A pair of rookies named Smith gave Buffalo fans reason for a bright future. The Braves repeated their 22–60 record from their inaugural season, and occupied the Atlantic Division basement.[1] Elmore Smith and Randy Smith each had out standing rookie seasons with Elmore averaging 17.3 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game, while Randy added 13.4 points per game.[1]
Buffalo Braves 1971–72 roster
|
Players |
Coaches
|
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
From
|
G
|
7
|
Bryant, Emmette
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
175 lb (79 kg)
|
|
DePaul
|
F
|
40
|
Chambers, Jerry
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
190 lb (86 kg)
|
|
Utah
|
G
|
13
|
Davis, Mike
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
Virginia Union
|
G
|
20
|
Garrett, Dick
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
Southern Illinois
|
G
|
42
|
Hazzard, Walt
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
UCLA
|
G
|
32
|
Hilton, Fred
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
Grambling State
|
F
|
25
|
Hosket, Bill
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
228 lb (103 kg)
|
|
Ohio State
|
F
|
45
|
Hummer, John
|
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
|
230 lb (104 kg)
|
|
Princeton
|
F
|
44
|
Kauffman, Bob
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
|
240 lb (109 kg)
|
|
Guilford
|
C
|
3
|
Smith, Elmore
|
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
|
250 lb (113 kg)
|
|
Kentucky State
|
F
|
9
|
Smith, Randy
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
Buffalo State
|
F
|
35
|
Warner, Cornell
|
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
|
220 lb (100 kg)
|
|
Jackson State
|
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
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 12 |
Seattle |
123–90 |
Chambers, Hazzard (14) |
0–1
|
2 |
October 15 |
@ Cleveland |
111–109 (OT) |
Walt Hazzard (35) |
1–1
|
3 |
October 16 |
Cleveland |
93–89 |
Bob Kauffman (24) |
1–2
|
4 |
October 19 |
Los Angeles |
123–106 |
Elmore Smith (20) |
1–3
|
5 |
October 22 |
@ Milwaukee |
105–124 |
Dick Garrett (19) |
1–4
|
6 |
October 23 |
Boston |
103–98 |
Bob Kauffman (25) |
1–5
|
7 |
October 26 |
@ Golden State |
91–89 |
Bob Kauffman (24) |
2–5
|
8 |
October 28 |
@ Seattle |
96–106 |
Bob Kauffman (27) |
2–6
|
9 |
October 29 |
@ Portland |
120–119 |
Fred Hilton (27) |
3–6
|
10 |
October 31 |
@ Houston |
87–102 |
Bob Kauffman (15) |
3–7
|
11 |
November 3 |
Phoenix |
100–98 |
Bob Kauffman (24) |
3–8
|
12 |
November 5 |
@ Atlanta |
122–117 (OT) |
Randy Smith (35) |
4–8
|
13 |
November 6 |
Chicago |
99–130 |
Bob Kauffman (28) |
5–8
|
14 |
November 9 |
Portland |
100–109 |
Bob Kauffman (30) |
6–8
|
15 |
November 13 |
Milwaukee |
127–106 |
Bob Kauffman (44) |
6–9
|
16 |
November 16 |
Cincinnati |
98–102 |
Walt Hazzard (27) |
7–9
|
17 |
November 19 |
@ Baltimore |
105–126 |
Jerry Chambers (19) |
7–10
|
18 |
November 20 |
Detroit |
105–96 |
Walt Hazzard (23) |
7–11
|
19 |
November 23 |
Atlanta |
97–102 |
Walt Hazzard (30) |
8–11
|
20 |
November 24 |
@ Boston |
100–108 |
Fred Hilton (23) |
8–12
|
21 |
November 27 |
Golden State |
110–91 |
Bob Kauffman (17) |
8–13
|
22 |
November 30 |
Houston |
115–101 |
Walt Hazzard (26) |
8–14
|
23 |
December 2 |
N Baltimore |
109–105 |
Mike Davis (25) |
9–14
|
24 |
December 3 |
Cleveland |
90–91 |
Bob Kauffman (23) |
10–14
|
25 |
December 4 |
@ New York |
90–130 |
Chambers, R. Smith (13) |
10–15
|
26 |
December 7 |
Cincinnati |
91–115 |
Fred Hilton (26) |
11–15
|
27 |
December 10 |
Portland |
101–100 (OT) |
Randy Smith (21) |
11–16
|
28 |
December 14 |
Philadelphia |
110–117 |
Walt Hazzard (26) |
12–16
|
29 |
December 15 |
N Milwaukee |
122–108 |
Bob Kauffman (29) |
12–17
|
30 |
December 17 |
New York |
115–95 |
Randy Smith (19) |
12–18
|
31 |
December 18 |
@ Boston |
91–124 |
Walt Hazzard (15) |
12–19
|
32 |
December 21 |
Los Angeles |
117–103 |
Randy Smith (26) |
12–20
|
33 |
December 25 |
@ Atlanta |
117–140 |
Randy Smith (24) |
12–21
|
34 |
December 27 |
Philadelphia |
121–112 |
Randy Smith (24) |
12–22
|
35 |
December 28 |
@ Los Angeles |
87–105 |
Elmore Smith (32) |
12–23
|
36 |
December 30 |
@ Phoenix |
102–123 |
Walt Hazzard (25) |
12–24
|
37 |
January 1 |
@ Seattle |
83–97 |
Elmore Smith (21) |
12–25
|
38 |
January 2 |
@ Portland |
90–108 |
Fred Hilton (26) |
12–26
|
39 |
January 4 |
@ Golden State |
86–112 |
Elmore Smith (22) |
12–27
|
40 |
January 7 |
Phoenix |
123–110 |
Walt Hazzard (23) |
12–28
|
41 |
January 8 |
@ Cincinnati |
97–87 |
Bob Kauffman (28) |
13–28
|
42 |
January 9 |
@ Detroit |
96–101 |
Elmore Smith (22) |
13–29
|
43 |
January 11 |
Cincinnati |
109–107 (OT) |
Bob Kauffman (25) |
13–30
|
44 |
January 12 |
@ Philadelphia |
111–109 |
Elmore Smith (26) |
14–30
|
45 |
January 14 |
Portland |
102–100 |
Bob Kauffman (28) |
14–31
|
46 |
January 21 |
Chicago |
113–93 |
Walt Hazzard (15) |
14–32
|
47 |
January 25 |
Atlanta |
123–110 |
Fred Hilton (21) |
14–33
|
48 |
January 26 |
@ Baltimore |
114–115 (OT) |
Walt Hazzard (30) |
14–34
|
49 |
January 28 |
Seattle |
104–93 |
Elmore Smith (23) |
14–35
|
50 |
January 30 |
@ Cleveland |
99–98 |
Walt Hazzard (26) |
15–35
|
51 |
February 1 |
Cleveland |
104–99 |
Walt Hazzard (26) |
15–36
|
52 |
February 2 |
@ Philadelphia |
104–119 |
Bob Kauffman (24) |
15–37
|
53 |
February 4 |
New York |
103–84 |
Walt Hazzard (17) |
15–38
|
54 |
February 5 |
@ Chicago |
96–130 |
Elmore Smith (24) |
15–39
|
55 |
February 6 |
@ Cleveland |
121–108 |
Walt Hazzard (38) |
16–39
|
56 |
February 8 |
Milwaukee |
126–108 |
Fred Hilton (30) |
16–40
|
57 |
February 9 |
@ Boston |
112–139 |
Bob Kauffman (23) |
16–41
|
58 |
February 11 |
Detroit |
88–95 |
Bob Kauffman (21) |
17–41
|
59 |
February 12 |
@ Detroit |
87–113 |
Elmore Smith (17) |
17–42
|
60 |
February 13 |
@ Atlanta |
119–133 |
Mike Davis (28) |
17–43
|
61 |
February 15 |
Golden State |
103–100 |
Mike Davis (23) |
17–44
|
62 |
February 18 |
Houston |
108–96 |
Bob Kauffman (19) |
17–45
|
63 |
February 19 |
@ New York |
95–100 |
Elmore Smith (27) |
17–46
|
64 |
February 22 |
Baltimore |
98–99 |
Bob Kauffman (26) |
18–46
|
65 |
February 24 |
N Cincinnati |
108–97 |
Elmore Smith (23) |
18–47
|
66 |
February 25 |
Boston |
117–115 |
Elmore Smith (40) |
18–48
|
67 |
February 29 |
Atlanta |
99–89 |
Elmore Smith (23) |
18–49
|
68 |
March 1 |
@ Philadelphia |
99–108 |
Kauffman, E. Smith (19) |
18–50
|
69 |
March 3 |
New York |
97–105 |
Fred Hilton (31) |
19–50
|
70 |
March 5 |
@ Phoenix |
103–131 |
Randy Smith (24) |
19–51
|
71 |
March 7 |
@ Portland |
94–98 |
Elmore Smith (24) |
19–52
|
72 |
March 11 |
@ Houston |
100–121 |
Dick Garrett (17) |
19–53
|
73 |
March 12 |
@ Los Angeles |
102–141 |
Walt Hazzard (25) |
19–54
|
74 |
March 14 |
Philadelphia |
105–108 |
Elmore Smith (33) |
20–54
|
75 |
March 17 |
@ Chicago |
103–126 |
Randy Smith (19) |
20–55
|
76 |
March 18 |
Detroit |
103–116 |
Elmore Smith (32) |
21–55
|
77 |
March 19 |
@ Cincinnati |
105–136 |
Randy Smith (22) |
21–56
|
78 |
March 21 |
Baltimore |
100–114 |
Elmore Smith (29) |
22–56
|
79 |
March 22 |
@ New York |
99–123 |
Randy Smith (19) |
22–57
|
80 |
March 24 |
@ Detroit |
105–112 |
Randy Smith (33) |
22–58
|
81 |
March 25 |
Boston |
121–116 |
Elmore Smith (27) |
22–59
|
82 |
March 26 |
@ Baltimore |
101–119 |
Hilton, Warner (18) |
22–60
|
Note: GP= Games played; MPG = Minutes per game; FG% = Field goal percentage; FT% = Free throw percentage; RPG = Rebounds per game; APG = Assists per game; PPG = Points per game
Player
|
GP
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
FT%
|
RPG
|
APG
|
PPG
|
Bob Kauffman |
77 |
41.6 |
.497 |
.795 |
10.2 |
3.9 |
18.9
|
Elmore Smith |
78 |
40.8 |
.454 |
.534 |
15.2 |
1.4 |
17.3
|
Walt Hazzard |
72 |
33.2 |
.451 |
.782 |
3.0 |
5.6 |
15.8
|
Randy Smith |
76 |
27.6 |
.482 |
.622 |
4.8 |
2.5 |
13.4
|
Dick Garrett |
73 |
26.1 |
.442 |
.866 |
3.1 |
2.3 |
10.8
|
Em Bryant |
54 |
22.6 |
.459 |
.600 |
2.4 |
3.8 |
5.1
|
Fred Hilton |
61 |
22.1 |
.389 |
.738 |
2.6 |
1.9 |
11.6
|
John Hummer |
55 |
21.6 |
.390 |
.468 |
4.2 |
1.3 |
5.2
|
Cornell Warner |
62 |
20.0 |
.443 |
.744 |
6.1 |
0.9 |
6.2
|
Mike Davis |
62 |
17.2 |
.425 |
.767 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
9.1
|
Jerry Chambers |
26 |
14.2 |
.433 |
.688 |
2.6 |
0.9 |
6.8
|
Bill Hosket |
44 |
13.5 |
.492 |
.808 |
2.8 |
0.9 |
5.0
|
[2]
The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season.
Player |
Signed |
Former team
|
|
|
|
|
|