Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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Below are the tables for the Buffalo Braves 1971-72 season—the second year of the franchise that ultimately became the Los Angeles Clippers. All numbers reflect the NBA regular season.

The 1971–72 Buffalo Braves were led by Bob Kauffman, whose scoring, rebounding, and playmaking made him the team’s most versatile contributor. Elmore Smith anchored the interior with elite rebounding and shot-blocking while providing efficient scoring around the basket, and Randy Smith added backcourt scoring and secondary playmaking. The Clippers relied on a balanced inside-out approach, drawing strength from their frontcourt production and defensive presence but lacking consistent offensive depth across the roster.

Roster

NO. PLAYER POS HT WT BIRTH DATE COLLEGE
3 Elmore Smith C 7-0 250 May 9, 1949 Kentucky State University
7 Em Bryant PG 6-1 175 November 4, 1938 DePaul
9 Randy Smith SF 6-3 180 December 12, 1948 Buffalo State
13 Mike Davis SG 6-3 185 July 26, 1946 Virginia Union University
20 Dick Garrett SG 6-3 185 January 31, 1947 Southern Illinois
25 Bill Hosket PF 6-8 225 December 20, 1946 Ohio State
32 Fred Hilton SG 6-3 185 January 15, 1948 Grambling State University
35 Cornell Warner PF 6-9 220 August 12, 1948 Jackson State University
40 Jerry Chambers SF 6-5 185 July 18, 1943 Trinidad State Junior College, Utah
42 Walt Hazzard PG 6-2 185 April 15, 1942 UCLA
44 Bob Kauffman PF 6-8 240 July 13, 1946 Guilford College
45 John Hummer PF 6-9 230 May 4, 1948 Princeton

First-team All-Star (Kauffman) & Rookie (R. Smith joined as 7th-round pick).

Regular-Season Per Game

Player Pos Age G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FG% 3PA 3P% FTA FT%
Bob Kauffman PF 25 77 – 41.6 18.9 10.2 3.9 – – – 14.6 .497 – – 5.6 .795
Elmore Smith C 22 78 – 40.8 17.3 15.2 1.4 – – – 16.3 .454 – – 4.7 .534
Walt Hazzard PG 29 72 – 33.2 15.8 3.0 5.6 – – – 13.9 .451 – – 4.2 .782
Randy Smith SF 23 76 – 27.6 13.4 4.8 2.5 – – – 11.8 .482 – – 3.3 .622
Dick Garrett SG 25 73 – 26.1 10.8 3.1 2.3 – – – 10.1 .442 – – 2.2 .866
Em Bryant PG 33 54 – 22.6 5.1 2.4 3.8 – – – 4.1 .459 – – 2.3 .600
Fred Hilton SG 24 61 – 22.1 11.6 2.6 1.9 – – – 13.0 .389 – – 2.0 .738
John Hummer PF 23 55 – 21.6 5.2 4.2 1.3 – – – 5.3 .390 – – 2.3 .468
Cornell Warner PF 23 62 – 20.0 6.2 6.1 0.9 – – – 5.9 .443 – – 1.3 .744
Mike Davis SG 25 62 – 17.2 9.1 1.9 1.3 – – – 8.1 .425 – – 2.9 .767
Jerry Chambers SF 28 26 – 14.2 6.8 2.6 0.9 – – – 6.9 .433 – – 1.2 .688
Bill Hosket PF 25 44 – 13.5 5.0 2.8 0.9 – – – 4.1 .492 – – 1.2 .808
Team Totals     82 – 241.5 102.0 48.5 21.5 – – – 92.2 .451 – – 27.1 .698

Regular-Season Totals

Player Pos Age GP GS Min PTS REB AST STL BLK TO FGA FGM 3PA 3PM FTA FTM
Bob Kauffman   25 77   3205 1457 787 297       1123 558     429 341
Elmore Smith   22 78   3186 1352 1184 111       1275 579     363 194
Walt Hazzard   29 72   2389 1137 213 406       998 450     303 237
Randy Smith   23 76   2094 1022 368 189       896 432     254 158
Dick Garrett   25 73   1905 786 225 165       735 325     157 136
Fred Hilton   24 61   1349 708 156 116       795 309     122 90
Cornell Warner   23 62   1239 382 379 54       366 162     78 58
Em Bryant   33 54   1223 277 127 206       220 101     125 75
John Hummer   23 55   1186 284 229 72       290 113     124 58
Mike Davis   25 62   1068 564 120 82       501 213     180 138
Bill Hosket   25 44   592 220 123 38       181 89     52 42
Jerry Chambers   28 26   369 178 67 23       180 78     32 22
Team Totals     82   19805 8367 3978 1759       7560 3409     2219 1549

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK Impact Index* Notes
Bob Kauffman Alpha Scorer 41.6 High 18.9 10.2 3.9 1.8 17.4 Primary scoring PF; strong rebounding; all-around presence; All-Star recognition.
Elmore Smith Defensive Anchor 40.8 Medium 17.3 15.2 1.4 4.0 18.0 Rookie of the Year candidate; elite rim protection and rebounding; scoring secondary.
Walt Hazzard Floor General 33.2 High 15.8 3.0 5.6 0.9 12.65 Veteran PG; strong playmaking; scoring balanced with assists; moderate defensive activity.
Randy Smith Secondary Scorer 27.6 Medium 13.4 4.8 2.5 1.0 10.85 Efficient wing scorer; moderate defensive contributions; supports primary scorers.
Dick Garrett Two-Way Guard 26.1 Medium 10.8 3.1 2.3 1.0 8.6 Contributes scoring and defense; versatile rotational guard.
Fred Hilton Bench Scorer 22.1 Medium 11.6 2.6 1.9 0.6 8.35 Spot scoring SG; adds offensive spark off the bench; limited defensive impact.
Em Bryant Facilitator 22.6 Low 5.1 2.4 3.8 0.5 5.9 Veteran PG; controls pace; modest scoring; contributes as a backup floor general.
John Hummer Role PF 21.6 Low 5.2 4.2 1.3 0.5 5.6 Rotational big; secondary scoring and rebounding; defensive role player.
Cornell Warner Development PF 20.0 Low 6.2 6.1 0.9 0.3 6.75 Young PF with strong rebounding; limited scoring; defensive and developmental focus.
Mike Davis Spot SG 17.2 Low 9.1 1.9 1.3 0.4 6.35 Bench wing; provides occasional scoring bursts; limited all-around contribution.
Jerry Chambers Deep Bench SF 14.2 Low 6.8 2.6 0.9 0.2 5.25 Minimal minutes; spot contributions as SF; low usage and impact.
Bill Hosket End-of-Rotation PF 13.5 Low 5.0 2.8 0.9 0.3 4.5 Limited minutes; rotational big; moderate scoring and rebounding; minimal impact.