Here is the Denver Rockets (1970–71 ABA Season) roster and regular season player statistics. The team continued to be called the Denver Rockets until becoming the Denver Nuggets in 1974.
Team: Denver Rockets (1970–71 ABA Season)
Roster
No.
Player
Pos
Ht
Wt
Birth Date
College
11
Byron Beck
C/F
6-9
225
Jan 25, 1945
Denver
12
Ralph Simpson
G
6-5
200
Aug 10, 1949
Michigan State
13
Larry Cannon
G
6-5
190
Apr 12, 1947
La Salle
14
Art Becker
F
6-7
215
Jan 12, 1942
Arizona State
15
Willie Murrell
F
6-6
215
Sep 13, 1941
Kansas State
20
Julian Hammond
F
6-5
210
May 27, 1943
Tulsa
21
Marvin Roberts
F
6-6
200
Jan 29, 1950
Utah State
22
Lonnie Wright
G
6-2
200
Jan 23, 1945
Colorado State
23
Larry Jones
G
6-3
185
Sep 22, 1942
Toledo
24
Dave Lattin
C
6-6
225
Mar 23, 1943
Texas Western
31
Walt Piatkowski
F
6-8
215
Jun 11, 1945
Texas-El Paso
1970-71 Regular Season Per Game
Player Name
Pos
Age
G
GS
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
TOV
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
C
24
83
83
43.8
14.7
17.5
1.7
0.0
2.6
2.6
14.2
.427
0.0
3.8
.669
Larry Cannon
SG
23
80
80
38.7
26.6
4.2
5.2
0.2
0.0
4.3
21.5
.436
0.9
.261
9.5
.794
Byron Beck
PF
26
84
84
33.9
13.6
10.5
2.1
0.0
0.0
1.9
12.3
.474
0.2
.286
2.2
.868
Don Sidle
PF
24
54
54
30.1
16.1
9.0
1.2
0.0
0.0
2.3
12.9
.488
0.1
.000
4.8
.747
John Barnhill
PG
32
24
24
28.5
11.4
2.3
3.2
0.8
0.0
1.7
10.6
.396
3.0
.250
3.0
.740
Art Becker
PF
29
29
29
27.7
15.2
7.2
1.1
0.0
0.0
1.2
12.6
.501
0.1
.500
3.0
.839
Julian Hammond
SF
27
83
83
25.1
13.8
6.3
1.2
0.0
0.0
2.2
10.0
.522
0.0
4.5
.728
Larry Brown
PG
30
34
34
23.9
8.4
1.8
6.1
0.1
0.0
3.4
6.9
.360
0.6
.263
4.0
.824
Ralph Simpson
SG
21
81
81
22.5
14.2
2.9
2.1
0.2
0.0
2.3
13.7
.415
0.7
.283
3.5
.754
Wayne Chapman
SF
25
47
47
22.3
10.0
3.0
2.3
0.2
0.0
2.1
10.3
.380
1.0
.229
2.7
.690
Lonnie Wright
PG
26
41
41
18.8
6.4
2.2
1.5
0.4
0.0
1.0
8.0
.299
1.4
.268
1.9
.688
Dan Hester
C
22
35
35
13.2
5.9
5.7
0.9
0.1
0.0
0.9
5.9
.382
0.3
.455
1.5
.824
Tom Workman
26
39
39
12.5
6.1
3.4
0.9
0.0
0.0
1.3
5.1
.447
0.3
.091
1.7
.838
Steve Wilson
SG
22
39
39
6.7
3.4
1.2
0.7
0.2
0.0
0.8
3.4
.394
0.8
.242
1.1
.537
Team Totals
84
243.3
118.6
57.7
19.5
1.2
0.0
19.7
104.5
.439
4.8
.258
33.8
.760
1970-71 Regular Season Totals
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
FGA
FGM
3PA
3PM
FTA
FTM
Julius Keye
24
83
83
3634
1222
1454
140
370
215
317
1182
505
0
0
317
212
Larry Cannon
23
80
80
3097
2126
333
414
207
160
346
1722
751
69
18
763
606
Byron Beck
26
84
84
2849
1142
884
177
280
160
273
1033
490
14
4
182
158
Julian Hammond
27
83
83
2082
1143
523
97
238
180
189
834
435
0
0
375
273
Ralph Simpson
21
81
81
1820
1152
231
168
125
106
186
1108
460
60
17
285
215
Don Sidle
24
54
54
1623
870
488
66
213
275
167
694
339
5
0
257
192
Wayne Chapman
25
47
47
1049
468
143
107
43
100
100
484
184
48
11
129
89
Larry Brown
30
34
34
813
287
62
208
11
51
115
236
85
19
5
136
112
Art Becker
29
29
29
803
440
209
31
80
36
107
365
183
2
1
87
73
Lonnie Wright
26
41
41
769
264
89
61
36
53
43
328
98
56
15
77
53
John Barnhill
32
24
24
684
274
54
77
20
34
40
255
101
72
18
73
54
Tom Workman
26
39
39
489
236
133
37
39
52
81
199
89
11
1
68
57
Dan Hester
22
35
35
462
205
198
30
75
32
66
207
79
11
5
51
42
Steve Wilson
22
39
39
261
134
48
29
22
30
43
132
52
33
8
41
22
Team Totals
84
84
20435
9963
4849
1642
1759
1658
1996
8779
3851
400
103
2841
2158
Team Impact Index
Player Name
Role Tier
MPG
Usage Tier
PPG
RPG
APG
STK (est)
Impact Index*
Notes
Awards
Julius Keye
Defensive Anchor
43.8
Low
14.7
13.1
1.7
~1.0 (proxy)
~15.25
Anchored the paint for Denver, leading the team in rebounding; his season-high boards and defensive presence were instrumental despite limited playmaking.
ABA All-Star
Larry Cannon
Primary Scorer
38.7
High
26.6
4.2
5.2
~1.0
~18.5
Was the team’s go-to scorer and shot-creator, leading Denver in points and facilitating offense via assists.
–
Byron Beck
Versatile Veteran
33.9
Medium
13.6
10.5
2.1
~0.7
~13.5
A steady veteran presence, Beck contributed double‑digit rebounding and solid scoring, helping stabilize Denver’s frontcourt.
–
Don Sidle
Front‑court Support
30.1
Medium‑Low
16.1
9.0
1.2
~0.7
~13.5
Provided efficient interior scoring and rebounding in a complementary big‑man role, allowing Keye more defensive freedom.
–
John Barnhill
Veteran Point Guard
28.5
Low
11.4
2.3
3.2
~0.5
~8.7
As an older guard, he played a limited but steady role, handling the ball and mentoring younger backcourt options.
–
Art Becker
Role Big
27.7
Medium
15.2
7.2
1.1
~0.8
~12.1
Made the most of his minutes, shooting efficiently inside (~50% FG) and providing front‑court spacing and boards.
–
Julian Hammond
Wing Contributor
25.1
Medium‑Low
13.8
6.3
2.9
~0.8
~12.9
Contributed scoring and rebounding from the wing, offering a reliable two‑way presence in rotations.
–
Larry Brown
Backup PG
23.9
Low
8.4
1.8
3.4
~0.9
~7.2
Came off the bench to provide playmaking and ball‑handling depth; a role player more than a primary option.
–
Ralph Simpson
Young Scorer
22.5
Medium
14.2
2.9
2.1
~1.1
~10.1
At age 21, showed early promise as a scorer, giving Denver athleticism and offensive upside from the perimeter.
–
Wayne Chapman
Bench SF
22.3
Very Low
10.0
3.0
2.3
~0.6
~8.0
Played a depth role, contributing when called upon on the wing, particularly in spot minutes.
–
Lonnie Wright
Development Guard
18.8
Very Low
6.4
2.2
1.5
~0.5
~5.3
A young guard getting limited minutes, likely viewed as a developmental piece rather than a key rotation member.
–
Dan Hester
Reserve Center
13.2
Very Low
5.9
5.7
0.9
~0.7
~6.5
Saw very limited action as a backup big, providing spot interior minutes and rest for starters.
–
Tom Workman
Deep Reserve
12.5
Very Low
6.1
3.4
0.9
~0.7
~5.5
Played minimal minutes, used sparingly as a front‑court depth piece, often in mop-up or low-leverage time.
Steve Wilson
Spot Guard
6.7
Very Low
3.4
1.2
0.7
~0.4
~2.9
Barely saw the floor; likely on roster for depth, not a meaningful contributor in the rotation.
* Impact Index = (PPG + RPG + APG + STK) ÷ 2, using rough estimates for STK where not documented.
