Here is the Denver Rockets (1972–73 ABA Season) roster and regular season player statistics. The franchise was still known as the Denver Rockets at this time.
Team: Denver Rockets (1972–73 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
Al Smith
G
6-1
170
Jan 15, 1947
Bradley
14
Warren Jabali
G
6-2
200
Aug 29, 1946
Wichita State
15
Willie Long
F
6-7
210
Mar 1, 1950
New Mexico
20
Julius Keye
F/C
6-10
200
Sep 5, 1946
South Carolina State
21
Marvin Roberts
F
6-6
200
Jan 29, 1950
Utah State
22
Dave Robisch
C/F
6-10
235
Dec 22, 1949
Kansas
23
Mike Jackson
F
6-7
215
Jul 31, 1949
Cal State Los Angeles
24
Claude Terry
G
6-4
195
Jan 12, 1950
Stanford
25
Rich Johnson
F
6-7
215
Dec 18, 1946
Grambling
1972-73 Regular Season Per Game
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
Pts
Reb
Ast
Stl
Blk
TO
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
PF
26
83
83
36.3
5.5
10.7
2.2
0.7
2.7
1.6
4.5
.435
0.1
.375
2.8
.558
Warren Jabali
PG
26
82
82
33.4
17.0
5.2
6.6
2.1
0.4
3.7
11.9
.453
1.7
.257
7.3
.805
Ralph Simpson
SG
23
81
81
32.0
23.3
4.6
2.7
1.6
0.1
3.5
20.6
.438
0.3
.208
6.9
.757
Dave Robisch
C
23
83
83
31.9
16.3
9.0
2.0
0.6
0.7
1.6
12.2
.516
0.0
.000
4.9
.756
Byron Beck
C
28
77
77
29.9
14.2
7.0
1.4
0.6
0.2
1.6
11.4
.530
0.1
.286
2.6
.798
Al Smith
PG
26
83
83
28.2
11.1
2.6
5.7
0.9
0.1
3.1
9.2
.411
1.1
.189
4.2
.773
Marv Roberts
SF
23
77
77
25.4
12.3
5.2
1.2
0.6
0.1
1.4
10.5
.463
0.0
.333
3.3
.788
Willie Long
PF
22
56
56
18.8
9.0
5.2
0.8
0.4
0.1
1.7
8.2
.400
0.0
.000
3.2
.780
John Trapp
SF
27
24
24
14.3
5.3
3.0
0.8
0.7
0.3
1.0
5.3
.422
0.1
.000
1.3
.594
Claude Terry
SG
23
68
68
9.8
4.8
1.1
0.9
0.4
0.0
1.0
4.2
.421
0.4
.417
1.7
.649
Frank Card
SF
28
4
4
9.0
5.3
1.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.8
3.8
.400
0.0
.000
3.3
.692
David Bustion
PF
23
47
47
7.6
3.4
2.1
0.4
0.2
0.1
1.1
2.8
.436
0.0
.000
1.3
.712
Team Totals
84
238.6
109.4
49.1
23.0
7.8
4.4
19.0
89.3
.458
3.6
.246
35.6
.753
1972-73 Playoff Per Game
Player Name
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
Pts
Reb
Ast
Stl
Blk
TO
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
PF
26
5
5
40.6
9.8
13.6
3.2
0.7
2.2
3.2
6.8
.588
0.2
.000
3.4
.529
Ralph Simpson
SG
23
5
5
39.4
26.4
4.8
2.8
3.0
0.2
4.0
27.6
.370
1.2
.333
7.4
.757
Al Smith
PG
26
5
5
37.0
9.6
5.0
5.2
3.6
0.1
3.4
10.8
.278
0.4
.000
4.0
.900
Dave Robisch
C
23
5
5
36.8
20.2
13.6
1.6
0.2
0.2
4.2
17.0
.471
0.0
.000
6.2
.677
Byron Beck
C
28
4
4
32.5
17.3
9.8
1.3
2.3
0.2
4.0
15.8
.444
0.0
.000
4.3
.765
Warren Jabali
PG
26
5
5
25.2
6.0
1.4
2.8
2.2
0.0
2.2
5.4
.333
1.2
.000
3.2
.750
Willie Long
PF
22
4
4
13.3
3.8
2.3
0.3
2.8
0.0
3.3
5.0
.250
0.0
.000
1.5
.833
Marv Roberts
SF
23
2
2
12.0
5.0
1.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
2.5
4.0
.500
0.0
.000
1.0
1.000
David Bustion
PF
23
1
1
11.0
10.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.0
3.0
7.0
.286
0.0
.000
7.0
.857
John Trapp
SF
27
5
5
10.2
4.4
1.4
0.4
0.2
0.3
2.6
3.2
.438
0.0
.000
2.4
.667
Claude Terry
SG
23
4
4
9.0
1.3
0.8
0.5
1.0
0.0
1.3
2.3
.222
0.5
.000
0.3
1.000
Team Totals
5
240.0
98.2
50.8
18.0
16.4
4.4
28.0
92.2
.397
3.4
.118
33.2
.741
1972-73 Regular Season Totals
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
Pts
Reb
Ast
Stl
Blk
TO
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
PF
26
83
83
3016
459
892
180
58
226
134
375
.435
8
.375
233
.558
Warren Jabali
PG
26
82
82
2738
1398
424
539
175
31
302
974
.453
140
.257
596
.805
Dave Robisch
C
23
83
83
2647
1351
744
170
46
61
134
1010
.516
1
1.000
409
.756
Ralph Simpson
SG
23
81
81
2589
1890
371
222
127
11
283
1670
.438
24
.208
556
.757
Al Smith
PG
26
83
83
2343
919
214
477
74
11
261
767
.411
90
.189
352
.773
Byron Beck
C
28
77
77
2303
1092
537
107
50
12
126
879
.530
7
.286
198
.798
Marv Roberts
SF
23
77
77
1959
950
398
95
49
6
110
807
.463
3
.333
255
.788
Willie Long
PF
22
56
56
1050
504
290
43
24
4
95
458
.400
2
.000
177
.780
Claude Terry
SG
23
68
68
667
324
75
62
24
0
69
285
.421
24
.417
114
.649
David Bustion
PF
23
47
47
355
158
101
21
8
4
54
133
.436
0
.000
59
.712
John Trapp
SF
27
24
24
342
127
72
20
16
6
25
128
.422
2
.000
32
.594
Frank Card
SF
28
4
4
36
21
7
0
0
0
3
15
.400
0
.000
13
.692
Team Totals
84
20045
9193
4125
1936
651
372
1596
7501
.458
301
.246
2994
.753
1972-73 Playoff Totals
Player
Pos
Age
GP
GS
Min
Pts
Reb
Ast
Stl
Blk
TO
FGA
FG%
3PA
3P%
FTA
FT%
Julius Keye
PF
26
5
5
203
68
68
16
11
16
49
34
.588
1
.000
17
.529
Ralph Simpson
SG
23
5
5
197
132
24
14
15
20
132
138
.370
6
.333
37
.757
Al Smith
PG
26
5
5
185
48
25
26
10
17
48
54
.278
2
.000
20
.900
Dave Robisch
C
23
5
5
184
101
68
8
30
1
21
85
.471
0
.000
31
.677
Byron Beck
C
28
4
4
130
69
39
5
19
16
69
63
.444
0
.000
17
.765
Warren Jabali
PG
26
5
5
126
30
7
14
2
11
30
27
.333
6
.000
16
.750
Willie Long
PF
22
4
4
53
15
9
1
4
13
15
20
.250
0
.000
6
.833
John Trapp
SF
27
5
5
51
22
7
2
4
3
13
16
.438
0
.000
12
.667
Claude Terry
SG
23
4
4
36
5
3
2
1
0
5
9
.222
2
.000
1
1.000
Marv Roberts
SF
23
2
2
24
10
3
1
0
0
5
8
.500
0
.000
2
1.000
David Bustion
PF
23
1
1
11
10
1
1
0
0
3
7
.286
0
.000
7
.857
Team Totals
5
1200
491
254
90
82
140
491
461
.397
17
.118
166
.741
Team Impact Index
Player Name
Role Tier
MPG
Usage Tier
PPG
RPG
APG
STK (SPG + BPG)
Impact Index*
Notes
Awards
Julius Keye
Defensive Anchor / Rebounder
36.3
Low
5.5
10.7
2.2
3.4 (0.7 + 2.7)
10.95
Keye was the Rockets’ main rim protector and rebounder, averaging 10.7 boards and 2.7 blocks per game — anchoring their interior defense.
ABA All-Star (1971)
Warren Jabali
Lead Playmaker / Combo Guard
33.4
High
17.0
5.2
6.6
2.5 (2.1 + 0.4)
15.65
Jabali balanced scoring and playmaking while also bringing elite defensive physicality. Known as one of the league’s most feared defenders.
ABA All-Star, 1973 ABA All-Star Game MVP
Ralph Simpson
Primary Scorer / Streak Shooter
32.0
Very High
23.3
4.6
2.7
1.6 (1.6 + 0.1)
16.10
Simpson was the team’s go-to scorer, known for his streaky but potent shooting. He was a five‑time ABA All-Star.
5× ABA All-Star
Dave Robisch
Two‑Big Frontcourt Partner
31.9
Medium
16.3
9.0
2.0
2.2 (0.6 + 1.6)
14.75
Robisch provided reliable scoring and rebounding in the post. A smooth left‑handed shooter known from his collegiate days at Kansas.
—
Byron Beck
Role Big / Energy Big
29.9
Medium‑Low
14.2
7.0
1.4
0.8 (0.6 + 0.2)
11.70
Beck was a tenacious rebounder and efficient inside scorer, using a reliable hook shot. He was one of the few franchise constants in Denver’s ABA era.
2× ABA All-Star (1969, 1976)
Al Smith
Secondary Facilitator / Backup PG
28.2
Medium
11.1
2.6
5.7
1.0 (0.9 + 0.1)
10.20
Smith served as the backup point guard, taking on a larger playmaking role once Larry Brown left. He led the ABA in assists later in his career.
ABA assists leader
Marv Roberts
Supporting Forward
25.4
Low‑Medium
12.3
5.2
1.2
0.7 (0.6 + 0.1)
9.65
Roberts provided valuable forward depth, contributing both on offense and the boards, though he wasn’t a primary option.
—
Willie Long
Young Frontcourt Depth
18.8
Low
9.0
5.2
0.8
0.5 (0.4 + 0.1)
7.75
As a younger big, Long played limited minutes, showing glimpses of rebounding and scoring potential in his developmental role.
—
John Trapp
Role Wing / Spot-Up
14.3
Very Low
5.3
3.0
0.8
1.0 (0.7 + 0.3)
5.05
Trapp offered spot-up shooting and defensive energy in short spurts, but his role was highly limited.
—
Claude Terry
Reserve Guard
9.8
Very Low
4.8
1.1
0.9
0.4 (0.4 + 0.0)
3.60
Terry saw very few minutes and functioned mostly as a reserve option, contributing modestly when he was on the floor.
—
Frank Card
Deep Bench Forward
9.0
Very Low
5.3
1.8
0.0
0.0
3.55
Card’s impact was minimal due to very limited playing time; he was a deep rotation piece.
—
David Bustion
Development Frontcourt
7.6
Very Low
3.4
2.1
0.4
0.3
3.10
Bustion saw the least action on the roster, mainly used for matchups or garbage-time minutes as a developing big man.
