Tag: 76ers

The NBA Time Machine: 1983

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published July 27, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1983

Trade Me Once, Shame On You

Good Days Are Mo-ver

Hardly acknowledged was the increasingly unstable nature of the Houston Rockets. The 1981 finalists didn’t quite achieve over the previous season, failing to improve their roster and only seeing forty-six wins. Superstar Moses Malone was so dominant that he could lug an underwhelming cast to a positive record, but the Texas magic faded by the playoffs as they bowed out in the first round.

With Malone now in free agency, the Houston’s hand was forced. They struggled to gauge the value of their franchise great, eventually settling for a yearly offer of 1.5 to 2 million. The Philadelphia 76ers subsequently joined the sweepstakes in shocking fashion, presenting a six-year contract that fell between eleven and fifteen million total. The Rockets opted to match the offer, but their two-time M.V.P. had already felt a warm appreciation from Philadelphia. With his sights now on Julius Erving-led club, Houston was forced to settle for a sign-and-trade to at least reap some benefits from their loss.

The return wasn’t exactly inspiring – all they could muster was a thirty-two-year-old Caldwell Jones and one first-round draft pick. They grabbed a franchise-worst fourteen matches and had no players reach the fifteen-point mark in scoring average.

On the flipside, Philadelphia surged with their new acquisition – their sixty-five wins was the second greatest in 76ers history, and Malone was awarded yet another M.V.P. This made him the first player to win in back-to-back seasons…on different teams.

Worthy of Success?

The Cleveland Cavaliers had asserted themselves as a directionless franchise by the early-80’s, with only three playoff appearances to their name. By mid-February of the 1979-80 season, owner Ted Stepien had playoff hopes – his club may have been 24-37, but optimism guided his decisions. There was a belief in the front office that the Cavaliers could surge in the latter half of the year and secure a playoff berth.

Stepien contacted the Los Angeles Lakers – who were a notably deep team with many unused rotational pieces – for potential trade talks. The seldom-utilized defensive specialist Don Ford was being eyed by Cleveland, and was ultimately traded for sophomore guard Butch Lee and a first-round pick. Lee was a top prospect in the 1978 draft, but injuries soured his value – the Cavaliers wanted somebody proven.

Considering the franchise was expected to be below-average at worst, the pick was not expected to be of significant value. This changed after Cleveland compiled a league-worst record, inflating its worth. Their former trade asset was now valued as the number-one pick, and they had lost it to Los Angeles. This cast a grim cloud on their future, as they could have obtained North Carolina college sensation James Worthy.

A coin flip between the Lakers and San Diego Clippers favored the bigger brother, adding a high-upside rookie to a defending championship team. This was a league-breaking move that helped further deepen their roster, and the Cavaliers were met with side eyes. An already budding dynasty was now boosted by an eventual All-Rookie talent, entirely thanks to Stepien’s hastiness.

We See You!

In accordance with the recent Comeback Player of the Year award, the NBA continued to diversify its regular season honors with two new trophies – the Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year.

The former was intended for the best defender of the season, initially awarded to Sidney Moncrief of the Milwaukee Bucks. The latter was designated for the best “sixth man” – a term synonymous with a bench player – eventually falling into the hands of Philadelphia’s Bobby Jones.

Standout Players

Moses Malone

Due to playing alongside better teammates, Malone’s statistics naturally regressed – however, his impact was greater than ever. He led the league in rebounding for the third consecutive season and helped Philadelphia win sixty-five games, resulting in his third M.V.P. award.

Larry Bird

Bird’s growth continued as he achieved career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and efficiency. The Celtics may not have clinched sixty games this time around, but it did not change Bird’s status as an M.V.P. runner-up for the third consecutive year.

Magic Johnson

Now a definitive superstar, the reigning Finals M.V.P. led the NBA in assists as Los Angeles saw fifty-eight victories. He became the seventh player to average ten assists in a season, and the second of the decade after Micheal Ray Richardson.

Buck Williams

The third overall pick showed out for his New Jersey club, anchoring a top-ranked defense and and the franchise’s best record since joining the NBA. Williams was also a part of the top rebounding and efficiency leaders.

Artis Gilmore

Gilmore fit perfectly with his new team, continuing his stretch of quality play and vaulting the Spurs to a fifty-win campaign again. He was one of two players to shoot over sixty-percent from the field and maintained his defensive dominance.

Sidney Moncrief

The young guard managed to develop further as a hyper-efficient two-way player. He averaged over twenty points per game for the first time and sustained his gritty persona, being awarded the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year award.

Around the League

Team Standings

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

Eastern Conference
Atlantic DivisionWLCentral DivisionWL
Philadelphia 76ers*6517Milwaukee Bucks*5131
Boston Celtics*5626Atlanta Hawks*4339
New Jersey Nets*4933Detroit Pistons3745
New York Knicks*4438Chicago Bulls2854
Washington Bullets4240Cleveland Cavaliers2359
Indiana Pacers2062
Western Conference
Midwest DivisionWLPacific DivisionWL
San Antonio Spurs*5329Los Angeles Lakers*5824
Denver Nuggets*4537Phoenix Suns*5329
Kansas City Kings4537Seattle SuperSonics*4834
Dallas Mavericks3844Portland Trail Blazers*4636
Utah Jazz3052Golden State Warriors3052
Houston Rockets1468San Diego Clippers2557

Fun Facts

  • The Houston Rockets’ record of 14-68 became the second worst in NBA history.
  • This was the Boston Celtics’ first season below sixty wins since the debut of Larry Bird.
  • The San Antonio Spurs continued their hot streak of divisional titles, winning their third in a row.
  • For the first time since 1978, all members of a division finished with a winning record.
    • This was accomplished by the Atlantic Division, whose worst team was the forty-two-win Washington Bullets.
  • Although they did not clinch a playoff berth, the Dallas Mavericks improved in swift fashion for an expansion team – they were only three games under .500, and developed a distinct offense-oriented mentality.
  • The Denver Nuggets led the NBA in pace for the third straight season.
  • Under the watch of Moses Malone, the Philadelphia 76ers obtained their first divisional title since 1978.

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
s – steals
b – blocks

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Los Angeles Lakers
San Diego Clippers
Utah Jazz
Dallas Mavericks
Kansas City Kings
New York Knicks
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Detroit Pistons
Atlanta Hawks		James Worthy
Terry Cummings
Dominique Wilkins
Bill Garnett
LaSalle Thompson
Trent Tucker
Quintin Dailey
Clark Kellogg
Cliff Levingston
Keith Edmonson

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
July 7, 1982Truck RobinsonPhoenix SunsTradedNew York Knicks(19.1p/9.7r/2.4a)
July 22, 1982Artis GilmoreChicago BullsTradedSan Antonio Spurs(18.5p/10.2r/2.7b)
September 15, 1982Moses MaloneHouston RocketsTradedPhiladelphia 76ers(31.1p/14.7r/1.5b)
October 22, 1982Bernard KingGolden State WarriorsTradedNew York Knicks(23.2p/5.9r/3.6a)
February 6, 1983Micheal Ray RichardsonGolden State WarriorsTradedNew Jersey Nets(12.5p/7.4a/3.1s)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamAction
June 23, 1982Coach Paul WestheadChicago BullsHired
October 21, 1982Coach Bill MusselmanCleveland CavaliersResigned
October 21, 1982Coach Tom NissalkeCleveland CavaliersHired
March 13, 1983Coach Al AttlesGolden State WarriorsReassigned
April 6, 1983Coach Larry BrownNew Jersey NetsResigned
April 8, 1983Coach Stan AlbeckNew Jersey NetsHired
April 18, 1983Coach Scotty RobertsonDetroit PistonsFired
April 20, 1983Coach Paul SilasSan Diego ClippersFired
April 22, 1983Coach Del HarrisHouston RocketsResigned
May 10, 1983Coach Paul WestheadChicago BullsFired
May 12, 1983Coach Johnny BachGolden State WarriorsHired
May 17, 1983Coach Chuck DalyDetroit PistonsHired
May 27, 1983Coach Bill FitchBoston CelticsFired

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Bob DandridgeMilwaukee Bucks
Washington Bullets		2x Champion
1x All-NBA
4x All-Star
1x All-Defensive
1970 All-Rookie Team
John JohnsonCleveland Cavaliers
Portland Trail Blazers
Houston Rockets
Seattle SuperSonics		1x Champion
2x All-Star
George McGinnisPhiladelphia 76ers
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers		2x All-NBA
3x All-Star

League Leaders

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
SPG – steals per game
BPG – blocks per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)
3P% – three-point field goal percentage (percentage of three-point shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGAlex English (28.4)
Kiki Vandeweghe (26.7)
Kelly Tripucka (26.5)
George Gervin (26.2)
Moses Malone (24.5)
RPGMoses Malone (15.3)
Buck Williams (12.5)
Bill Laimbeer (12.1)
Artis Gilmore (12)
Jack Sikma (11.4)
APGMagic Johnson (10.5)
Johnny Moore (9.8)
Rickey Green (8.9)
Larry Drew (8.1)
Frank Johnson (8.1)
SPGMicheal Ray Richardson (2.8)
Rickey Green (2.8)
Johnny Moore (2.5)
Isiah Thomas (2.5)
Darwin Cook (2.4)
BPGTree Rollins (4.3)
Bill Walton (3.6)
Mark Eaton (3.4)
Larry Nance (2.6)
Artis Gilmore (2.3)
FG%Artis Gilmore (62%)
Steve Johnson (62%)
Darryl Dawkins (59%)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (58%)
Buck Williams (58%)
FT%Calvin Murphy (92%)
Kiki Vandeweghe (87%)
Kyle Macy (87%)
George Gervin (85%)
Adrian Dantley (84%)
3P%Mike Dunleavy (34%)
Isiah Thomas (28%)
Darrell Griffith (28%)
Allen Leavell (24%)

Playoffs

First Round

East / Boston Celtics beat Atlanta Hawks, 2-1
These franchises had history, but their relations had been few and between for a decade now. 1973 was their last playoff matchup, and they were wildly different rosters at this point in time.

Boston warded off Dan Roundfield and Dominique Wilkins in Game 1, but fell short in the second outing due to a Larry Bird shooting slump. Game 3 was a physical and tense match, including a fight between Atlanta’s Tree Rollins and Boston’s Danny Ainge – the latter’s club emerged victorious, however, thanks to Bird’s thorough dominance.
East / New York Knicks beat New Jersey Nets, 2-0
For the first time in league history, the bordering rivals had been good enough to host a post-season round. Also an intriguing narrative was the battle of siblings Bernard and Albert King, who represented the Knicks and Nets respectively.

Bernard’s experience showed from the jump, scoring forty points to lift New York to their first playoff win in five years. Despite being outplayed by his brother in the subsequent Game 2, the Knicks’ offensive depth prompted a sweep – their bench outscored New Jersey’s 33-12.
West / Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix Suns, 2-1
Consecutive first round battles were on the plate for these western small markets, with Denver eager to avenge their previous disappointment. A Game 1 blowout loss was not exactly moving, but not all was lost.

Seventy-two combined points from Kiki Vandeweghe, Alex English, and Dan Issel lifted the Nuggets to a series tie, setting the stage for a road tiebreaker match. Affairs were competitive, going into overtime after a timely three-pointer from Mike Evans. Denver managed to claim victory as Alex English exploded for forty-two points, marking the franchise’s first series win since 1978.
West / Portland Trail Blazers beat Seattle SuperSonics, 2-0
The northwest’s favorite rivalry was back in action. Portland had never beaten Seattle in a series, but this was a better opportunity than ever – they had caught up to their contemporaries in overall roster quality, only worse by two wins and splitting the regular season series.

Despite the acrobatic production of Gus Williams, the Blazers stood their ground. Their supporting players were simply significantly better than Seattle’s, a claim further proven by sixth man Kenny Carr’s seventeen points in Game 2.

Semifinals

East / Milwaukee Bucks beat Boston Celtics, 4-0
Despite being among the Eastern Conference’s top contenders for years, the Bucks and Celtics had yet to meet in during the 80’s until now. Boston was rendered as the superior club due to their experience and personnel, but a down year for the 1981 Champions was a trait Milwaukee eyed closely.

The Bucks tore Boston apart in Game 1, shocking the Garden. A combination of the flu and a hand injury then kept Larry Bird out of the second match, resulting in consecutive home losses that spelt bad news for the Celtics. Not a single game favored them, with Marques Johnson eventually handling business in Game 4 with thirty-three points and nine rebounds.

Boston had now been swept, an occurrence considered pitiful for the storied franchise. Their last appearance on the wrong end of a playoff sweep was 1954, and this was their first in a seven-game format.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat New York Knicks, 4-0
The 76ers were rested and immensely confident, with Moses Malone publicly betting on his club – “fo, fo, fo” was his prediction, claiming they would steamroll through the post-season lossless. This had yet to be done by an NBA team to date, but there was a first for everything…

Philadelphia got off to a proper start, dismantling the Knicks in a sweep. New York’s once-formidable defense collapsed, entirely incapable of guarding Malone and Maurice Cheeks. Out-gunning their adversaries was of no use, either – the only prolific scorer they had was Bernard King, who could not take down an army alone.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers, 4-1
The last time Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stared down red jerseys of this hue, Los Angeles was in a darker place. Their supporting cast was a mess, they had no marketability, and were held to zero wins as Bill Walton’s Trail Blazers advanced to the Finals to win a championship.

Six years later, matters were different. The Lakers were now on pace to reach dynastic success, and Portland was devoid of a legitimate superstar. The Captain averaged thirty-three points through a few matches to jump to a 3-0 lead, sights locked on a Conference Finals appearance.

A hot start from the Blazers won them Game 4, but Norm Nixon’s fiery thirty-six-point bomb in the fifth contest ensured his club’s survival.
West / San Antonio Spurs beat Denver Nuggets, 4-1
Since migrating to the NBA, these former ABA franchises had yet to face off. They did via tiebreaker in their former league, but a meet in 1983 wasn’t quite the same as a Texas Chaparrals vs. Denver Rockets headline. In their modern form, fans were blessed with two offensive juggernauts speeding through the wonders of basketball.

San Antonio amply out-played Denver. Some highlights from the first few games included forty-two points from George Gervin in Game 1, twenty assists from Johnny Moore in Game 2, and a ludicrous 39/8/12 stat-line with five steals from the point guard a couple nights later.

The Nuggets finally managed a victory in Game 4 following an ugly shooting night from the Spurs. In response, San Antonio closed the series out with a forty-point victory – a profoundly disrespectful statement.

Conference Finals

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Milwaukee Bucks, 4-1
Three years of 76ers-Bucks basketball. It was as inevitable as the Philadelphia-Boston rivalry at this point, but these teams could at least rejoice in the fall of their shared Massachusetts rival.

Milwaukee entered scrappy, even forcing overtime after a Junior Bridgeman game-tying shot. Their defense on Moses Malone was quality in Game 1, but the M.V.P. quickly broke through their schemes to win three straight matches.

The Bucks narrowly won the fourth game – therefore spoiling Malone’s playoff sweep hopes – but were shot down shortly after by the center’s twenty-eight points, seventeen rebounds and four blocks.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Antonio Spurs, 4-2
A rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals was underway, albeit with a major difference – Artis Gilmore. The multiple-time All-Star was the perfect asset to slow down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which energized San Antonio. To emphasize the validity of their poise, they beat Los Angeles 4-1 in the regular season series – they statistically had the defending champions’ number.

Wins were split in The Forum, but the Lakers mustered two road wins to build a cushioned series lead. San Antonio fought for their lives in Game 5 to keep their aspirations afloat, but they lost in soul-crushing fashion immediately after. Despite twenty-four points and eighteen rebounds from Artis Gilmore, the Texan team slipped into the losers’ column by one point.

Finals

Philadelphia 76ers beat Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
The Finals was now presenting a clear-cut rivalry – these franchises had met at this stage for the third time in four years, and the 76ers were hungry to finally dethrone Los Angeles for a title of their own.

Moses Malone proved his status as the world’s best player, looking unstoppable in Philadelphia’s two home wins to begin the series. The Lakers jumped to a large lead in Game 3, comfortable in the Californian air – however, the play of Sixth Man of the Year Bobby Jones provided the 76ers with enough energy to come back and win yet again.

The chances of a Los Angeles repeat seemed close to zero at this point, considering a 3-0 lead had never been reversed. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Malone had a battle for the ages, with the thirty-five-year-old collecting more points – however, the reigning M.V.P. out-rebounded his rival by sixteen. This, in tandem with good performances from Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks, was the dealbreaker – the 76ers were champions again for the first time in sixteen years.
The Philadelphia 76ers win the 1983 NBA championship!
Moses Malone 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
Terry CummingsMoses MaloneMoses MaloneDon Nelson
Comeback Player of the YearDefensive Player of the YearSixth Man of the Year
Paul WestphalSidney MoncriefBobby Jones

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Magic Johnson
Sidney Moncrief
Julius Erving
Larry Bird
Moses Malone		Isiah Thomas
George Gervin
Alex English
Buck Williams
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

All-Defensive

All-Defensive First TeamAll-Defensive Second Team
Maurice Cheeks
Dennis Johnson
Sidney Moncrief
Dan Roundfield
Bobby Jones
Moses Malone		T.R. Dunn
Michael Cooper
Larry Bird
Kevin McHale
Tree Rollins

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Larry Bird
Maurice Cheeks
Julius Erving*
Marques Johnson
Bill Laimbeer
Moses Malone
Sidney Moncrief
Robert Parish
Reggie Theus
Isiah Thomas
Andrew Toney
Buck Williams		Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Alex English
George Gervin
Artis Gilmore
Magic Johnson
Maurice Lucas
Jim Paxson
Jack Sikma
David Thompson
Kiki Vandeweghe
Jamaal Wilkes
Gus Williams
East beats West, 132-123

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Terry Cummings
Quintin Dailey
Clark Kellogg
Dominique Wilkins
James Worthy

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
Celtics141957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1967
1969, 1974
1976, 1981
Lakers81949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954, 1972
1980, 1982
Warriors31947, 1956
1975
76ers31955, 1967
1983
Knicks21970, 1973
Kings11951
Hawks11958
Bucks11971
Trail Blazers11977
Bullets11978
SuperSonics11979
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The NBA Time Machine: 1982

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published July 15, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1982

Butting Heads

Poison in the Lake

Coming off a bitter end to the 1980-81 season, the air was a tad toxic in the Los Angeles Lakers’ locker room. This was a byproduct of disputes between coach Paul Westhead and star player Magic Johnson.

Affairs begun on a decent note, with the team going 7-3 through their first ten games. Following a narrow win against the Utah Jazz in early November, the basketball community was rushed with shocking news as Johnson requested a trade to another team. He was becoming increasingly frustrated with Westhead’s coaching philosophy.

The traditionalist coach preferred to run deliberate plays that involved a patient halfcourt offense designed to feed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson did not necessarily have any ill will towards his teammate and mentor, but his offensive ideologies could not have been more different. His vision involved embracing the fast break and demolishing opponent morale with speed and energy.

Given that Johnson could not realize his potential in this system, he reached a breaking point. It was now up to the front office to choose between their star or coach, and history favored the former. This situation was not exempt, as Westhead was fired less than twenty-four hours after news of the request materialized.

Pat Riley, who was an assistant, was ultimately nominated to take the lead role. His willingness to consider Johnson’s approach ultimately led to a fifty-seven-win season and a near-triple-double statistical average for the guard.

Pay Your Guard

In an era of growing player independence, Gus Williams was yet another talent complacent with dismissing his playing duties. The one-time champion sat out the entirety of the previous year, stripping the Seattle SuperSonics of a primary scoring option. They did manage to acquire the multiple-time All-Star Paul Westphal in a trade, but injury woes rendered that move a failure.

Williams’ primary motive for holding out was financial. The guard claimed he had personal reasons intensifying his choice, but they were not detailed. Seattle ultimately gave in, upgrading from a proposed five-hundred-thousand-dollar deal to a monumental one of three-million.

Due to managing his condition in missed time, Williams was far from rusty. He averaged career highs in scoring and assists, therefore receiving his first All-Star Game selection and the Comeback Player of the Year award. The SuperSonics also improved by eighteen games under his lead.

K.C. Kollapse

During the 1981 off-season, the Cleveland Cavaliers forwarded an offer sheet to Kansas City Kings star Otis Birdsong. The expectation was that the shooting guard would side with Cleveland, who had proposed a five-million-dollar agreement – unless the Kings matched the price or traded him, of course.

The reigning Western Conference Finalists were now met with a harsh ultimatum – fork up some significant funds, or lose the franchise’s best player of the last five years. They ultimately chose the latter in an exchange with the New Jersey Nets – Birdsong and a second-round draft pick were swapped for the young and promising power forward Cliff Robinson.

In further conflicts with Cleveland they also lost former All-Star Scott Wedman. While Kansas City did receive a first-round draft pick as compensation, this ripped apart their timeline – they were now working with a severely inexperienced roster that was unlikely to make any serious noise.

After trading Robinson mid-way through the season – to yes, you guessed it, the Cavaliers – Kansas City ultimately embraced a rebuilding period. They finished the season on a 14-18 run and clinched a bottom-five record in the NBA.

Just a Few Buckets

On March 6, the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs went head-to-head in what was an inconspicuous matchup. Both teams were very good, ensuring a quality show, but there were no particular implications at play.

What instead transpired was a historic moment – a triple-overtime showdown that resulted in the highest-scoring game in NBA history. San Antonio bested their adversaries with a 171-166 finish, witnessing ninety-five combined points from George Gervin and Mike Mitchell. Johnny Moore also dished out sixteen assists while only recording one turnover.

On the other end, Brian Winters and Junior Bridgeman recorded a jointed seventy-three points off the bench, nine of which came from three-point shots. Regardless, Milwaukee was bested and spiraled into a five-game losing streak due to exhaustion.

Calming the Thunder

Due to the established popularity of explosive dunks, the NBA was forced to consider the safety of their resources. They chose to implement breakaway rims – which were better-equipped for strong forces – to avoid ramifications such as player injury or shattered backboards. World-class dunkers, including Darryl Dawkins and David Thompson, were protected most by this decision.

Standout Players

Moses Malone

For the third time in the past four seasons, Malone led the NBA in rebounding. The Rockets’ forty-six wins was the third-highest total in franchise history, and he was awarded his second M.V.P. award for dragging a rather bleak supporting cast to the playoffs.

Larry Bird

The superstar forward reached another stage of offensive excellence, averaging career highs in scoring and assists. He also shot over fifty-percent from the field for the first time. Boston’s sixty-three win total became the second-highest the team had ever seen.

Julius Erving

It was yet another business year for the Doctor, who scored on blistering efficiency to keep Philadelphia in firm contention. Despite the gap between him and the next-highest scorer being eight points, the 76ers were a top-five ranked offense – a clear indicator of his impact, if there ever was one.

Magic Johnson

Despite being the proprietor of tension in the locker room, the Los Angeles Lakers had effectively handed the keys to Johnson. He was their best performer, only being half a rebound and assist short of averaging a triple double for the season. The guard also led the league in steals once again.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

This was not Abdul-Jabbar’s prettiest statistical showing – he averaged career lows in all major statistics, and finished with a single-digit rebound average for the first time. This was all by design, though – the improvement of Magic Johnson allowed the Captain to take a backseat in responsibility.

George Gervin

The Iceman won his fourth scoring title amidst yet another Spurs divisional title. This was the club’s fourth in the past five years. They also finished with a top-three offense behind Gervin’s tricks, setting the stage for what could be a competitive playoff run.

Around the League

Team Standings

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

Eastern Conference
Atlantic DivisionWLCentral DivisionWL
Boston Celtics*6319Milwaukee Bucks*5527
Philadelphia 76ers*5824Atlanta Hawks*4240
New Jersey Nets*4438Detroit Pistons3943
Washington Bullets*4339Indiana Pacers3547
New York Knicks3349Chicago Bulls3448
Cleveland Cavaliers1567
Western Conference
Midwest DivisionWLPacific DivisionWL
San Antonio Spurs*4834Los Angeles Lakers*5725
Denver Nuggets*4636Seattle SuperSonics*5230
Houston Rockets*4636Phoenix Suns*4636
Kansas City Kings3052Golden State Warriors4537
Dallas Mavericks2854Portland Trail Blazers4240
Utah Jazz2557San Diego Clippers1765

Fun Facts

  • The New Jersey Nets earned their first winning season since joining the NBA.
  • Despite finishing with winning records, the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers could not secure a playoff berth in the uber-competitive Pacific Division.
  • The twenty-five game gap separating the Portland Trail Blazers and San Diego Clippers was the largest between two divisional rivals since the format was implemented.
  • This was the Phoenix Suns’ first finish below fifty wins since 1978.
  • With four rotational pieces at thirty years of age or higher, the Houston Rockets were the clear-cut oldest squad around.
    • This was finalized by the acquiring of multiple-time All-Star Elvin Hayes, who was the oldest player in the NBA.
  • Alex English’s breakout was the catalyst for a Denver Nuggets bounce-back campaign.
    • Behind him, they sported a generational scoring arsenal – their average of 126.5 points per game was more than enough to boast the league’s top-ranked offense.
      • This was neutralized by their horrific defensive tendencies, giving up 126 points per game as well.

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
s – steals
b – blocks

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
New Jersey Nets
Atlanta Hawks
Seattle SuperSonics
Chicago Bulls
Kansas City Kings
San Diego Clippers
Dallas Mavericks
New Jersey Nets		Mark Aguirre
Isiah Thomas
Buck Williams
Al Wood
Danny Vranes
Orlando Woolridge
Steve Johnson
Tom Chambers
Rolando Blackman
Albert King

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
June 8, 1981Scott WedmanKansas City KingsSignedCleveland Cavaliers(19p/5.3r/2.8a)
June 8, 1981Otis BirdsongKansas City KingsTradedNew Jersey Nets(24.6p/3.6r/3.3a)
June 18, 1981Gus WilliamsSeattle SuperSonicsSigned (from holdout)Seattle SuperSonics(22.1p/4.8a/2.2s)
December 23, 1981Mike MitchellCleveland CavaliersTradedSan Antonio Spurs(19.6p/5.2r/1s)
February 12, 1982Paul WestphalSeattle SuperSonicsSignedNew York Knicks(16.7p/4.1a/1.3s)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
November 19, 1981Coach Paul WestheadLos Angeles LakersFiredRecord: 7-4
November 19, 1981Coach Pat RileyLos Angeles LakersHiredRecord: 50-21
December 3, 1981Coach Don DelaneyCleveland CavaliersFiredRecord: 4-11
December 3, 1981Coach Bob KloppenburgCleveland CavaliersAppointed (Interim)Record: 0-3
December 4, 1981Coach Chuck DalyCleveland CavaliersHiredRecord: n/a
December 10, 1981Coach Tom NissalkeUtah JazzFiredRecord: 8-12
December 10, 1981Coach Frank LaydenUtah JazzHiredRecord: 17-45
February 17, 1982Coach Jerry SloanChicago BullsFiredRecord: 19-32
February 17, 1982Coach Phil JohnsonChicago BullsAppointed (Interim)Record: 0-1
March 8, 1982Coach Chuck DalyCleveland CavaliersFiredRecord: 9-32
March 8, 1982Coach Bill MusselmanCleveland CavaliersAppointed (Interim)Record: 2-21
May 14, 1982Coach Red HolzmanNew York KnicksRetiredRecord: 33-49
May 20, 1982Coach Hubie BrownNew York KnicksHiredRecord: n/a

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Phil ChenierWashington Bullets
Indiana Pacers
Golden State Warriors		1x Champion
1x All-NBA
3x All-Star
1972 All-Rookie Team
Doug CollinsPhiladelphia 76ers4x All-Star
Rudy TomjanovichHouston Rockets5x All-Star
Wes UnseldWashington Bullets1x Champion
1x Finals MVP
1x MVP
1x All-NBA
5x All-Star
1969 Rookie of the Year
1969 All-Rookie Team
1x Rebounds Leader
Jo Jo WhiteBoston Celtics
Golden State Warriors
Kansas City Kings		2x Champion
1x Finals MVP
2x All-NBA
7x All-Star
1970 All-Rookie Team
Sidney WicksPortland Trail Blazers
Boston Celtics
San Diego Clippers		4x All-Star
1972 Rookie of the Year
1972 All-Rookie Team

League Leaders

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
SPG – steals per game
BPG – blocks per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)
3P% – three-point field goal percentage (percentage of three-point shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGGeorge Gervin (32.3)
Moses Malone (31.1)
Adrian Dantley (30.3)
Alex English (25.4)
Julius Erving (24.4)
RPGMoses Malone (14.7)
Jack Sikma (12.7)
Buck Williams (12.3)
Mychal Thompson (11.7)
Maurice Lucas (11.3)
APGJohnny Moore (9.6)
Magic Johnson (9.5)
Maurice Cheeks (8.4)
Tiny Archibald (8)
Norm Nixon (8)
SPGMagic Johnson (2.7)
Maurice Cheeks (2.6)
Micheal Ray Richardson (2.6)
Quinn Buckner (2.5)
Ray Williams (2.4)
BPGGeorge Johnson (3.1)
Tree Rollins (2.8)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2.7)
Artis Gilmore (2.7)
Robert Parish (2.4)
FG%Artis Gilmore (65%)
Steve Johnson (61%)
Buck Williams (58%)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (57%)
Calvin Natt (57%)
FT%Kyle Macy (89%)
Charlie Criss (88%)
John Long (86%)
George Gervin (86%)
Larry Bird (86%)
3P%Campy Russell (43%)
Andrew Toney (42%)
Kyle Macy (39%)
Brian Winters (38%)
Don Buse (38%)

Playoffs

First Round

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Atlanta Hawks, 2-0
After a strange down year that involved a playoff absence, the Hawks returned to form and looked to upset the fiery 76ers. Chances were slim, but anything was possible for a team known to defy odds.

Atlanta entered flat, giving Philadelphia a free lane to win. The latter took Game 1 by a staggering thirty-five points, an effort that commenced after Darryl Dawkins set the tone. The center had twenty-seven points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks.

Dan Roundfield of the Hawks made the second match much more competitive, even going to overtime. However, the 76ers squeezed through by a narrow three-point margin to secure a playoff advance.
East / Washington Bullets beat New Jersey Nets, 2-0
Only separated by one game in the win column, either club could conceivably advance to the Semifinals. Both were known for their defensive aptitude, with New Jersey particularly standing out in that regard – however, their personnel situation was much less enticing. Otis Birdsong, their newest acquisition, was out to injury which damaged their depth.

Washington took both matches comfortably, with the former being powered by eighteen points and twenty rebounds from Jeff Ruland off the bench. The Nets simply failed to find an offensive rhythm, something the presence of Birdsong would have rectified.
West / Phoenix Suns beat Denver Nuggets, 2-1
These Western Conference representatives had never met in the post-season before, despite being mutual contenders for a number of years. Their philosophies were antithetical – the Suns won games with draining defense and depth, while Denver was a top-heavy roster that wanted to run-and-gun at all times.

Home games were split, causing an arrangement for Game 3. A strong third quarter from Phoenix – as well as thirty points from Walter Davis off the bench – was enough to get by and maintain the franchise’s four-year streak of Semifinals appearances.
West / Seattle SuperSonics beat Houston Rockets, 2-1
The Rockets may have been defending Conference Champions, but Seattle’s re-emergence as a powerhouse was concerning. The presence of Gus Williams was enough to change a team’s pace and effectiveness, something Houston was required to monitor.

Williams and Moses Malone swapped big performances in wins for their clubs, indicating a tiebreaker was imminent. Despite a decent outing from Malone, the Rockets’ putrid depth was a sight to see for the SuperSonics. Jack Sikma’s thirty points and seventeen rebounds led the team to a series win.

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Washington Bullets, 4-1
Boston and Washington had not met in the post-season since the 1975 Eastern Conference Finals. These were entirely different cores now, led by Larry Bird and Greg Ballard as opposed to Dave Cowens and Elvin Hayes.

Game 1 was a solid Celtics win, and the second match was looking to be the same – Frank Johnson of the Bullets thought otherwise, hitting a three-pointer to put his club up with three seconds left. Following this 1-1 series tie, Boston took a hefty lead behind big showings from Robert Parish.

The fifth game was down to the wire, with Jeff Ruland hitting a couple free throws at the end to force overtime. No progress was made as it eventually went to a second period, where the Celtics finally pulled away. Parish recorded thirty-three points, thirteen rebounds, three assists, and six blocks in the series-clinching victory.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2
Milwaukee and Philadelphia returned right where they left off last year – in the Semifinals. Both teams were still just about as even as possible, although the Bucks had a 4-2 advantage in the regular season series.

Cream City’s club struggled to effectively close out games – the 76ers jumped to a 3-1 lead in no time, and the singular loss stemmed from a Sidney Moncrief walk-off buzzer beater. Six double-digit Milwaukee scorers earned the ownership of Game 5, but the entire team – sans Mickey Johnson – shriveled in the must-win sixth match.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns, 4-0
Historically speaking, the Lakers simply had Phoenix’s number. They just gentleman’s swept them a couple years prior, and their chances seemed even prettier this time around.

Consecutive Magic Johnson triple-doubles in blowout wins killed the Suns’ morale immediately. The superstar continued to thoroughly pick apart his opponent in the following outings, eventually leading Los Angeles to a full-power sweep.

Offense bolstered the Lakers – four of the series’ top-five scorers were on their side.
West / San Antonio Spurs beat Seattle SuperSonics, 4-1
A game winner from George Gervin was the first taste fans experienced in this duel, giving the Spurs a quick 1-0 lead. Gus Williams’ determination was enough to keep Seattle in the mix – his thirty-four points and nine assists tied up affairs.

Uninterested in losing their edge, San Antonio pulled off three straight wins behind balanced team performances to advance in five games. Williams was absolutely nuclear offensively but did not receive enough help from his supporting cast, sending the SuperSonics into an anticlimactic defeat.

Conference Finals

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics, 4-3
For the third consecutive season, the Eastern Conference’s two best teams met in the Conference Finals. This series was perhaps the most important of these teams to date – not only would it break a 1-1 tie, but could open up the gates for a Celtics repeat or long-coveted 76ers title.

On what has been dubbed the “Mother’s Day Massacre”, Boston opened the series with a vicious forty-point blowout led by Larry Bird’s triple-double. Philadelphia responded maturely, securing the next three games behind Andrew Toney’s blistering twenty-eight-point scoring average. The young guard had begun to develop a reputation of being a Celtic killer, earning the nickname “The Boston Strangler”.

Now down 3-1, the green team was in a familiar position. They had overcome this sort of deficit just a season ago, and seemed prepared to replicate that after winning two matches to force Game 7. Thirty-four points from Toney prevented history from repeating, though – he helped Philadelphia enjoy a cushioned win that confirmed their third Finals appearance in the past six years.

Despite the series loss, Boston fans still had life in them – as they watched their players concede defeat, “Beat LA!” chants were heard across the Garden to motivate the lesser of two rivals.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat San Antonio Spurs, 4-0
Now in the Conference Finals again for the first time since 1979, the Spurs had a large task awaiting them. Dismantling Los Angeles, who had just about all factors in their favor, would not be easy.

Simply put, San Antonio did not have the roster construction to outplay the Lakers. The latter ran too deep in their rotation while also giving minutes to multiple superstars. George Gervin averaged a strong thirty-two points per game for the series, but one man could not defeat an army.

Finals

Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
After losing in six games to the Lakers in 1980, Philadelphia had redemption in their sights. They had still yet to win a title in the Julius Erving era, instead riding the coattails of the historic 1967 championship run.

Both teams won a game apiece to open up matters, enjoying the benefit of having multiple double-digit scorers. Despite motivating showings from Andrew Toney, the 76ers dropped both road matches and ended up down 3-1 on the plane ride home. They blew Los Angeles out in Game 5 behind Toney’s thirty-one points and eight assists, but had to enter the sixth contest with a different mentality than what was displayed a couple years ago.

Los Angeles thoroughly controlled the pace – offensive rebounds were not their ex-factor this time around, but instead ball movement. Magic Johnson compiled an absurd 13/13/13 stat-line with four steals – he only attempted three shots total, but managed to have an irreplaceable impact on the club’s success. Such manipulation on team morale was unheard of.

Also enormous in this match were Bob McAdoo and Michael Cooper, who combined for thirty-two points off the bench. Not even Toney and Julius Erving’s determination could nullify the makings of such a complete adversary – they had been sent home empty-handed once more, paving the way for the Lakers’ eighth NBA championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers win the 1982 NBA championship!
Magic Johnson 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 MVP
Buck WilliamsMoses MaloneMagic Johnson
Coach of the YearComeback Player of the Year
Gene ShueGus Williams

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Gus Williams
George Gervin
Julius Erving
Larry Bird
Moses Malone		Magic Johnson
Sidney Moncrief
Bernard King
Alex English
Robert Parish

All-Defensive

All-Defensive First TeamAll-Defensive Second Team
Dennis Johnson
Michael Cooper
Dan Roundfield
Bobby Jones
Caldwell Jones		Quinn Buckner
Sidney Moncrief
Lonnie Shelton
Larry Bird
Jack Sikma

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Tiny Archibald
Larry Bird*
Julius Erving
Artis Gilmore
Bobby Jones
Bob Lanier
Sidney Moncrief
Robert Parish
Micheal Ray Richardson
Dan Roundfield
Isiah Thomas
Kelly Tripucka (IR)
Buck Williams		Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Adrian Dantley
Alex English
George Gervin
Dennis Johnson
Magic Johnson
Bernard King
Moses Malone
Norm Nixon
Lonnie Shelton
Jack Sikma
Gus Williams
East beats West, 120-118

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Jeff Ruland
Isiah Thomas
Kelly Tripucka
Jay Vincent
Buck Williams

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
Celtics141957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1967
1969, 1974
1976, 1981
Lakers81949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954, 1972
1980, 1982
Warriors31947, 1956
1975
76ers21955, 1967
Knicks21970, 1973
Kings11951
Hawks11958
Bucks11971
Trail Blazers11977
Bullets11978
SuperSonics11979
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The NBA Time Machine: 1980

Posted on by in Sports, The NBA Time Machine

Published June 26, 2023

The NBA Time Machine:
1980

New Beginnings

Rookie Takeover

It had been years since the league received a duo of elite rookie prospects. The last time was perhaps in 1969, when Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld – who ironically won a championship together years later – were drafted by the San Diego Rockets and Baltimore Bullets.

This new era of the NBA was now slated to watch the uprising of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two great college players that had coincidentally clashed in the NCAA championship game. Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans defeated Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores, which set the tone for what could be a long-term superstar feud in the future. To make destiny feel even more clear, they were drafted to historic rivals in the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, respectively.

Larry Bird

Bird’s impact stunned the basketball world, as the Celtics transformed from being a bottom feeder to possessing the league’s best overall record. His combination of scoring prowess, crafty playmaking and good defense revitalized the team, most notably former superstars Dave Cowens and Tiny Archibald.

He was a runaway favorite for the Rookie of the Year award, joining Cowens and Tom Heinsohn as the only Celtics recipients. He also finished fourth in M.V.P. voting.

Magic Johnson

Expectations for Johnson were a bit different – projections casted him as a possible future cornerstone, but not the Lakers’ surefire leader. They still had a five-time M.V.P. in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and providing the superstar with another great piece was the goal of the draft.

His integration to the roster was absurd, continuing to play as a guard despite media declaring him as a forward. A backcourt duo of Norm Nixon and Johnson was a playmaking delight, and helped Abdul-Jabbar achieve the highest field goal percentage of his career.

However, Johnson’s impact may have been larger than the stat sheet implied. The late-70’s Lakers were characterized by sluggish, deliberate halfcourt play that was over-reliant on Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring. This made them incredibly efficient, but also predictable in playoff situations.

The rookie’s affinity for fast-paced ball movement and abusing the fast break made the team play with greater energy overall, becoming the top-ranked offense league-wide. Such a style also established them as must-watch television, a reputation the charismatic Johnson only solidified more.

Up in Utah

While the New Orleans Jazz were beloved by Louisianan citizens, their existence in the southern state was unsustainable due to financial concerns. Not only was their facility situation awful – with the Louisiana Superdome charging absurd prices for home games – but they could not withstand the atrocious amusement tax in the state either.

Bad decisions also plagued the organization. After signing Gail Goodrich in 1976, they sent draft capital to the Los Angeles Lakers as compensation. Part of this was their highest pick in the 1979 draft – the Lakers used that pick this season to select Magic Johnson, who was already an All-Star as a rookie. The Jazz had also given up the rights to Moses Malone in exchange for one of those draft picks, leaving them with few valuable assets. Malone was voted as the league’s M.V.P. in 1979 and blossomed into a legitimate superstar.

The front office eventually opted for a hard reset, moving to Salt Lake City and becoming the Utah Jazz. They could at least bank on the idea that the small market had a dedicated fanbase, considering the presence of the ABA’s Utah Stars not too long ago.

At the very least, Lakers forward Adrian Dantley was traded to the franchise and surprisingly developed into a lethal scorer. He finished top three in points per game, scoring twenty-eight on excellent shooting splits.

From Way Downtown!

The concept of an extra-valuable, long-distance field goal had existed since the mid-40’s. Colleges experimented with it in spurts for a very long time, and other professional leagues – including the American Basketball League, Eastern Professional Basketball League, and American Basketball Association – had incorporated it into their rulebook.

After witnessing the popularity of the three-point shot in the ABA, the NBA was eager to give it a chance. They adopted it on a one-year trial, initially met with significant friction. Many viewed the mechanic as a cheap gimmick to garner fan interest, but there was not enough resistance to denounce the decision entirely.

Three-pointers were seldom used, only accounting for about three of a team’s ninety field goals on average. It was also considered inefficient, with the league finishing at about twenty-eight percent overall.

Regardless, there were a few specialists. Fred Brown of the Seattle SuperSonics led the league on a blistering hot forty-four percent a game, and Rick Barry of the Houston Rockets finished first in three-point attempts on above-average efficiency as well.

The best overall three-point shooting team was the Boston Celtics by a large margin – Chris Ford and Larry Bird were both great from outside. The former also delivered the first ever recorded three-point field goal on opening night, helping Boston secure a win against the Houston Rockets.

Big Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks had already secured a gem of a player in Marques Johnson, who was entering his third year. However, a mid-season trade brought Bob Lanier of the Detroit Pistons to the team, which had exciting implications.

Milwaukee had a 20-6 record after acquiring Lanier, which translated to a sixty-win pace. Their overall points per game increased by eight in this stretch, confirming the big man’s ability to impact any roster.

Cable

The Madison Square Garden Network had televised a handful of NBA events, including the 1969 playoffs and some New York Knicks games. The league signed a deal with the network – which rebranded as The USA Network in April of 1980 – to earn its first ever cable television partnership.

Standout Players

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

While averaging a career high in efficiency – at a whopping sixty percent from the floor – Abdul-Jabbar was selected for his sixth M.V.P. award. This broke Bill Russell’s previous record of M.V.P. selections at five. Los Angeles also had their first sixty win season since 1973, long before the Captain arrived in Los Angeles.

Larry Bird

The 1978 top ten draft pick finally arrived to play for the Boston Celtics, compiling one of the greatest rookie seasons of all-time. The team improved by a staggering thirty-two games, and he led them in scoring, rebounding, and steals.

Julius Erving

While Dr. J had always been a superstar in the late-70’s, his play this year resembled his ABA days more. He averaged NBA career highs in scoring, steals, blocks, and field goal percentage. Philadelphia’s final record of fifty-nine wins was also their highest since 1968.

Micheal Ray Richardson

The Knicks sophomore had an enormous breakout year after being elected as a starter. Richardson led all players in assists and steals, and the Knicks improved by eight games. They won enough to be playoff-eligible, but lost the record tiebreaker to the Washington Bullets.

Gus Williams

Averaging career highs in every major statistic besides blocks, the Seattle guard was entering his prime. He was firmly the best offensive talent on the SuperSonics, and their fifty-six win finish was the best in franchise history.

Moses Malone

While not quite an M.V.P. favorite this time around, Malone still had a great year. He finished top five in scoring and only second to Swen Nater in rebounding. The Rockets were unfortunately much less imposing this season, but still boasted an elite offense under his lead.

Around the League

Team Standings

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

Eastern Conference
Atlantic DivisionWLCentral DivisionWL
Boston Celtics*6121Atlanta Hawks*5032
Philadelphia 76ers*5923Houston Rockets*4141
Washington Bullets*3943San Antonio Spurs*4141
New York Knicks3943Indiana Pacers3745
New Jersey Nets3448Cleveland Cavaliers3745
Detroit Pistons1666
Western Conference
Midwest DivisionWLPacific DivisionWL
Milwaukee Bucks*4933Los Angeles Lakers*6022
Kansas City Kings*4735Seattle SuperSonics*5626
Denver Nuggets3052Phoenix Suns*5527
Chicago Bulls3052Portland Trail Blazers*3844
Utah Jazz2458San Diego Clippers3547
Golden State Warriors2458

Fun Facts

  • The Boston Celtics executed the best single-season turnaround in NBA history, improving by thirty-two wins behind the play of Larry Bird.
  • The Detroit Pistons’ sixteen wins was among the lowest totals ever, and was the least by a team since the nine-win Philadelphia 76ers in 1973.
  • Swarmed by injuries and sudden roster changes, the Denver Nuggets managed their first losing season since joining the NBA.
  • This was the Atlanta Hawks’ first fifty-win campaign since leaving St. Louis.
  • This was the first time an NBA team reached sixty wins in a season since 1975.
    • Both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers boasted this achievement.
  • Defense continued to be the motto of the young Kansas City Kings, who tied the Philadelphia 76ers for the top-ranked defense league-wide.
  • This was the Washington Bullets’ first losing season in the Wes Unseld-Elvin Hayes era.

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
s – steals
b – blocks

Top Draft Picks

#TeamPlayer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
Milwaukee Bucks
Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
New Jersey Nets
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons		Magic Johnson
David Greenwood
Bill Cartwright
Greg Kelser
Sidney Moncrief
James Bailey
Vinnie Johnson
Calvin Natt
Larry Demic
Roy Hamilton

Players

DatePlayerTeamActionDestinationStats
July 12, 1979Kevin PorterDetroit PistonsSignedWashington Bullets(15.4p/13.4a/1.9s)
July 24, 1979M.L. CarrDetroit PistonsSignedBoston Celtics(18.7p/7.4r/2.5s)
January 17, 1980Pete MaravichUtah JazzSignedBoston Celtics(17.1p/2.4r/3.2a)
February 1, 1980George McGinnisDenver NuggetsTradedIndiana Pacers(15.6p/10.3r/4.9a)
February 4, 1980Bob LanierDetroit PistonsTradedMilwaukee Bucks(21.7p/10.1r/3.3a)
February 8, 1980Maurice LucasPortland Trail BlazersTradedNew Jersey Nets(14.3p/7.9r/3a)

Other Personnel

DatePersonTeamActionStats
June 18, 1979Coach Tom NissalkeHouston RocketsResignedRecord: 47-34
June 18, 1979Coach Del HarrisHouston RocketsHiredRecord: n/a
June 19, 1979Coach Tom NissalkeUtah JazzHiredRecord: n/a
June 30, 1979Coach Jack McKinneyLos Angeles LakersHiredRecord: n/a
July 23, 1979Coach Stan AlbeckCleveland CavaliersHiredRecord: n/a
November 8, 1979Coach Dick VitaleDetroit PistonsFiredRecord: 4-8
November 8, 1979Coach Richie AdubatoDetroit PistonsAppointed (Interim)Record: 12-58
November 8, 1979Coach Paul WestheadLos Angeles LakersAppointed (Interim)Record: 50-18
March 1, 1980Coach Doug MoeSan Antonio SpursFiredRecord: 33-33
March 1, 1980Coach Bob BassSan Antonio SpursAppointed (Interim)Record: 8-8
May 1, 1980Coach Gene ShueSan Diego ClippersResignedRecord: 35-47

Retirements

PlayerTeam(s)Notable Accomplishments
Gail GoodrichLos Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
New Orleans Jazz		1x Champion
1x All-NBA
5x All-Star
Lou HudsonAtlanta Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers		1x All-NBA
6x All-Star
1967 All-Rookie Team
Norm Van LierCincinnati Royals
Chicago Bulls
Milwaukee Bucks		1x All-NBA
3x All-Star
8x All-Defensive
1x Assists Leader

League Leaders

Key

PPG – points per game
RPG – rebounds per game
APG – assists per game
SPG – steals per game
BPG – blocks per game
FG% – field goal percentage (percentage of shots that hit)
FT% – free throw percentage (percentage of foul shots that hit)
3P% – three-point field goal percentage (percentage of three-point shots that hit)

StatLeaders
PPGGeorge Gervin (33.1)
Lloyd Free (30.2)
Adrian Dantley (28)
Julius Erving (26.9)
Moses Malone (25.8)
RPGSwen Nater (15)
Moses Malone (14.5)
Wes Unseld (13.3)
Caldwell Jones (11.9)
Jack Sikma (11.1)
APGMicheal Ray Richardson (10.1)
Tiny Archibald (8.4)
Foots Walker (8)
Norm Nixon (7.8)
John Lucas (7.5)
SPGMicheal Ray Richardson (3.2)
Eddie Jordan (2.7)
Dudley Bradley (2.6)
Gus Williams (2.4)
Magic Johnson (2.4)
BPGKareem Abdul-Jabbar (3.4)
George Johnson (3.2)
Tree Rollins (3)
Terry Tyler (2.7)
Elvin Hayes (2.3)
FG%Cedric Maxwell (60%)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (60%)
Artis Gilmore (59%)
Adrian Dantley (57%)
Tom Boswell (56%)
FT%Rick Barry (93%)
Calvin Murphy (89%)
Ron Boone (89%)
James Silas (88%)
Mike Newlin (88%)
3P%Fred Brown (44%)
Chris Ford (42%)
Larry Bird (40%)
John Roche (38%)
Brian Taylor (37%)

Playoffs

First Round

East / Houston Rockets beat San Antonio Spurs, 2-1
This was the first instance of the two Texan teams facing off in the post-season, and both were incredibly average this year. Given they split their season series, the Rockets gained homecourt advantage because of a better record within their division.

Game 1 was ugly on both ends, but Calvin Murphy’s shot creation brought the Rockets over the edge. A scorching forty-four points from George Gervin saved the Spurs’ season, but it was not enough. Houston blew out San Antonio by twenty-one points in the tiebreaker, thanks to seventy combined points from Murphy and Moses Malone.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Washington Bullets, 2-0
The defending Eastern Conference Champions had hit a low point, struggling to win without star forward Bob Dandridge. He was still unavailable for the playoffs, which deprived Washington of scoring opportunities and a reliable defender for Julius Erving.

Philadelphia embarrassed the Bullets in Game 1, and their shallow wing depth showed in the second. Erving scored thirty-one points in that match, granting the 76ers a quick first round sweep.
West / Phoenix Suns beat Kansas City Kings, 2-1
After bowing out to Phoenix in an anticlimactic five games last year, the Kings looked to rectify their mistakes. They lacked homecourt advantage and were facing an even better Suns roster, but always had a chance behind their stiff defense.

The teams split the first couple matches, with Otis Birdsong and Scott Wedman securing a Game 2 victory for Kansas City. However, the Kings struggled mightily in the third game – they shot terribly from the floor and lacked bench production, which sent them home early for the second consecutive season.
West / Seattle SuperSonics beat Portland Trail Blazers, 2-1
The infamous northwest matchup returned early this time around, with neither club eligible for a “bye” round. The SuperSonics were expected to dismantle Portland as defending champions, especially given the Blazers had a very mediocre season.

Seattle lost in surprisng fashion during Game 2’s overtime period, with Blazers players Calvin Natt and Ron Brewer leading the charge. However, a powerful offensive showing from the SuperSonics – including seventeen Fred Brown points – kept them in the tournament.

Semifinals

East / Boston Celtics beat Houston Rockets, 4-0
Houston may have escaped the first round, but were slated for a grueling matchup against the Celtics. Boston had prowess on both ends of the ball and the interior defenders necessary to disrupt Moses Malone.

Practically every game ended in blowout fashion – the Rockets could not keep up with the balance of Boston’s offense, and Malone wasn’t getting enough help from his supporting cast. It didn’t help that Larry Bird delivered a 34/10/7 stat-line in Game 4, sealing the lossless run on the road.
East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Atlanta Hawks, 4-1
The Hawks were a well-rounded scoring team with good depth, but there were doubts regarding their ability to match Philadelphia’s top-end talent. The 76ers won both of the first two games convincingly, largely thanks to big games from Bobby Jones off the bench. Twenty points and thirteen rebounds from Atlanta’s Steve Hawes saved their season, but to no avail.

Jones’ scorching sixth man performances continued to uplift Philadelphia in Game 4, giving the team a cushioned lead. Sixty combined points from Julius Erving and Darryl Dawkins ended business, bringing the 76ers back to the Conference Finals.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns, 4-1
Phoenix and Los Angeles, despite their relative closeness, had not met in the playoffs since 1970. In that series, the Lakers completed a rare 3-1 comeback to advance. Neither roster was the same, meaning the resentment from that altercation was long gone – however, the potential for a new generation of west coast battles was there.

Los Angeles shredded the Suns en route to a 3-0 lead, fully comfortable with over-utilizing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring. Phoenix lacked the personnel to contain him, and he averaged thirty-three points over that stretch.

The Suns played desperately in their Game 4 victory, improving their defense on Abdul-Jabbar and limiting Magic Johnson to only four field goal attempts. A home victory from the Lakers destroyed any chance of a comeback though, setting up their first Conference Finals appearance since 1977.
West / Seattle SuperSonics beat Milwaukee Bucks, 4-3
The intensity of this series was shocking from the jump. Game 1 ended in unbelievable fashion when Dennis Johnson recorded the first ever three-point game winning shot, giving Seattle a one point lead at the end of overtime. The second match reached an overtime period as well, with Milwaukee tying the series.

Both clubs continued to trade victories, which excited fans. Game 5 broke the NBA record for in-game attendance, with over 40,000 Seattle fans witnessing their team lose at home. A one-point victory from the SuperSonics in Game 6 forced a tiebreaker, which was bound to be intense.

Gus Williams translated his regular season dominance to the playoffs, dropping thirty-three points to run away with the series. This resulted in Seattle’s third consecutive final four appearance, keeping their hopes alive for a title repeat.

Conference Finals

East / Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics, 4-1
This was expected to be the most competitive playoff duel yet, as both teams were loaded with talent and split their regular season series. Boston held a significant advantage offensively, but the 76ers’ experience and defense was undeniable.

The first two games were split one apiece, but Philadelphia pushed to a 3-1 lead behind some phenomenal play from Julius Erving. A comeback was not unfathomable, but Boston was in a bad position – this next home game was imperative to their success.

Lionel Hollins and Bobby Jones were the unsung heroes of Game 5, helping the 76ers gentleman’s sweep their rivals and head back to the Finals stage. Philadelphia’s defense on Larry Bird was also magnificent, holding him to twelve points on five-for-nineteen shooting.
West / Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics, 4-1
Los Angeles had a lot to prove here – could they dethrone Seattle and fight at the Finals stage for the first time in seven years? The possibility was there, but a one-point loss in Game 1 at home didn’t exactly look promising.

The Lakers responded aggressively, winning the next four games straight to dismantle the defending champions. The SuperSonics were largely hurt by a lack of typical homecourt advantage – neither of their usual arenas were available, and they were instead forced to play at the small Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

As expected, absolutely nothing could stop Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His status as the best player in the world was uncontested, and the Eastern Conference Finals winner needed to gameplan immaculately to even have a chance.

Finals

Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
A Lakers-76ers Finals matchup was rare for the league, but exciting given the big market pull. The last time these franchises met this late in the playoffs was 1954 – back then, they were based in Minneapolis and Syracuse, respectively.

Philadelphia was clueless guarding Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but managed to grab a road win in Game 2 to keep the record even. Their defense on the reigning M.V.P. improved, eventually paving the way for a 2-2 series tie. Darryl Dawkins delivered a statement twenty-six points to win the fourth match, and fans at the Spectrum witnessed Julius Erving perform an unbelievable up-and-under layup from behind the backboard. This move was regarded as an instant classic highlight, truly summarizing the magical scoring of Dr. J.

An electric third quarter from Los Angeles in Game 5 gave them a strong lead that the 76ers could not dissolve. Abdul-Jabbar’s determination was inspiring, dropping forty points and a clutch end-game dunk on a bad ankle to confirm the win.

Game 6 could have been a predictable loss for the Lakers, who were now without their superstar center – however, Magic Johnson had other plans. The rookie decided to start the game at the center position, which was an unbelievable display of versatility from the typical shooting guard. He dropped forty-two points, fifteen rebounds, seven assists, and three steals to will Los Angeles to a series-clinching victory.

Johnson’s performance was immediately regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history, especially when considering his poise for a first-year player. Despite Abdul-Jabbar generally being better throughout the series, the twenty-year-old’s showing won him the Finals MVP award. He became the first rookie to receive it, which certainly made up for losing the Rookie of the Year race.
The Los Angeles Lakers win the 1980 NBA championship!
Magic Johnson 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
Larry BirdKareem Abdul-JabbarMagic JohnsonBill Fitch

All-NBA

All-NBA First TeamAll-NBA Second Team
Paul Westphal
George Gervin
Julius Erving
Larry Bird
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar		Gus Williams
Dennis Johnson
Marques Johnson
Dan Roundfield
Moses Malone

All-Defensive

All-Defensive First TeamAll-Defensive Second Team
Don Buse
Dennis Johnson
Micheal Ray Richardson
Bobby Jones
Dan Roundfield
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar		Quinn Buckner
Eddie Johnson
Scott Wedman
Kermit Washington
Dave Cowens

All-Stars

Eastern All-StarsWestern All-Stars
Tiny Archibald
Larry Bird
Bill Cartwright (IR)
Dave Cowens
John Drew
Julius Erving
George Gervin*
Elvin Hayes
Eddie Johnson
Moses Malone
Micheal Ray Richardson
Dan Roundfield		Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Otis Birdsong
Adrian Dantley
Walter Davis
Lloyd Free
Dennis Johnson
Marques Johnson
Magic Johnson
Jack Sikma
Kermit Washington (IR)
Scott Wedman
Paul Westphal
East beats West, 144-136

All-Rookie

All-Rookie Team
Larry Bird
Bill Cartwright
Dave Greenwood
Magic Johnson
Calvin Natt

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
Celtics131957, 1959
1960, 1961
1962, 1963
1964, 1965
1966, 1967
1969, 1974
1976
Lakers71949, 1950
1952, 1953
1954, 1972
1980
Warriors31947, 1956
1975
76ers21955, 1967
Knicks21970, 1973
Kings11951
Hawks11958
Bucks11971
Trail Blazers11977
Bullets11978
SuperSonics11979

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 Champion
1x All-NBA
5x All-Star
Cliff HaganSt. Louis Hawks1x Champion
2x All-NBA
5x All-Star
Red KerrPhiladelphia 76ers
Baltimore Bullets		1x Champion
3x All-Star
Willie NaullsSt. Louis Hawks
New York Knicks
San Francisco Warriors
Boston Celtics		3x Champion
4x All-Star
Woody SauldsberryPhiladelphia Warriors
St. Louis Hawks
Chicago Zephyrs
Boston Celtics		1x Champion
1x All-Star
1958 Rookie of the Year
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