However, he had his most productive year as primarily a starter in his third season, 1973–74, when he played over 25 minutes per game and averaged 7.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists, all career highs. That season he also set a personal-best of 22 points in a game, on February 16, 1974 in a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was one of three 20-plus games that season for Patterson. In the following season, he topped his career single-game point production with 23 on January 19, 1975 in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.