The 1972–73

San Diego Conquistadors The San Diego Conquistadors (known as the San Diego Sails in their final, partial season), were an American Basketball Association (ABA) team based in San Diego. The "Q's", as they were popularly known, played from 1972 to 1975. As the Sails, the ...

season was the 1st season of the

in the American Basketball Association. The Conquistadors were the first and only expansion team of the ABA, made to make the league have 10 teams, with Dr. Leonard Bloom granted a team for $1 million. But a feud with Peter Graham, proprietor of the

San Diego Sports Arena Pechanga Arena (historically known as the San Diego Sports Arena) is an indoor arena built in 1966 and located in the Midway area of San Diego, California. The arena seats 12,000 for indoor football, 12,920 for ice hockey, indoor soccer and ...

due to Graham being bitter for not being granted the team meant that the team would play their games in the 3,200 capacity Peterson Gym. The first game was a Friday night on October 13, 1972 versus the

Denver Rockets Denver () is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States#State capital, capital, and List of municipalities in Colorado#, most populous city of th ...

, which they lost 100–109. The Conquistadors had a 16–26 first half of the season, with a ten-game losing streak in that half. In the second half, they went 21–21, with a nine-game losing streak in there, though they have a five-game winning streak near the end of the season that rose their win total from 25 to 30. The Q's managed to get into the playoffs due to the

Dallas Chaparrals The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The team moved to San Antonio, Texas for the 1973–74 season and were renamed the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs joined the National Basketball Association ...

losing to the Denver Rockets on March 25. They finished 9th in points scored with 109.0 points per game and 7th in points allowed with 113.2 points per game. They faced off against the

Utah Stars The Utah Stars were an American Basketball Association (ABA) team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround. History prior to moving t ...

in the playoffs, but they were swept in four games.

Roster

*12 George Adams – Small forward *14 Henry Bacon – Shooting guard *20 Mike Barrett – Shooting guard *40 Jerry Chambers – Small forward *54 Simmie Hill – Small forward *13

Stew Johnson Stewart "Stew" Johnson (born August 19, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'8" (2.03 m) tall forward/center from Murray State University, that was born in New York City, Johnson was selected by the New York Knicks in th ...

– Power forward *44 Larry Miller – Shooting guard *55 Gene Moore – Center *52 Craig Raymond – Center *21

Red Robbins Austin "Red" Robbins (September 30, 1944 – November 18, 2009Jimmy Smith NOLA.com. November 18, 2009. Retrieved on November 18, 2009.) was an American basketball player. Robbins, a 6'8" forward/center from Leesburg, Florida, starred at the ...

– Center *33/42 Garfield Smith – Center *53 Pete Smith – Power forward *22 Oliver Taylor – Shooting guard *23 Chuck Williams – Point guard

Final standings

Western Division

Playoffs

Western Division Semifinals vs.

''Conquistadors lose series, 4–0''

Awards and honors

1973 ABA All-Star Game The sixth American Basketball Association All-Star Game was played February 6, 1973 at Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah before an audience at 12,556. Larry Brown of the Carolina Cougars coached the East, with LaDell Andersen of the Utah Stars co ...

selections (game played on February 6, 1973) * Chuck Williams *

References

External links

RememberTheABA.com 1972–73 regular season and playoff results

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San Diego Conquistadors, 1972-73 San Diego Conquistadors, 1972-73 San Diego Conquistadors