1971–72 Indiana Pacers season

1971–72 Indiana Pacers season
ABA Champions
Head coach	Bobby Leonard
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	47–37 (.560)
Place	Division: 2nd Conference: 2nd
Playoff finish	ABA Champions (Won 4-2)

The 1971–72 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's 5th season in the American Basketball Association and 5th as a team. The Pacers finished second in the Western Division and won their second ABA title. In the division semifinals, the Pacers required seven games to eliminate the Denver Rockets. In the division finals, the Utah Stars were eliminated in seven games. The New York Nets appeared in the ABA Championships for the first time and were defeated by the Pacers in six games.

Offseason

ABA Draft

Main article: 1971 ABA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team

Regular season

Schedule

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Pacers points	Opponents	Record
1
2

Roster

Number	Name	Position	Height	Experience	College
15	John Barnhill	Guard	6-1	9 yrs.	Tennessee State
35	Roger Brown	Guard-Forward	6-5	4 yrs.	Dayton
33	Larry Cannon	Guard	6-4	2 yrs.	Lasalle
22	Wayne Chapman	Guard-Forward	6-6	3 yrs.	Western Kentucky
34	Mel Daniels	Center	6-9	4 yrs.	New Mexico
20	Darnell Hillman	Forward-Center	6-9	1 yr.	San Jose State
11	Bill Keller	Guard	5-10	3 yrs.	Purdue
15	Arvesta Kelly	Guard	6-2	4 yrs.	Lincoln University
14	Freddie Lewis	Guard	6-0	6 yrs.	Arizona State
30	George McGinnis	Forward-Center	6-8	1 yr.	Indiana
10	Rick Mount	Guard	6-3	1 yr.	Purdue
24	Bob Netolicky	Center-Forward	6-9	4 yrs.	Drake
15	Mike Price	Guard	6-3	1 yr.	Illinois
33	Donald Sidle	Center-Forward	6-8	3 yrs.	Oklahoma
12	Marv Winkler	Guard	6-1	1 yr.	Louisiana at Lafayette

Season standings

1971–72 ABA Western Standings

Western Division	W	L	PCT.	GB
Utah Stars	60	24	.714	-
Indiana Pacers	47	37	.560	13
Dallas Chaparrals	42	42	.500	18
Denver Rockets	34	50	.405	26
Memphis Pros	26	58	.310	34

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player	GP	MIN	REB	AST	PTS	AVG
Mel Daniels	79	2971	1297	176	1513
Roger Brown	78	2987	502	306	1444
Bob Netolicky	83	2905	764	83	1250
George McGinnis	73	2179	711	137	1234
Freddie Lewis	77	2714	327	362	1182
Rick Mount	78	2126	155	230	1113
Bill Keller	76	1729	164	264	737
Darnell Hillman	73	1386	478	49	515
Larry Cannon	28	478	33	72	186
Donald Sidle	27	394	95	10	175
John Barnhill	19	194	19	16	68

Playoffs

• Pacers vs. Denver Rockets

Game	Date	Result	Pacers points	Rockets points	Record
1	March 31	Win	102	95	1-0
2	April 1	Loss	105	106	1-1
3	April 4	Win (OT)	122	120	2-1
4	April 6	Loss	96	112	2-2
5	April 8	Win	91	79	3-2
6	April 9	Loss	99	106	3-3
7	April 13	Win	91	89	4-3

Pacers won series, 4-3

• Pacers vs. Utah Stars

Game	Date	Result	Pacers points	Stars points	Record
1	April 15	Loss	100	108	0-1
2	April 17	Loss	109	117	0-2
3	April 19	Win	116	111	1-2
4	April 22	Win	118	108	2-2
5	April 24	Loss	130	139	2-3
6	April 26	Win	105	99	3-3
7	May 1	Win	117	113	4-3

Pacers won series, 4-3

• Pacers vs. New York Nets

Game	Date	Result	Pacers points	Nets points	Record
1	May 6	Win	124	103	1-0
2	May 9	Loss	115	117	1-1
3	May 12	Win	114	108	2-1
4	May 15	Loss	105	110	2-2
5	May 18	Win	100	99	3-2
6	May 20	Win	108	105	4-2

Pacers won series, 4-2

Awards, records, and honors

• Roger Brown appeared in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game
• Mel Daniels appeared in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game
• Freddie Lewis appeared in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game

References

• Pacers on Basketball Reference

External links

• RememberTheABA.com 1971-72 regular season and playoff results