Last Updated on January 6, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Detroit Pistons > Roster & Statistics
Here is the 1972–73 Detroit Pistons roster and regular season player statistics:
1972–73 Detroit Pistons Roster
| No. | Player | Pos | Height | Weight | DOB | Age | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Don Adams | SF | 6’6″ | 210 | 11/27/1947 | 25 | Northwestern |
| 21 | Dave Bing | PG | 6’3″ | 180 | 11/24/1943 | 29 | Syracuse |
| 20 | Jim Davis | C | 6’9″ | 225 | 12/18/1941 | 31 | Colorado |
| 42 | Chris Ford | SG | 6’5″ | 190 | 1/11/1949 | 24 | Villanova |
| 25 | Fred Foster | SF | 6’5″ | 210 | 3/18/1946 | 26 | Miami (OH) |
| 16 | Bob Lanier | C | 6’11” | 250 | 9/10/1948 | 24 | St. Bonaventure |
| 15 | Stu Lantz | SG | 6’3″ | 185 | 7/13/1946 | 26 | Nebraska |
| 23 | John Mengelt | SG | 6’2″ | 185 | 10/16/1949 | 23 | Auburn |
| 24 | Willie Norwood | PF | 6’7″ | 220 | 8/8/1947 | 25 | Alcorn State |
| 12 | Bob Nash | SF | 6’8″ | 220 | 8/24/1950 | 22 | Hawaii |
| 22 | Erwin Mueller | PF | 6’8″ | 230 | 3/12/1944 | 28 | San Francisco |
| 11 | Harvey Marlatt | SG | 6’3″ | 185 | 8/14/1948 | 24 | Eastern Michigan |
| 14 | Justus Thigpen | SG | 6’1″ | 180 | 8/30/1947 | 25 | Weber State |
| 18 | Curtis Rowe | PF | 6’7″ | 225 | 7/2/1949 | 23 | UCLA |
1972–73 Regular Season Per Game
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Lanier | C | 24 | 81 | 81 | 38.9 | 23.8 | 14.9 | 3.2 | – | – | – | 20.4 | 10.0 | .490 | – | – | – | 4.9 | 3.8 | .773 |
| Dave Bing | PG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 41.0 | 22.4 | 3.6 | 7.8 | – | – | – | 18.8 | 8.4 | .448 | – | – | – | 6.8 | 5.6 | .814 |
| Curtis Rowe | PF | 23 | 81 | 81 | 37.1 | 16.1 | 9.4 | 2.1 | – | – | – | 13.0 | 6.8 | .519 | – | – | – | 4.0 | 2.6 | .642 |
| John Mengelt | SG | 23 | 67 | 67 | 21.4 | 10.5 | 2.4 | 1.9 | – | – | – | 8.7 | 4.4 | .504 | – | – | – | 2.1 | 1.7 | .823 |
| Stu Lantz | SG | 26 | 51 | 51 | 31.4 | 9.6 | 3.4 | 2.7 | – | – | – | 8.9 | 3.6 | .407 | – | – | – | 2.9 | 2.4 | .800 |
| Don Adams | SF | 25 | 70 | 70 | 25.7 | 9.3 | 6.0 | 1.6 | – | – | – | 9.1 | 3.7 | .402 | – | – | – | 2.5 | 2.0 | .784 |
| Fred Foster | SF | 26 | 63 | 63 | 23.2 | 8.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 | – | – | – | 10.0 | 3.9 | .388 | – | – | – | 1.4 | 1.0 | .701 |
| Willie Norwood | SF | 25 | 79 | 79 | 16.2 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 0.7 | – | – | – | 6.4 | 3.2 | .494 | – | – | – | 2.8 | 1.9 | .684 |
| Chris Ford | SG | 24 | 74 | 74 | 20.8 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 2.6 | – | – | – | 5.9 | 2.8 | .479 | – | – | – | 1.3 | 0.8 | .645 |
| Jim Davis | C | 31 | 73 | 73 | 10.6 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 0.8 | – | – | – | 3.5 | 1.8 | .510 | – | – | – | 1.6 | 1.0 | .632 |
| Justus Thigpen | SG | 25 | 18 | 18 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | – | – | – | 3.2 | 1.3 | .404 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 0.0 | – |
| Bob Nash | SF | 22 | 36 | 36 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | – | – | – | 2.0 | 0.4 | .222 | – | – | – | 0.5 | 0.3 | .647 |
| Erwin Mueller | PF | 28 | 21 | 21 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | – | – | – | 1.5 | 0.4 | .290 | – | – | – | 0.3 | 0.2 | .714 |
| Harvey Marlatt | SG | 24 | 7 | 7 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.6 | – | – | – | 0.6 | 0.3 | .500 | – | – | – | 0.0 | 0.0 | – |
| Team Totals | – | – | 82 | – | 241.2 | 110.3 | 50.1 | 23.0 | – | – | – | 96.5 | 44.7 | .463 | – | – | – | 28.0 | 20.9 | .745 |
1972–73 Regular Season Totals
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Lanier | C | 24 | 81 | 81 | 3150 | 1927 | 1205 | 260 | – | – | – | 1654 | 810 | .490 | – | – | – | 397 | 307 | .773 |
| Dave Bing | PG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 3361 | 1840 | 298 | 637 | – | – | – | 1545 | 692 | .448 | – | – | – | 560 | 456 | .814 |
| Curtis Rowe | PF | 23 | 81 | 81 | 3009 | 1304 | 760 | 172 | – | – | – | 1053 | 547 | .519 | – | – | – | 327 | 210 | .642 |
| John Mengelt | SG | 23 | 67 | 67 | 1435 | 704 | 159 | 128 | – | – | – | 583 | 294 | .504 | – | – | – | 141 | 116 | .823 |
| Don Adams | SF | 25 | 70 | 70 | 1798 | 652 | 419 | 112 | – | – | – | 640 | 257 | .402 | – | – | – | 176 | 138 | .784 |
| Willie Norwood | SF | 25 | 79 | 79 | 1282 | 652 | 324 | 56 | – | – | – | 504 | 249 | .494 | – | – | – | 225 | 154 | .684 |
| Fred Foster | SF | 26 | 63 | 63 | 1460 | 547 | 183 | 94 | – | – | – | 627 | 243 | .388 | – | – | – | 87 | 61 | .701 |
| Stu Lantz | SG | 26 | 51 | 51 | 1603 | 490 | 172 | 138 | – | – | – | 455 | 185 | .407 | – | – | – | 150 | 120 | .800 |
| Chris Ford | SG | 24 | 74 | 74 | 1537 | 476 | 266 | 194 | – | – | – | 434 | 208 | .479 | – | – | – | 93 | 60 | .645 |
| Jim Davis | C | 31 | 73 | 73 | 771 | 334 | 261 | 56 | – | – | – | 257 | 131 | .510 | – | – | – | 114 | 72 | .632 |
| Justus Thigpen | SG | 25 | 18 | 18 | 99 | 46 | 9 | 8 | – | – | – | 57 | 23 | .404 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | – |
| Bob Nash | SF | 22 | 36 | 36 | 169 | 43 | 34 | 16 | – | – | – | 72 | 16 | .222 | – | – | – | 17 | 11 | .647 |
| Erwin Mueller | PF | 28 | 21 | 21 | 80 | 23 | 14 | 7 | – | – | – | 31 | 9 | .290 | – | – | – | 7 | 5 | .714 |
| Harvey Marlatt | SG | 24 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 4 | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | .500 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | – |
| Team Totals | – | – | 82 | – | 19780 | 9042 | 4105 | 1882 | – | – | – | 7916 | 3666 | .463 | – | – | – | 2294 | 1710 | .745 |
Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG+BPG) | Impact Index* | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Lanier | Core Anchor | 38.9 | High | 23.8 | 14.9 | 3.2 | N/A | ≈ (23.8+14.9+3.2)/2 = ~21.0 | As the team’s center, Lanier provided elite inside scoring and rebounding — a classic “go-to paint anchor.” His double‑double production (PPG + RPG) underpinned Detroit’s offensive and defensive structure. Sources note he was a complete big man with soft touch, solid mid‑range, and good passing/reflection for a center. | AS |
| Dave Bing | Primary Playmaker‑Scorer | 41.0 | High | 22.4 | 3.6 | 7.8 | N/A | ≈ (22.4+3.6+7.8)/2 = ~16.9 | Bing functioned as a scoring point guard — he carried the offense, initiating plays but also shouldering much of the scoring load. Known for smooth athleticism and being more scoring‑oriented than typical floor‑generals of his time. | AS |
| Curtis Rowe | Frontcourt Secondary | 37.1 | Medium | 16.1 | 9.4 | 2.1 | N/A | ≈ (16.1+9.4+2.1)/2 = ~13.8 | Rowe offered balanced frontcourt value: solid scoring with efficient shooting (your FG% shows .519) and strong rebounding. As a PF with reliable minutes, he added inside presence and secondary scoring. His outside-of-star‑rear depth helped stabilize the frontcourt alongside Lanier. | — |
| John Mengelt | Rotation Shooter | 21.4 | Medium‑Low | 10.5 | 2.4 | 1.9 | N/A | ≈ (10.5+2.4+1.9)/2 = ~7.4 | Came off the bench or mixed into rotation — provided modest scoring punch and spacing with >.500 FG. A complementary guard/wing rather than focal option. | — |
| Stu Lantz | Secondary Perimeter Contributor | 31.4 | Medium‑Low | 9.6 | 3.4 | 2.7 | N/A | ≈ (9.6+3.4+2.7)/2 = ~7.85 | As a guard/wing, Lantz played steady minutes, offering some scoring and playmaking. Less usage than stars but likely contributed in spacing and outside shooting. | — |
| Don Adams | Wing Role‑Player | 25.7 | Low‑Medium | 9.3 | 6.0 | 1.6 | N/A | ≈ (9.3+6.0+1.6)/2 = ~8.45 | Played a complementary SF role: contributed moderately on both ends, and his 6.0 RPG suggests he helped on the boards from the wing — underscoring role‑player value beyond scoring. | — |
| Fred Foster | Reserve/Role Wing | 23.2 | Low | 8.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 | N/A | ≈ (8.7+2.9+1.5)/2 = ~6.55 | Provided bench depth on the wing or forward — modest scoring, lower rebounding and playmaking. Role likely limited to spot minutes and occasional relief. | — |
| Willie Norwood | Bench Depth Forward | 16.2 | Low | 8.3 | 4.1 | 0.7 | N/A | ≈ (8.3+4.1+0.7)/2 = ~6.55 | As a lower‑minute rotation SF, Norwood added occasional scoring and some rebounding — a typical bench‑forward profile with limited workload. | — |
| Chris Ford | Backup Guard | 20.8 | Low | 6.4 | 3.6 | 2.6 | N/A | ≈ (6.4+3.6+2.6)/2 = ~6.3 | Provided guard depth, contributed some assists and boards — likely a relief ball‑handler/shooter rather than primary playmaker. | ROY‑3 (per user data) |
| Jim Davis | Spot Big/Bench Center | 10.6 | Low | 4.6 | 3.6 | 0.8 | N/A | ≈ (4.6+3.6+0.8)/2 = ~4.5 | Sporadic minutes as backup C — modest scoring and rebounding in limited action, adding size off bench when needed. | — |
| Justus Thigpen | Deep Bench Guard | 5.5 | Very Low | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | N/A | ≈ (2.6+0.5+0.4)/2 = ~1.75 | Minimal role — likely garbage‑time or end‑of‑bench minutes, limited impact. | — |
| Bob Nash | Minimal Rotation | 4.7 | Very Low | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | N/A | ≈ (1.2+0.9+0.4)/2 = ~1.25 | Practically a deep‑bench or emergency player with negligible contributions. | — |
| Erwin Mueller | Minimal Rotation | 3.8 | Very Low | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | N/A | ≈ (1.1+0.7+0.3)/2 = ~1.05 | Very limited minutes — nominal production, likely spot-up or end-of‑bench usage. | — |
| Harvey Marlatt | Marginal Roster Spot | 3.7 | Very Low | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.6 | N/A | ≈ (0.6+0.1+0.6)/2 = ~0.65 | Extremely limited — likely on the margin of the active roster, used only sparingly. | — |