The 1972-73 Topps Basketball checklist combine players from both the NBA and ABA. It carries another memorable design that, while a product of its time, has become timeless.
One iconic rookie card leads the way, but there are a handful of other notable stars making their first basketball card appearances as well.
All in all, this is a rounded roundball release that stands out in several regards.
1972-73 Topps Basketball Checklist Details
The 1972-73 Topps Basketball checklist totals 264 cards. The first 176 are dedicated to the NBA while cards #177-264 are for the rival ABA. This is up from 233 cards in 1971-72.
Although the majority of the checklist is dedicated to standard player cards, subsets for All-Stars, league leaders and postseason highlights are also in the mix. This means multiple cards for many top stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West.
The most valuable 1972-73 Topps Basketball card is the Julius Erving rookie card. Dr. J is one of basketball’s most dominant scorers and an all-time legend in every regard. Part of the ABA portion of the checklist, he also has All-Star and leader cards for those looking for more affordable options.
Phil Jackson, George McGinnis and Artis Gilmore are the other key rookie cards on the 1972-73 Topps Basketball checklist.
The standout layout feature is the team name that runs across the bottom of the card. The letters are positioned to grow like a ramp, jumping out immediately and helping from in the player photos. These are posed shots cast against single-color backgrounds. To help differentiate the Houston Rockets and Denver Rockets, the city name is added to fronts on these cards as well.
Vertical backs incorporate a lot of information including stats, bios, vitals and even comics.
1972-73 Topps Basketball Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 264 cards
Cards per pack: 10
Packs per box: 24
Shop for 1972-73 Topps Basketball boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set
264 cards.
1 Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers
2 Stan Love, Baltimore Bullets
3 Geoff Petrie, Portland Trail Blazers
4 Curtis Perry, Milwaukee Bucks RC
5 Pete Maravich, Atlanta Hawks
6 Gus Johnson, Phoenix Suns
7 Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics
8 Randy Smith, Buffalo Braves RC
9 Matt Guokas, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
10 Spencer Haywood, Seattle SuperSonics
11 Jerry Sloan, Chicago Bulls
12 Dave Sorenson, Cleveland Cavaliers
13 Howie Komives, Detroit Pistons
14 Joe Ellis, Golden State Warriors
15 Jerry Lucas, New York Knicks
16 Stu Lantz, Detroit Pistons
17 Bill Bridges, Philadelphia 76ers
18 Leroy Ellis, Los Angeles Lakers
19 Art Williams, Boston Celtics
20 Sidney Wicks, Portland Trail Blazers RC
21 Wes Unseld, Baltimore Bullets
22 Jim Washington, Atlanta Hawks
23 Fred Hilton, Buffalo Braves
24 Curtis Rowe, Detroit Pistons RC
25 Oscar Robertson, Milwaukee Bucks
26 Larry Steele, Portland Trail Blazers RC
27 Charlie Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers
28 Nate Thurmond, Golden State Warriors
29 Fred Carter, Philadelphia 76ers
30 Connie Hawkins, Phoenix Suns
31 Calvin Murphy, Houston Rockets
32 Phil Jackson, New York Knicks RC
33 Lee Winfield, Seattle SuperSonics
34 Jim Fox, Seattle SuperSonics
35 Dave Bing, Detroit Pistons
36 Gary Gregor, Portland Trail Blazers
37 Mike Riordan, Baltimore Bullets
38 George Trapp, Atlanta Hawks
39 Mike Davis, Buffalo Braves
40 Bob Rule, Philadelphia 76ers
41 John Block, Philadelphia 76ers
42 Bob Dandridge, Milwaukee Bucks
43 John Johnson, Cleveland Cavaliers
44 Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
45 Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics
46 Cliff Meely, Houston Rockets
47 Charlie Scott, Phoenix Suns
48 Johnny Green, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
49 Pete Cross, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
50 Gail Goodrich, Los Angeles Lakers
51 Jim Davis, Detroit Pistons
52 Dick Barnett, New York Knicks
53 Bob Christian, Atlanta Hawks
54 Jon McGlocklin, Milwaukee Bucks
55 Paul Silas, Boston Celtics
56 Hal Greer, Philadelphia 76ers
57 Barry Clemens, Seattle SuperSonics
58 Nick Jones, Golden State Warriors
59 Cornell Warner, Buffalo Braves
60 Walt Frazier, New York Knicks
61 Dorie Murrey, Baltimore Bullets
62 Dick Cunningham, Houston Rockets
63 Sam Lacey, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
64 John Warren, Cleveland Cavaliers
65 Tom Boerwinkle, Chicago Bulls
66 Fred Foster, Detroit Pistons
67 Mel Counts, Phoenix Suns
68 Toby Kimball, Milwaukee Bucks
69 Dale Schlueter, Portland Trail Blazers
70 Jack Marin, Houston Rockets
71 Jim Barnett, Golden State Warriors
72 Clem Haskins, Phoenix Suns
73 Earl Monroe, New York Knicks
74 Tom Sanders, Boston Celtics
75 Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
76 Elmore Smith, Buffalo Braves RC
77 Don Adams, Atlanta Hawks
78 Wally Jones, Milwaukee Bucks
79 Tom Van Arsdale, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
80 Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons
81 Lenny Wilkens, Seattle SuperSonics
82 Neal Walk, Phoenix Suns
83 Kevin Loughery, Philadelphia 76ers
84 Stan McKenzie, Portland Trail Blazers
85 Jeff Mullins, Golden State Warriors
86 Otto Moore, Houston Rockets
87 John Tresvant, Baltimore Bullets
88 Dean Meminger, New York Knicks RC
89 Jim McMillian, Los Angeles Lakers
90 Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers RC
91 Clifford Ray, Chicago Bulls RC
92 Don Nelson, Boston Celtics
93 Mahdi Abdul-Rahman, Buffalo Braves
94 Willie Norwood, Detroit Pistons
95 Dick Van Arsdale, Phoenix Suns
96 Don May, Atlanta Hawks
97 Walt Bellamy, Atlanta Hawks
98 Garfield Heard, Seattle SuperSonics RC
99 Dave Wohl, Philadelphia 76ers
100 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
101 Ron Knight, Portland Trail Blazers
102 Phil Chenier, Baltimore Bullets RC
103 Rudy Tomjanovich, Houston Rockets
104 Flynn Robinson, Los Angeles Lakers
105 Dave Debusschere, New York Knicks
106 Dennis Layton, Phoenix Suns
107 Bill Hewitt, Detroit Pistons
108 Dick Garrett, Buffalo Braves
109 Walt Wesley, Cleveland Cavaliers
110 John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
111 Norm Van Lier, Chicago Bulls
112 Cazzie Russell, Golden State Warriors
113 Herm Gilliam, Atlanta Hawks
114 Greg Smith, Houston Rockets
115 Nate Archibald, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
116 Don Kojis, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
117 Rick Adelman, Portland Trail Blazers
118 Luke Jackson, Philadelphia 76ers
119 Lamar Green, Phoenix Suns
120 Archie Clark, Baltimore Bullets
121 Happy Hairston, Los Angeles Lakers
122 Bill Bradley, New York Knicks
123 Ron Williams, Golden State Warriors
124 Jimmy Walker, Houston Rockets
125 Bob Kauffman, Buffalo Braves
126 Rick Roberson, Cleveland Cavaliers
127 Howard Porter, Chicago Bulls RC
128 Mike Newlin, Houston Rockets RC
129 Willis Reed, New York Knicks
130 Lou Hudson, Atlanta Hawks
131 Don Chaney, Boston Celtics
132 Dave Stallworth, Baltimore Bullets
133 Charlie Yelverton, Portland Trail Blazers
134 Ken Durrett, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
135 John Brisker, Seattle SuperSonics
136 Dick Snyder, Seattle SuperSonics
137 Jim McDaniels, Seattle SuperSonics
138 Clyde Lee, Golden State Warriors
139 Dennis Awtrey, Philadelphia 76ers
140 Keith Erickson, Los Angeles Lakers
141 Bob Weiss, Chicago Bulls
142 Butch Beard, Cleveland Cavaliers RC
143 Terry Dischinger, Portland Trail Blazers
144 Pat Riley, Los Angeles Lakers
145 Lucius Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
146 John Mengelt, Kansas City-Omaha Kings RC
147 John Hummer, Buffalo Braves
148 Bob Love, Chicago Bulls
149 Bobby Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers
150 Elvin Hayes, Baltimore Bullets
151 Nate Williams, Kansas City-Omaha Kings
152 Chet Walker, Chicago Bulls
153 Steve Kuberski, Boston Celtics
154 Earl Monroe, New York Knicks / Gail Goodrich, Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships Game 1 (Knicks Win Opener)
155 Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships Game 2 (Lakers Come Back)
156 Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships Game 3 (Two in a Row)
157 Leroy Ellis, Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships Game 4 (Ellis Provides Bench Strength)
158 Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships Game 5 (West Drives In)
159 Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Championships (Lakers Are NBA Champs)
160 NBA Checklist
161 John Havlicek, Boston Celtics – All-Star
162 Spencer Haywood, Seattle SuperSonics – All-Star
163 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks – All-Star
164 Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers – All-Star
165 Walt Frazier, New York Knicks – All-Star
166 Bob Love, Chicago Bulls – All-Star
167 Billy Cunningham, Philadelphia 76ers – All-Star
168 Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers – All-Star
169 Nate Archibald, Cincinnati Royals – All-Star
170 Archie Clark, Baltimore Bullets – All-Star
171 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / John Havlicek / Nate Archibald, Milwaukee Bucks / Boston Celtics / Cincinnati Royals – NBA Scoring Leaders
172 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Nate Archibald / John Havlicek, Milwaukee Bucks / Cincinnati Royals / Boston Celtics – NBA Scoring Avg. Leaders
173 Wilt Chamberlain / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Walt Bellamy, Los Angeles Lakers / Milwaukee Bucks / Atlanta Hawks – NBA Field Goal Pct. Leaders
174 Jack Marin / Calvin Murphy / Gail Goodrich, Baltimore Bullets / Houston Rockets / Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Free Throw Pct. Leaders
175 Wilt Chamberlain / Kareem Abdul-Jabbar / Wes Unseld, Los Angeles Lakers / Milwaukee Bucks / Baltimore Bullets – NBA Rebounds Leaders
176 Lenny Wilkens / Jerry West / Nate Archibald, Seattle SuperSonics / Los Angeles Lakers / Cincinnati Royals – NBA Assists Leaders
177 Roland Taylor, Virginia Squires
178 Art Becker, San Diego Conquistadors
179 Mack Calvin, Carolina Cougars
180 Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels RC
181 Collis Jones, Dallas Chaparrals
182 John Roche, New York Nets RC
183 George McGinnis, Indiana Pacers RC
184 Johnny Neumann, Memphis Tams
185 Willie Wise, Utah Stars
186 Bernie Williams, Virginia Squires
187 Byron Beck, Denver Rockets
188 Larry Miller, San Diego Conquistadors
189 Cincy Powell, Kentucky Colonels
190 Donnie Freeman, Dallas Chaparrals
191 John Baum, New York Nets
192 Billy Keller, Indiana Pacers
193 Wilbert Jones, Memphis Tams
194 Glen Combs, Utah Stars
195 Julius Erving, Virginia Squires RC
196 Al Smith, Denver Rockets
197 George Carter, New York Nets
198 Louie Dampier, Kentucky Colonels
199 Rich Jones, Dallas Chaparrals
200 Mel Daniels, Indiana Pacers
201 Gene Moore, San Diego Conquistadors
202 Randy Denton, Memphis Tams
203 Larry Jones, Utah Stars
204 Jim Ligon, Virginia Squires
205 Warren Jabali, Denver Rockets
206 Joe Caldwell, Carolina Cougars
207 Darel Carrier, Kentucky Colonels
208 Gene Kennedy, Dallas Chaparrals
209 Ollie Taylor, San Diego Conquistadors
210 Roger Brown, Indiana Pacers
211 George Lehmann, Memphis Tams
212 Red Robbins, San Diego Conquistadors
213 Jim Eakins, Virginia Squires
214 Willie Long, Denver Rockets
215 Billy Cunningham, Carolina Cougars
216 Steve Jones, Dallas Chaparrals
217 Les Hunter, San Diego Conquistadors
218 Billy Paultz, New York Nets
219 Freddie Lewis, Indiana Pacers
220 Zelmo Beaty, Utah Stars
221 George Thompson, Memphis Tams
222 Neil Johnson, Virginia Squires
223 Dave Robisch, Denver Rockets RC
224 Walt Simon, Kentucky Colonels
225 Bill Melchionni, New York Nets
226 Wendell Ladner, Memphis Tams RC
227 Joe Hamilton, Dallas Chaparrals
228 Bob Netolicky, Dallas Chaparrals
229 James Jones, Utah Stars
230 Dan Issel, Kentucky Colonels
231 Charlie Williams, San Diego Conquistadors
232 Willie Sojourner, Virginia Squires
233 Merv Jackson, Utah Stars
234 Mike Lewis, Carolina Cougars
235 Ralph Simpson, Denver Rockets
236 Darnell Hillman, Indiana Pacers
237 Rick Mount, Kentucky Colonels
238 Gerald Govan, Memphis Tams
239 Ron Boone, Utah Stars
240 Tom Washington, New York Nets
241 Indiana Pacers (Pacers Take the Lead), Indiana Pacers – ABA Championship Game 1
242 Rick Barry (Barry Evens Things Up), New York Nets – ABA Championship Game 2
243 George McGinnis (McGinnis Blocks a Jumper), Indiana Pacers – ABA Championship Game 3
244 Rick Barry (Rick Scores on Fast Break), New York Nets – ABA Championship Game 4
245 Bill Keller (Keller Becomes Net Killer), Indiana Pacers – ABA Championship Game 5
246 John Roche / Bob Netolicky (Tight Defense), New York Nets / Indiana Pacers – ABA Championship Game 6
247 Roger Brown (Pacers Are ABA Champs), Indiana Pacers – ABA Championship
248 ABA Checklist
249 Dan Issel, Kentucky Colonels – All-Star
250 Rick Barry, New York Nets – All-Star
251 Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels – All-Star
252 Donnie Freeman, Dallas Chaparrals – All-Star
253 Bill Melchionni, New York Nets – All-Star
254 Willie Wise, Utah Stars – All-Star
255 Julius Erving, Virginia Squires – All-Star
256 Zelmo Beaty , Utah Stars – All-Star
257 Ralph Simpson, Denver Rockets – All-Star
258 Charlie Scott, Virginia Squires – All-Star
259 Charlie Scott / Rick Barry / Dan Issel, Virginia Squires / New York Nets / Kentucky Colonels – ABA Scoring Avg. Leaders
260 Artis Gilmore / Tom Washington / Larry Jones, Kentucky Colonels / New York Nets / Miami Floridians – ABA 2-Pt. FG Pct. Leaders
261 Glen Combs / Louie Dampier / Warren Jabali, Utah Stars / Kentucky Colonels / Miami Floridians – ABA 3-Pt. FG Pct. Leaders
262 Rick Barry / Mack Calvin / Steve Jones, New York Nets / Miami Floridians / Dallas Chaparrals – ABA Free Throw Pct. Leaders
263 Artis Gilmore / Julius Erving / Mel Daniels, Kentucky Colonels / Virginia Squires / Indiana Pacers – ABA Rebounds Leaders
264 Bill Melchionni / Larry Brown / Louie Dampier, New York Nets / Denver Rockets / Kentucky Colonels – ABA Assists Leaders
