The 1967-68 Los Angeles Lakers season was marked by significant changes and challenges. The team, coached by Bill van Breda Kolff, finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, placing them second in the Western Division. This was a notable improvement from their previous season, showcasing their growing competitiveness in the league.
The Lakers were led by their star player, Jerry West, who averaged 26.3 points per game and was instrumental in driving the team’s offensive prowess. Additionally, Elgin Baylor contributed significantly with an average of 26 points per game, forming a formidable duo with West. The team also saw contributions from Wilt Chamberlain, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason, adding a new dynamic to the Lakers’ roster.
In the playoffs, the Lakers advanced past the Chicago Bulls in the Western Division Semifinals, winning the series 4-1. They then faced the San Francisco Warriors in the Division Finals, where they emerged victorious, clinching the series 4-0. However, their postseason run ended in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers were defeated in a hard-fought series, losing 4-2, as the Celtics claimed their tenth championship in twelve years.
The 1967-68 season highlighted the Lakers’ potential, setting the stage for future success. Despite falling short in the Finals, the acquisition of Chamberlain and the strong performances from West and Baylor laid a solid foundation for the team’s continued pursuit of an NBA title.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-1, Division Finals: 4-0, NBA Finals: 2-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1967-68 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jerry West | 51 | 26.3 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 30.8 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Elgin Baylor | 77 | 26.0 | 11.8 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 28.5 | 14.5 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Archie Clark | 81 | 19.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 15.3 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gail Goodrich | 79 | 13.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mel Counts | 82 | 11.7 | 8.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hawkins | 78 | 11.6 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 9.5 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Freddie Crawford | 38 | 10.3 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darrall Imhoff | 82 | 9.3 | 10.1 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Erwin Mueller | 39 | 8.4 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Barnes | 42 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Wetzel | 38 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dennis Hamilton | 44 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Anderson | 18 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1968 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1968 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the San Francisco Warriors in the Western Division Finals. Led by the formidable duo of Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, the Lakers triumphed in a tightly contested series, prevailing 4-0. Their victory showcased the team's resilience and set the stage for their NBA Finals matchup against the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 1968 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-101 | |
| Mar 25, 1968 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-106 | |
| Mar 27, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 104-98 | |
| Mar 29, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 93-87 | |
| Mar 31, 1968 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-99 |
1968 Conference Championship vs. San Francisco Warriors
In the 1968 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the San Francisco Warriors in the Western Division Finals, ultimately prevailing in six games to secure their spot in the NBA Finals. Led by the dynamic duo of Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, the Lakers showcased their offensive prowess and resilience. However, their journey ended in the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics, continuing the storied rivalry between the two franchises.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 05, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 133-105 | |
| Apr 10, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 115-112 | |
| Apr 11, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 128-124 | |
| Apr 13, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 106-100 |
1968 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1968 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-101 | |
| Apr 24, 1968 | @ Boston Celtics | W 123-113 | |
| Apr 26, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 127-119 | |
| Apr 28, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 118-105 | |
| Apr 30, 1968 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-117 | |
| May 02, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 124-109 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1967-68 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1967-68 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1967 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-105 | |
| Oct 18, 1967 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-87 | |
| Oct 19, 1967 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 100-95 | |
| Oct 21, 1967 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-106 | |
| Oct 25, 1967 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 132-116 | |
| Oct 27, 1967 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 125-117 | |
| Oct 29, 1967 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 118-105 | |
| Nov 01, 1967 | vs. New York Knicks | L 129-113 | |
| Nov 03, 1967 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-104 | |
| Nov 04, 1967 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 106-104 | |
| Nov 11, 1967 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-111 | |
| Nov 12, 1967 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 97-96 | |
| Nov 15, 1967 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 124-115 | |
| Nov 17, 1967 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 116-107 | |
| Nov 18, 1967 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 127-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1967 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 137-132 | |
| Nov 23, 1967 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 132-120 | |
| Nov 24, 1967 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 122-121 | |
| Nov 25, 1967 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 131-112 | |
| Nov 26, 1967 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 28, 1967 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 134-117 | |
| Nov 29, 1967 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-123 | |
| Dec 01, 1967 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-119 | |
| Dec 02, 1967 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-106 | |
| Dec 05, 1967 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-122 | |
| Dec 06, 1967 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 136-125 | |
| Dec 08, 1967 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1967 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 127-109 | |
| Dec 10, 1967 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 133-123 | |
| Dec 14, 1967 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 106-101 | |
| Dec 17, 1967 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-117 | |
| Dec 20, 1967 | vs. New York Knicks | L 138-131 | |
| Dec 22, 1967 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 133-105 | |
| Dec 25, 1967 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 104-101 | |
| Dec 26, 1967 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1967 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 132-127 | |
| Dec 29, 1967 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-115 | |
| Dec 30, 1967 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 31, 1967 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 147-118 | |
| Jan 02, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 119-118 | |
| Jan 03, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 113-103 | |
| Jan 05, 1968 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-113 | |
| Jan 06, 1968 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 130-127 | |
| Jan 10, 1968 | vs. New York Knicks | L 115-101 | |
| Jan 17, 1968 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-116 | |
| Jan 20, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 151-122 | |
| Jan 21, 1968 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 154-123 | |
| Jan 25, 1968 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 118-116 | |
| Jan 26, 1968 | @ Boston Celtics | W 118-112 | |
| Jan 27, 1968 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 125-119 | |
| Jan 28, 1968 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 128-113 | |
| Jan 30, 1968 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-116 | |
| Jan 31, 1968 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 02, 1968 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 151-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1968 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 133-122 | |
| Feb 04, 1968 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 137-131 | |
| Feb 06, 1968 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 146-102 | |
| Feb 08, 1968 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-110 | |
| Feb 09, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 122-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1968 | @ Boston Celtics | W 141-104 | |
| Feb 13, 1968 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 119-116 | |
| Feb 15, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 132-105 | |
| Feb 16, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 118-116 | |
| Feb 17, 1968 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 135-134 | |
| Feb 21, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 122-117 | |
| Feb 23, 1968 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 131-115 | |
| Feb 25, 1968 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 127-112 | |
| Feb 27, 1968 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 117-106 | |
| Feb 29, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 02, 1968 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-121 | |
| Mar 03, 1968 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 121-114 | |
| Mar 06, 1968 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 07, 1968 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 119-102 | |
| Mar 08, 1968 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 130-122 | |
| Mar 09, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 137-132 | |
| Mar 10, 1968 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 119-89 | |
| Mar 13, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 142-106 | |
| Mar 15, 1968 | vs. New York Knicks | W 123-112 | |
| Mar 16, 1968 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 135-108 | |
| Mar 17, 1968 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 120-116 | |
| Mar 18, 1968 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 158-128 | |
| Mar 19, 1968 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 121-109 |
