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The NBA Time Machine: 1969

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published March 16, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1969

End of an Era

Rise and Shine

Even when considering the fact that two expansion teams infiltrated the NBA in the prior season, the league refused to be complacent. Entering the mix were the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, two unique club choices with the goal of making professional basketball a nation-wide staple.

Milwaukee hadn’t hosted a team in fourteen years, with the last representative being the Milwaukee Hawks, who left for St. Louis in 1956. The Suns, on the other hand, were unfamiliar territory – Arizona had never seen a professional sports franchise at all, and the decision was heavily criticized. Many saw the recently growing Phoenix as too hot, irrelevant, and distant to be a reasonable location for expansion. Such concerns did not phase owners, as the promise of the city’s recent growth was too good to pass up.

The Bucks and Suns fit comfortably into the Eastern and Western Divisions, respectively.

The Superteam

Uncertainty hit the Philadelphia 76ers when storied coach Alex Hannum committed to coaching the Oakland Oaks of the ABA. The rival league’s influence was clearly growing, and NBA franchises grew weary.

Wilt Chamberlain was initially disappointed by the move – Hannum had coached him to two Finals appearances and a championship in his career, and the famed superstar was very active in questioning how the coaching search was going. Chamberlain eventually entertained the idea of being a player-coach, and there seemed to be some momentum building in determining their personnel.

Philadelphia was subsequently shocked when Chamberlain, fresh off a trip to the west coast, demanded to be traded. He wanted to join the Western Division – his preferred spots were the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, or San Diego Rockets. The 76ers did not tolerate his request, only to be retaliated with claims that he’d otherwise move to the ABA’s Los Angeles Stars. Former league superstar Rick Barry’s mindset of “player freedom” had now caught on to other talents, and it was leaving managers in a tough situation.

Chamberlain was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for former All-Stars Archie Clark and Darrell Imhoff, as well as the young Jerry Chambers. The trade seemed blatantly lop-sided, but Philadelphia was not given much leverage – getting a few solid pieces was the best option possible. This was the first time a reigning M.V.P. was traded the season after.

Now paired with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Chamberlain became the third of a monstrous “big three” in Los Angeles that seemed overwhelmingly favored to win an NBA championship. The league had not seen a roster of such proportions before, featuring three superstar players amidst their primes.

ATL

Throughout their more recent years in Missouri, the St. Louis Hawks began to run into problems with hosting. They were not fond of their arena selection – their current location, the Kiel Auditorium, was old and small, while the alternative St. Louis Arena had a size advantage but much worse maintenance.

Owner Ben Kerner was denied the request for a bigger arena, and as a result looked to sell the Hawks. They nearly moved to New Orleans, but talks dissipated and they were eventually sold to developers in Atlanta. They did not immediately have access to an area, so they utilized Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

While there was potential for high profit long-term the newfound Atlanta Hawks had a geographical dilemma – they were even further from their Western Division rivals now. The closest one – the Chicago Bulls – was 720 miles out. The next up in proximity was Phoenix at a whopping 1,815.

Youth is Power

Top two draft picks Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes had phenomenal seasons, both some of the best for rookies in a long time. Unseld led the Baltimore Bullets to a league-best fifty-seven wins, winning the M.V.P. award in the process – he was the first rookie to be honored with such since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960.

Hayes finished first in scoring average and led the San Diego Rockets to a twenty-two game improvement, earning them a playoff berth in just their second season of existence. His phenomenal defense also established them as a top three defensive team in the NBA.

All-Defensive

To parallel the All-NBA Teams, the league introduced an “All-Defensive Team” as part of its regular season awards. Much like its counterpart, the teams were positionally comprised of two guards, two forwards, and a center.

Standout Players

Wes Unseld

Unseld had one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history. While not flashy on the box score, his impact as a defender and rebounder was remarkable. His efforts alongside teammate Earl Monroe helped Baltimore improve by twenty-one games, earning the franchise its first winning record.

Elvin Hayes

The first overall pick lived up to the hype, leading the NBA in scoring and lifting the Rockets to a twenty-two game improvement. Such play brought them to the post-season in only their second year – a rare accomplishment for an expansion franchise.

Willis Reed

Reed was undeniably a superstar at this point. His leadership helped New York see its first ever fifty-win season, and he was a quiet runner-up for the M.V.P. award. Being separated from Walt Bellamy also brought him back to his natural center position, resulting in career highs for scoring and efficiency.

Wilt Chamberlain

The Big Dipper was clouded in controversy this year, due to the dramatic circumstances of his trade demand. He was seen as a locker room cancer and frequently butt heads with coach Butch van Breda Kolff, leaving him with a sour reputation that left him off many seasonal accolades. Regardless, he was effectively their best player during the regular season, leading the league in rebounds and efficiency once again.

Billy Cunningham

Cunningham was the leader of an unexpected 76ers fifty-win season. Many expected them to decline heavily after trading Wilt Chamberlain, but they only worsened by seven games. “The Kangaroo Kid” having his first All-Star season created that reality, alongside the play of teammate Hal Greer.

Oscar Robertson

While Robertson regressed a bit offensively, he still led the league in assists and finished top five in scoring average. The Royals also finished as the top-ranked offense for the first time since 1965, but it was unfortunately still not enough for a playoff berth.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Baltimore Bullets*5725Los Angeles Lakers*5527
Philadelphia 76ers*5527Atlanta Hawks*4834
New York Knicks*5428San Francisco Warriors*4141
Boston Celtics*4834San Diego Rockets*3745
Cincinnati Royals4141Chicago Bulls3349
Detroit Pistons3250Seattle SuperSonics3052
Milwaukee Bucks2755Phoenix Suns1666

Fun Facts

  • This season was historic for the Baltimore Bullets, including:
    • The first winning record in franchise history.
    • Their first time as the first seed of any division.
  • The New York Knicks won their first fifty-win season behind the heroics of Willis Reed and Walt Frazier.
  • The Boston Celtics finished under fifty wins for the first time since 1958, as well as under the second seed in the Eastern Division for the first time since 1955.
  • The Cincinnati Royals bathed in mediocrity for the third season straight, leaving them incapable of seeing the post-season yet again.
    • Their defense was ranked as the worst in the NBA for the second consecutive year, placing below both expansion teams and the undisciplined Detroit Pistons.
  • With a whopping four expansion teams, the Western Division continued to be in a terrible state competitively.
    • The third seed – the San Francisco Warriors – would have finished second-to-last in the Eastern Division.
    • Even the Atlanta Hawks, who boasted a winning record, would have finished fifth in the East – not even adequate for playoff contention.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		San Diego Rockets
Baltimore Bullets
Seattle SuperSonics
Chicago Bulls
Cincinnati Royals
Detroit Pistons
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns
San Francisco Warriors
New York Knicks		Elvin Hayes
Wes Unseld
Bob Kauffman
Tom Boerwinkle
Don Smith
Otto Moore
Charlie Paulk
Gary Gregor
Ron Williams
Bill Hosket

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
July 9, 1968Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia 76ersTradedLos Angeles Lakers(24.3p/23.8r/8.6a)
July 9, 1968Archie ClarkLos Angeles LakersTradedPhiladelphia 76ers(19.9p/4.2r/4.4a)
October 12, 1968Walt HazzardSeattle SuperSonicsTradedAtlanta Hawks(24p/4.2r/6.2a)
October 12, 1968Lenny WilkensAtlanta HawksTradedSeattle SuperSonics(20p/5.3r/8.3a)
December 19, 1968Dave DeBusschereDetroit PistonsTradedNew York Knicks(16.3p/12.2r/2.2a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
April 24, 1968Coach Red KerrChicago BullsResignedRecord: 29-53
April 24, 1968Coach Red KerrPhoenix SunsHiredRecord: n/a
May 1968Coach Bill SharmanSan Francisco WarriorsResignedRecord: 43-39
May 14, 1968Coach George LeeSan Francisco WarriorsHiredRecord: n/a
December 2, 1968Coach Donnie ButcherDetroit PistonsFiredRecord: 10-12
December 2, 1968Coach Paul SeymourDetroit PistonsHiredRecord: 22-38

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Larry CostelloPhiladelphia Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers		1x Champ
1x All-NBA
6x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGElvin Hayes (28.4)
Earl Monroe (25.8)
Billy Cunningham (24.8)
Elgin Baylor (24.8)
Oscar Robertson (24.7)
RPGWilt Chamberlain (21.1)
Nate Thurmond (19.7)
Bill Russell (19.3)
Jerry Lucas (18.4)
Wes Unseld (18.2)
APGOscar Robertson (9.8)
Lenny Wilkens (8.2)
Walt Frazier (7.9)
Dave Bing (7.1)
Guy Rodgers (6.9)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (58%)
Jerry Lucas (55%)
Willis Reed (52%)
Terry Dischinger (51%)
Walt Bellamy (51%)
FT%Larry Siegfried (86%)
Jeff Mullins (84%)
Jon McGlocklin (84%)
Flynn Robinson (83%)
Oscar Robertson (83%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1
For the fifth straight season, the Celtics and 76ers met in the playoffs. The stark difference in this year’s duel was the absence of Wilt Chamberlain – now on the Los Angeles Lakers, the reigning MV.P. left Philadelphia with a bit of a different makeup.

With Boston declining in the regular season, it was questioned whether they would have the same firepower as usual entering the post-season. They finished seven games worse than their rival, but still possessed the overwhelming advantage of experience. It was clearly a strong enough factor to win some games, as they opened the series with a 3-0 lead.

The 76ers’ biggest issue was Hal Greer’s scoring struggles – it was not until the fourth match, where he finally managed a solid combination of production and efficiency, that they could snatch a victory. That was good enough to avoid a sweep, but the Celtics pulled away on the road to earn a Division Finals appearance.
East / New York Knicks beat Baltimore Bullets, 4-0
After leading the NBA in winning percentage, expectations of Baltimore were high. Anything short of a solid playoff run would be a disappointment, especially given their roster – multiple All-Stars, one of which was the M.V.P., and a slew of talented role players. The only major concern was the lack of star forward Gus Johnson, who had been out with injury since February.

The Knicks were not shy by any means. They only finished three games worse in the regular season, and proved their worth with an efficient statement win on the road in Game 1. Game 2 was an even greater blowout win thanks to the Walt Frazier-Dick Barnett backcourt, who combined for fifty points.

Game 3 was in the Bullets’ favor entering the fourth quarter, but they gave up a small lead to go down 3-0. The issue was not so much on offense as it was defense at this point – Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld, and Kevin Loughery scored decently, but nobody could contain the Knicks’ wild arsenal of scorers. A sweep ensued thanks to forty-three points and seventeen rebounds from Willis Reed in the fourth matchup, sending Baltimore home in disappointment.
West / Atlanta Hawks beat San Diego Rockets, 4-2
Even without Lenny Wilkens, the Hawks were a respectable club. They had two All-Stars in Lou Hudson and Joe Caldwell, as well as multiple quality rotational players that helped solidify a top five-ranked offense. On the contrary, the Rockets were a horrid scoring squad, but had a great defensive identity.

That seemed to dissipate when Lou Hudson scored thirty-nine in the first game on sixty-three-percent shooting, followed by a strong 31/13/2 outing from Zelmo Beaty a couple nights later. San Diego’s defense returned to form in their first home game, marking what would be one of two consecutive wins to tie the series at two apiece.

Closing wins from the Hawks were no surprise, given their simply better personnel. The efforts of Elvin Hayes were not enough to net the Rockets a playoff series win, but the rookie still showed out – dragging a young expansion franchise to two post-season victories is no easy feat.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Francisco Warriors, 4-2
The Warriors surprised fans with back-to-back victories to open the battle of California’s two best teams. Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain struggled in both, with Nate Thurmond routinely outplaying the latter. Chamberlain upped his aggression in a 22/28/5 effort on the Warriors’ floor, building some much-needed momentum.

Him and Baylor were nearly invisible offensively in the remaining matches, but the Lakers still managed to win four straight to snatch the series. Chamberlain’s defense was integral to their success, as Thurmond slowly worsened over time – The Bay’s center averaged only twelve points in the last three games, a surefire way to flush San Francisco’s aspirations down the drain.
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Division Finals

East / Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks, 4-2
A rematch of last year’s first-round matchup was looking more intense than ever. The Knicks improved greatly, but it was unwise to doubt Boston’s toughness – they were fresh off an upset against the 2nd-seeded 76ers.

The Celtics won both of their road games, depending on team play and defense for results. New York took the third thanks to Walt Frazier’s first playoffs triple-double, but made the mistake of dropping the next by one point. Bill Russell dominated that effort, having only his second twenty-point game of the year and bringing twenty-three rebounds along with it.

Frazier was one assist short of another triple-double in a Game 5 victory, which was aided by teammate Willis Reed – twenty-four points was his biggest contribution. The Knicks were looking to force a Game 7 on the floor of their foe, but John Havlicek went absolutely ballistic. He scored twenty-eight points, pulled down thirteen rebounds, piled up five dimes, and hit one game-winning shot. The Celtics had now beat two higher-seeded opponents to reach the Finals yet again.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Atlanta Hawks, 4-1
These franchises went head-to-head for the first time since 1966, with Los Angeles clearly favored. The series was incredibly defensive, with only one game exceeding two-hundred total points. Atlanta would see some great individual scoring performances from their players, but nothing could exceed L.A.’s game-changing depth.

The Lakers saw a horrible outing from their “big three” in Game 3, only totaling thirty-nine points on horrible all-around efficiency. Chamberlain flipped a switch in Game 4, scoring twenty-five points and missing no field goals. An Elgin Baylor triple-double proceeded to close the series in the decisive fifth match, setting the stage for yet another Finals war between Los Angeles and their long-term nemesis Boston.

Finals

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
Narratives implied this would be the greatest NBA Finals of all-time. The Celtics were underdogs on their last legs – Sam Jones planned to retire after this season, Bill Russell looked interested in doing the same, and John Havlicek wanted to cement his place as a legitimate superstar.

The Lakers had now lost to Boston in all six of their Finals matchups, and were desperate to get over that hump. The acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain was built for this moment – they finally had a Russell neutralizer, and depended on their star power to emerge victorious.

All of the first four games were won by their home team. Jerry West and John Havlicek were the clear attractions, averaging thirty-nine and thirty-three points respectively in that stretch. Sam Jones also hit a vital buzzer beater in the fourth game, helping the Celtics avoid a 3-1 deficit.

The Lakers’ victory in Game 5 was due to Hondo cooling off, whereas West continued to dominate. Chamberlain and Russell had been trading superior performances to the other every night, but the latter only grabbing thirteen boards definitely hurt the Celtics’ chances in that match. He took advantage of a non-aggressive Chamberlain shortly after, willing his teammates to force a tiebreaker.

After being up 2-0, L.A. was now required to stand their ground against a Boston team that just refused to go away. The Lakers ownership and fandom were incredibly arrogant, decorating the Forum as if they had won already and detailing interview plans of the stars after victory. These acts of egotism enraged the Celtics, particularly player-coach Russell – he used it as motivation to fight for an upset, and ordered the Celtics to abuse a worn-down L.A. squad with fast break offense.

After three quarters, the Celtics held a 91-76 lead. Their defense was a dense demotivator to the opposition, and Sam Jones was incredibly efficient from the field. However, he – alongside Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain – was in foul trouble, and eventually fouled out in the fourth quarter after biting on a Jerry West pump fake. He received a warm standing ovation from Lakers fans respecting the final outing of their rival.

Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Chamberlain seemingly twisted his knee – he was taken out of the game immediately and the Lakers subbed in backup Mel Counts, whose energy willed them to a late-game comeback while the Celtics struggled from the field. Boston persevered – largely thanks to a clutch mid-range bucket from Don Nelson that put them ahead with little time left – and they had now won against all odds.

The Celtics had now won eleven championships in thirteen years, sent Sam Jones off as a champion, and spoiled L.A.’s ill-advised party. It seemed impossible to stop Bill Russell’s dynasty at this point – if bringing three superstars together couldn’t change the odds, what possibly could?
The Boston Celtics win the 1969 NBA championship!
Jerry West was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPFinals MVPCoach of the Year
Wes UnseldWes UnseldJerry WestGene Shue

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Earl Monroe
Elgin Baylor
Billy Cunningham
Wes Unseld		Jerry West
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Dave DeBusschere
Willis Reed

All-Defensive

All-Defensive First TeamAll-Defensive Second Team
Walt Frazier
Jerry Sloan
Dave DeBusschere
Nate Thurmond
Bill Russell		Jerry West
John Havlicek
Tom Sanders
Bill Bridges
Rudy LaRusso

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Dave Bing
Billy Cunningham
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Gus Johnson
Jerry Lucas
Jon McGlocklin
Earl Monroe
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson*
Bill Russell
Wes Unseld		Elgin Baylor
Joe Caldwell
Wilt Chamberlain
Gail Goodrich (IR)
Elvin Hayes
Lou Hudson
Don Kojis
Rudy LaRusso
Jeff Mullins
Jerry Sloan
Dick Van Arsdale
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
East beats West, 123-112

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Gary Gregor
Art Harris
Elvin Hayes
Bill Hewitt
Wes Unseld

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics111957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1968
1969
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
76ers21955, 1967
Royals11951
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1968

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published March 11, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1968

Working West

Twelve, YoU Say?

After the expansion Chicago Bulls team proved to be an initial success, the league continued to entertain growth in club size. This time around, the west coast got a couple more representatives – the Californian San Diego Rockets, and northwestern Seattle SuperSonics.

The choice for San Diego was inspired by a motivating love for sports in the area, particularly for hockey. With the San Diego International Sports Center considered, the potential for a franchise was high – profit presented itself at every corner.

Regarding other matters, a pair of Los Angeles businessmen – who happened to own the AFL’s San Diego Chargers – were awarded with an NBA franchise, inspiring the move to Seattle. The name “SuperSonics” was largely based on the city’s ties to the aviation industry.

With two new teams in the Western Division, the Detroit Pistons were moved to the East.

Rising Waters

After the American Basketball Association (ABA)’s development in the past year, it finally begun play this season with bold goals of challenging the NBA. The opportunity to start anew excited many established talents, most notably Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors.

Due to a mouth-watering contract deal that involved profits exceeding over half a million dollars, Barry was convinced to join the ABA’s Oakland Oaks. This was an easy decision for the talented forward – not only did he have tension with Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli, but he could also play for his former coach and father-in-law Bruce Hale in the rival league.

Barry was ultimately held back from playing due to a one-year contract option exercised by the Warriors, but they had already lost his loyalty. That marked the second superstar in four years they gave up to stingy ownership, with the other being Wilt Chamberlain three years prior.

More and More Games!

The league made a decision to increase the game total from eighty-one to eighty-two games.

Playoff series were also expanded in size. Prior to this season, teams in the first round only needed three wins to advance – the total was increased to four to remain consistent with the Division Finals and Finals.

Dwindling

While the league pace hardly decreased, players were generally less productive. This can be attributed to the sixties’ favorite superstars aging, which influenced the reduction in ludicrous stat-lines. Nobody scored over thirty points per game for the first time since 1959, and nobody reached over ten assists per game for the first time since 1961.

As far as exciting statistical news went, though, Wilt Chamberlain became the first center of all-time to lead the league in total assists.

Standout Players

Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain continued his reign as a newly refined player, continuing to raise his assist totals – this year, he led the NBA in total assists. This, in tandem with another great 76ers campaign, earned Chamberlain his third straight M.V.P.

Elgin Baylor

With Jerry West missing over twenty games to injury, Baylor was forced to step up. He had silently accepted the “second option” role in the past few seasons, but this year proved he was still a superstar that could lead a successful team.

Oscar Robertson

While the Royals continued trending downwards, Robertson was still phenomenal. The point guard became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both scoring and assists averages, and he was the best free throw shooter as well. His status as a generational offensive talent was well beyond solidified.

Dave Bing

Bing’s sophomore season was a much-embraced success by Pistons fans. He increased his points average by seven per game, while also greatly improving as a playmaker. His focus led Detroit to their first playoff appearance in five years.

Lenny Wilkens

Wilkens had always been a quality star, but his development into the Hawks’ commander was remarkable. He led St. Louis to an unprecedented fifty-six wins, which was a seventeen-game improvement and good for first in the West. His exceptional passing abilities elevated the play of everybody on the roster.

Bill Russell

Russell continued to tread through the regular season silently, now putting up his worst numbers to date. He saw career low averages in scoring and rebounding, finishing with under twenty boards per game for the first time. Despite these struggles, the Celtics finished with the second seed in the East under his guidance as a player-coach.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Philadelphia 76ers*6220St. Louis Hawks*5626
Boston Celtics*5428Los Angeles Lakers*5230
New York Knicks*4339San Francisco Warriors*4339
Detroit Pistons*4042Chicago Bulls*2953
Cincinnati Royals3943Seattle SuperSonics2359
Baltimore Bullets3646San Diego Rockets1567

Fun Facts

  • After losing their last match of the season to the New York Knicks, the Cincinnati Royals missed the playoffs by one game.
    • This was the first time the franchise had failed to see the post-season since 1961, which was Oscar Robertson’s rookie year.
  • There was a subtle “brag” moment for the St. Louis Hawks – this was the first season since their first (1950) that they finished with a better record than their fierce rival, the Boston Celtics.
  • The Boston Celtics finished below first in defensive rating for the first time since signing Bill Russell – this honor was now held by rival Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers.
  • The Western Division’s diluted competition was on full display.
    • The Chicago Bulls – who were fourth in the West, and therefore eligible for the playoffs – would have finished seventh if they were in the Eastern Division.
  • The New York Knicks continued to slowly trend upwards, finishing with a winning record for the first time since 1959.
  • The Los Angeles Lakers’ turn-around was smooth and substantial, improving by a steep sixteen games.
    • This was the second biggest improvement in franchise history, trailing behind the record of an eighteen-game upgrade in 1962.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Detroit Pistons
Baltimore Bullets
Chicago Bulls
Detroit Pistons
New York Knicks
Seattle SuperSonics
San Diego Rockets
St. Louis Hawks
Cincinnati Royals
San Francisco Warriors		Jimmy Walker
Earl Monroe
Clem Haskins
Sonny Dove
Walt Frazier
Al Tucker
Pat Riley
Tom Workman
Mel Daniels+
Craig Raymond

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
August 31, 1967Rudy LaRussoDetroit PistonsRights soldSan Francisco Warriors(12.8p/7.8r/1.7a)
October 20, 1967Guy RodgersChicago BullsTradedCincinnati Royals(10.3p/3.5r/7a)
January 21, 1968Don OhlBaltimore BulletsTradedSt. Louis Hawks(14.8p/2.9r/2.2a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
March 29, 1967Coach Jack McMahonCincinnati RoyalsResignedRecord: 39-42
March 29, 1967Coach Jack McMahonSan Diego RocketsHiredRecord: n/a
April 26, 1967Coach Fred SchausLos Angeles LakersRe-assignedRecord: 36-45
April 26, 1967Coach Butch Van Breda KolffLos Angeles LakersHiredRecord: n/a
May 2, 1967Coach Ed JuckerCincinnati RoyalsHiredRecord: n/a
December 27, 1967Coach Dick McGuireNew York KnicksFiredRecord: 15-23
December 27, 1967Coach Red HolzmanNew York KnicksHiredRecord: 28-16

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Richie GuerinNew York Knicks
St. Louis Hawks		3x All-NBA
6x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGOscar Robertson (29.2)
Dave Bing (27.1)
Elgin Baylor (26)
Wilt Chamberlain (24.3)
Earl Monroe (24.3)
RPGWilt Chamberlain (23.8)
Jerry Lucas (19)
Bill Russell (18.6)
Clyde Lee (13.9)
Ray Scott (13.7)
APGOscar Robertson (9.7)
Wilt Chamberlain (8.6)
Lenny Wilkens (8.3)
Dave Bing (6.4)
Walt Hazzard (6.2)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (59%)
Walt Bellamy (54%)
Jerry Lucas (51%)
Jerry West (51%)
Len Chappell (51%)
FT%Oscar Robertson (87%)
Larry Siegfried (86%)
Dave Gambee (84%)
Fred Hetzel (83%)
Adrian Smith (82%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Detroit Pistons, 4-2
The Pistons’ post-season return was much like what the New York Knicks had to endure a season prior – a match-up against the Boston Celtics, which was not exactly a friendly welcome.

Surprisingly enough, the two clubs split the first four games, each winning once at home and on the road. Dave Bing was about the only consistent scorer throughout all four, but the Celtics managed to win behind their veteran experience. Game 4 was a statement victory for them, including a thirty-five-point bomb from John Havlicek and double-doubles from both Bill Russell and Don Nelson.

The Celtics eventually pulled away, largely thanks to Havlicek – he managed a triple-double in both efforts. Not even forty-four points from Bing in the decisive Game 6 was enough.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat New York Knicks, 4-2
The first two matches were a battle between titans Wilt Chamberlain and Willis Reed, with each clinching one for their team. The 76ers managed a home win in a double-overtime brawl, denying the Knicks despite a double-double from Walt Bellamy and forty points from the sophomore Cazzie Russell.

The opposite was true three nights later – the Knicks surprisingly pulled through, staving off a 3-1 deficit. Philadelphia wrapped up business quite quickly afterwards, grabbing Game 5 thanks to having five players hitting double digits in rebounds. The closing match was a blowout, with Chamberlain and Hal Greer combining for sixty points in the road win.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Chicago Bulls, 4-1
Chicago’s chances going into this series were slim to say the least, considering Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were finally together – and healthy – in the playoffs for the first time in a few years.

They reminded the basketball world what they were made of, comfortably taking their first two games at home. Chicago managed an upset in Game 3 thanks to the young and promising point guard Flynn Robinson, who amassed forty-one points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Matters regressed to the mean moving forward, with Robinson quieting down offensively and the Lakers closing the series behind two big Baylor performances.
West / San Francisco Warriors beat St. Louis Hawks, 4-2
San Francisco was expected to be absolutely torn apart by the Hawks, who were coming off a phenomenal season and had the advantage of the Warriors missing Nate Thurmond.

They instead upset St. Louis in six games, an absolutely shocking outcome. The Warriors front office made a smart decision acquiring former All-Star Rudy LaRusso from the Pistons, who was instrumental in this matchup. Him and Jeff Mullins were the leading scorers for the team in the first four games, three of which they won. St. Louis took Game 5 to circumvent elimination, with seven of their players scoring in double digits – however, their ambitions were burned to the ground. LaRusso led San Francisco to a series victory, dropping thirty points and thirteen rebounds.

Considering the Warriors had lost a whopping seven out of eight regular season duels with the Hawks, this was a phenomenal achievement.
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Division Finals

East / Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-3
An anticipated rematch between the long-term rivals was now Philadelphia’s to lose. They were the reigning champions, finished the season eight wins above Boston, and boasted a four-time M.V.P. winner in the front court.

Such variables are why the Celtics taking Game 1 on the 76ers’ home court was an immediate shock. There was good effort on both ends, too – the Philly “big three” of Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, and Chet Walker combined for ninety-one points. John Havlicek just happened to be unstoppable that night, with thirty-five of his own and eleven assists influencing his squad’s victory.

It is often believed that the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. – which happened a day prior – largely interfered with the mindset and focus of the two teams, who both sported primarily African-American starting lineups. The game was described as “devoid of emotion”, perhaps explaining why Philadelphia’s home court advantage wasn’t as game-changing as usual.

Regardless of outside events, the 76ers quickly shifted the tide. Winning three straight en route to a 3-1 lead, they showcased a generational mixture of offense and defense that defined their season. That could not overpower the resilience of Boston, however – led by Havlicek, they managed to win two straight to tie the series. There was potential for a comeback from being down 3-1, something the league had never seen in over twenty years of existence.

Game 7 was baffling, to say the least. Philadelphia imploded, shooting thirty-five-percent from the field and having only Greer score above twenty points. Chamberlain was nowhere to be found offensively, only taking a measly nine field goal attempts and making four. The Celtics were just far more efficient and willing to move the ball, earning them another trip to the Finals.

It was not unreasonable to name this the most legendary playoff series of the decade.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Francisco Warriors, 4-0
Even with the Warriors’ excitement following an upset, it was unlikely that they could top a Lakers team clicking on all levels. A sweep was the predictable result, with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor scoring just about anything with little resistance. West in particular was nuclear, shooting over sixty-percent while averaging thirty-three points.

The post-Barry Warriors were clearly overachievers, but the great play of Fred Hetzel and Jeff Mullins was something for fans in The Bay to cherish. With a healthy Nate Thurmond, their potential was sky-high.

Finals

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2
Five matchups. Five Celtics championships. Los Angeles’ track record against their greatest nemesis was abysmal – if there was any chance to switch things up, it was now. Boston was getting older and losing a bit of their identity, while the Lakers had two superstars playing at an excellent level.

The first two games were split in Beantown. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor looked terrible at first, but quickly turned things around to even the series – the opposite happened in their arena, with four Celtics scoring over twenty points in Game 3 to win. West and Baylor responded with a crushing sixty-eight combined in Game 4, leaving the series tied back up north.

Game 5 was a duel between West and John Havlicek, who both scored over thirty points. West had efficiency on his side, but Havlicek nearly got a triple-double – they were both stars that won in different ways. Ultimately, the Celtics got the last laugh after a tense overtime period, waving off an L.A. comeback.

If there was any moment for the Lakers to prove themselves, it was in the decisive sixth match. They got off to a sluggish start and trailed behind for the remainder of regulation – Havlicek outplayed both of L.A.’s superstars, sporting a 40/10/7 stat-line in the blowout win. Teammate Bailey Howell also got thirty points, while Bill Russell made an impact on the glass as always.

Despite being written off, the Celtics silenced critics once again – this was their era, and they had now won ten championships in twelve years.
The Boston Celtics win the 1968 NBA championship!

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPCoach of the Year
Earl MonroeWilt ChamberlainRichie Guerin

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Dave Bing
Elgin Baylor
Jerry Lucas
Wilt Chamberlain		Jerry West
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Willis Reed
Bill Russell

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Dick Barnett
Dave Bing
Wilt Chamberlain
Dave DeBusschere
Hal Greer*
John Havlicek
Gus Johnson
Sam Jones
Jerry Lucas
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell		Walt Hazzard
Elgin Baylor
Zelmo Beaty
Bob Boozer
Bill Bridges
Archie Clark
Jim King
Don Kojis
Rudy LaRusso
Clyde Lee (IR)
Nate Thurmond
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
East beats West, 144-124

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Walt Frazier
Phil Jackson
Earl Monroe
Bob Rule
Al Tucker

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics101957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1968
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
76ers21955, 1967
Royals11951
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1967

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published March 9, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1967

Ten Teams

Back In Chicago

After the Chicago Zephyrs moved to Baltimore in 1963, the NBA was without a team in the promising mid-west market once more – it only took them a few years to commit to the idea again, now choosing to host the Chicago Bulls.

With the Bulls in town, the league now had ten teams for the first time in fourteen years. They occupied the already watered-down Western Division, further worsening its competition. This also meant the Baltimore Bullets now occupied the East – a much-appreciated relief for their personnel, who no longer had to travel cross-country to meet half of their rivals.

As usual with fresh teams, the Bulls participated in an expansion draft. However, the most notable pickup was perennial All-Star Guy Rodgers, who had been acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Warriors. He was integral to the impressive thirty-three-win season Chicago put together, as his experienced playmaking took pressure off of less comfortable teammates.

Playoff Power

Due to the increase in league size, the playoffs were re-formatted. The following changes were made:

  • Four teams from each division made the playoffs, as opposed to three.
  • The first seed in each division no longer received a “bye”, and were required to compete in the first round.
  • This increased the playoffs series total from five to seven.

This shift in structure arguably increased the competitiveness of the post-season, but slightly disincentivized pushing for a first seed.

Record Winners

The Philadelphia 76ers finished last season on a disappointing note, bowing out to their rival Boston Celtics in a gentleman’s sweep upset. Philly responded by building the greatest campaign in league history – they soared past their contemporaries to a sixty-eight-win total, ranked as the best offense, and only lost two games at home.

There were two major reasons for this advancement – first was the hiring of the accomplished coach Alex Hannum, who boasted a championship and three Finals appearances to his name. Hannum had coached Wilt Chamberlain in San Francisco, and was a large component of the Stilt’s then-most successful season to date.

The other catalyst was Chamberlain’s willingness to alter his playing style behind Hannum’s advice. His scoring average dropped by almost ten points, but he committed to being an elite playmaker – his 7.8 assists per game was good for third in the league. Chamberlain’s shot selection was also refined, shooting an unbelievable sixty-eight-percent from the field that crushed the previous record of fifty-four-percent – also set by him.

Emerging Rival

A number of rival leagues had sprouted around the nation at this point, but the NBA was too storied and solidified – nothing could truly knock it down. However, a particular competitor was founded this year – the American Basketball Association (ABA), of whom basketball great George Mikan was the commissioner.

It didn’t make noise remotely close to that of its established rival, but the inter-league ties – as well as new gimmicks – garnered the interest of some players.

Bay Is Booming

Western Division antics were at an all-time high, with five teams present and only one soaring above the rest. The team in question was the San Francisco Warriors, who improved by nine games and finished top three league-wide.

Sophomore Rick Barry led the NBA in scoring with a ballistic 35.6 points per game, and center Nate Thurmond had now blossomed into one of the best defenders around. It was reasonable to say the Warriors ran California at this moment – since their arrival, this was the first instance in which they finished with a winning record and the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t.

Standout Players

Wilt Chamberlain

Despite a disappointing end to the previous season, Philadelphia let nothing demotivate them. Wilt Chamberlain led the team to a historic winning pace – despite averaging a steep career low 24.1 points per game, his playmaking and efficiency hit unprecedented levels. He became the first player to shoot over sixty-percent from the field.

Rick Barry

Regardless of an already lethal rookie campaign, Barry elevated to an unbelievable level in ’66-67. The Warriors improved by nine wins, grabbed the first seed in the West, and looked like dark horse contenders. He also led the league in points per game, becoming the first player besides Wilt Chamberlain to do so since 1959.

Bill Russell

Russell had a taxing year, taking over coaching duties for the Celtics while also having to maintain his superstar image. He sacrificed scoring production for efficiency and playmaking, taking advantage of the improved Celtics offense. The reigning champions ultimately finished with the third sixty-win season in franchise history.

Oscar Robertson

While the Royals struggled – amassing their first losing record since Robertson’s rookie season – the former M.V.P. had another fine run. He averaged over thirty points and ten assists for the fifth time in seven attempts.

Willis Reed

Reed was silently blossoming into a future superstar. He became increasingly comfortable sharing the frontcourt with Walt Bellamy, leading New York in both points and rebounds. The most intriguing storyline was the Knicks seeing the playoffs – their last visit was in the fifties.

Jerry West

Strangely enough, the return to form for Elgin Baylor wasn’t enough to keep the Lakers afloat. They were nine games worse, but West continued to lead them to a playoff berth despite injury bugs – his continued improvement as a playmaker influenced that outcome.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Philadelphia 76ers*6813San Francisco Warriors*4437
Boston Celtics*6021St. Louis Hawks*3942
Cincinnati Royals*3942Los Angeles Lakers*3645
New York Knicks*3645Chicago Bulls*3348
Baltimore Bullets2061Detroit Pistons3051

Fun Facts

  • The Philadelphia 76ers’ regular season was the greatest to date.
    • They broke the record for most wins (62), set by the Boston Celtics in the 1964-65 season.
    • They broke the long-standing record for win percentage (.817), set by the Washington Capitols in the league’s inaugural year.
  • The Cincinnati Royals’ losing record was the franchise’s first since 1961, when they initially acquired Oscar Robertson.
  • For the first time in league history, more teams with losing records made the playoffs than vice versa.
    • This highlighted the severe gap between the contenders and every other competitor.
  • For the first time since acquiring Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics finished with an offensive rating above league average.
    • Defense had always singlehandedly won them games, but they were now notable on both ends of the floor.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
San Francisco Warriors
St. Louis Hawks
Baltimore Bullets
Cincinnati Royals
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Chicago Bulls		Cazzie Russell
Dave Bing
Clyde Lee
Lou Hudson
Jack Marin
Walt Wesley
Jerry Chambers
Jim Barnett
Matt Guokas
Dave Schellhase

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
September 1, 1966Bailey HowellBaltimore BulletsTradedBoston Celtics(17.5p/9.9r/2a)
September 7, 1966Guy RodgersSan Francisco WarriorsTradedChicago Bulls(18.6p/5.3r/10.7a)
January 16, 1967Rudy LaRussoLos Angeles LakersTradedDetroit Pistons(12.8p/7.8r/1.7a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
May 2, 1966Coach Dolph SchayesPhiladelphia 76ersFiredRecord: 55-25
May 2, 1966Coach Alex HannumPhiladelphia 76ersHiredRecord: 68-13
May 3, 1966Coach Red KerrChicago BullsHiredRecord: 33-48
May 28, 1966Coach Paul SeymourBaltimore BulletsResignedRecord: 38-42
November 3, 1966Coach Mike FarmerBaltimore BulletsFiredRecord: 1-8
November 3, 1966Coach Buddy JeannetteBaltimore BulletsAppointed (Interim) Record: 3-13
December 5, 1966Coach Gene ShueBaltimore BulletsHired Record: 16-40
March 7, 1967P.Coach Dave DeBusschereDetroit PistonsResignedRecord: 28-45
March 7, 1967Coach Donnie ButcherDetroit PistonsHired Record: 2-6

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Tom GolaSan Francisco Warriors
New York Knicks		1x Champ
1x All-NBA
5x All-Star
Cliff HaganSt. Louis Hawks1x Champ
2x All-NBA
5x All-Star
Red KerrPhiladelphia 76ers
Baltimore Bullets		1x Champ
3x All-Star
Willie NaullsSt. Louis Hawks
New York Knicks
San Francisco Warriors
Boston Celtics		3x Champ
4x All-Star
Woody SauldsberryPhiladelphia Warriors
St. Louis Hawks
Chicago Zephyrs
Boston Celtics		1x Champ
1x All-Star
1958 ROTY
Jack TwymanCincinnati Royals2x All-NBA
6x All-Star

League Leaders

If a stat is not listed, it was not recorded at the time. As time goes on, this section will begin to include steals per game, blocks per game, etc.

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGRick Barry (35.6)
Oscar Robertson (30.5)
Jerry West (28.7)
Elgin Baylor (26.6)
Wilt Chamberlain (24.1)
RPGWilt Chamberlain (24.2)
Nate Thurmond (21.3)
Bill Russell (21)
Jerry Lucas (19.1)
Bill Bridges (15.1)
APGGuy Rodgers (11.2)
Oscar Robertson (10.7)
Wilt Chamberlain (7.8)
Jerry West (6.8)
Howard Komives (6.2)
FG%Wilt Chamberlain (68%)
Walt Bellamy (52%)
Bailey Howell (51%)
Oscar Robertson (49%)
Willis Reed (48%)
FT%Adrian Smith (90%)
Rick Barry (88%)
Jerry West (87%)
Oscar Robertson (87%)
Sam Jones (85%)

Playoffs

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks, 3-1
New York’s first playoff appearance in nearly a decade was a brutal matchup against the reigning champions. This would serve as a big test for both the young Willis Reed and veteran Walt Bellamy – this was the former’s first post-season appeareace, and the latter’s second.

They were ill-prepared for the intricacy of Boston’s defense, getting blown out in Game 1 and warded off in the next despite an efficient thirty points from Reed. The Knicks managed a home win to deny defeat, holding Boston to thirty-three-percent shooting while Reed and Bellamy combined for sixty-one points. These efforts were ultimately trivial, though – Sam Jones ended matters with fifty-one in a close-out victory, stunning Madison Square Garden.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Cincinnati Royals, 3-1
Since the division first seeds did not receive a “bye” in the playoffs anymore, Wilt Chamberlain and company were forced to face the Cincinnati Royals. They were coming off of a rough regular season campaign. but still had two All-Stars that could put up a fight.

The 76ers perhaps underestimated Cincinnati a bit too much, giving up a win at home amidst a fierce duel between Oscar Robertson and Chamberlain. They proceeded to win three straight to take the series – the Royals supporting cast did not provide enough firepower on offense to complement Robertson, and Chamberlain was doing whatever he wanted. In Game 3 he dropped an absurd 16/30/19 stat-line in a blowout victory.

What was perhaps the most surprising narrative of the series was Robertson’s passiveness – he only reached his seasonal scoring average in one of four games, and dropped a measly twelve points on terrible efficiency in the decisive Game 4. The Royals had now failed to win a playoff series for the third straight year.
West / San Francisco Warriors beat Los Angeles Lakers, 3-0
The Warriors entered as overwhelming favorites. This was not just because of their superior record – the Lakers were also missing Jerry West to injury. The post-season looked bleak for L.A., but it was still unwise to count out a team coming off of consecutive Finals appearances.

San Francisco shut down any comparisons between the Californian franchises with a quick three-game sweep. Star players Rick Barry and Elgin Baylor both struggled in the first two matches, but the Warriors’ defense gave them a fighting chance. Once Baylor managed to escape his shooting slump – dropping thirty-seven in Game 3 – Barry mirrored him to secure a victory. Jerry West even attempted to play, but could only log one minute before the pain caught up to him.
West / St. Louis Hawks beat Chicago Bulls, 3-0
The Bulls had posted the best run by an expansion franchise in a very long time – the fact they were even in the playoffs was remarkable. With that considered, it was completely unsurprising that they grabbed zero series wins.

Their offense was abysmal, with Bob Boozer being the only person to step up his game. Meanwhile, St. Louis had two All-Stars and a hungry rookie in Lou Hudson – considering the difference in personnel quality, there was little to no opportunity for competitiveness in this matchup.

Division Finals

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics, 4-1
In a sharp reversal of the previous year, the 76ers opened the series murdering the Celtics’ dreams of an easy brawl. Philadelphia looked comfortably more prepared for a championship – Wilt Chamberlain outplayed Bill Russell at every stage, their supporting cast was better, and nobody but John Havlicek was getting anything going for Boston.

The Celtics managed to avoid a sweep thanks to sixty-three combined points from Havlicek and Sam Jones – as well as a rare Chamberlain off-night – but their efforts were futile. The closing performance from the 76ers was one of the most vengefully dominant in league history. Five players – Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Wali Jones, and Billy Cunningham – scored over twenty points, and Chamberlain dropped a triple-double while holding his long-time rival to two field goals.

Tides had changed, and the 76ers were the new kings of the East. The Celtics’ championship streak of eight years had ended in abrupt fashion.
West / San Francisco Warriors beat St. Louis Hawks, 4-2
Both of these Western teams had swept their first-round matchups, which set up an interesting dynamic for the second round. Would the Warriors follow trends and advance to the Finals? Or would the Hawks pull off an upset, which was unfamiliar territory for the franchise?

Whatever the result would be, it would need to involve road wins. And that was something neither team could buy for over a week – the series was split 2-2 as both squads dominated on their respective floors. Rick Barry and rookie Lou Hudson had started off hot and progressively cooled down, with the former sitting most of a Game 4 loss due to a mid-game injury.

Complications meant nothing to the scoring champion, though – he bounced back amidst consecutive Warriors victories, sending the Hawks home behind a forty-one piece in the comforts of The Bay.

Finals

Philadelphia 76ers beat San Francisco Warriors, 4-2
The 1967 Finals was an exciting one for basketball fans – for the first time in a decade, there was a new Eastern representative. The Warriors also returned to the highest stage for the first time since 1964. What spiced up the narrative even further was that Wilt Chamberlain was facing his former franchise – they rebuilt quickly following his absence, and it put so much more pressure on the chase for his first title.

Matters begun as expected – Rick Barry scored in volume, Nate Thurmond was fierce inside, and Hal Greer got buckets on buckets. Chamberlain approached this matchup with a remarkable IQ – knowing the quality of Thurmond’s rim protection, he limited his field goal attempts and got teammates involved with ten assists. This had been the story of Philly’s success up to this point, and worked in the first two games.

The Warriors took a match at home behind fifty-five points from Rick Barry. They lost two nights later despite him scoring over forty yet again – his performance was generational, but the 76ers roster was just so much better. Thurmond’s impact was limited as well, being held to a pedestrian offensive impact when facing Chamberlain.

San Francisco managed a road win to avoid defeat, and nearly forced Game 7 until a collapse in the clutch awarded Philadelphia their coveted fourth victory. It was a balanced winning effort led by Chamberlain’s twenty-four points and twenty-six rebounds, and silenced critics nationally. The Big Dipper now had a championship to his name, and the 76ers won it all for the first time since their move to Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia 76ers win the 1967 NBA championship!

Awards

Notes
Name(s) under the “All-Stars” section with an asterisk (*) were listed as the MVP of the All-Star Game that year. Those with “(IR)” next to their name were chosen to replace an injured star.

Major Awards

Rookie of the YearMVPCoach of the Year
Dave BingWilt ChamberlainJohnny Kerr

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Rick Barry
Wilt Chamberlain		Hal Greer
Sam Jones
Jerry Lucas
Willis Reed
Bill Russell

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Wilt Chamberlain
Hal Greer
John Havlicek
Bailey Howell
Jerry Lucas
Don Ohl
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Bill Russell
Chet Walker		Rick Barry*
Elgin Baylor
Bill Bridges
Dave DeBusschere
Darrall Imhoff
Guy Rodgers
Jerry Sloan
Nate Thurmond
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
West beats East, 135-120

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Dave Bing
Lou Hudson
Jack Marin
Erwin Mueller
Cazzie Russell

All-Time Championship Leaderboard

Notes
The Baltimore Bullets (1947-1954) won the championship in 1948, but are defunct. As a result, they are not listed.

TeamCountYears
Celtics91957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966
Lakers51949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954
Warriors21947, 1956
76ers21955, 1967
Royals11951
Hawks11958

The NBA Time Machine: 1966

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published February 10, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1966

Eastern Emergence

Here Comes the 76ers!

Last regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers were an incredibly run-of-the-mill team. They had an even 40-40 record and finished right in the middle of both offensive and defensive rating, even after acquiring Wilt Chamberlain. However, their gentleman’s sweep in the first round of the playoffs and ability to push the Boston Celtics to seven games materialized them as perhaps a better team than everyone thought.

Philly looked better to start the year, but still not overwhelmingly dominant – it wasn’t until a shocking hot streak after the All-Star Game that they began to push for the NBA‘s best record. They went on a 30-10 run to close the year, including eleven consecutive victories in the month of March.

Having such a composed finish won them the Eastern Division first seed and instant homecourt, privileges traditionally associated with the Celtics.

Score On, Score On

Wilt Chamberlain became the league’s all-time leading scorer this year, eclipsing the 20,000 mark and taking over the now-retired Bob Pettit’s place. The center did this in spite of averaging a career low in points and high in assists – his offensive value was not only irreplaceable, but malleable.

Standout Players

Wilt Chamberlain

Now surrounded by an improved Philly team, Chamberlain continued to dominate. He won his seventh straight scoring title, led in rebounding again after losing the crown for a couple years, and averaged career highs in assists and efficiency. The 76ers finished with the number one seed in the East, usurping the Celtics for the first time in a decade – this won Chamberlain his second M.V.P.

Jerry West

With Elgin Baylor producing the worst year of his career yet, West had to continue growing. He delivered career highs in points and assists, also appearing in all but one game. This was his first season being voted as the runner-up for M.V.P.

Oscar Robertson

Robertson’s days of nearly averaging a triple double were over – teammate Jerry Lucas ate up the boards, dropping his average to 7.7. That meant nothing to the legendary guard, who still managed to impact winning at a high level – the Royals snagged their fifth straight forty-win campaign.

Rick Barry

The eventual Rookie of the Year embodied potential from the get go. Barry’s offensive game was mesmerizing, and also clearly beneficial – the Warriors improved by eighteen games and were only a single match short of a playoff berth. The loss of Wilt still lingered in The Bay, but fans had someone new to bet on.

Bill Russell

For the first time since 1958, Russell wasn’t much of an M.V.P. candidate. He hit career lows in scoring and efficiency, and gave up the rebounding title to rival Wilt Chamberlain after two straight years of winning it. Despite this, the Celtics remained a threat – they finished with the second best record in the NBA and still posted the best defense.

Jerry Lucas

Cincinnati continued to depend on Lucas more, with him averaging his highest numbers in minutes and field goal attempts to date. This demand tanked his efficiency a bit, but he was still unequivocally the best forward in the NBA. He joined Chamberlain, Barry, Walt Bellamy, and Zelmo Beaty as a special group to finish top ten in both points and rebounds per game.

Around the League

Team Standings

Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern DivisionWLWestern DivisionWL
Philadelphia 76ers*5525Los Angeles Lakers*4535
Boston Celtics*5426Baltimore Bullets*3842
Cincinnati Royals*4535St. Louis Hawks*3644
New York Knicks3050San Francisco Warriors3545
Detroit Pistons2258

Fun Facts

  • For the first time since 1956, a team besides the Boston Celtics led the league in record.
  • In reference to the late-fifties, the Western Division was quite awful – the Los Angeles Lakers were the only winning team in it.
  • The New York Knicks experienced growing pains – the arrival of Walt Bellamy mid-season gave them some helpful depth at the center position, but disrupted the development of sophomore Willis Reed.
    • They also finished with the worst defense in the league – a strange quirk for such a strong frontcourt on paper.

Notable Movement

Key

The player stats listed are based on their last tenure, whether it be with their former team or the previous season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with a plus (+) opted to play in another league instead of the NBA this season.
Name(s) under the “Top Draft Picks” section with an asterisk (*) were selected with a territorial draft pick.
p – points
r – rebounds
a – assists

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		San Francisco Warriors
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
San Francisco Warriors
New York Knicks
Baltimore Bullets
Philadelphia 76ers
St. Louis Hawks
Cincinnati Royals
Los Angeles Lakers		Fred Hetzel
Bill Bradley* +
Bill Buntin*
Rick Barry
Dave Stallworth
Jerry Sloan
Billy Cunningham
Jim Washington
Nate Bowman +
Gail Goodrich*

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
November 2, 1965Walt BellamyBaltimore BulletsTradedNew York Knicks(19p/12.8r/2.3a)
November 2, 1965Johnny GreenNew York KnicksTradedBaltimore Bullets(14.4p/10.6r/1.6a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
November 29, 1965Coach Harry GallatinNew York KnicksFiredRecord: 6-15
November 29, 1965Coach Dick McGuireNew York KnicksHiredRecord: 24-35
March 22, 1966Coach Alex HannumSan Francisco WarriorsFiredRecord: 35-45
March 22, 1966Coach Bill SharmanSan Francisco WarriorsHiredRecord: n/a
April 18, 1966Coach Red AuerbachBoston CelticsExpected to retireRecord: 54-26
April 18, 1966Player-coach Bill RussellBoston CelticsHired Record: n/a
April 28, 1966Coach Paul SeymourBaltimore BulletsFiredRecord: 38-42
April 28, 1966Coach Mike FarmerBaltimore BulletsHired Record: n/a

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Tom HeinsohnBoston Celtics6x Champ
4x All-NBA
6x All-Star
1957 ROTY
Bob Pettit