The 1967-68 season marked the Denver Rockets’ inaugural campaign in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Under the guidance of head coach Bob Bass, the team finished with a 45-33 record, securing second place in the Western Division. The Rockets showcased a balanced offense, led by standout performances from Larry Jones, who averaged 23.2 points per game, and Byron Beck, who was a dominant force on the boards with 14.0 rebounds per game.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the New Orleans Buccaneers in the Western Division semifinals. Despite their strong regular season, Denver fell short, losing the series 3-2. The season was a foundational one for the franchise, setting the stage for the team’s future successes in the ABA. The Rockets’ entry into professional basketball contributed significantly to the growth of the sport in Denver, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.
- Regular Season Record: 45-33
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-3
Denver Rockets Roster and Stats for 1967-68 Season
POINTS
Larry Jones
22.9
REBOUNDS
Willie Murrell
9.0
ASSISTS
Larry Jones
0.8
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Jones | 76 | 22.9 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 88.9 | 1 | 29.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Hightower | 74 | 17.3 | 7.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 22.6 | 8.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Murrell | 71 | 16.4 | 9.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 5 | 22.4 | 9.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willis Thomas | 24 | 12.3 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Grant Simmons | 78 | 10.2 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 5 | 7.6 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lonnie Wright | 38 | 9.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 5 | 7.2 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Byron Beck | 71 | 9.3 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 11.4 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Julian Hammond | 74 | 8.0 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 12.0 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hoover | 70 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 199.7 | 2 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tommie Bowens | 67 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 5 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Gardner | 43 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Congdon | 41 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Richie Moore | 18 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Morrison | 9 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| R.B. Lynam | 7 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Horn | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Rockets in the 1968 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. New Orleans Buccaneers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 130-104 | |
| Mar 27, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 105-93 | |
| Mar 30, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 105-98 | |
| Mar 31, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 108-100 | |
| Apr 03, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 102-97 |
Denver Rockets 1967-68 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1967-68 season for the Denver Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-105 | |
| Oct 17, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | W 102-85 | |
| Oct 19, 1967 | @ Oakland Oaks | W 104-91 | |
| Oct 20, 1967 | @ Oakland Oaks | L 112-102 | |
| Oct 27, 1967 | @ Pittsburgh Pipers | L 91-77 | |
| Oct 28, 1967 | @ New Jersey Americans | W 126-109 | |
| Nov 01, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | W 112-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 121-100 | |
| Nov 08, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 118-97 | |
| Nov 10, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 88-86 | |
| Nov 11, 1967 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 131-107 | |
| Nov 12, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-103 | |
| Nov 16, 1967 | @ Minnesota Muskies | L 124-106 | |
| Nov 17, 1967 | @ New Jersey Americans | W 120-104 | |
| Nov 19, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | W 97-96 | |
| Nov 21, 1967 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 107-90 | |
| Nov 22, 1967 | @ Houston Mavericks | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 24, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | W 113-90 | |
| Nov 25, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 119-99 | |
| Nov 26, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 112-99 | |
| Nov 28, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 126-108 | |
| Nov 30, 1967 | @ Houston Mavericks | W 98-92 | |
| Dec 03, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 100-87 | |
| Dec 04, 1967 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 107-85 | |
| Dec 05, 1967 | @ Pittsburgh Pipers | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 07, 1967 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 110-99 | |
| Dec 09, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-96 | |
| Dec 13, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 111-92 | |
| Dec 14, 1967 | @ Anaheim Amigos | L 96-93 | |
| Dec 15, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | W 100-93 | |
| Dec 18, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 126-104 | |
| Dec 21, 1967 | @ Oakland Oaks | L 116-94 | |
| Dec 22, 1967 | @ Anaheim Amigos | L 108-102 | |
| Dec 26, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1967 | @ Houston Mavericks | W 108-82 | |
| Dec 28, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 119-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1967 | @ Denver Rockets | L 96-80 | |
| Jan 02, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 98-80 | |
| Jan 03, 1968 | @ Houston Mavericks | L 89-83 | |
| Jan 04, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 122-107 | |
| Jan 10, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 99-83 | |
| Jan 11, 1968 | @ Houston Mavericks | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 16, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 111-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 126-97 | |
| Jan 19, 1968 | @ Anaheim Amigos | W 117-110 | |
| Jan 21, 1968 | @ Anaheim Amigos | W 112-85 | |
| Jan 24, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | W 101-100 | |
| Jan 26, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | W 104-97 | |
| Jan 27, 1968 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | W 112-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | W 110-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1968 | @ Oakland Oaks | W 137-113 | |
| Jan 31, 1968 | @ Anaheim Amigos | L 112-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | W 105-100 | |
| Feb 07, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 97-87 | |
| Feb 08, 1968 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 98-91 | |
| Feb 09, 1968 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 106-99 | |
| Feb 11, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | L 98-90 | |
| Feb 12, 1968 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 114-101 | |
| Feb 15, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 142-108 | |
| Feb 16, 1968 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 116-112 | |
| Feb 17, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 116-106 | |
| Feb 18, 1968 | @ Pittsburgh Pipers | L 103-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1968 | @ Minnesota Muskies | L 119-117 | |
| Feb 21, 1968 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 123-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1968 | @ New Orleans Buccaneers | W 108-102 | |
| Feb 24, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 26, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 115-92 | |
| Mar 03, 1968 | @ Oakland Oaks | W 115-95 | |
| Mar 04, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 108-98 | |
| Mar 06, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 102-100 | |
| Mar 09, 1968 | @ Kentucky Colonels | L 107-102 | |
| Mar 11, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 119-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 112-92 | |
| Mar 13, 1968 | @ New Jersey Americans | L 96-87 | |
| Mar 15, 1968 | @ Minnesota Muskies | L 106-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1968 | @ Dallas Chaparrals | L 108-96 | |
| Mar 18, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 22, 1968 | @ Denver Rockets | L 110-92 |