lakers and Knicks would meet again in the NBA Finals the very next year. In a remarkable reversal of fortune, the Knicks would get their revenge, winning four straight games after dropping the opener, to secure their second NBA title in four years.
The legacy of this championship run, and Wilt Chamberlain's iconic performance, continues to resonate. In 2023, Chamberlain's game-worn 1972 NBA Finals Game 5 'Championship Clinching' jersey sold for an astonishing $4.9 million, setting a record for any jersey at the time, later surpassed only by Michael Jordan's 1998 'Last Shot' jersey.
Article
1972 NBA Finals
The 1972 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round played at the conclusion of the 1971–72 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks in five games to win their sixth title. The Lakers won their first NBA championship since the franchise moved to Los Angeles from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Background
1972 NBA Finals
The 1972 NBA Finals was a rematch of the 1970 NBA Finals that the Knicks had won in a full seven-game series.
Los Angeles Lakers
The 1971-72 Lakers won a then NBA-record 69 regular season games, including 33 wins in a row—a record that still stands. The 69 wins would remain a record for the most wins in a season until the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls (who were coached by former Knicks player Phil Jackson) broke it en route to a 72-win season that also resulted in a championship. The Lakers were led by Wilt Chamberlain, the NBA's top rebounder that season. Guards Gail Goodrich and Jerry West were each among the NBA's top ten scorers. The Lakers were the league highest-scoring team, averaging 121 points per game. West also led the NBA in assists.
Los Angeles swept a solid 57-win Chicago Bulls team in the playoffs' opening round, then defeated the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks (record of 63–19) in six games to win the Western Conference finals. That historic series had matched Chamberlain against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and West against Oscar Robertson.
New York Knicks
New York was a top defensive team that allowed just 98.2 points per game and made 47% of their shots as a team. They had defeated the 38-win Baltimore Bullets and then upset the 56-win Boston Celtics to win the Eastern Conference finals.
Series summary
1972 NBA Finals
<table><thead><tr><th>Game</th><th>Date</th><th>Home team</th><th>Result</th><th>Road team</th><th>Referees</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Game 1</td><td>April 26</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>92–114 (0–1)</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>Richie Powers, Ed Rush</td></tr><tr><td>Game 2</td><td>April 30</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>106–92 (1–1)</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>Mendy Rudolph, Jack Madden</td></tr><tr><td>Game 3</td><td>May 3</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>96–107 (1–2)</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Don Murphy, Richie Powers</td></tr><tr><td>Game 4</td><td>May 5</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>111–116 (OT) (1–3)</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Mendy Rudolph, Jake O'Donnell</td></tr><tr><td>Game 5</td><td>May 7</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>114–100 (4–1)></td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>Richie Powers, Jack Madden, Ed Rush (Alternate)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Game-by-game summary
Game 1
Willis Reed was out with a knee injury, but his replacement, Jerry Lucas, scored 26 points on 13 of 21 shooting to lead the Knicks to the win in the series opener. Lucas, a 6'9" center, was an excellent outside shooter. Chamberlain would not pursue him far from the basket and preferred to position for rebounds instead. The intelligent Lucas exploited this fact. But Lucas was not the only Knick who was red hot. Bill Bradley hit 11 of 12 shots from the field as New York shot 53 percent as a team for the game. The team took advantage of a nearly perfect first half to jump to a good lead and won easily, 114–92. New York hit 16 of their first 20 shots and led after each quarter. The win was considered a surprising upset. Dave DeBusschere added 19 points and 18 rebounds. Walt Frazier triple-doubled with 14 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds. The high-scoring Lakers backcourt of Jerry West and Gail Goodrich shot a cold 11 of 37, and no Los Angeles players took up their slack.
Game 2
Heavily criticized for their Game 1 loss in the home opener, the Lakers looked to avenge themselves on their home court again. But at halftime, the Lakers' lead was just 51–50. Knicks forward DeBusschere, straining in position battles against the gigantic Chamberlain, hurt his side and did not play after the first half. The loss of DeBusschere, a key New York rebounder and defender, would badly hurt the team's chances from this point forward. He had played 43 minutes in Game 1, and the Knicks relied on him heavily. Also playing hurt was New York guard Earl Monroe. The Lakers' Gail Goodrich took advantage and netted 31 points. The still cold-shooting West simply passed and had 13 assists. Chamberlain took advantage of DeBusschere's absence and pulled down 24 rebounds, controlling the middle at both ends of the court. Lucas had foul trouble and sat much of the third quarter, with New York scoring just 11 points in the period. A New York rally in the fourth quarter could not stop a 106-92 Los Angeles win to even the series.
Both teams used short rotations during the series. Los Angeles played each of its starters 40 minutes or more in Game 2, with Chamberlain playing all 48. New York figured to do the same, but now had to deal with injury issues to DeBusschere and Monroe.
Game 3
The Knicks' Dave DeBusschere was listed as doubtful for Game Three. Despite injury issues, New York fans were optimistic as the series now headed to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks went 5-0 vs. the Bullets and Celtics in route to the Finals. The Knicks had gotten their ' split ' in two games in Los Angeles, and now had a chance to take control of the series. DeBusschere gamely attempted to play in the first half, but simply could not overcome his injury. He missed all six of his field-goal attempts. He was hurting and elected not to play in the second half. DeBusschere explained: "I didn't feel I was helping the team". Lucas, the star of Game 1, tried to take up DeBusschere's slack. He hit 11 of 21 shots for 23 total points and 14 rebounds in 47 minutes of play. He also added a team-high six assists. Frazier added 25 points himself. Bradley went a cold 5 of 17. The Lakers led 52–47 at the half, and with DeBusschere out, took over the game again in the third quarter. Chamberlain and Laker forward Happy Hairston collected 20 rebounds apiece, with the Laker giant also adding 26 points on 9 of 10 shooting. West and Goodrich combined for 46 points, and Los Angeles danced out to a 22-point lead and took a 2–1 lead in the series with a 107–96 win. Nineteen thousand five-hundred New York fans watched the contest.
Game 4
The Knicks felt that Game 4 was a must-win game. DeBusschere vowed to play, lasting 48 minutes and pulling down a team-high 13 rebounds. New York led 56–53 at the half. After an even third quarter, the Lakers rallied in the fourth. West made a clutch basket to give the Lakers the lead with seconds left, but a Frazier tip-in over Chamberlain evened the score. West missed at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime tied 101-101. The Lakers would outscore New York 15–10 in the extra frame to win 116-111 and take a commanding 3–1 series lead back to Los Angeles.
All five Los Angeles starters played at least 45 minutes in Game 4, with Lakers coach Bill Sharman using just seven players total. Chamberlain played all 53 minutes and had 24 rebounds. The Laker starting guards combined for 56 points to again key the team.
In the game New York had two players that played at least 50 minutes. Lucas played all 53 minutes, and had 25 points on 11-22 shooting, with 11 assists and eight rebounds. Frazier had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 50 minutes.
This was the first championship series game officiated by Jake O'Donnell, who was precluded from working playoff games during his first four seasons in the NBA due to his career as a professional baseball umpire. O'Donnell was called up to the American League in September 1968 and was in Major League Baseball through the 1971 American League Championship Series, when he left the diamond to focus on basketball. O'Donnell would officiate in the championship series (renamed the NBA Finals in 1986) every year through (/wiki/1994NBAFinals).
Game 5
Chamberlain was listed as doubtful for Game Five with a sprained right wrist.
The Lakers returned home looking to win their first title in Los Angeles. After playing to a 53-all tie at halftime, The Lakers finally pulled away from the tired Knicks in the second half.
Chamberlain dominated the middle, flirting with what would've been a quadruple-double with 24 points, 29 rebounds, eight blocks and eight assists in 47 minutes. Blocked shots were not an official NBA stat at that time, but ABC announcer Keith Jackson counted them up during the broadcast. West and Goodrich combined for 48 points.
Walt Frazier had 31 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in 47 minutes for the Knicks.
The Lakers won 114-100 to claim their first NBA Championship in Los Angeles. For the series, Chamberlain averaged 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds and was named Finals Most Valuable Player.
West had averaged 19.8 points and 8.8 assists, and Goodrich averaged 25.2 points for the series.
Team rosters
Los Angeles Lakers
<table><thead><tr><th>Players</th><th>Coaches</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Head coach Legend</td></tr><tr><td>Pos.</td><td>No.</td><td>Player</td><td>Height</td><td>Weight</td><td>DOB</td><td>From</td></tr><tr><td>C</td><td>13</td><td>Wilt Chamberlain</td><td>7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)</td><td>275 lb (125 kg)</td><td>1936-08-21</td><td>Kansas</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>11</td><td>Jim Cleamons</td><td>6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)</td><td>185 lb (84 kg)</td><td>1949-09-13</td><td>Ohio State</td></tr><tr><td>C</td><td>14</td><td>Leroy Ellis</td><td>6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)</td><td>210 lb (95 kg)</td><td>1940-03-10</td><td>St. John's</td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>24</td><td>Keith Erickson</td><td>6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)</td><td>195 lb (88 kg)</td><td>1944-04-19</td><td>UCLA</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>25</td><td>Gail Goodrich</td><td>6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)</td><td>170 lb (77 kg)</td><td>1943-04-23</td><td>UCLA</td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>52</td><td>Happy Hairston</td><td>6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)</td><td>255 lb (116 kg)</td><td>1942-05-31</td><td>NYU</td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>5</td><td>Jim McMillian</td><td>6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)</td><td>225 lb (102 kg)</td><td>1948-03-11</td><td>Columbia</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>12</td><td>Pat Riley</td><td>6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)</td><td>205 lb (93 kg)</td><td>1945-03-20</td><td>Kentucky</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>21</td><td>Flynn Robinson</td><td>6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)</td><td>185 lb (84 kg)</td><td>1941-04-28</td><td>Wyoming</td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>31</td><td>John Trapp</td><td>6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)</td><td>210 lb (95 kg)</td><td>1945-10-02</td><td>UNLV</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>44</td><td>Jerry West</td><td>6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)</td><td>175 lb (79 kg)</td><td>1938-05-28</td><td>West Virginia</td></tr></tbody></table>
New York Knicks
<table><thead><tr><th>Players</th><th>Coaches</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Head coach Legend</td></tr><tr><td>Pos.</td><td>No.</td><td>Player</td><td>Height</td><td>Weight</td><td>DOB</td><td>From</td></tr><tr><td>SG</td><td>12</td><td>Dick Barnett</td><td>6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)</td><td>190 lb (86 kg)</td><td>1936-10-02</td><td>Tennessee State</td></tr><tr><td>SF</td><td>24</td><td>Bill Bradley</td><td>6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)</td><td>205 lb (93 kg)</td><td>1943-07-28</td><td>Princeton</td></tr><tr><td>PF</td><td>22</td><td>Dave DeBusschere</td><td>6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)</td><td>220 lb (100 kg)</td><td>1940-10-16</td><td>Detroit Mercy</td></tr><tr><td>PG</td><td>10</td><td>Walt Frazier</td><td>6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)</td><td>200 lb (91 kg)</td><td>1945-03-29</td><td>Southern Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>PF</td><td>18</td><td>Phil Jackson</td><td>6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)</td><td>220 lb (100 kg)</td><td>1945-09-17</td><td>North Dakota</td></tr><tr><td>F/C</td><td>32</td><td>Jerry Lucas</td><td>6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)</td><td>230 lb (104 kg)</td><td>1940-03-30</td><td>Ohio State</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>7</td><td>Dean Meminger</td><td>6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)</td><td>175 lb (79 kg)</td><td>1948-05-13</td><td>Marquette</td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>15</td><td>Earl Monroe</td><td>6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)</td><td>185 lb (84 kg)</td><td>1944-11-21</td><td>Winston-Salem State</td></tr><tr><td>C</td><td>19</td><td>Willis Reed</td><td>6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)</td><td>235 lb (107 kg)</td><td>1942-06-25</td><td>Grambling State</td></tr></tbody></table>
Aftermath
1972 NBA Finals
The teams would meet again in the finals the following year, as the Knicks would get their revenge. In a reversal of the 1972 series, the Knicks would win four in a row after losing the opener to win their second NBA title in four years.
Wilt Chamberlain's 1972 NBA Finals Game 5 ‘Championship Clinching’ game worn Los Angeles Lakers jersey sold $4,900,000, the highest price sold for any jersey until Michael Jordan's 1998 'Last Shot' jersey sold for $10,091,000.