The 1967–68 season of the Philadelphia 76ers was the team's fifteenth season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its fifth season since moving from Syracuse, as well as its first season at its new home in South Philadelphia, the Spectrum. The 76ers finished the regular season with a record of 62–20, and for the third straight year had the best record in the entire NBA.
During the playoffs, the Sixers eliminated the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4 games to 2. The series win proved costly, as Billy Cunningham, their sixth man, injured his non-shooting wrist and was out for the remainder of the playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers became the first team in NBA history to blow a 3–1 series lead as the team lost to the Boston Celtics in 7 games. What was so damaging about this series loss was that Games five and seven were at the Spectrum and Cunningham was not available. Instead, the team had the services of forward Johnny Green, who had been a four-time NBA All-Star during the 1960s and 1970s.
After the season, head coach Alex Hannum resigned to take a position in the ABA, and Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Archie Clark, center Darrall Imhoff, and forward Jerry Chambers (who never played with the team).[1]
Philadelphia subsequently won only a single home playoff game from 1969 to 1971 (game six, 1971 playoffs vs. Baltimore), going 0–7 for the remaining home games from 1969 to 1971. It would be nine seasons before the team won a single post-season series.[2]
| 1967-68 NBA Records | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | NYK | PHI | SDR | SFW | SEA | STL |
| — | 3–5 | 2–5 | 5–3 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 0–8 | 7–0 | 2–5 | 5–2 | 2–5 | ||
| 5–3 | — | 5–2 | 3–5 | 6–2 | 4–3 | 6–2 | 4–4 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–3 | ||
| 5–2 | 2–5 | — | 5–2 | 3–4 | 1–7 | 2–5 | 1–6 | 4–4 | 2–6 | 3–5 | 1–7 | ||
| 3–5 | 5–3 | 2–5 | — | 4–4 | 1–6 | 3–5 | 3–5 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 1–6 | ||
| 4–4 | 2–6 | 4–3 | 4–4 | — | 2–5 | 4–4 | 1–7 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–3 | ||
| 4–3 | 3–4 | 7–1 | 6–1 | 5–2 | — | 4–3 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 4–4 | 4–4 | 6–2 | ||
| 5–3 | 2–6 | 5–2 | 5–3 | 4–4 | 3–4 | — | 3–5 | 6–1 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 1–6 | ||
| Philadelphia | 8–0 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 5–3 | 7–1 | 5–2 | 5–3 | — | 6–1 | 4–3 | 7–0 | 5–2 | |
| 0–7 | 0–7 | 4–4 | 0–7 | 2–5 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 1–6 | — | 2–6 | 3–5 | 1–7 | ||
| 5–2 | 3–4 | 6–2 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 6–2 | — | 7–1 | 1–7 | ||
| 2–5 | 1–6 | 5–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 0–7 | 5–3 | 1–7 | — | 0–8 | ||
| 5–2 | 3–4 | 7–1 | 6–1 | 3–4 | 2–6 | 6–1 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 7–1 | 8–0 | — | ||
| 1967–68 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 18 | 87–103 | Billy Cunningham (20) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 21 | 111–116 | Hal Greer (41) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 24 | N Detroit | 124–102 | Hal Greer (38) | 3–0 | |
| 4 | October 25 | 114–117 | Hal Greer (33) | 4–0 | ||
| 5 | October 27 | 115–132 | Hal Greer (26) | 5–0 | ||
| 6 | October 28 | 95–104 | Chet Walker (17) | 5–1 | ||
| 7 | November 1 | 111–136 | Hal Greer (27) | 6–1 | ||
| 8 | November 4 | 110–117 | Wali Jones (29) | 7–1 | ||
| 9 | November 7 | 130–105 | Hal Greer (30) | 8–1 | ||
| 10 | November 8 | @ San Diego | 129–114 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 9–1 | |
| 11 | November 10 | @ San Francisco | 104–123 | Billy Cunningham (24) | 9–2 | |
| 12 | November 11 | @ Los Angeles | 115–111 | Hal Greer (36) | 10–2 | |
| 13 | November 14 | 102–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (27) | 11–2 | ||
| 14 | November 15 | @ Detroit | 120–123 | Hal Greer (39) | 11–3 | |
| 15 | November 17 | 117–125 | Billy Cunningham (38) | 12–3 | ||
| 16 | November 18 | Boston | 116–111 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 12–4 | |
| 17 | November 22 | @ St. Louis | 113–115 | Hal Greer (34) | 12–5 | |
| 18 | November 23 | San Diego | 117–128 | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 13–5 | |
| 19 | November 24 | 122–104 | Wilt Chamberlain (34) | 14–5 | ||
| 20 | November 25 | Chicago | 119–114 | Hal Greer (37) | 14–6 | |
| 21 | November 28 | @ New York | 110–108 | Lucious Jackson (30) | 15–6 | |
| 22 | November 29 | San Francisco | 113–95 | Chet Walker (24) | 15–7 | |
| 23 | December 1 | N Seattle | 109–133 | Wilt Chamberlain (52) | 16–7 | |
| 24 | December 2 | Baltimore | 121–130 | Chamberlain, Greer (27) | 17–7 | |
| 25 | December 5 | Los Angeles | 128–122 (OT) | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 17–8 | |
| 26 | December 6 | @ Cincinnati | 108–107 | Wilt Chamberlain (29) | 18–8 | |
| 27 | December 8 | New York | 109–117 | Wilt Chamberlain (26) | 19–8 | |
| 28 | December 9 | @ Baltimore | 123–109 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 20–8 | |
| 29 | December 12 | N Seattle | 107–118 | Hal Greer (38) | 21–8 | |
| 30 | December 14 | @ Boston | 101–102 | Hal Greer (20) | 21–9 | |
| 31 | December 15 | St. Louis | 98–107 | Wilt Chamberlain (23) | 22–9 | |
| 32 | December 16 | @ Chicago | 143–123 | Wilt Chamberlain (68) | 23–9 | |
| 33 | December 17 | @ Seattle | 139–124 | Wilt Chamberlain (47) | 24–9 | |
| 34 | December 20 | @ Seattle | 160–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (53) | 25–9 | |
| 35 | December 25 | @ Baltimore | 108–105 | Cunningham, Greer (27) | 26–9 | |
| 36 | December 26 | Cincinnati | 121–126 | Chet Walker (28) | 27–9 | |
| 37 | December 27 | @ New York | 114–105 | Hal Greer (28) | 28–9 | |
| 38 | December 29 | Boston | 123–133 | Billy Cunningham (36) | 29–9 | |
| 39 | December 30 | N Detroit | 122–107 | Wilt Chamberlain (30) | 30–9 | |
| 40 | January 3 | New York | 129–115 | Wilt Chamberlain (39) | 30–10 | |
| 41 | January 5 | Los Angeles | 113–125 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 31–10 | |
| 42 | January 6 | @ St. Louis | 107–96 | Lucious Jackson (27) | 32–10 | |
| 43 | January 7 | @ Cincinnati | 118–134 | Wilt Chamberlain (36) | 32–11 | |
| 44 | January 10 | St. Louis | 134–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (32) | 32–12 | |
| 45 | January 12 | Baltimore | 116–133 | Wilt Chamberlain (36) | 33–12 | |
| 46 | January 13 | @ Detroit | 115–106 | Wilt Chamberlain (27) | 34–12 | |
| 47 | January 17 | @ Los Angeles | 116–125 | Wali Jones (20) | 34–13 | |
| 48 | January 19 | @ San Francisco | 120–131 | Billy Cunningham (25) | 34–14 | |
| 49 | January 20 | @ Chicago | 135–111 | Hal Greer (26) | 35–14 | |
| 50 | January 25 | @ Detroit | 123–108 | Hal Greer (35) | 36–14 | |
| 51 | January 26 | Cincinnati | 113–123 | Hal Greer (36) | 37–14 | |
| 52 | January 28 | @ Boston | 103–115 | Wilt Chamberlain (19) | 37–15 | |
| 53 | January 30 | Boston | 118–125 | Hal Greer (27) | 38–15 | |
| 54 | February 2 | Detroit | 121–131 | Hal Greer (23) | 39–15 | |
| 55 | February 3 | @ Baltimore | 133–121 | Hal Greer (31) | 40–15 | |
| 56 | February 4 | San Francisco | 117–141 | Hal Greer (29) | 41–15 | |
| 57 | February 7 | N San Diego | 103–125 | Hal Greer (27) | 42–15 | |
| 58 | February 9 | Chicago | 113–118 | Hal Greer (35) | 43–15 | |
| 59 | February 10 | @ New York | 97–115 | Chet Walker (25) | 43–16 | |
| 60 | February 11 | N St. Louis | 93–119 | Billy Cunningham (23) | 44–16 | |
| 61 | February 13 | @ San Francisco | 112–105 | Hal Greer (30) | 45–16 | |
| 62 | February 14 | N Seattle | 149–125 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 46–16 | |
| 63 | February 16 | @ San Diego | 124–108 | Billy Cunningham (26) | 47–16 | |
| 64 | February 17 | @ Los Angeles | 135–134 (2OT) | Wilt Chamberlain (32) | 48–16 | |
| 65 | February 18 | @ San Diego | 106–111 | Wilt Chamberlain (34) | 48–17 | |
| 66 | February 20 | Seattle | 108–140 | Hal Greer (32) | 49–17 | |
| 67 | February 23 | Detroit | 117–138 | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 50–17 | |
| 68 | February 25 | @ St. Louis | 126–119 | Hal Greer (32) | 51–17 | |
| 69 | February 27 | San Francisco | 107–127 | Wilt Chamberlain (33) | 52–17 | |
| 70 | March 3 | @ Boston | 133–127 | Hal Greer (43) | 53–17 | |
| 71 | March 5 | San Diego | 103–134 | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 54–17 | |
| 72 | March 6 | @ Cincinnati | 106–108 | Wilt Chamberlain (22) | 54–18 | |
| 73 | March 7 | N Cincinnati | 125–117 | Wilt Chamberlain (38) | 55–18 | |
| 74 | March 8 | Boston | 96–101 | Hal Greer (27) | 56–18 | |
| 75 | March 10 | @ New York | 119–108 | Chamberlain, Greer (28) | 57–18 | |
| 76 | March 12 | N Chicago | 139–115 | Hal Greer (30) | 58–18 | |
| 77 | March 13 | New York | 130–120 | Hal Greer (28) | 58–19 | |
| 78 | March 15 | Baltimore | 115–122 | Hal Greer (29) | 59–19 | |
| 79 | March 16 | @ Chicago | 144–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 60–19 | |
| 80 | March 18 | Los Angeles | 128–158 | Wilt Chamberlain (53) | 61–19 | |
| 81 | March 19 | Cincinnati | 131–130 (OT) | Hal Greer (26) | 61–20 | |
| 82 | March 20 | @ Baltimore | 137–119 | Wilt Chamberlain (26) | 62–20 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 22| New York| W 118–110| Wilt Chamberlain (37)| Wilt Chamberlain (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (7)| Spectrum
5,093| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 23| @ New York| L 117–128| Chamberlain, Greer (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (17)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Madison Square Garden III
15,911| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| March 27| New York| W 138–132 (2OT)| Chet Walker (32)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Spectrum
6,951| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| March 30| @ New York| L 98–107| Wilt Chamberlain (23)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Hal Greer (6)| Madison Square Garden III
18,262| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| March 31| New York| W 123–105| Hal Greer (38)| Wilt Chamberlain (21)| Chamberlain, Greer (7)| Spectrum
6,979| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 1| @ New York| W 113–97| Hal Greer (35)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Hal Greer (4)| Madison Square Garden III
18,014| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 5| Boston| L 118–127| Wilt Chamberlain (33)| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Chamberlain, Jones (5)| Spectrum
14,412| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 10| @ Boston| W 115–106| Wali Jones (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Boston Garden
14,780| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 11| Boston| W 122–114| Hal Greer (31)| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Hal Greer (9)| Spectrum
15,102| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 14| @ Boston| W 110–105| Hal Greer (28)| Wilt Chamberlain (16)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Boston Garden
10,503| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 15| Boston| L 104–122| Wilt Chamberlain (28)| Wilt Chamberlain (30)| Wilt Chamberlain (7)| Spectrum
15,202| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 17| @ Boston| L 106–114| Hal Greer (40)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Boston Garden
14,780| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 19| Boston| L 96–100| Hal Greer (22)| Wilt Chamberlain (34)| Chamberlain, Greer (5)| Spectrum
15,202| 3–4|-