1967–68 Chicago Bulls season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

1967–68 Chicago Bulls season

Head coach| Johnny "Red" Kerr
General manager| Dick Klein
Owner(s)| Dick Klein
Arena| Chicago Stadium
Results
Record| 29-53 (.354)
Place| Division: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish| Division semifinals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)

* * *

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television| WGN-TV
(Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd)
Radio| WGN
(Lou Boudreau, Vince Lloyd)
| < 1966–67  | 1968–69 >

|

The 1967–68 Chicago Bulls season was the second season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

## Draft picks

[edit]

Main article: 1967 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players drafted by the franchise that played at least one NBA game.

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | School/Club Team

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1  | 3  | Clem Haskins | G  |  United States | Western Kentucky
2  | 15  | Byron Beck | F/C  |  United States | Denver
4  | 34  | Jim Burns | G  |  United States | Northwestern

## Roster

[edit]

1967–68 Chicago Bulls roster Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

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F | 14 | Barnes, Jim | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1941-04-13  | UTEP
F | 19 | Boozer, Bob | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 215 lb (98 kg)  | 1937-04-26  | Kansas State
G | 6 | Burns, Jim | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1945-09-21  | Northwestern
F | 16 | Clemens, Barry | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1943-05-01  | Ohio Wesleyan
F | 15 | Erickson, Keith | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1944-04-19  | UCLA
G | 11 | Haskins, Clem | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1943-07-11  | Western Kentucky
F | 18 | McLemore, McCoy | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 230 lb (104 kg)  | 1942-04-03  | Drake
G | 5 | Robinson, Flynn | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 185 lb (84 kg)  | 1941-04-28  | Wyoming
G | 8 | Schellhase, Dave | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 205 lb (93 kg)  | 1944-10-14  | Purdue
G | 4 | Sloan, Jerry | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1942-03-28  | Evansville
C | 17 | Spitzer, Craig | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)  | 225 lb (102 kg)  | 1945-12-18  | Tulane
C | 7 | Washington, Jim | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1943-07-01  | Villanova
F | 6, 9  | Wilburn, Ken | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 195 lb (88 kg)  | 1944-06-08  | Central State

Head coach

* Johnny "Red" Kerr

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

* * *

Roster
Last transaction: January 9, 1968

## Regular season

[edit]

After that promising beginning the Bulls fell apart. During the 1967-68 NBA season the club traded Guy Rodgers, the steadiest player on the squad, to the Cincinnati Royals for Flynn Robinson and two future draft choices. Chicago lost its first nine games, slumping to 1–15 before climbing back to respectability. The Bulls went 28–38 the rest of the way but still finished 29–53.

Even that record was better than those of the new expansion teams in Seattle and San Diego, so the Bulls still snuck into the playoffs, where they were drubbed by the Lakers in the division semifinals. Bob Boozer, a 6–8 forward who had the most productive seasons of his 11-year career while playing for Chicago, led the team in scoring with 21.5 points per game, and Jim Washington topped the club in rebounding with 10.1 boards per contest.

When Jerry Colangelo left the Bulls' front office to run the Phoenix Suns expansion franchise, he took Kerr along as coach. Kerr's replacement for the 1968–69 season was Dick Motta, who had won three Big Sky Conference championships at Weber State. Motta was an unlikely choice, but he proved to be a fortuitous one. In the early 1970s he molded Chicago into a tough, defensive-minded squad that was always ready to challenge the opposition, even if it couldn't match up in talent.

Chicago owned the fourth overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft and selected 7-foot, 265-pound center Tom Boerwinkle of Tennessee. Boerwinkle would spend his entire 10-year career with Chicago and wind up as the Bulls' all-time leading rebounder with 5,745 career boards.

### Season standings

[edit]

Western Division

* v
* t
* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Neutral  |  Div

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x-St. Louis Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | 25–7 | 22–13 | 9–6 | 31–9
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 4 | 30–11 | 18–19 | 4–0 | 28–12
x-San Francisco Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 13 | 27–14 | 16–23 | 0–2 | 24–16
x-Chicago Bulls | 29 | 53 | .354 | 27 | 11–22 | 12–24 | 6–7 | 11–29
Seattle SuperSonics | 23 | 59 | .280 | 33 | 10–21 | 7–24 | 6–14 | 15–25
San Diego Rockets | 15 | 67 | .183 | 41 | 8–33 | 4–26 | 3–8 | 11–29

### Record vs. opponents

[edit]

1967-68 NBA Records

Team  | BAL  | BOS  | CHI  | CIN  | DET  | LAL  | NYK  | PHI  | SDR  | SFW  | SEA  | STL
Baltimore | — | 3–5 | 2–5 | 5–3 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 0–8 | 7–0 | 2–5 | 5–2 | 2–5
Boston | 5–3 | — | 5–2 | 3–5 | 6–2 | 4–3 | 6–2 | 4–4 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–3
Chicago  | 5–2 | 2–5 | — | 5–2 | 3–4 | 1–7 | 2–5 | 1–6 | 4–4 | 2–6 | 3–5 | 1–7
Cincinnati | 3–5 | 5–3 | 2–5 | — | 4–4 | 1–6 | 3–5 | 3–5 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 1–6
Detroit | 4–4 | 2–6 | 4–3 | 4–4 | — | 2–5 | 4–4 | 1–7 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–3
Los Angeles | 4–3 | 3–4 | 7–1 | 6–1 | 5–2 | — | 4–3 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 4–4 | 4–4 | 6–2
New York | 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
San Diego | 0–7 | 0–7 | 4–4 | 0–7 | 2–5 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 1–6 | — | 2–6 | 3–5 | 1–7
San Francisco | 5–2 | 3–4 | 6–2 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 6–2 | — | 7–1 | 1–7
Seattle | 2–5 | 1–6 | 5–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 4–4 | 3–4 | 0–7 | 5–3 | 1–7 | — | 0–8
St. Louis | 5–2 | 3–4 | 7–1 | 6–1 | 3–4 | 2–6 | 6–1 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 7–1 | 8–0 | —

### Game log

[edit]

1967–68 game log

# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record
1 | October 14 | @ Boston | 90–105 | Jim Washington (24) | 0–1
2 | October 17 | Los Angeles | 107–105 | Bob Boozer (36) | 0–2
3 | October 19 | San Francisco | 116–106 | Jerry Sloan (26) | 0–3
4 | October 20 | St. Louis | 126–99 | Bob Boozer (19) | 0–4
5 | October 21 | @ Cincinnati | 107–109 | Haskins, Mueller (21) | 0–5
6 | October 25 | @ Detroit | 99–107 | Bob Boozer (26) | 0–6
7 | October 27 | @ Los Angeles | 117–125 | Bob Boozer (42) | 0–7
8 | October 29 | @ San Francisco | 105–125 | Keith Erickson (22) | 0–8
9 | October 31 | @ Seattle | 104–114 | Barry Clemens (29) | 0–9
10 | November 2 | N Seattle | 105–119 | Bob Boozer (29) | 1–9
11 | November 7 | St. Louis | 111–106 | Bob Boozer (25) | 1–10
12 | November 9 | Boston | 107–93 | Boozer, Sloan (24) | 1–11
13 | November 12 | @ Los Angeles | 96–97 | Barry Clemens (22) | 1–12
14 | November 15 | @ Los Angeles | 115–124 | Flynn Robinson (34) | 1–13
15 | November 16 | @ San Diego | 91–99 | McCoy McLemore (23) | 1–14
16 | November 17 | @ San Francisco | 109–111 | Bob Boozer (24) | 1–15
17 | November 18 | Detroit | 130–132 | McCoy McLemore (28) | 2–15
18 | November 21 | @ New York | 123–125 (2OT) | McCoy McLemore (32) | 2–16
19 | November 22 | @ Baltimore | 105–100 | Jerry Sloan (35) | 3–16
20 | November 23 | N New York | 96–106 | Keith Erickson (33) | 4–16
21 | November 24 | Philadelphia | 122–104 | Flynn Robinson (17) | 4–17
22 | November 25 | @ Philadelphia | 119–114 | Bob Boozer (28) | 5–17
23 | November 28 | Seattle | 111–108 | Flynn Robinson (25) | 5–18
24 | December 1 | New York | 100–102 | Bob Boozer (25) | 6–18
25 | December 2 | @ Cincinnati | 126–110 | McCoy McLemore (26) | 7–18
26 | December 5 | N Cincinnati | 104–105 | Bob Boozer (21) | 8–18
27 | December 6 | @ Detroit | 121–135 | Bob Boozer (30) | 8–19
28 | December 7 | San Diego | 118–108 | Bob Boozer (23) | 8–20
29 | December 8 | @ Seattle | 115–114 | Jim Washington (24) | 9–20
30 | December 9 | @ San Francisco | 112–119 | Barry Clemens (25) | 9–21
31 | December 12 | @ San Diego | 104–118 | Keith Erickson (24) | 9–22
32 | December 13 | @ San Francisco | 109–104 | Jerry Sloan (35) | 10–22
33 | December 14 | @ Los Angeles | 106–101 | Bob Boozer (26) | 11–22
34 | December 15 | Seattle | 122–115 | Barry Clemens (25) | 11–23
35 | December 16 | Philadelphia | 143–123 | Bob Boozer (27) | 11–24
36 | December 21 | Baltimore | 116–108 | Keith Erickson (34) | 11–25
37 | December 22 | @ Baltimore | 112–117 | McCoy McLemore (28) | 11–26
38 | December 26 | Los Angeles | 104–101 | McCoy McLemore (26) | 11–27
39 | December 29 | San Francisco | 100–107 | Bob Boozer (24) | 12–27
40 | January 1 | Baltimore | 103–109 | Flynn Robinson (34) | 13–27
41 | January 2 | Boston | 84–95 | Bob Boozer (21) | 14–27
42 | January 3 | @ Baltimore | 113–94 | Bob Boozer (24) | 15–27
43 | January 5 | N New York | 121–99 | Erickson, Washington (23) | 15–28
44 | January 6 | @ Cincinnati | 114–109 | Bob Boozer (24) | 16–28
45 | January 9 | N St. Louis | 121–109 | Bob Boozer (23) | 16–29
46 | January 13 | Baltimore | 106–110 | Bob Boozer (32) | 17–29
47 | January 14 | @ St. Louis | 92–99 | Flynn Robinson (21) | 17–30
48 | January 16 | San Diego | 110–123 | Flynn Robinson (35) | 18–30
49 | January 17 | N San Diego | 110–104 | Keith Erickson (20) | 18–31
50 | January 20 | Philadelphia | 135–111 | Bob Boozer (27) | 18–32
51 | January 21 | @ St. Louis | 90–98 | Boozer, Erickson (21) | 18–33
52 | January 25 | New York | 126–118 | Flynn Robinson (35) | 18–34
53 | January 30 | San Francisco | 123–119 | Keith Erickson (25) | 18–35
54 | January 31 | @ Boston | 109–118 | Flynn Robinson (24) | 18–36
55 | February 1 | N New York | 112–103 | Bob Boozer (28) | 18–37
56 | February 2 | Cincinnati | 125–113 | Flynn Robinson (34) | 18–38
57 | February 6 | San Francisco | 126–124 (OT) | Jerry Sloan (33) | 18–39
58 | February 8 | Detroit | 110–131 | Jim Washington (22) | 19–39
59 | February 9 | @ Philadelphia | 113–118 | Bob Boozer (24) | 19–40
60 | February 10 | @ St. Louis | 107–108 | Flynn Robinson (23) | 19–41
61 | February 12 | N Cincinnati | 104–112 (OT) | Boozer, Washington (19) | 20–41
62 | February 13 | San Diego | 102–114 | Clem Haskins (28) | 21–41
63 | February 15 | N Los Angeles | 132–105 | Flynn Robinson (32) | 21–42
64 | February 16 | Boston | 124–108 | McCoy McLemore (20) | 21–43
65 | February 18 | @ St. Louis | 113–107 | McLemore, Washington (24) | 22–43
66 | February 20 | N Detroit | 121–124 (OT) | Bob Boozer (35) | 23–43
67 | February 21 | N Seattle | 106–108 | Bob Boozer (26) | 24–43
68 | February 24 | @ New York | 101–109 | Flynn Robinson (25) | 24–44
69 | February 29 | N Los Angeles | 117–107 | Bob Boozer (26) | 24–45
70 | March 1 | @ Boston | 87–94 | Boozer, Clemens (17) | 24–46
71 | March 3 | @ Detroit | 123–134 | McCoy McLemore (23) | 24–47
72 | March 5 | Detroit | 121–119 | Bob Boozer (30) | 24–48
73 | March 7 | Boston | 112–118 | Bob Boozer (26) | 25–48
74 | March 9 | St. Louis | 115–109 | Flynn Robinson (34) | 25–49
75 | March 11 | Cincinnati | 98–104 | Boozer, Robinson (19) | 26–49
76 | March 12 | N Philadelphia | 139–115 | Jim Washington (29) | 26–50
77 | March 13 | @ Baltimore | 100–96 | Clem Haskins (22) | 27–50
78 | March 15 | Seattle | 113–101 | Flynn Robinson (21) | 27–51
79 | March 16 | Philadelphia | 144–122 | McCoy McLemore (26) | 27–52
80 | March 17 | @ San Diego | 129–121 | Jim Barnes (27) | 28–52
81 | March 19 | N Seattle | 104–122 | Clem Haskins (18) | 28–53
82 | March 20 | @ San Diego | 121–112 | Flynn Robinson (29) | 29–53

## Playoffs

[edit]

1968 playoff game log

Division semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)

| Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location
Attendance | Series

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1  | March 24  | @ Los Angeles | L 101–109 | Bob Boozer (27)  | Jim Washington (11)  | Keith Erickson (5)  | The Forum
7,352  | 0–1
2  | March 25  | @ Los Angeles | L 106–111 | Flynn Robinson (32)  | Jim Washington (13)  | Bob Boozer (4)  | The Forum
8,158  | 0–2
3  | March 27  | Los Angeles | W 104–98 | Flynn Robinson (41)  | Jim Washington (17)  | Flynn Robinson (4)  | Chicago Stadium
3,456  | 1–2
4  | March 29  | Los Angeles | L 87–93 | Keith Erickson (20)  | Jim Washington (19)  | Erickson, Sloan (2)  | Chicago Stadium
5,678  | 1–3
5  | March 31  | @ Los Angeles | L 99–122 | Jim Washington (24)  | Jim Washington (15)  | three players tied (4)  | The Forum
12,108  | 1–4

1968 schedule

## Awards and records

[edit]

Bob Boozer, NBA All-Star Game

## References

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

1967–68 NBA season by team

* 1967 NBA expansion draft
* 1967 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

* Baltimore
* Boston
* Cincinnati
* Detroit
* New York
* Philadelphia

Western|

* Chicago
* Los Angeles
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* Seattle
* St. Louis

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bulls seasons

* Franchise
* History
* Seasons

1960s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

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1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 | 1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Neutral ]: Neutral record
*[ Div ]: Division record