The 1968-69 Atlanta Hawks season marked their first in Atlanta after relocating from St. Louis. Under the guidance of head coach Richie Guerin, the team played their home games at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Hawks finished second in the Western Division with a 48-34 record, showcasing a strong defensive strategy that was key to their success.
Key players included Joe Caldwell and Lou Hudson, each playing pivotal roles in both scoring and defense. Atlanta’s performance secured them a spot in the playoffs, where they faced the San Diego Rockets in the first round, winning the series in six games. However, their playoff run was halted in the Western Division Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the series in five games. Overall, the Hawks’ inaugural season in Atlanta set a foundation for future successes, building a competitive team in a new city.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-2, Division Finals: 1-4
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1968-69 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Lou Hudson | 81 | 21.9 | 6.3 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 22.0 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Zelmo Beaty | 72 | 21.5 | 10.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 22.5 | 12.9 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Caldwell | 81 | 15.8 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 14.7 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Ohl | 76 | 12.1 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Bridges | 80 | 11.8 | 13.9 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Hazzard | 80 | 11.2 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 14.0 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Davis | 78 | 8.8 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Silas | 79 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 5.5 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richie Guerin | 27 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Lehmann | 11 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Skip Harlicka | 26 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Hamilton | 25 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dwight Waller | 11 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1969 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Diego Rockets
In the 1969 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division Finals, marking their second-round appearance. Despite a strong effort, the Hawks were overpowered by the Lakers, led by Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, and lost the series 4-1. This series highlighted the Hawks' competitive spirit but underscored the challenge of contending with a powerhouse team like the Lakers during that era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 107-98 | |
| Mar 29, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 116-114 | |
| Apr 01, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 104-97 | |
| Apr 04, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 114-112 | |
| Apr 06, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 112-101 | |
| Apr 07, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 108-106 |
1969 Conference Championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-93 | |
| Apr 13, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-102 | |
| Apr 15, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-86 | |
| Apr 17, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-85 | |
| Apr 20, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-96 |
Atlanta Hawks 1968-69 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1968-69 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 1968 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 125-110 | |
| Oct 19, 1968 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-107 | |
| Oct 23, 1968 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-91 | |
| Oct 25, 1968 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-112 | |
| Oct 27, 1968 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 123-100 | |
| Oct 29, 1968 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-124 | |
| Oct 30, 1968 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 127-116 | |
| Nov 01, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 03, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1968 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 140-119 | |
| Nov 08, 1968 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 114-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1968 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 113-106 | |
| Nov 12, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 123-108 | |
| Nov 13, 1968 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 142-113 | |
| Nov 15, 1968 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-115 | |
| Nov 16, 1968 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 130-125 | |
| Nov 19, 1968 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-98 | |
| Nov 20, 1968 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-106 | |
| Nov 21, 1968 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 129-121 | |
| Nov 23, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 114-96 | |
| Nov 24, 1968 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 118-111 | |
| Nov 26, 1968 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 102-99 | |
| Nov 27, 1968 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 94-91 | |
| Nov 30, 1968 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 126-109 | |
| Dec 03, 1968 | @ New York Knicks | L 126-93 | |
| Dec 04, 1968 | vs. New York Knicks | L 121-113 | |
| Dec 06, 1968 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-94 | |
| Dec 08, 1968 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 121-99 | |
| Dec 10, 1968 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 111-100 | |
| Dec 12, 1968 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-91 | |
| Dec 13, 1968 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-103 | |
| Dec 17, 1968 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 87-83 | |
| Dec 18, 1968 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-116 | |
| Dec 21, 1968 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 120-110 | |
| Dec 26, 1968 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-96 | |
| Dec 28, 1968 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-97 | |
| Dec 29, 1968 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 101-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-88 | |
| Jan 03, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 128-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-111 | |
| Jan 05, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 97-96 | |
| Jan 08, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-111 | |
| Jan 10, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-101 | |
| Jan 11, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-100 | |
| Jan 16, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-107 | |
| Jan 17, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-107 | |
| Jan 19, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | W 100-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 124-113 | |
| Jan 22, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 125-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-106 | |
| Jan 25, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 112-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-115 | |
| Jan 28, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-96 | |
| Jan 29, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-96 | |
| Jan 31, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-112 | |
| Feb 01, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-99 | |
| Feb 02, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 115-103 | |
| Feb 04, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-97 | |
| Feb 07, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 08, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-97 | |
| Feb 09, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 102-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 92-87 | |
| Feb 12, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 14, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-101 | |
| Feb 16, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 113-106 | |
| Feb 17, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 123-111 | |
| Feb 18, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 124-123 | |
| Feb 20, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 97-87 | |
| Feb 23, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 124-92 | |
| Feb 25, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-101 | |
| Feb 28, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-120 | |
| Mar 02, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-108 | |
| Mar 06, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 138-99 | |
| Mar 09, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 134-107 | |
| Mar 11, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-90 | |
| Mar 12, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-90 | |
| Mar 15, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-120 | |
| Mar 16, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 131-127 | |
| Mar 18, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 128-115 | |
| Mar 20, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 115-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-103 | |
| Mar 23, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 128-121 |