Last Updated on January 6, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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Here is the Cleveland Cavaliers 1971–72 Roster and Regular Season Player Statistics.

Cleveland Cavaliers 1971–72 Roster

No. Player Pos Ht Wt Birth Date College/From
5 John Johnson F 6-7 200 Oct 18, 1947 Iowa
10 Lenny Wilkens G 6-1 180 Oct 28, 1937 Providence
11 Dwight Davis F 6-8 225 Oct 11, 1949 Houston
15 Charlie Davis G 6-2 160 Sep 7, 1949 Wake Forest
20 Rick Roberson C 6-9 231 Jul 7, 1947 Cincinnati
21 John Warren G 6-3 185 Jan 7, 1947 St. John’s
22 Dave Sorenson F 6-7 225 Jul 8, 1948 Ohio State
23 Walt Wesley C 6-11 220 Jan 25, 1945 Kansas
25 Steve Kuberski F 6-8 215 Nov 6, 1947 Bradley
30 John Barnhill G 6-1 180 Jan 11, 1938 Tennessee State
32 Larry Mikan C 6-7 210 Apr 8, 1948 Minnesota
33 Dave Newmark C 7-0 250 May 20, 1946 Columbia
44 Luke Witte C 7-0 240 Feb 3, 1950 Ohio State

Note: Jersey numbers and active games may have varied during the season.

1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers Regular Season Per Game

PLAYER NAME POS AGE G GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Austin Carr SG 23 43   35.8 21.2 3.5 3.4       20.8 8.9 .426       4.6 3.5 .760
John Johnson SF 24 82   37.1 17.0 7.7 5.1       15.7 6.8 .433       4.3 3.4 .785
Butch Beard PG 24 68   35.8 15.4 4.1 6.7       12.5 5.8 .464       5.0 3.8 .760
Bingo Smith SF 25 82   33.3 15.0 6.1 3.0       14.5 6.4 .443       2.7 2.2 .795
Rick Roberson PF 24 63   35.0 13.1 12.7 1.7       10.9 4.8 .442       5.8 3.4 .587
Walt Wesley C 27 82   26.6 12.4 8.7 0.9       12.3 5.0 .410       3.5 2.4 .674
Charlie Davis SG 22 61   18.8 9.8 1.5 2.0       9.3 3.8 .402       2.8 2.3 .840
Dave Sorenson PF 23 76   15.3 7.0 4.0 1.1       6.3 2.8 .448       1.8 1.4 .779
Bobby Washington PG 24 69   14.0 5.1 1.9 3.2       4.5 1.8 .398       1.9 1.5 .813
John Warren SG 24 68   14.3 5.0 2.0 1.3       5.1 2.1 .417       0.9 0.7 .845
Steve Patterson C 23 65   11.9 3.2 3.5 0.8       4.0 1.4 .357       0.7 0.4 .500
Greg Howard PF 24 48   8.9 2.9 2.3 0.6       2.7 1.0 .382       1.1 0.8 .765
Luther Rackley C 25 9   7.2 2.6 2.3 0.3       2.8 1.2 .440       0.4 0.1 .250
Jackie Ridgle SG 23 32   3.3 1.8 0.5 0.2       1.4 0.6 .432       0.8 0.6 .731
Team Totals     82   240.9 105.8 50.0 25.1       98.5 42.2 .428       29.1 21.4 .736**

1971–72 Cleveland Cavaliers Regular Season Totals

PLAYER POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
John Johnson SF 24 82   3041 1391 631 415       1286 557 .433       353 277 .785
Bingo Smith SF 25 82   2734 1232 502 247       1190 527 .443       224 178 .795
Butch Beard PG 24 68   2434 1048 276 456       849 394 .464       342 260 .760
Walt Wesley C 27 82   2185 1020 711 76       1006 412 .410       291 196 .674
Austin Carr SG 23 43   1539 911 150 148       894 381 .426       196 149 .760
Rick Roberson PF 24 63   2207 823 801 109       688 304 .442       366 215 .587
Charlie Davis SG 22 61   1144 600 92 123       569 229 .402       169 142 .840
Dave Sorenson PF 23 76   1162 532 301 81       475 213 .448       136 106 .779
Bobby Washington PG 24 69   967 350 129 223       309 123 .398       128 104 .813
John Warren SG 24 68   969 337 133 91       345 144 .417       58 49 .845
Steve Patterson C 23 65   775 211 228 54       263 94 .357       46 23 .500
Greg Howard PF 24 48   426 139 108 27       131 50 .382       51 39 .765
Jackie Ridgle SG 23 32   107 57 15 7       44 19 .432       26 19 .731
Luther Rackley C 25 9   65 23 21 3       25 11 .440       4 1 .250
Team Totals     82   19755 8674 4098 2060       8074 3458 .428       2390 1758 .736**

Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG+BPG) Impact Index* Notes Awards
John Johnson Primary Two‑Way Wing / Lead Forward 37.1 High‑Medium 17.0 7.7 5.1 n/a 14.95 Cornerstone of the Cavs’ young core — top‑minute forward, provided balanced scoring, high rebounding, and secondary playmaking across 82 games.  All‑Star 
Butch Beard Lead Guard / Floor General 35.8 High 15.4 4.1 6.7 n/a 13.10 Served as primary ball‑handler for much of the season, leading the backcourt and facilitating offense while logging heavy minutes.  All‑Star 
Austin Carr Primary Scoring Guard / Off‑Ball Shooter 35.8 High 21.2 3.5 3.4 n/a 14.05 Despite being a rookie and playing only 43 games, he led the team in scoring — a big scoring punch that foreshadowed his future role.  All‑Rookie First Team 
Rick Roberson Starting Big / Rebound & Interior Anchor 35.0 Medium 13.1 12.7 1.7 n/a 13.75 Anchored the frontcourt — leading the team in rebounding per game and offering interior toughness and presence.  —
Bingo Smith Wing Scorer / 3‑Level Role Player 33.3 Medium 15.0 6.1 3.0 n/a 12.05 Provided solid two‑way contributions, adding scoring and rebounding while playing most games — dependable secondary option.  —
Walt Wesley Starting Center / Frontcourt Contributor 26.6 Medium‑Low 12.4 8.7 0.9 n/a 11.00 As the primary center, gave the Cavs consistent minutes and frontcourt stability with rebounding and decent scoring.  —
Charlie Davis Rotation Guard / Development Role 18.8 Low 9.8 1.5 2.0 n/a 6.65 Provided bench depth — saw limited minutes but offered occasional scoring in his role‑player capacity.  —
Dave Sorenson Bench Forward / Energy Rebounder 15.3 Low 7.0 4.0 1.1 n/a 6.05 Offered modest frontcourt depth off the bench — rebound support and occasional points in limited minutes.  —
Bobby Washington Backup Guard / Spot Playmaker 14.0 Low 5.1 1.9 3.2 n/a 5.10 Provided reserve guard minutes with some playmaking — a tertiary ball‑handler when starters rested. —
John Warren Fringe Backcourt Depth 14.3 Very Low 5.0 2.0 1.3 n/a 4.15 Saw very limited role; minimal impact overall beyond occasional scoring when called upon.  —
Steve Patterson Deep Frontcourt Reserve / Backup Center 11.9 Very Low 3.2 3.5 0.8 n/a 3.75 Provided occasional minutes at center — modest statistical contribution, mostly depth support.  —
Greg Howard Minimal Rotation Forward / Reserve 8.9 Very Low 2.9 2.3 0.6 n/a 2.90 Saw very limited time; likely a depth/filler role for short stretches.  —
Luther Rackley Occasional Center Depth 7.2 Very Low 2.6 2.3 0.3 n/a 2.60 Very limited sample size (9 games) — negligible season impact.  —
Jackie Ridgle Peripheral Guard Depth 3.3 Very Low 1.8 0.5 0.2 n/a 1.25 Practically no role — minimal minutes, likely end‑of‑bench roster filler. —