Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Denver Nuggets > Roster & Statistics
The 1971–72 Denver Rockets were driven by Ralph Simpson’s prolific scoring, while Dave Robisch provided a dependable secondary offensive option and Julius Keye controlled the glass as the team’s leading rebounder. Byron Beck added efficient interior scoring and frontcourt stability, giving Denver balance inside. The club leaned more on rebounding and defensive competitiveness than offensive efficiency, with scoring concentrated around its core contributors.
Here is the Denver Rockets (1971–72 ABA Season) roster and regular season player statistics. The team continued to be known as the Denver Rockets during this season (they became the Nuggets in 1974).
Roster
NO.
PLAYER NAME
POS
HT
WT
DOB
COLLEGE
10
Al Smith
PG
6-1
185
January 15, 1947
Bradley
11
Larry Brown
PG
5-9
160
September 14, 1940
UNC
12
Steve Wilson
SG
6-5
185
October 16, 1948
Hanover College
13
Julius Keye
PF
6-10
200
September 5, 1946
South Carolina State, Alcorn State
14
Art Becker
PF
6-7
205
January 12, 1942
Arizona State
20
Frank Card
SF
6-7
195
December 28, 1944
South Carolina State
21
Chuck Williams
PG
6-2
175
June 6, 1946
Colorado
22
Julian Hammond
SF
6-5
205
May 27, 1943
Tulsa
23
Steve Mix
F
6-7
215
December 30, 1947
Toledo
24
Dwight Waller
F
6-6
220
October 5, 1945
Tennessee State
25
Dave Robisch
C
6-10
235
December 22, 1949
Kansas
31
Marv Roberts
SF
6-8
200
January 29, 1950
Utah State University
40
Byron Beck
C
6-9
225
January 25, 1945
Columbia Basin College, Denver
44
Ralph Simpson
SG
6-5
200
August 10, 1949
Michigan State
Regular Season Per Game
Player Name
Pos
Age
G
GS
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
TOV
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Ralph Simpson
SG
22
84
84
35.8
27.4
4.7
3.1
0.0
0.0
3.2
23.8
.460
0.3
.136
6.8
.805
Julius Keye
PF
25
84
84
30.4
5.9
11.7
1.8
0.0
0.0
1.7
5.7
.403
0.0
.000
2.1
.621
Dave Robisch
C
22
84
84
28.8
15.5
9.6
2.4
0.0
0.0
1.3
13.5
.444
0.1
.000
5.0
.702
Byron Beck
C
27
66
66
27.5
12.3
8.0
2.1
0.0
0.0
1.5
10.1
.504
0.0
.000
2.5
.843
Larry Brown
PG
31
76
76
26.5
9.1
2.2
7.2
0.1
0.0
2.9
7.3
.437
0.3
.200
3.2
.811
Art Becker
PF
30
84
84
26.1
12.3
5.6
1.3
0.0
0.0
1.6
11.4
.456
0.0
.000
2.3
.846
Al Smith
PG
25
83
83
21.3
9.3
2.7
3.0
0.4
0.0
2.0
8.1
.433
1.3
.299
2.5
.725
Frank Card
SF
27
73
73
19.8
7.7
4.5
1.1
0.0
0.0
1.6
6.8
.455
0.0
.000
2.4
.651
Chuck Williams
PG
25
84
84
18.8
8.7
1.9
1.9
0.0
0.0
1.2
6.9
.451
0.0
.000
3.3
.745
Julian Hammond
SF
28
25
25
16.4
6.5
4.6
1.2
0.0
0.0
1.2
5.6
.471
0.0
—
2.0
.620
Marv Roberts
SF
22
68
68
15.4
7.7
4.3
0.9
0.0
0.0
1.1
7.8
.407
0.1
.250
1.8
.717
Dwight Waller
—
26
2
2
5.0
2.0
2.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.5
2.0
.500
0.0
—
0.0
—
Steve Mix
—
24
1
1
4.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
1.000
0.0
—
0.0
—
Steve Wilson
SG
23
9
9
4.0
1.6
0.4
0.7
0.0
0.0
0.3
2.6
.217
0.2
.000
0.8
.571
Team Totals
—
—
84
—
241.8
111.9
53.3
23.8
0.5
0.0
17.3
98.2
.449
2.1
.230
31.0
.751
Playoff Per Game
Player Name
Pos
Age
G
GS
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
TOV
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
PF
25
7
7
43.1
8.1
16.1
2.9
—
—
1.4
8.4
.458
0.0
—
1.1
.375
Ralph Simpson
SG
22
7
7
41.6
26.7
4.4
3.4
—
—
2.6
23.1
.432
0.3
.000
8.1
.825
Dave Robisch
C
22
7
7
41.1
19.6
14.1
2.1
—
—
2.1
19.7
.362
0.0
—
7.4
.712
Byron Beck
C
27
7
7
37.7
19.9
10.3
2.0
—
—
2.1
16.4
.487
0.6
.250
4.0
.929
Larry Brown
PG
31
7
7
30.1
9.3
1.4
5.1
—
—
2.0
7.1
.420
0.4
.000
3.4
.958
Chuck Williams
PG
25
7
7
15.4
6.4
2.7
0.9
—
—
0.9
6.0
.429
0.0
—
1.7
.750
Al Smith
PG
25
7
7
14.1
4.3
2.6
1.0
—
—
1.0
3.9
.444
0.4
.667
0.7
.800
Art Becker
PF
30
7
7
13.4
4.9
1.7
0.6
—
—
1.0
4.4
.452
0.1
.000
1.3
.667
Frank Card
SF
27
4
4
7.0
2.0
1.8
0.8
—
—
0.3
2.0
.500
0.0
—
0.3
.000
Marv Roberts
SF
22
3
3
6.7
2.0
0.7
0.0
—
—
0.7
2.3
.286
0.3
.000
0.7
1.000
Team Totals
—
—
7
—
243.6
101.1
54.7
18.4
—
—
13.6
91.3
.429
2.0
.214
28.3
.793
Regular Season Totals
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
PTS
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
FGA
FGM
3PA
3PM
FTA
FTM
Ralph Simpson
SG
22
84
84
3006
2300
398
258
171
227
266
2000
920
22
3
568
457
Julius Keye
PF
25
84
84
2557
492
982
153
315
667
139
476
192
2
0
174
108
Dave Robisch
C
22
84
84
2420
1304
804
201
287
517
113
1138
505
5
0
419
294
Art Becker
PF
30
84
84
2193
1035
471
113
167
304
132
954
435
3
0
195
165
Larry Brown
PG
31
76
76
2012
689
166
549
53
113
217
556
243
25
5
244
198
Byron Beck
C
27
66
66
1816
814
528
136
171
357
96
669
337
3
0
166
140
Al Smith
PG
25
83
83
1764
769
226
249
85
141
163
675
292
107
32
211
153
Chuck Williams
PG
25
84
84
1580
731
157
160
62
95
98
583
263
4
0
275
205
Frank Card
SF
27
73
73
1443
562
330
79
141
189
115
495
225
1
0
172
112
Marv Roberts
SF
22
68
68
1047
521
294
61
121
173
77
533
217
4
1
120
86
Julian Hammond
SF
28
25
25
411
163
115
29
48
67
30
140
66
0
0
50
31
Steve Wilson
SG
23
9
9
36
14
4
6
3
1
9
23
5
2
0
7
4
Dwight Waller
—
26
2
2
10
4
5
1
1
4
1
4
2
0
0
0
0
Steve Mix
—
24
1
1
4
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Team Totals
—
—
84
—
20299
9400
4481
1995
1626
2855
1450
8247
3703
178
41
2601
1953
Playoff Totals
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
PTS
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
FGA
FGM
3PA
3PM
FTA
FTM
Julius Keye
PF
25
7
7
302
57
113
20
10
30
59
59
27
0
0
8
3
Ralph Simpson
SG
22
7
7
291
187
31
24
18
21
162
162
70
2
0
57
47
Dave Robisch
C
22
7
7
288
137
99
15
15
25
138
138
50
0
0
52
37
Byron Beck
C
27
7
7
264
139
72
14
15
29
115
115
56
4
1
28
26
Larry Brown
PG
31
7
7
211
65
10
36
14
25
50
50
21
3
0
24
23
Chuck Williams
PG
25
7
7
108
45
19
6
6
14
42
42
18
0
0
12
9
Al Smith
PG
25
7
7
99
30
18
7
7
14
27
27
12
3
2
5
4
Art Becker
PF
30
7
7
94
34
12
4
7
18
31
31
14
1
0
9
6
Frank Card
SF
27
4
4
28
8
7
3
1
10
8
8
4
0
0
1
0
Marv Roberts
SF
22
3
3
20
6
2
0
2
1
7
7
2
1
0
2
2
Team Totals
—
—
7
—
1705
708
383
129
95
187
639
639
274
14
3
198
157
Player Name
Role Tier
MPG
Usage Tier
PPG
RPG
APG
STK (SPG + BPG)
Impact Index*
Notes
Awards
Ralph Simpson Primary Scorer / Offensive Engine
35.8
Very High
27.4
4.7
3.1
3.2 + 2.9 = 6.1
20.55 Simpson was the Rockets’ go-to scorer in 1972–73, leading the team in points. Known as a streak shooter and prolific scorer.
2nd‑Team All‑ABA ’72–’73, 5× ABA All-Star (per team page)
Julius Keye Defensive Anchor / Rebounder
30.4
Low
5.9
11.7
1.8
1.7 + 4.1 = 5.8
12.65 Keye anchored the Rockets’ interior defense, grabbing 11.7 boards per game. He was a major shot‑blocking presence.
ABA All-Defensive 1st Team ’72–’73
Dave Robisch Two‑Big Frontcourt Partner
28.8
Medium
15.5
9.6
2.4
1.3 + 3.0 = 4.3
15.90 Robisch provided reliable scoring in the post and strong rebounding. A solid two-way big who complemented Keye.
—
Byron Beck Veteran Role Big / Energy Big
27.5
Medium‑Low
12.3
8.0
2.1
1.5 + 3.2 = 4.7
13.55 Beck was a long-tenured Rocket known for his tenacious rebounding and efficient inside game, adding veteran leadership.
—
Larry Brown Lead Playmaker / Floor General
26.5
High
9.1
2.2
7.2
2.9 + 2.7 = 5.6
12.50 Brown ran the offense, distributing the ball and keeping tempo. Known for his high basketball IQ as a floor general.
—
Art Becker Stretch Forward / Secondary Scorer
26.1
Medium
12.3
5.6
1.3
1.6 + 3.2 = 4.8
11.80 Becker provided scoring from the forward spot, often with a face-up game, helping space the floor.
ABA All-Star appearance (per team page)
Al Smith Backup PG / Secondary Facilitator
21.3
Medium
9.3
2.7
3.0
2.0 + 2.9 = 4.9
9.95 Smith came off the bench to help run the offense, provide playmaking, and relieve Brown.
—
Frank Card Role Wing / Energy Contributor
19.8
Low
7.7
4.5
1.1
1.6 + 2.8 = 4.4
9.85 Card brought hustle, rebounding, and secondary scoring in his minutes as a forward/wing.
—
Chuck Williams Backup PG / Change‑of-Pace Guard
18.8
Low
8.7
1.9
1.9
1.2 + 1.7 = 2.9
7.25 Williams offered a different look at the point when Brown rested, giving energy and some scoring.
—
Julian Hammond Deep Rotation Wing
16.4
Very Low
6.5
4.6
1.2
1.2 + 1.2 = 2.4
7.35 Hammond played limited minutes but contributed as a wing option off the bench.
—
Marv Roberts Role Forward / Hustle Player
15.4
Very Low
7.7
4.3
0.9
1.1 + 2.2 = 3.3
7.10 Roberts offered hustle, rebounding, and rotation depth at forward.
—
Dwight Waller Deep Bench Reserve
5.0
Very Low
2.0
2.5
0.5
0.5 + 1.5 = 2.0
3.00 Waller saw very limited action, mostly as a deep reserve in mop-up situations.
—
Steve Mix Very Limited Role / Spot Minutes
4.0
Very Low
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0 + 1.0 = 1.0
2.00 Mix played just a game or two; his contribution was minimal in this season.
—
Steve Wilson Deep Reserve Guard
4.0
Very Low
1.6
0.4
0.7
0.3 + 1.0 = 1.3
1.85 Wilson had very few minutes, serving as a deep bench guard and seldom impacting games.
—
*Impact Index = (PPG + RPG + APG + STK) ÷ 2
