1968–69 New York Knicks season

1968–69 New York Knicks season
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerEddie Donovan
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Division finals
(lost to Celtics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOR-TV[1]
RadioWHN[2]
< 1967–68 1969–70 >

The 1968–69 New York Knicks season was the 23rd season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks finished third in the Eastern Division with a 54–28 regular season record, and qualified for the NBA playoffs for the third straight year.[3] In the first round of the playoffs, New York defeated the Baltimore Bullets in a four-game sweep to earn a berth in the Eastern Division finals. The Knicks lost the division finals to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in six games.[4] Willis Reed scored a team-best 21.1 points per game for the Knicks; Walt Frazier led the team with 7.9 assists per game and Reed averaged 14.5 rebounds per game.[5]

The Knicks selected Bill Hosket, Jr. in the opening round of the 1968 NBA draft,[6] and made a significant trade early in the season, acquiring Dave DeBusschere from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Walt Bellamy and Butch Komives. Author Harvey Araton called him "the player who would complete the championship puzzle in New York."[7] After a 5–11 start to the season, New York went on a long winning streak, winning all but 2 of 19 games in one stretch that included 13 straight home wins.[8] After a two-game losing streak, the Knicks won 11 consecutive games from January 25 to February 15 to bring their record to 44–21. The Knicks had two four-game winning streaks during the rest of the season, and ended with a 54–28 record.[9] This mark placed them third in the Eastern Conference; only the Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers had superior records. New York saw an increase in attendance during the regular season; after having six sellouts in their entire history, the Knicks played to capacity crowds in 14 games at Madison Square Garden.[10]

New York faced the Bullets, who had won 57 games in the regular season and held the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, in their first playoff round.[11] The Knicks won the first two games by over 10 points each, and a pair of closer victories in games three and four eliminated Baltimore.[9] They held home court advantage for their series with the Celtics, but lost it with a 108–100 loss in the first game. After losing two of the next three games, New York won game five to force a sixth game. However, Boston's Sam Jones posted 29 points to help the Celtics to a 106–105 win that ended the Knicks' season.[12]

NBA draft

[edit]
Main article: 1968 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.[13]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 10 Bill Hosket F/C  United States Ohio State
3 30 Don May F/C  United States Dayton
17 202 Milt Williams G  United States Lincoln (MO)

Roster

[edit]
1968–69 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 12 Barnett, Dick 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1936–10–02 Tennessee State
C 17 Bowman, Nate 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1945–03–19 Wichita State
SF 24 Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943–07–28 Princeton
PF 22 DeBusschere, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–10–16 Detroit Mercy
PG 10 Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945–03–29 Southern Illinois
PF 20 Hosket, Bill, Jr. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1946–12–20 Ohio State
PF 18 Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945-09-17 North Dakota
SF 5 May, Don 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1946–01–03 Dayton
C 19 Reed, Willis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1942–06–25 Grambling State
SG 6 Riordan, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1945–07–09 Providence
SF 33 Russell, Cazzie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1944–06–07 Michigan
SF 9 Stallworth, Dave 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1941–12–20 Wichita State
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Eastern Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Baltimore Bullets 57 25 .695 – 29–9 24–15 4–1 26–14
x-Philadelphia 76ers 55 27 .671 2 26–8 24–16 5–3 23–17
x-New York Knicks 54 28 .659 3 30–7 19–20 5–1 26–14
x-Boston Celtics 48 34 .585 9 24–12 21–19 3–3 23–17
Cincinnati Royals 41 41 .500 16 15-13 16–21 10–7 20–20
Detroit Pistons 32 50 .390 25 21–17 7–30 4–3 13–27
Milwaukee Bucks 27 55 .329 30 15–19 8–27 4–9 7–29
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1968–69 NBA records
Team ATL BAL BOS CHI CIN DET LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO SDR SFW SEA
Atlanta — 2–4 3–3 6–1 4–2 6–0 3–4 4–2 2–4 1–5 6–0 3–4 4–3 4–2
Baltimore 4–2 — 5–2 6–0 4–3 7–0 3–3 5–1 3–4 2–4 6–0 5–1 3–3 4–2
Boston 3–3 2–5 — 4–2 5–2 5–1 2–4 5–1 1–6 5–2 6–0 4–2 3–3 3–3
Chicago 1–6 0–6 2–4 — 1–5 3–3 3–4 5–1 2–4 1–5 4–2 3–3 4–3 4–3
Cincinnati 2–4 3–4 2–5 5–1 — 3–4 2–4 5–1 4–2 3–4 4–2 2–4 3–3 3–3
Detroit 0–6 0–7 1–5 3–3 4–3 — 3–3 2–4 3–4 3–4 4–2 3–3 2–4 4–2
Los Angeles 4–3 3–3 4–2 4–3 4–2 3–3 — 5–1 5–1 1–5 6–0 7–0 4–3 5–1
Milwaukee 2–4 1–5 1–5 1–5 1–5 4–2 1–5 — 0–6 0–6 6–2 4–2 3–3 3–5
New York 4–2 4–3 6–1 4–2 2–4 4–3 1–5 6–0 — 4–3 5–1 3–3 5–1 6–0
Philadelphia 5–1 4–2 2–5 5–1 4–3 4–3 5–1 6–0 3–4 — 5–1 4–2 2–4 6–0
Phoenix 0–6 0–6 0–6 2–4 2–4 2–4 0–6 2–6 1–5 1–5 — 1–7 2–4 3–3
San Diego 4–3 1–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 3–3 0–7 2–4 3–3 2–4 7–1 — 3–3 3–3
San Francisco 3–4 3–3 3–3 3–4 3–3 4–2 3–4 3–3 1–5 4–2 4–2 3–3 — 4–3
Seattle 2–4 2–4 3–3 3–4 3–3 2–4 1–5 5–3 0–6 0–6 3–3 3–3 3–4 —

Game log

[edit]
1968–69 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 15 Chicago 100–96 Cazzie Russell (29) 0–1
2 October 19 Los Angeles 118–96 Walt Bellamy (22) 0–2
3 October 22 Philadelphia 114–117 Cazzie Russell (27) 1–2
4 October 23 @ Milwaukee 114–112 Willis Reed (23) 2–2
5 October 24 @ Phoenix 92–109 Willis Reed (24) 2–3
6 October 26 Cincinnati 92–98 Cazzie Russell (26) 3–3
7 October 29 San Francisco 97–110 Cazzie Russell (24) 4–3
8 October 30 @ Cincinnati 114–118 Willis Reed (21) 4–4
9 November 1 Baltimore 119–103 Howard Komives (24) 4–5
10 November 2 @ Detroit 104–112 Willis Reed (34) 4–6
11 November 3 @ Seattle 122–108 Cazzie Russell (35) 5–6
12 November 5 @ San Diego 109–113 Cazzie Russell (26) 5–7
13 November 6 @ San Francisco 93–94 Cazzie Russell (18) 5–8
14 November 8 @ Los Angeles 100–102 Barnett, Reed (22) 5–9
15 November 10 @ Los Angeles 109–130 Dick Barnett (26) 5–10
16 November 14 Cincinnati 110–101 Cazzie Russell (28) 5–11
17 November 16 Chicago 97–119 Cazzie Russell (24) 6–11
18 November 19 San Diego 113–107 Dick Barnett (22) 6–12
19 November 20 @ Atlanta 106–111 Dick Barnett (26) 6–13
20 November 22 N Chicago 114–107 Cazzie Russell (23) 7–13
21 November 23 Boston 100–111 Walt Bellamy (29) 8–13
22 November 26 Los Angeles 100–104 Walt Frazier (21) 9–13
23 November 27 @ Boston 117–131 Walt Bellamy (22) 9–14
24 November 30 Detroit 108–120 Walt Bellamy (32) 10–14
25 December 3 Atlanta 93–126 Dick Barnett (24) 11–14
26 December 4 @ Atlanta 121–113 Cazzie Russell (26) 12–14
27 December 7 Milwaukee 113–119 Cazzie Russell (26) 13–14
28 December 8 N Cincinnati 115–120 Dick Barnett (27) 13–15
29 December 10 Phoenix 106–111 Willis Reed (35) 14–15
30 December 11 @ Baltimore 110–118 Dick Barnett (31) 14–16
31 December 13 @ Chicago 94–83 Dick Barnett (22) 15–16
32 December 14 San Diego 105–112 Cazzie Russell (25) 16–16
33 December 15 @ Philadelphia 104–110 Cazzie Russell (25) 16–17
34 December 17 San Francisco 99–114 Walt Bellamy (24) 17–17
35 December 18 @ Boston 104–98 Barnett, Reed (24) 18–17
36 December 20 @ Detroit 135–87 Dave DeBusschere (21) 19–17
37 December 21 Seattle 105–131 Cazzie Russell (27) 20–17
38 December 25 Philadelphia 109–110 Willis Reed (25) 21–17
39 December 27 @ San Diego 111–109 Russell, Reed (23) 22–17
40 December 28 @ Seattle 111–108 Willis Reed (26) 23–17
41 December 29 N Seattle 112–120 Willis Reed (34) 24–17
42 December 31 Baltimore 110–121 Willis Reed (39) 25–17
43 January 4 Detroit 103–111 Cazzie Russell (23) 26–17
44 January 7 @ Chicago 101–102 Willis Reed (28) 26–18
45 January 8 @ Milwaukee 115–101 Willis Reed (25) 27–18
46 January 9 @ Phoenix 134–120 Willis Reed (34) 28–18
47 January 11 @ San Francisco 85–77 Willis Reed (22) 29–18
48 January 12 @ San Diego 105–102 Willis Reed (36) 30–18
49 January 17 N Seattle 94–114 Walt Frazier (27) 31–18
50 January 18 N Milwaukee 117–109 Cazzie Russell (41) 32–18
51 January 19 @ Atlanta 96–100 Walt Frazier (25) 32–19
52 January 21 Seattle 106–113 Willis Reed (27) 33–19
53 January 22 @ Philadelphia 137–140 (2OT) Willis Reed (37) 33–20
54 January 24 @ Detroit 106–107 Dick Barnett (34) 33–21
55 January 25 Milwaukee 96–113 Willis Reed (29) 34–21
56 January 28 Philadelphia 88–121 Willis Reed (30) 35–21
57 January 30 @ Baltimore 109–106 Walt Frazier (28) 36–21
58 February 1 Boston 82–109 Bill Bradley (28) 37–21
59 February 2 @ Boston 95–94 Dick Barnett (24) 38–21
60 February 4 Atlanta 97–122 Bill Bradley (25) 39–21
61 February 5 @ Milwaukee 111–102 Willis Reed (24) 40–21
62 February 7 @ Chicago 105–98 Willis Reed (31) 41–21
63 February 8 Baltimore 100–106 Dick Barnett (32) 42–21
64 February 12 Phoenix 105–112 Willis Reed (28) 43–21
65 February 15 San Francisco 92–98 Walt Frazier (24) 44–21
66 February 18 Los Angeles 113–109 Walt Frazier (30) 44–22
67 February 19 @ Cincinnati 100–110 Walt Frazier (27) 44–23
68 February 22 San Diego 108–104 Walt Frazier (30) 44–24
69 February 25 Atlanta 101–122 Willis Reed (33) 45–24
70 February 26 @ Boston 92–88 Walt Frazier (28) 46–24
71 March 1 Boston 96–115 Willis Reed (30) 47–24
72 March 4 Detroit 99–102 Dave DeBusschere (21) 48–24
73 March 5 @ Detroit 120–128 Dave DeBusschere (26) 48–25
74 March 7 N Phoenix 87–119 Bradley, Frazier (24) 49–25
75 March 9 @ Philadelphia 101–110 Willis Reed (27) 49–26
76 March 11 Philadelphia 101–121 Dave DeBusschere (38) 50–26
77 March 12 @ Baltimore 110–111 Dick Barnett (28) 50–27
78 March 15 Cincinnati 108–121 Willis Reed (36) 51–27
79 March 19 Baltimore 100–104 Willis Reed (37) 52–27
80 March 21 @ Phoenix 139–104 DeBusschere, Frazier (24) 53–27
81 March 22 @ San Francisco 117–90 Dick Barnett (35) 54–27
82 March 23 @ Los Angeles 111–128 Willis Reed (26) 54–28

Playoffs

[edit]
1969 playoff game log
Division semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 27 @ Baltimore W 113–101 Walt Frazier (26) Dave DeBusschere (21) Walt Frazier (11) Baltimore Civic Center
11,941 		1–0
2 March 29 Baltimore W 107–91 Dick Barnett (27) Dave DeBusschere (19) Walt Frazier (12) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		2–0
3 March 30 @ Baltimore W 119–116 Willis Reed (35) Willis Reed (19) Walt Frazier (17) Baltimore Civic Center
9,927 		3–0
4 April 2 Baltimore W 115–108 Willis Reed (43) Willis Reed (17) Walt Frazier (11) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		4–0
Division finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 6 Boston L 100–108 Walt Frazier (34) Dave DeBusschere (14) Walt Frazier (8) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		0–1
2 April 9 @ Boston L 97–112 Willis Reed (28) Willis Reed (13) Walt Frazier (4) Boston Garden
14,933 		0–2
3 April 10 Boston W 101–91 Walt Frazier (26) Willis Reed (14) Walt Frazier (12) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		1–2
4 April 13 @ Boston L 96–97 Willis Reed (22) Willis Reed (19) Walt Frazier (6) Boston Garden
13,506 		1–3
5 April 14 Boston W 112–104 Willis Reed (24) Walt Frazier (12) Walt Frazier (9) Madison Square Garden
19,500 		2–3
6 April 18 @ Boston L 105–106 Willis Reed (32) Willis Reed (11) Bill Bradley (7) Boston Garden
14,933 		2–4
1969 schedule

Awards and records

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  2. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  4. ^ "1968–69 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "1968–69 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  6. ^ "1968 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Araton, pp. 87–88.
  8. ^ Araton, pp. 86, 90.
  9. ^ a b "1968–69 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  10. ^ Araton, pp. 95, 104.
  11. ^ Araton, p. 95.
  12. ^ Araton, pp. 97–98.
  13. ^ "1968 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 3, 2013.

Bibliography

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1968–69_New_York_Knicks_season&oldid=1233220406"